Not sure if any other Battleherk drivers are on this Forum. I just found it myself.
But, I'd be happy to give you an overview of the Herk Community.
Most everyone loves the platform they wind up flying, but it's not hard to convert a guy once he gets to Herks. Whether the individual is a nugget out of flight school or a jet/helo transition.
Let me add on to what some of what PhrogDriver said.
It is a cushy gig in some respects, but not as much as much as a lot of people think. There's a lot of misperceptions towards out community.
There are times that we go and stay in the Outrigger Reef on Waikiki Beach and spend the afternoon at the Shorebird, but a lot of times we're in a tent in the mud flying night operations getting supposed crew rest during the day (like Pakistan/Afghanistan).
MEU support has been a staple for the East coast and West coast squadrons for years. They've both been involved in numerous NEO's and other events. As far as OEF goes, the first aircraft into Camp Rhino was a VMGR-252 aircraft landing on an unlit strip (except for tactical landing zone lighting) at night with no NVG's with 120 Marine grunts on board. Did a lot of people/trash moving, fuel resupply for the helicopters and helo AR. We normally don't get the sexy missions , but I think what we do is rewarding.
What PhrogDriver said about the MEU CO's tasking is true. Somehow, just like everyone else in the Marine Corps, we wind up able to support what the MEU needs.
But our bread and butter is aerial refueling, both jets and helos. We used to move all Marine Corps jets across the Atlantic and Pacific, but that's been taken over by the USAF. We still move Marine helos around over in Japan. Dragging them to the Philippines, Thailand, Korea and mainland Japan.
Lifestyle-wise, it's pretty good. It's a small community, so you wind up knowing most everyone, at least by name. And your reputation will precede you, whether it's good or bad. Like PhrogDriver said, deployments do tend to be shorter, but it's a double-edged sword. Where a VMFA typically knows a year out that they're going on a 6-month det, we only go for a couple of weeks at a time, but only get a couple of days notice. Time gone in a fleet squadron will usually be about a wash. Which way is better? Depends on what you like. I don't think I'd like to be gone for 6 months at a time, but there's a lot of times where personal plans get cancelled because you're the only one available and/or qualified to go do a mission.
Granted, I have a biased opinion, but it's hands down, the best aircraft in the Marine Corps (my opinion, of course). We can fly thousands of miles and land on any strip 3000' x 60' (or so) or longer in the world, any weather, day or night. While we don't get to drop bombs and shoot guns (like jets and cobras) or get the chance to put the 20-year-old steely-eyed killers in the zone that often, like the Phrogs and 53's, what we do is vital and it's pretty rewarding. My Dad was an F-4 driver and he told me when I picked Herks that as he remembered it, the tanker guys never had to buy their own beer at the Club. That's reason enough for me! haha
As far as transitions go, HQMC approves two transitions per year, by board selection. So, they're right, there's not much opportunity to get in after flight school. And due to the limited number of slots, a large number of pilots in this community were either #1 in their selection class or very close to it.
When you get into flight school, talk to the instructors in your primary squadron. Odds are, there will be a sampling from every community. Then, assuming you're in a position to control your own destiny pick the one that's right for you. Just cause you're ace of the base, doesn't mean you have to fly jets. Herks are awesome. Jets are fast and fun. Helos are the backbone of Marine Air.
My $.02
Piggy
