Choice of Duty

[cyrusjones]

I have two questions: 1. Is there a fighter pilot detatchment in San Diego? 2. How do I get assigned to it once I've graduated from flight school (provided I get selected for fighters)? Anyone know?

 

[ben]

I think the only west coast fighter squadrons are in Lemoore, CA. As far as getting selected for a particular location, I think you indicate your preferences at some point in your training pipeline and they try to put you somewhere you want to go. I could be totally off though. Are you somehow involved in the Navy?

 

[airgreg]

Marines got a bunch of 18's at Miramar:
http://www.3maw.usmc.mil/

 

[RickyDT34]

NavAir has their depot level rework facility for F/A-18's at NAS North Island in beautiful San Diego. There are a dozen or so pilots and fo's attached to NavAir but they have been to tps and have been in the Navy for awhile.

 

[cyrusjones]

I am in the BDCP program and just graduated, my OCS date is Oct 2nd.

 

[squeeze]

worry about stuff in this order OCS -> (IFS?) -> API -> Primary -> Selection -> Advanced

when you're done with advanced, then start worrying about duty stations. but if that's too much, the sure fire way is to be #1 in your class at both primary and advanced.

 

[cyrusjones]

Thanks very much

 

[F414Guy]

Don't forget about VX-9 and VX-31 here in wonderful China Lake.

 

[bunk22]

If you're Navy and want fighters, you won't be flying out of San Diego, at least initially. You could be a student at the Marine FRS or an instructor but that's way down the road. There's also NADEP but that's not exactly a good career choice. If you're flying out of San Diego, you will most likely be flying helo's or trash haulers (best job in the Navy) :icon_smil

 

[webmaster]

Ah, North Island, wonderful memories there on TAD in support of exercises... bankers hours, per diem, great flying, and cold beer... not necessarily in that order.

 

[wink]

Yea, bankers hours for you VP guys. Or maybe they were easy on you beause you were TAD. While you had bankers hours us S-3 guys were briefing at 2200 and flying all night in the same exercise with no per diem. North Island was great unless you had a 0100 launch.