Tailhook?

[A4sForever]

Is this thread still alive?? I love it how everyone thinks there's another "way" to sharp-shoot the system and get the desired seat.

What you get is ALWAYS, repeat: ALWAYS a result of timing. We're assuming that all of you are trying your damndest to be the best you can be at every event and every stage you fly. If not --- why be there in the first place???

But you can be the best of the best -- and if the seats aren't there during your selection week --- you're not going to get "what you want" ... no matter how good your grades are/were. All you have left then, is pride.

One of my classmates was a RIO re-tread. Mike; a great big guy,smiley all the time, and an above average stick in almost everything. He was "protected" and "watched over" for almost all of his flight training, from Saufley to Wings @ Kingsville. He finished #1 -- but there were no F-4 seats that week ..... sooooooooooooooooooo, CNATRA found a "reason" to delay him for another 2 weeks.

Result: He got F-4s as they were available -- complements of the 2 week "delay" in his completion and Winging ......

Mike died at the ship off the cat @ 9 months later, day VFR, during CQ.

The moral: Do your best to beat the competition, put in for what you want, fly the shit out of whatever you get -- be the best in the squadron. That's the one formula for success that never changes ... never has; never will ...

 

[phrogpilot73]

What you get is ALWAYS, repeat: ALWAYS a result of timing.

Not to muddy the waters - but I would hardly say "ALWAYS" timing. Had a buddy that was in my squadron in Primary, put the following on his selection card: 1. C-130s, 2. Helos, 3. Jets. He had an astronomical NSS, so he was given jets. Several weeks later, as I was finishing up CPT's in the HT's (yes, I got my first choice - Helos) he shows up as a new check-in. When queried as to what he was doing there, he related his story of check-in with the CO in Meridian.

"So, are you looking forward to starting jet training?"

"Not really, Sir."

"It was your first choice, wasn't it?"

"No Sir."

"Then it had to be your second choice."

"No sir, it was my third. Truth be told - I put C-130's first because it's what my wife wanted. I really wanted to fly helos."

He got called while he was on leave in P-Cola putting his house on the market. It was his CO telling him not to sell his house just yet - because they were going to re-select him when he returned to Meridian. He went back and the CO asked him what he wanted, and he told him helos. He's now a CH-53E WTI... So it's not ALWAYS timing...

 

[tk628]

phrog that sounds like a needs of the service kinda thing.. its fortunate for your buddy that the CO didnt want to put someone in a jet who didn't want to be there.

 

[scoober78]

So it's not ALWAYS timing...

No...sometimes an appropriately timed hummer under the desk is successful as well...

 

[A4sForever]

....He went back and the CO asked him what he wanted, and he told him helos. He's now a CH-53E WTI... So it's not ALWAYS timing...

So how's that ultimately not timing ?? ... and someone lookin' out for him?? If the helo's weren't there -- he would not have got them. Or -130's. Or fast-movers.

Just like my dead classmate .... it's ALWAYS timing -- sometimes with added grease, which can "help" you or "hurt" you -- still timing. You could have walked across the street today and the fuel truck moving down to the ramp ran you over -- timing.

Don't fight it. Just do your best.

 

[Gatordev]

If the helo's weren't there -- he would not have got them.

Helos are always there, I think the "problem" was that Jets were there, at the time, as well. But that only proves your point.

 

[scoober78]

Helos are always there...

No...no they aren't.

 

[Reb]

I heard today that tailhook has been done away with and we're back to the original selection process....? can anyone confirm?

 

[NozeMan]

I heard today that tailhook has been done away with and we're back to the original selection process....? can anyone confirm?

If youre up at Milton, that seems to be the trend for the last few months. Guys put down "T" and were assigned jets or E2C2.

 

[jarhead]

So, who has heard CNATRA is getting rid of NSS in the near future?

I have, twice, on different (and recent) occasions, from good sources ... the only info I could gather is that the decision to retain or boot, and where an SNA goes for further training will be pushed down to the discretion of the training squadron skipper.

So I’ve heard … marinate on that rumor for awhile. If I hear more, I will post.

S/F

 

[cisforsmasher]

I heard today that tailhook has been done away with and we're back to the original selection process....? can anyone confirm?

for the time being, yes but they are working out the kinks. Should be back up and running very soon. The big problem was that TIS, the old grading system, could not be adjusted to handle a third syllabus. After the first try a few months ago, they reverted to jets/ e2c2 and gave those who selected tailhook their choice of TS or E2C2. Now with TIMS online in kingsville, the Tailhook selection will soon be valid again. So standby

 

[HH-60H]

So, who has heard CNATRA is getting rid of NSS in the near future?

I have, twice, on different (and recent) occasions, from good sources ... the only info I could gather is that the decision to retain or boot, and where an SNA goes for further training will be pushed down to the discretion of the training squadron skipper.

So I’ve heard … marinate on that rumor for awhile. If I hear more, I will post.

S/F

Are you joking? Just stirring up this thread? If not, that would really change the dynamics of flight school.

 

[pennst8]

^ How would selection work with no NSS???

 

[phrogpilot73]

^ How would selection work with no NSS???

I'd have to say that the balance of power would shift, and 80% would not get jets.

 

[Gatordev]

Are you joking? Just stirring up this thread? If not, that would really change the dynamics of flight school.

It isn't new news, and several of us on the site have been saying this for a while, it's just a matter of getting everything ready. I don't know when it will happen, but it's been on the radar for some time. I think the major hurdle right now is to get TW-1 over to MPTS and then they can start removing the NSS for everyone.