Marine aviators on boats?

[Lonestar]

Do marine pilots land on boats? How often/common? Jets and Helos?

 

[E5B]

Yes.
Depends.
Both.

If you go helos, you'll be on the boat eventually. Can't speak for the jet side of the house.

 

[brd2881]

Some hornet squadrons go to the boat...I think most harrier squadrons work off the boat...

 

[Steve Wilkins]

what are these boat thingies you speak of?

 

[Gatordev]

They are the ire of SWOs which makes the aviator's life slightly more enjoyable. It's a self-induction loop. The bigger the deal is made out of it, the more it will be used. See also: Call Signs.

 

[SteveG75]

This is called Navy and Marine Corp TACAIR Integration.

Basically, every airwing will have one USMC F/A-18C squadron.

The TacAir integration plan reduces one TacAir squadron in the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and adds six Marine TacAir squadrons to the four currently assigned to carrier battle groups for a total of 10. Conversely, the Navy accepts the reduction of three active squadrons and one Reserve TacAir, and commits three strike/fighter squadrons to the Marine unit deployment program.

Oh, and Steve, the boat is that thingie in my avatar. Silly shoes.

 

[phrogpilot73]

what are these boat thingies you speak of?

Get the same crap from my brother-in-law... He's a former SWO and makes me call them "ships". Maybe I'll look at him and say "what are these ship thingies you speak of?!?" Dad was a sub guy, so he has no problem with me referring to them as boats...

 

[Steve Wilkins]

I use the term boat for two types of naval vessels: submarines and aircraft carriers. I wouldn't classify everything else as a ship though. Look at minesweepers/hunters....definitley not a ship. Or patrol craft....not a ship, more like, well....a craft. Cruisers, destroyers, frigates, amphibs....warships.

 

[phrogpilot73]

I use the term boat for two types of naval vessels: submarines and aircraft carriers. I wouldn't classify everything else as a ship though. Look at minesweepers/hunters....definitley not a ship. Or patrol craft....not a ship, more like, well....a craft. Cruisers, destroyers, frigates, amphibs....warships.

So big deck amphibs? Technically warships, but laid out more like a carrier... Why not boat?

 

[mattr]

Anyone know how long these Marine Corps F/A-18 squadrons will be on carriers?

 

[Brett327]

Anyone know how long these Marine Corps F/A-18 squadrons will be on carriers?

Their last carrier flight will be at 1535 on 10 Sep 08. After that the tire pressure valves in all carrier based Marine Hornets will suddenly and irreversably revert to the shore-based pressure schedule and will therefore never be able to land on another ship - ever!

What kind of question is that?

Brett

 

[chiplee]

Do marine pilots land on boats? How often/common? Jets and Helos?

yes, every day, have been for decades jets, helos, harriers and all

 

[chiplee]

yes, every day, have been for decades

the problem with it is that some higher ups in the Marine Corps seem to think it's a break for their fighter squadrons. It is not. A westpac squadron or UDP squadron will spend alot more time at home than a boat squadron. I don't think anyone will argue that. COs seem to forget about workups, or simply fail to count it as "deployed" time in the grand scheme of things. It's the way to go for new single seat hornet guys leaving the RAG though. Trust me, you'll work your a$$ off but you'll be better for it. I have buddies who left the RAG with me who will leave their first fleet tour with a Section lead and nothing more by no fault of their own, and I'll leave a DIV lead ACTI with 1k+ hours, also by no fault of my own. It's just the way it seems to go.