@Gatordev thank you, but I think
@FlyNavy03 started a new thread so that people wouldn’t have to sift through a bunch of information that wasn’t relevant to COPT-R. I never actually found a direct response to that persons above question about COPT-R.
That’s why I’m asking my questions here.
COPTR grad/current advanced student here: COPTR is 3 wonderful months in Fort Worth, and as a current student in Rotary Advanced I would say it definitely got me well-prepared for Day Fam portion of training. That is NOT to say the T-6 folks are bad sticks at all, but I speak for myself when I say that * I * would have been much more unsteady for these first few Day Fam helo flights. I am not the quickest learner and def needed the extra exposure I got at COPTR. That experience gave me more confidence in the aircraft and myself, which definitely lowered the helmet fire temps a bit.
For many reasons, I'm very glad I got to go the COPTR route. A couple main ones:
1. Medical: it was required that I to go COPTR if I wanted to get my wings: like some of my classmates, I got a boo-boo and thus could no longer do T-6's. Didn't care cause I wanted helos anyways from the jump. Also, it's much shorter than regular primary so it helped me catch back up with my peers once I was med-up.
2. Fun time: I may be out of pocket for this but I'm fairly certain you will never in your entire career get to go 3 months of civilian-led instruction far away from Big Navy and all the BS that comes with it- and it's some of the most fun training you may do. When I got the COPTR opportunity, I was told I would go TAD away from mom and dad for 3 months, stack up thousands in per diem (on top of pay) in a great city, and not stand weekend duty/watch/uniform inspections etc. Throw in learning to fly a helicopter and I felt downright guilty taking the offer. Best deal I've ever made, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to fly helos and experience Fort Worth/Dallas too. Lastly, every COPTR class has been tight, like a diverse little 8-person family. Almost a year after Fort Worth, we still hang out outside of work and have fun on weekends together, and that camaraderie started at COPTR. When I see a COPTR person on the sked with me I'm automatically stoked.
3. Platforms: It sounds like COPTR students have had good results regarding NSS (on average). HOWEVER, I've also heard that recently some Navy rotary wingers might be getting "quality spread" across platforms/coasts like the Marines have been known to do. So maybe it's all a moot point and the fates just decide. So, here's the usual advice that grades are important, but just always do your best and bloom where you're planted. For hard data: the first batch of COPTR folks have just winged recently, and due to the small sample size I wouldn't expect any real data on Legacy/COPTR folks going to what coast/platform for another year or so.
Lastly, if you get to COPTR and you think it's not for you I believe you can still just DOR and go T-6. But after well over 100 students and dozens more there now, not one has done so. Might be telling...
