Flight Concepts Division

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[CharyouTree]

?

 

As always with secret squirrel types, you'll hear all sorts of wild speculation, rumors, and "no, I worked with them on x" about everything from their name, equipment, mission, equipment, training....

 

Until you've either been to a briefing from one of their guys, or been there yourself, I wouldn't believe half of it.

 

$.02

[Velocity173]

They'll come to your area to recruit at one time or another. Their requirements aren't that stringent but the accession process is. I know of only two guys who were picked up. Had a couple commanders who were former FC as well. Never had an interest myself.

[akscott60]

Think "what would the most elite of Tier-1 units want in an assessment"

 

Then let your imagination run wild.

[UH60L-IP]

Any information you receive here will be worthless and discussion about what they do would be based upon wild fantasy, assuming such an entity even exists.

 

There are entities within the government though about which you will never know unless you are a part of them and that has very little to do with flying helicopters. I am familiar with these supposed briefings - this is all I know and I am not holding anything back - if you attend a brief you will still not know anything about them once you leave. You won't know until after you are assessed and accepted, then you won't tell anybody. That is why asking a question about such an entity, while perhaps entertaining, is meaningless.

 

For those that have future aspirations in military aviation, you are so far from the possibility right now that it is like asking how you can replace the tooth fairy when he or she retires. It doesn't exist and even if it did you are nowhere close to being in the line, much less at the front of the line, to be considered for the position.

[Velocity173]

Flight Concepts exists and there's nothing secret about their existence. Wiki has a one paragraph description about their existence. Their exact missions are what's secret.

 

You'll see several pilot bios (Gen Cody) that list FC as a former command. My old XO is currently in the unit. If you haven't met someone in FC or been around for a recruitment, stick around, you'll know someone eventually. During my 12 yrs in, they came to my unit twice looking for people. The first time was by a well known former 160th pilot. Not a single one of my friends who applied were picked up.

 

Knew one guy (IP) I worked with at Lowe who got picked up and he told me very little about the accession process. Used to be a prep packet (physical fitness) going around that you could follow that would give you a shot at getting picked up.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Velocity173

[aeroscout]

I take anything from wiki with a huge grain of salt. I would only give wiki any credibility if there were 2 to 3 other reliable sources that agreed with them. What about CSSP ?

[Velocity173]

I take anything from wiki with a huge grain of salt. I would only give wiki any credibility if there were 2 to 3 other reliable sources that agreed with them. What about CSSP ?

FC exists. I know people personally in the unit. I know people chosen to access and turned down and sent back to our unit. It's not a secret. Do a simple search for Flight Concepts Division and Ft Eustis. Sometimes they change their name but they still exist and recruit at random intervals.

[akscott60]

One of our senior CW2s assessed and was selected. He is off doing great things Im sure.

[Yamer]

ah so thats what that locked up hanger is at eustis... hmmm good to know

[copter doctor]

I take anything from wiki with a huge grain of salt. I would only give wiki any credibility if there were 2 to 3 other reliable sources that agreed with them. What about CSSP ?

CSSP .You mean Secret Squirrel school, it is a "need to know" school and if you aren't sent, it is because you don't need to know. Not trying to be sarcastic, just the type of school it is.

[Velocity173]

ah so thats what that locked up hanger is at eustis... hmmm good to know

Lol! Eustis isn't exactly Area 51 status.

[Yamer]

no but theres ddfinately the one hanger that stands out and doesnt match the other run down crappy ones lol

[Velocity173]

no but theres ddfinately the one hanger that stands out and doesnt match the other run down crappy ones lol

They have a test division there as well so it might be them. Handful of XPs and various aircraft.

[Joe_P148]

 

If your interested in that route you will need to wait until they offer briefings in your area.

 

[Velocity173]

To the original poster, This isn't a thread that you should be starting on the internet. Speak with pilots at your unit that have been to the briefing about this.

 

Furthermore, if your interested in that route you will need to wait until they offer briefings in your area. Command's rarely give time off for people to attend them.

 

The 160th is always a conduit for anything above the crest of what we consider normal. If there was something like the title of your post, your best chances of doing it would be to already have an established reputation and knowledge within the S.O. community.

 

certainly you may be selected out of the big army, but your chances are much higher statistically speaking, coming from a S.O. unit.

Both times they came to our base our command let everyone attend. No different than going to a 160th brief. They also let guys assess.

 

Also in my experience prior S.O. doesn't really matter. All the people I know who got picked up were big Army. Even the commanders.

 

I agree, details of the unit shouldn't be discussed here but no one including myself has offered anything that is outside of a open public information search. Even those who have attended the meetings don't have any Opsec info on the division because that's not put out. Only people who know are those who assessed and they aren't going to tell you squat.

 

As far as you all wanting to go these types of routes, I think you'll find real life is far less glamorous than the fantasy. It's not like a movie.

Edited October 14, 2013 by Velocity173

[CharyouTree]

As far as you all wanting to go these types of routes, I think you'll find real life is far less glamorous than the fantasy. It's not like a movie.

 

as said by a SOAR 47G guy giving a few of us a tour down in Savannah: "We're not better pilots than you...they just give us an unbelievable budget, equipment and training".

 

That said...the capabilities of some of their aircraft are unreal.

[Velocity173]

 

as said by a SOAR 47G guy giving a few of us a tour down in Savannah: "We're not better pilots than you...they just give us an unbelievable budget, equipment and training".

 

That said...the capabilities of some of their aircraft are unreal.

Exactly. A lot of people think, well they all must have special hand & eye coordination that no one else has. Nope, just another aviator who graduated flight school like you and I. I knew plenty of great pilots who never applied to 160th or FC. You can make just as much impact as an aviator in big army as you can in special ops. Some units just have the money and the training to make those opportunities more common.

 

Being good and doing something that matters isn't a patch on your shoulder. I've met 12,000 hr NG pilots who could fly circles around some 2,000 hr 160th guy. Heck, when I was in OEF we even gave the ISAF CDR mission to the NG. Most important guy in theater flown by weekend warriors.

 

People who apply to these positions are looking to do something different. They're tired of being regular Joe Army Aviator. When you apply though, you have to ask yourself, how much of a difference can I make with this patch on my shoulder over my current one? To me the difference wasn't that significant to apply. If it was, then we wouldn't have had soo many former special ops guys coming back to big army after their gig in 160th. Like I said, the reality is never as good as the fantasy in your head.

Edited October 14, 2013 by Velocity173

[smalltownguy]

....I knew plenty of great pilots who never applied to 160th or FC...

 

... If it was, then we wouldn't have had soo many former special ops guys coming back to big army after their gig in 160th. Like I said, the reality is never as good as the fantasy in your head....

 

 

It's a totally different lifestyle. Even if it did live up to those fantasies in your head, it can burn people out just as easy as the boring jobs can. To each their own.

 

 

 

as said by a SOAR 47G guy giving a few of us a tour down in Savannah: "We're not better pilots than you...they just give us an unbelievable budget, equipment and training".

 

That said...the capabilities of some of their aircraft are unreal.

 

Haha silly people, pilots don't fly aircraft... money and paperwork does!

[annerajb]

Pardon the silly question since this may be of common knowledge to you guys. But let's say you are NG and miracously(assuming you can get transferred to the OK160 NG Unity or you are able to switch to active duty) get accepted for green platoon and pass. Is there a transition path from 160th SOAR to Flight Concepts Division?

Or once you get into 160th SOAR there is no way to join FCD?

[Lindsey]

The cart has really leapt ahead of the horse.

[aeroscout]

The cart has really leapt ahead of the horse.

And the quick brown fox leapt over the lazy dog...sir. -Bill Murray- "Stripes"

[Jester2138]

So guys, once I'm elected President of the United States of America, do I need to start working on my retirement speaking gigs then or do ex-Presidents usually wait until after their second term is over to start building their speaking niche?

 

I should be President by 2021 once I have my military experience and do a stint in Congress. I just want to get a jump-start on my plans. What do y'all think?

[aeroscout]

So guys, once I'm elected President of the United States of America, do I need to start working on my retirement speaking gigs then or do ex-Presidents usually wait until after their second term is over to start building their speaking niche?

 

I should be President by 2021 once I have my military experience and do a stint in Congress. I just want to get a jump-start on my plans. What do y'all think?

The current president did it without all that. I'd say by that measure, you'd be overqualified.

[smalltownguy]

Haha you guys can't blame people for dreaming! Motivation comes from different places for different people. I'm just happy people in this country still care about their future and have a drive to find out information about anything! That being said, simply getting qualified and in the seat would be a better short term goal that will keep the "cart behind the horse" and realign the stars ha!