Time from TBS to Flight School

[usmcmeg24]

I have a quick question and I apologize if this has been asked before, but I was wondering if there was an estimated wait time from the completion of TBS until flight school.

I have asked friends who are in the Marines, but since none of them are pilots or in the process of attempting to become a pilot, they were unsure.

Is there a possible estimate of wait time? Or what does it depend on? Thank you so much for your help in advance!

 

[scotty008]

I was in Fox Company... graduated in March 2006. Some guys got in in less than three months, while the tail end are just classing up now. It varies from company to company. Some of the Alpha guys are already through API despite graduating 3 months after Fox. Things change, but right now I'd say anywhere from 3-6 months.

*Alpha had something like 150 air contracts, which has backed things up somewhat. It ebbs and flows...

 

[usmcmeg24]

Thanks for letting me know! I really appreciate it!

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

The "vacation" is nice, but there are plenty of things you can and should do to fill in the time.

 

[scotty008]

This is just the wait time before starting API. Almost everyone gets the hell out of Quantico as soon as possible, except for those doing temporary duty and similar time-filling things. Your boyfriend will most likely finish up and move directly to P-cola for 6 months of stash job/golf/whatever it is that he does.

 

[USMCMidd]

You still collect a paycheck though after TBS while waiting for API to get going right? So you could have a potential 3-6 month 'vacation' for yourself on Pensacola beach on the governments dime?

 

[GT Propjock]

You still collect a paycheck though after TBS while waiting for API to get going right? So you could have a potential 3-6 month 'vacation' for yourself on Pensacola beach on the governments dime?

You will still be paid following TBS, since you are on active duty. So in essence, if you are not standing duty, after you check in for the morning, yes, you could be on vacation for the rest of the time. However, time management should prevail, such as getting ahead if you can find the pubs for API, MCMAP if you are interested in that stuff, and PME completion because once you start flight school time for that stuff will be a distant memory. But, at the same time...............Pensacola was a good time, so enjoy what it has to offer, as the government will get its moneys worth out of you soon enough.

 

[HokieJarhead]

POst Tbs Wait time

I graduated Alpha in June 2006. YOU're basically going to be in the pool of Lieutenants for atleast a month. The wait time depends upon whether you have completed IFS or not, whether you take a Stash(temporary) job or not, and how quickly you complete the Pre API checklist(Medical, Dental, Helmet fitting, etc.). You are going to have formations twice a week on monday and friday, and unless you have a temporary job that requires a heavy time commitment or are in IFS, then you are going to be tasked with trivial jobs(going to Wingings, Funerals, Frost calls, MATSG Cup, etc.) during the week. The key to getting what you want in the vein of Primary location(Whiting, Corpus Christi, Vance) and your API start date is not demanding what you want, but rather asking what you can do for MATSG in order to get what you want. If you want a lot of time between TBS and API, volunteer for a school of some sort(EWS, AMO, etc.), got on ptad, or go slow at completing the Pre-API checklist.

 

[usmcmeg24]

I actaully wrote this because it is my boyfriend who will be headed to flight school and we were trying to figure out if there was any sort of estimate in terms of wait time - we figured it would depend on a lot of different things. He's in IFS right now, so I was just trying to check - thank you all so much for your help!

 

[Killer2]

basically going to be in the pool of Lieutenants for atleast a month

Is it possible to take leave when you first arrive (June),or do you have to have certain things done prior to being allowed to take leave? Also how much time is given between graduation from TBS and NLT Report date to Pcola?

 

[jfulginiti]

I graduated Alpha in June 2006. YOU're basically going to be in the pool of Lieutenants for atleast a month. The wait time depends upon whether you have completed IFS or not, whether you take a Stash(temporary) job or not, and how quickly you complete the Pre API checklist(Medical, Dental, Helmet fitting, etc.). You are going to have formations twice a week on monday and friday, and unless you have a temporary job that requires a heavy time commitment or are in IFS, then you are going to be tasked with trivial jobs(going to Wingings, Funerals, Frost calls, MATSG Cup, etc.) during the week. The key to getting what you want in the vein of Primary location(Whiting, Corpus Christi, Vance) and your API start date is not demanding what you want, but rather asking what you can do for MATSG in order to get what you want. If you want a lot of time between TBS and API, volunteer for a school of some sort(EWS, AMO, etc.), got on ptad, or go slow at completing the Pre-API checklist.

I was Asst Marine Officer Control (MOC) at MATSG-21 from March 06 to September 06 (I'm now at VT-86). HokieJarhead has it right. The wait depends on what TBS class you are in. For pilots, expect anywhere from 2-6 months. Generally speaking, Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie companies are on the longer side and Delta, Echo and Fox are shorter. For NFOs, you'll start as soon as you get all the check-in stuff done. Everyone will have some sort of job at some point. Some are full time and some only take 1 hour per week. If you help us out, we'll help you out when it comes time to class you up for API.

You will get the standard travel and proceed when you leave TBS, which I'm pretty sure is 3 days travel and 4 days proceed for a total of 7 days. If you are planning on taking leave right after TBS, the normal way would be to have your PCS orders reflect leave enroute. So if you wanted to take 10 days of leave, your check-in date would be 17 days after leaving TBS (leave+travel+proceed). HOWEVER, the admin folks at TBS don't like/want to make special orders for every Lt checking out. So they give everyone the standard travel and proceed for where ever they are going next. It's much easier for you and us at the MOC if you could take leave enroute. So if you have a good reason, ask your SPC or admin folks and they may make an exception for you. Otherwise, you can take leave anytime after checking in to MATSG-21. Depending on your TBS class/expected pool time, we may have you complete several big ticket check-in items before approving leave (NOMI physical, legal appt, etc).

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

Ah, words from the horse's mouth. Thanks for helping us help you.