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Coast Guard DCA

C-21 guy said:
Yeah, I've read the requirements for the DCA and have considered FW for the Coast Guard but thats the same thing I'm doing now in the AF. What about just a straight up interservice transfer and then getting into helos, is that possible? What about if I do the DCA for FW, could I possibly switch to helos on down the road? Yes, I'm obsessed I know.
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I'll let one of the Coasties chime in, but I know that when I was selected and started to ask about transitions I was told "no chance." That's part of the reason I didn't accept the commission. If it's still what it was when I applied, they're short on FW guys.
 
C-21 guy said:
Yes, oddly enough my ultimate goal in life is to be a Coast Guard Helo dude.
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There is nothing odd about that at all. We are the envy of all pilots everywhere. :D


Strange as it may seem, I was wondering if anyone in these posts knows if it would be possible for a fixed wing AF guy to get into the Coast Guard as a rotor head.
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Sorry, we bring in DCAs so that they can fly the platform right away. That is kind of the point. You are going to need some military rotary wing time to come in as a helo guy.

Anybody got any suggestions?
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Actually, I do. You can certainly apply for the DCA program. If you get accepted you can fly one of our fixed wing assets. During your first tour you can apply for the engineering (maintenance pilot) program. If you get accepted, there is a possibility you could be selected to go to a rotary wing unit. If you don't make it then, you will have the same opportunity if you make OPS, XO, or CO.

There are a lot of ifs in that scenario but it is certainly a possibility. I will warn you though, we always get a good laugh at watching a fixed wing pilot try to fly a helicopter.

The best transition story I have ever heard was when a seasoned fixed wing in the sim called out "deploy the rescue swimmer." The instructor replied "We prefer to deploy our swimmers from a hover not 60 kts. Why don't you slow down a bit more."

Good luck. I hope it works out for you.
 
CoastieFlyer said:
Trust me, we get our share of chuckles watching helo guys try to fly the Falcon. :D

To each his own!
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Now you are really reaching for a comeback. It is not a struggle to fly that aircraft for a helo pilot. Especially one who is already rated in fixed wing. Now I can add that we get a chuckle out of falcon pilots trying to make witty comebacks.
 
sardaddy said:
Now you are really reaching for a comeback. It is not a struggle to fly that aircraft for a helo pilot. Especially one who is already rated in fixed wing. Now I can add that we get a chuckle out of falcon pilots trying to make witty comebacks.
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It is probably the prior Army guys who have never flown a fixed wing aircraft that are struggling. A few ladies and gents who went that route and were in the course at Little Rock about 9 years ago (before the AF put the kibash on letting non-fixed wing rated pilots go through) scared some of the instructors. Granted, a 4 engine aircraft is not the ideal place to learn fixed wing flying.

Odd, but the Navy takes fixed wing guys in primary and turns them into helo pilots every freaking week. Wonder why it is such a struggle in Mobile for our instructors to do the same. Maybe they should get some instructing instruction from the HTs across the Bay at Whiting.;)
 
New User looking for info on DCA

Hello everyone, I have been reading all the different chat forums on the DCA back to 2006 and I appreciate all the great info I have found.

I have been tossing around the idea of transferring to the Coast Guard for about 8 months now, I am currently a C-130 Pilot with the Air National Guard and I have a couple of questions for ya'll.

Don't worry I won't ask the number one question of all, "Will I drop down from O-3 to O-2?" I am a realist and it's going to happen. But I have read some posts and do you lose the rank for 2 years or 2 1/2 years?

I am currently a regular O-3 on the pay scale not an O-3E, but now I have more than 6 years of active duty points and if I transfer will I become an O-2 or O-2E?

Do any of you know where C-130 candidates from the DCA go for their initial training after the four week indoctrination course? And, since I am already an Aircraft Commander will I expect to come in as a Copilot? If I do come in as a Copilot will the upgrade process be fast or do I have to wait in line like the rest of them?

If I am selected can I defer my transfer for a few months (no more than 4 months) because of commitments in my current service branch?

Oh, and the most important question, does anyone know when the FY2009 DCA boards will be held?

Thats about it for right now, I really appreciate any info that can be passed along.

Merry Christmas
 
Welcome Aboard

I'll try to answer a few of your questions, and ignore the ones I can't answer...:icon_tong

How long until you make O-3 again? After selection for promotion by a board you will put O-3 back on after 30 months of being an O-2.

If you have been and enlisted or warrant officer for more than 4 years active service you will get the 'e' appended to your paygrade, but if you have been neither of these honorable things I don't know why you wouldn't just be an O-2.

Where you go is up to the Standardization Branch, but the last two folks at my unit who both had flown C-130s previously (one is and Air Force exchange pilot), went to a commercial outfit in Tampa called CAE for their transition course. You would come in as a copilot, but would quickly move through the quals to the left seat, first pilot and aircraft commander designations.

Don't know about deferring your transfer...sorry.

Haven't seen the boards lately, so can't answer your questions on when the next DCA board is.

Good luck.
 
Again, this may have changed since I applied - but when I was selected, the only time limit was you had to be commissioned before the end of the fiscal year.
 
HercDriver said:
Wonder why it is such a struggle in Mobile for our instructors to do the same. Maybe they should get some instructing instruction from the HTs across the Bay at Whiting.;)
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Nice try. I never said we struggled...just that we usually got a few chuckles going through the process! :D
 
Not talking about the rotary to fixed wing transition; more about the difficulties of turning a fixed wing into a rotary wing guy/gal. A friendly swipe at SarDaddy who I believe used to instruct at Mobile.

Nothing to see here, go about your business and give my best to a guy by the name of Bill instructing there...slacker was a classmate of mine (a prior enlisted who went from the response side of Mobile (his 1st Falcon unit) to instructing at Mobile.

Homesteader!
 
HercDriver said:
Nothing to see here, go about your business and give my best to a guy by the name of Bill instructing there...slacker was a classmate of mine (a prior enlisted who went from the response side of Mobile (his 1st Falcon unit) to instructing at Mobile.

Homesteader!
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Sorry, misread your joke!

Will do, Bill works next to me and is a close friend. We spent many hours drinking beverages down at the club.

Happy Holidays! :smgreen_1
 
Hercdriver, in all seriousness, I do feel bad for the fixed wing guys that get sent right to Mobile for training in rotary with no previous experience. The program is designed for pilots already qualified to fly helicopters. Mobile doesn't teach you how to hover, you are already supposed to know how to do that.
 
Hercdriver,

Thanks for the info,

It sounds like the transition will be very easy, we go down to Tampa at least once a year for refresher. What kind of schools do you go to once selected to upgrade to first pilot and then aircraft commander? Would I have to go back through Little Rock or is it more of an OJT upgrade?

What kind of schedule would a new copilot expect to have? Are you home most nights, any long deployments, and when you sit alert do you stay at the station or just nearby? Where have you been stationed?
 
HercDriver said:
I'll try to answer a few of your questions, and ignore the ones I can't answer...:icon_tong

How long until you make O-3 again? After selection for promotion by a board you will put O-3 back on after 30 months of being an O-2.

If you have been and enlisted or warrant officer for more than 4 years active service you will get the 'e' appended to your paygrade, but if you have been neither of these honorable things I don't know why you wouldn't just be an O-2.

Where you go is up to the Standardization Branch, but the last two folks at my unit who both had flown C-130s previously (one is and Air Force exchange pilot), went to a commercial outfit in Tampa called CAE for their transition course. You would come in as a copilot, but would quickly move through the quals to the left seat, first pilot and aircraft commander designations.

Don't know about deferring your transfer...sorry.

Haven't seen the boards lately, so can't answer your questions on when the next DCA board is.

Good luck.
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30 months!!!??? Damn, gonna be an Lt my whole life....
 
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