carrier/amphib time

[zuggerat]

ive been around on the forum lurking for the past few months, not really having anything profound to say (aside from that propellor license plate thread awhile back). But anyways i was having a conversation with a family friend who now works as a test pilot for the FAA but used to fly sea sprites for the navy. He was talking about my switch in interest from navy to marines and how i really wont notice too much because they work together a lot on things, and that really made me start thinking, mostly about carrier and amphib ops. How often do marine squads get send out with the amphibious assault ships and carrier groups, and how much time do they spend land based. If they dont see a lot of carrier/amphib time how to they keep sharp for when they need to make those hairy night and bad weather traps and hovers near the boats? thanx ladies

 

[HH-60H]

All I can contribute to this is that the sole airwing that I was assigned to had 1 Marine squadron. So, that was the only Marine unit in the entire battle group, err strike group.
From what I understand only Marine FW units that are assigned to a boat maintain their carrier currency. I can't say about basic proficiency training while back in the US.

 

[jamnww]

any word from a salty winger?

 

[zuggerat]

no one knows?... come on squeeze... help me out here

 

[squeeze]

no one knows?... come on squeeze... help me out here

uh... seeing as I've spent a grand total of one week on a carrier and two days on an LHA, I'm not the most qualified to speak on this.

The whole TacAir Integration thing is supposedly going to result in a Marine Hornet squadron per CVW. For the Harriers and Helos, it's all about whether you chop to the MEU or not. If you do, it's 6 months of workups (where you'll get all your boat quals) followed by a 6 month (or longer) cruise. MEU make-up varies though. Otherwise, you'll wind up on a shore-based det or somesuch. Two pumps in 3 years seems to be a common tendency.

But again... jarhead or skidkid would know more about this than I.

 

[Crowbar]

Only helos and harriers go on amphibs. Deployment cycle varies dependent on which MAG they are assigned. During peacetime, two of the MAGs I worked with were on a 6 month deployment, 16 month home cycle. Those 16 months included workups for the next deployment, CAX, WTI, etc etc. They didn't do UDPs. The MAGs on the other side of the country I worked with did UDPs, which only certain squadrons supported, and others deployed on amphibs on some weirdo schedule I can't remember. Nothing like the other one.
So, it varies. Fixed wing and carriers I don't know about.

DISCLAIMER: Anyone who lived in Jacksonville or San Diego could tell you deployment cycles, I'm not giving anything away here, especially since it's all changed since then.