TAO / Air Ops on CVN

[Monarch]

So, I’m applying for Lat transfer, but while I do that I get to discover what’s so fun about being a TAO or Air Ops onboard a CVN..

Doing either will give me something to put on a fitrep for sure, but I’m interested to know the actual daily life of these jobs. What is a normal workday like? How much sleep do you get? Does one have secondary jobs like being a DIVO? What are the watches/hours for each one? And of course, what are you specifically DOING in that job? Am I going to be staring at a radar screen in a dark room running training scenarios every day as a TAO? Does Air Ops stand in that dark room also, but writes flight scheds for multiple squadrons daily? I have absolutely no idea what these jobs entail. Any input is appreciated!

I’m excited to do one of these jobs while I prepare for lat transfer (despite aviation calling 1300 a wastebasket), but it would definitely make me feel more confident about choosing the right one if I knew a little about the job duties. Thanks!

 

[Brett327]

You may want to specify what job in Air Ops, as the actual Air Ops Officer is a non-screened O5, which I'm assuming isn't what you're talking about.

 

[Hozer]

TAO from '04 -'07 (goddam, 20 years ago?, wtf) Only one deployment though because the ship was decom'd (JFK). TAO was interesting. Lots of nerdy Link stuff and pretty amazing data fusion these days after coming from the days of HF data link, Link 11 and Hawklink.

TAO is in charge of defending the ship. You will be an expert in the employment of the ships self-defense systems, missiles, CIWS, etc. You will understand how layered defense works because of the integration of AW and the like. We shot the damn CIWS anytime we could, so that was always a good time.
You will stand watch in CDC pretty much everyday. You will be the OI DIVO, and have an opportunity to know a lot about what the "big picture" is because you will work closely with OPS.

TAO was harder to break out of the fitrep group because some shooters, A-Ops and ANAV were the preferred pre-DH JO jobs.
We also ran the Mess and had a fucking blast.
YMMV.

 

[OscarMyers]

TAO from '04 -'07 (goddam, 20 years ago?, wtf) Only one deployment though because the ship was decom'd (JFK). TAO was interesting. Lots of nerdy Link stuff and pretty amazing data fusion these days after coming from the days of HF data link, Link 11 and Hawklink.

TAO is in charge of defending the ship. You will be an expert in the employment of the ships self-defense systems, missiles, CIWS, etc. You will understand how layered defense works because of the integration of AW and the like. We shot the damn CIWS anytime we could, so that was always a good time.
You will stand watch in CDC pretty much everyday. You will be the OI DIVO, and have an opportunity to know a lot about what the "big picture" is because you will work closely with OPS.

TAO was harder to break out of the fitrep group because some shooters, A-Ops and ANAV were the preferred pre-DH JO jobs.
We also ran the Mess and had a fucking blast.
YMMV.

FTFY: “You will launch the alert aircraft more often then you’d care to remember for an airliner the cruisers whiskey watch stander somehow didn’t see take off from Doha international”

 

[Meyerkord]

Some of the comments on this Reddit thread might give you some ideas. The original post was removed but you can still read all the replies

 

[MIDNJAC]

FTFY: “You will launch the alert aircraft more often then you’d care to remember for an airliner the cruisers whiskey watch stander somehow didn’t see take off from Doha international”

More specifically, you wont understand the alert structure at all, you will attempt to “upgrade” an alert 60 to launch in 5 seconds (and they will tell you to get fucked and wont) and you will probably try to shoot down an airbus in the process. God save your soul “TAO”. You might properly set “the training environment” but that’s gonna be about it

 

[Monarch]

You may want to specify what job in Air Ops, as the actual Air Ops Officer is a non-screened O5, which I'm assuming isn't what you're talking about.

Correct, I’m not an O5 😂 I’m an O3 transferring at the end of ny first sea tour. No one has been able to talk to me about the duties of these jobs so figured I’d at least give this forum a try before the detailer gives me vague imaginative ideas about everything.

 

[Monarch]

TAO from '04 -'07 (goddam, 20 years ago?, wtf) Only one deployment though because the ship was decom'd (JFK). TAO was interesting. Lots of nerdy Link stuff and pretty amazing data fusion these days after coming from the days of HF data link, Link 11 and Hawklink.

TAO is in charge of defending the ship. You will be an expert in the employment of the ships self-defense systems, missiles, CIWS, etc. You will understand how layered defense works because of the integration of AW and the like. We shot the damn CIWS anytime we could, so that was always a good time.
You will stand watch in CDC pretty much everyday. You will be the OI DIVO, and have an opportunity to know a lot about what the "big picture" is because you will work closely with OPS.

TAO was harder to break out of the fitrep group because some shooters, A-Ops and ANAV were the preferred pre-DH JO jobs.
We also ran the Mess and had a fucking blast.
YMMV.

Interesting you say TAO is harder to break out….the detailer says, “I would go TAO because part of your job is getting qualified”, but that’s about as much recommendation as he has for the billet. My main goal is to transfer to FAO as quickly as possible, but I know that requires a great fitrep from sea duty. As far as I’m concerned both TAO/Air Ops would look equally fine, since no one has explicitly said one is preferred on a board over the other.

At the end of the day I also want to like my job though, and truthfully I’m not sure I’d like TAO as much as Air Ops… but it does sound interesting. What are the regular hours/watch hours like? Approximately how many OI’s are there? Who are the ship folk you worked with most? (OPS, NAV, ASWO- if that’s a thing on a CVN) Sorry for all the questions, my only experience seeing a TAO in action was as a 4 hour watch station on a DDG whenever we walked into CIC. They never looked like they hated their job, but they also never looked particularly like they wanted to be there, except when I brought them candy or food.

 

[Brett327]

Correct, I’m not an O5 😂 I’m an O3 transferring at the end of ny first sea tour. No one has been able to talk to me about the duties of these jobs so figured I’d at least give this forum a try before the detailer gives me vague imaginative ideas about everything.

Did you talk to your front office about this, or your Dept Heads? Why aren't they advocating on your behalf w/ PERS? I'm assuming that you're redesignating for cause, so I guess I'm confused why your command isn't taking care of you and providing the mentorship you need right now.

 

[Monarch]

Did you talk to your front office about this, or your Dept Heads? Why aren't they advocating on your behalf w/ PERS? I'm assuming that you're redesignating for cause, so I guess I'm confused why your command isn't taking care of you and providing the mentorship you need right now.

So at this point, my entire command knows I’m transferring after I decided to Volterm last month. Nothing academically or morally related as a cause, but a personal decision made for other reasons. Understandably they were a little surprised and gave me time to think about staying, but were accepting of my final termination when it came through.

Overall, from the start of this process, to now, I have heard from my DH’s things like this: “When you become a 1300 you’ll do some shit job like Fuel Officer or Shooter so don’t do that.” Or, “You’ll be on a carrier and it’s going to suck.” When I asked them about the actual jobs that would be available and what you do daily - quals, DIVO, watch stations, hours, etc. - they had no idea about any of it. Skipper also didn’t have much info. I somewhat understand this though, because if they’ve never done these jobs, then how would they know?

XO on the other hand, just transferred from being a GENAV detailer and has been more helpful. Still doesn’t have specifics about these billets, but is in contact with the detailer and working with us both.

One thing that’s weird is there’s an IA spot open for 6 months in Hawaii (not involving flying of course), and that job would end after my board date in August. XO is talking to the detailer to see if this IA would count as me completing my sea tour, rather than PCS somewhere new right now and immediately PCS shortly after the board results come out.

All in all, it’s a very confusing time. I also need to consider that FAO is hard to get and will most likely not accept me until I’ve racked up a good fitrep after a year in my 1300 job. With that said, this brings me to where I am now, posting on this forum. The detailer will come back to me with more info on Monday, but I also want to learn from people who have actually done these jobs. I may not have always wanted to be a TAO or AirOps, but would like to enjoy them as much as one can.

 

[cfam]

I can’t speak personally to TAO/Air OPS life, but I know at least one FAO with recent TAO experience that I can connect you with.

I’m also happy to share my experience transitioning to FAO and what life’s like in the community. To be honest up front, you’ll be at a disadvantage coming into the lat transfer board unless you have good paperwork from both your squadron and boat tours. Be prepared to apply multiple times. I’d definitely recommend talking to the FAO community manager about your particular situation if you haven’t already.

Feel free to PM with specifics on your personal situation, or I’ll be happy to field general FAO questions here for the benefit of anyone else that’s curious about FAOdom.

 

[Monarch]

I can’t speak personally to TAO/Air OPS life, but I know at least one FAO with recent TAO experience that I can connect you with.

I’m also happy to share my experience transitioning to FAO and what life’s like in the community. To be honest up front, you’ll be at a disadvantage coming into the lat transfer board unless you have good paperwork from both your squadron and boat tours. Be prepared to apply multiple times. I’d definitely recommend talking to the FAO community manager about your particular situation if you haven’t already.

Feel free to PM with specifics on your personal situation, or I’ll be happy to field general FAO questions here for the benefit of anyone else that’s curious about FAOdom.

I’ll definitely PM you, thanks! And yes I have talked to the OCM. They don’t seem too interested in my applying to FAO, probably because I’m not competitive as a JO at the end of my first sea tour, but they have answered some basic questions. I figured it doesn’t hurt to apply early though, and keep applying for as long as I can.

As for general questions, I’m interested to know how you get your first “real job” as an FAO. So say you get accepted, then do they then send you to CA for your degree in international relations? And then, if required, keep you there for language school for your region?

After that do you get to request a type of job, or will they delegate you into a spot? The HR page mentions Security and Defense Attache, but those are pretty general terms. I imagine every position, with the exception of someone who works in an embassy office for instance, will be traveling most of the time for work.

And lastly, do you have some semblance of work-life balance? Some people describe jobs as “living the dream” but then you realize they have a highly skewed vision of what having time to yourself looks like. Being overseas has made me realize I need to have time with my family in the states at least twice a year, or it feels like they hardly exist in my life.

 

[DanMa1156]

More specifically, you wont understand the alert structure at all, you will attempt to “upgrade” an alert 60 to launch in 5 seconds (and they will tell you to get fucked and wont) and you will probably try to shoot down an airbus in the process. God save your soul “TAO”. You might properly set “the training environment” but that’s gonna be about it

"NOW UPGRADE THE ALERT 60 SAR TO ALERT 5."
"NOW LAUNCH THE ALERT 5 SAR."

"Doesn't work like that pal... you can set that timer to 59 minutes and 30 seconds now."

 

[sevenhelmet]

"NOW UPGRADE THE ALERT 60 SAR TO ALERT 5."
"NOW LAUNCH THE ALERT 5 SAR."

"Doesn't work like that pal... you can set that timer to 59 minutes and 30 seconds now."

Take this to heart. It happens on every C2X ever… every. Time. Sometimes on deployment, too. Drove me bananas as a MO and OPSO.

Time to upgrade = current alert time - desired alert time (at minimum). There are legitimate reasons for that.

 

[SynixMan]

To the OP, are you winged? What's your community? None of your DHs have been to a CVN boat job?