Selected P-3 out of Advanced

[Uncle Fester]

As Jimmy Buffett says, burn that bridge when you come to it.

When your front office or hinges ask you what your goals in the Navy are, you say "I don't know sir, what do you recommend?" And when someone asks you if you're a god, you say "yes!"

 

[Smirnoff]

As Jimmy Buffett says, burn that bridge when you come to it.

When your front office or hinges ask you what your goals in the Navy are, you say "I don't know sir, what do you recommend?" And when someone asks you if you're a god, you say "yes!"

 

[Smirnoff]

Yes keep your cards close. If I told the hinges what I wanted out the gate I would have been the assistant to the assistant. For that reason I got Mission commander, instructor, and QA (top job), then I dropped the NPS bomb on them and ate an MP for it. But hey, my bullets speak for themselves. Also, you should have chose VQ so you could have driven the P-3 legacy into the ground.

 

[Clarence Delivery]

I'm about to wing out of VT-31 and I also selected P-3s. I realize this is pretty late in the game to be going P-3s but I was just wondering if anybody had any more information about the P-3 to P-8 transition. Last I've heard is VP-40 will be the last squadron to transition sometime in 2019.

 

[CommodoreMid]

If you end up in the last squadron, and it sounds like you will, you'll make transition, but likely not as a level 300. Work your ass off to get as close to qualifying as you can, and it will pay dividends. Granted, that goes for anyone going to any squadron, but especially for transitioning squadrons.

 

[Dangy]

I'm about to wing out of VT-31 and I also selected P-3s. I realize this is pretty late in the game to be going P-3s but I was just wondering if anybody had any more information about the P-3 to P-8 transition. Last I've heard is VP-40 will be the last squadron to transition sometime in 2019.

If timing works, and you immediately report to VP-30, finish on time, , you'lll might be selected to VP-46 just prior to their last P-3 deployment, or VP-40. Either way, you'll go through the transition, and should be P-8 PPC by your PRD. look forward to the PNW, its a gorgeous place.

 

[Dontcallmegump]

Thread resurrection: EP-3 edition.

Just getting started in multi engine and already I've heard more than a few people refer to the possibility of EP-3s as "losing the lottery" or in some other negative connotation. At the same time I've heard going VQ is good for getting lots of hours, traveling to many places and the ambiguous "its good for your career". Thag being said, I'm much more intent on going to Whidbey than flying a P-8 right out of the gate.

So, aside from the obvious difference of not flying in VP and the new P-8s, whats the difference to the avg JO? How would volunteering for EP-3s change the trajectory of post wings dontcallmegump? What are the differences between the two communities, aircraft and other aspects of life?

Asking as a primer so if/when the topic comes up in training I can get a better sense of the (illusion of) choice ahead of me.

 

[Waveoff]

So far, roughly half of every VP-30 class for P-8s is going to whidbey. If you choose EP-3s you'll be in VP-30 anyway so you can't avoid Jax (unless you select E-6). I'm wearing double anchors and idgaf about hours so I can't speak to that. Your T-44 instructors will have the best pilot specific info for that. What I will say is that the P-8 is the new hotness and life is good. We deploy on regular intervals and go to some pretty cool places.

 

[Jim123]

Don't forget, there are only two communities with an air to air kill in the last twenty years: VFA and VQ(P). No matter how cool the Franken737 seems, the ElectricElectra has the last word on this one.

 

[FLGUY]

Thread resurrection: EP-3 edition.

Just getting started in multi engine and already I've heard more than a few people refer to the possibility of EP-3s as "losing the lottery" or in some other negative connotation. At the same time I've heard going VQ is good for getting lots of hours, traveling to many places and the ambiguous "its good for your career". Thag being said, I'm much more intent on going to Whidbey than flying a P-8 right out of the gate.

So, aside from the obvious difference of not flying in VP and the new P-8s, whats the difference to the avg JO? How would volunteering for EP-3s change the trajectory of post wings dontcallmegump? What are the differences between the two communities, aircraft and other aspects of life?

Asking as a primer so if/when the topic comes up in training I can get a better sense of the (illusion of) choice ahead of me.

One rather obscure positive reason I see for guys going EP-3 is because due to VQ-1 getting extended over and over and over again, they keep bringing back “fleet returnee” pilots who are just leaving their shore tour to do a “disassociated” tour at VQ-1. Good way to avoid the boat. Several IPs I knew from flight school got picked up for that while I was at VP-30. Plus the EP-3 guys are flying much more that the P-8 guys overall, like you said. Mostly because of how much time we spend in the simulator. Guys can expect around 900-1100 hours total time leaving a P-8 JO tour, whereas EP-3 guys I hear regularly get 1300.

Neither should be a reason to put VQ on top of your dream sheet in advanced, but there are always some positives for flying the old and busted, vs the new hotness.

 

[Dontcallmegump]

Neither should be a reason to put VQ on top of your dream sheet in advanced, but there are always some positives for flying the old and busted, vs the new hotness.

Why not? Fly more in the first tour, and maybe buy yourself another flying tour later on down the line? Those seem like legit reasons to prefer one over another.

I also have considered it just out of a desire to take a path less traveled when the two options seem more or less equal. Why not do the different thing and have a more unique experience?

I guess what I'm asking is: "are there any pitfalls or trade offs in the case of getting a VQ assignment, that I should be aware of before putting it down on the dream sheet?"

 

[Dontcallmegump]

So far, roughly half of every VP-30 class for P-8s is going to whidbey. If you choose EP-3s you'll be in VP-30 anyway so you can't avoid Jax (unless you select E-6). I'm wearing double anchors and idgaf about hours so I can't speak to that. Your T-44 instructors will have the best pilot specific info for that. What I will say is that the P-8 is the new hotness and life is good. We deploy on regular intervals and go to some pretty cool places.

E-6 is a primary selection for SNA's these days. After selecting maritime my only two "options" would be EP-3s or P-8s.

FWIW I would have rather flown anything before an E-6.

 

[FLGUY]

Why not? Fly more in the first tour, and maybe buy yourself another flying tour later on down the line? Those seem like legit reasons to prefer one over another.

I also have considered it just out of a desire to take a path less traveled when the two options seem more or less equal. Why not do the different thing and have a more unique experience?

I guess what I'm asking is: "are there any pitfalls or trade offs in the case of getting a VQ assignment, that I should be aware of before putting it down on the dream sheet?"

Because as valid as the points I made are, the main reason you should pick a community/platform is based on how much you think you’ll enjoy it/how good of a fit it will be for you. (In my opinion at least). Quality of life is very important. Flight hours are king if you’re trying to get a good flying job post-Navy, but as you can see due to covid the airline industry is in a temporary slump. Not always as easy as “Walk out the Navy one day, and into Delta the next”.
As far as “pitfalls” go, not really. Worst case scenario is you’re in the VQ community on a Sea tour and the community goes away, in which case who knows what they would do. Maybe send you P-8, MQ-4, or wherever the detailer can find you a spot I guess. You can never predict that kind of stuff. Based on your current timing I imagine you would be at the end of your JO tour when VQ sundown. (based on current sundown timeline)

 

[Dontcallmegump]

Because as valid as the points I made are, the main reason you should pick a community/platform is based on how much you think you’ll enjoy it....

Ok, that makes sense. I'm not an hour hound and have no strong desire to separate when my time comes. I'm in this for what it brings and whatever makes sense down the line.

The biggest reason I would choose VQ right now is to be back in the PNW as thats very important to my quality of life.

As far as VQ v. VP, what would the differences be in comminity/mission and life? What would determine a good fit between one and the other?

 

[Angry]

Ok, that makes sense. I'm not an hour hound and have no strong desire to separate when my time comes. I'm in this for what it brings and whatever makes sense down the line.

The biggest reason I would choose VQ right now is to be back in the PNW as thats very important to my quality of life.

As far as VQ v. VP, what would the differences be in comminity/mission and life? What would determine a good fit between one and the other?

Missions are completely different. ELINT/SIGINT vs. ASW/ASUW/ISR/MIW/HADR/whatever the fuck else the Navy decides to saddle you with with no notice. EP-3 deals with some if the most high-priority mission sets in the entire military. P-8 if you're good enough you might get to blow some shit up. Most of the details can't be discussed here, so find an instructor and a SCIF.

P-8 squadrons deploy for roughly 7 months at a time first in/last out. About 11 months on home-cycle. The squadron is typically split between 2 locations, sometimes more. You'll see your friends a decent amount, and get to see some fun places, but almost always be with the CO/XO or senior DH. VQ-1 sends crews out on 3 month detachments. They go to mostly different places, usually with an O-4 in charge, sometimes with an O-3. Gone for less, but much more frequently. Usually much less notice when a bird needs to be swapped or a new requirement gets mandated.

As a pilot you'll have a good opportunity to reach mission command early if you work hard, but your job will really be to fly the aircraft to the op area. The real work gets done in the back of the plane. Some single anchors will disagree, but they are kidding themselves. I'd assume that pilots are more involved in the P-8 missions because flying ASW patterns requires coordination between flight and TACCO, but a EP-3 pilot could correct that.