Coast Guard DCA

[Talon64]

I'm assuming this place is fort Carson? Is the cab at Carson shutting down?

I was in a unit once that paid $5k on a desk with hydraulics haha, hence my question.

 

 

Back on topic...

 

Back in 2010 I had ambitions to join the army to fly, and then try to shoot for cg. I think it would be an awesome mission with awesome airframes lol. Now I'm probs too old.

[apacheguy]

It's hilarious when people freak after they find out that not every army pilot flies every day of their career....

 

Needs of the Army come first, never forget.

[Talon64]

I knew it wouldn't be an everyday flying job. I just found it hard to believe that you could go sooooo long without flying right out of flight school. That time in between, do you get sim time at all?

[cwil7280]

I know that they don't get to fly daily, but 6 months to a year? That's crazyness. Regardless, I'm still excited for flight school, and the occasional flying thereafter

[akscott60]

Flight school will be awesome. You will fly every day.

 

Cherish that.

 

Seriously.

[Joe_P148]

I'm assuming this place is fort Carson? Is the cab at Carson shutting down?

I was in a unit once that paid $5k on a desk with hydraulics haha, hence my question.

 

 

Back on topic...

 

Back in 2010 I had ambitions to join the army to fly, and then try to shoot for cg. I think it would be an awesome mission with awesome airframes lol. Now I'm probs too old.

Why would you join the Army with the hopes of going to the coast gaurd? Why not just join the coast gaurd. Believe it of not the Army spends a lot of money on you and they actually value your employment, when and if, you have something to contribute to the Army.

[Talon64]

Why would you join the Army with the hopes of going to the coast gaurd? Why not just join the coast gaurd. Believe it of not the Army spends a lot of money on you and they actually value your employment, when and if, you have something to contribute to the Army.

To be honest, joe... I think those ambitions arose from a movie about the coast guArd hero. I don't even remember the name. And immaturity. Plus their helicopters have awesome paint jobs. Childish... I'm aware. Plus that was 2 ranks ago and a ton more experience since then has led me to be more decisive and sure of the decision to become an aviator in the Army.

 

I admire your passion.

[2ndGen]

Why would you join the Army with the hopes of going to the coast gaurd? Why not just join the coast gaurd. Believe it of not the Army spends a lot of money on you and they actually value your employment, when and if, you have something to contribute to the Army.

 

Getting into the Coast Guard is far more difficult than the Army. To commission out of college, there are a lot of stipulations that are hard for the average guy to meet. But to transfer means you are already a pilot, if you get accepted, hooray! If not no biggie. Plus you get to fly AND get paid as a commissioned officer. In the Army you have to choose money or flight time. I chose flight time, but it looks like I'll be getting the crap end of both sticks. Little money, little flight time. A victim of poor timing

 

If the Army wants to get their investment out of aviators, they wouldn't have them flying desks for 6 months to a year (outside normal career progression training, obviously). To go to a unit and not fly, is a compete and total waste of all the money they just spent to train that pilot. For someone with a few thousand hours in an aircraft, they can get out for a while and get back in and still be proficient. To have 100 or so, then not fly for a year, there is going to be another learning curve there.

[zaurus]

Everything is based on timing. With the down turn, for those newly rated AWOs not flying for months on end will more than likely fall behind their tracked peers in promotion. This peace time Army will be interesting for Warrant Officer aviators.

[AW1985]

The Army is not the only branch that isn't flying. I have several USAF buddies that commissioned and waited for up to 1-2 fiscal years for their training slot at UPT. Their jobs/assignments during that time were not that glamorous.

 

On the other hand the Army could care less about their investment. You're just a number in a cohort year group. If you leave there are hundreds of guys behind you that will fill your slot. It sounds cynical but there is no one in Aviation that ISN'T easily replaceable. In the civilian world too. Most pilots are or should be looking for the next best gig, and the ones who don't will be out of the pilot seat sooner rather then later in this climate.

[Joe_P148]

So I take it most of your are a glass is half empty type of thinkers...

 

I plan for contingencies but don't expect the worst.

 

Sometimes you gotta look at the good things, we were spoiled with flight time for a long time. I remember days where I just wanted to take a break.

 

Enjoy the downtime, we will be wrapped up in another conflict within a few years. Men have been fighting wars for millions of years I'm highly doubting they are gonna stop now just because it's the 21st century.

[cwil7280]

So I take it most of your are a glass is half empty type of thinkers...

 

I plan for contingencies but don't expect the worst.

 

Sometimes you gotta look at the good things, we were spoiled with flight time for a long time. I remember days where I just wanted to take a break.

 

Enjoy the downtime, we will be wrapped up in another conflict within a few years. Men have been fighting wars for millions of years I'm highly doubting they are gonna stop now just because it's the 21st century.

 

There is some optimism! I think.. haha

[Velocity173]

We always complain about having enough hours but our military still flys more than any other. Prior to OIF I I was looking at some of the threat data that S2 gave us. I won't tell you exactly what the Iraqis averaged per year but I can tell you I flew more than that in a month.

 

Never did I hope for conflict to get hours after flight school. In fact, in 2000, conflict never entered my mind. I thought I'd spend 12 yrs training for a war that would never happen and then retire. Didn't quite work out that way. Prepare for it and if it comes it comes. I'd say after the last two wars being extremely unpopular and actually worsened the economy (unlike some wars) it'll be a long time before America has the stomach for another one. That should be a positive thing. Just be damn glad you've got an AVCATT to train in.

 

I support those who go CG. Real world mission, demanding flying and rewarding. Personally never considered it myself (shark phobia) but all my friends who went, love it. Just texted a friend yesterday about annual flight time. He's averaged over 320 hrs per year in the Jayhawk. Said only 25 % of that is actually SAR. Kinda surprised me. Unless you're an IP you won't come anywhere near that in the Army. Be warned though, 6 hr stressful flights with no landings is not good for the back.

[zVo]

Is there anyone here that has gone through the USCG DCA program?

 

It seems near-impossible for warrant officers to make it with the maximum 10 years time-in-service limitation they have, but guys apparently still pull it off. Even if you're a street-to-seater, you have to figure ~ 2 years TIS for BCT/WOCS/IERW, then 6 years for your flight school ADSO (puts you at about 8 years), then assuming you get promoted to CW3, you incur a 2 year ADSO that is usually concurrent when you have about one year left, putting you around 9-10 years, thus disqualifying you for the program.

 

The only thing I can think of is that guys that apply somehow get a DD Form 368 Conditional Release and essentially get an ADSO waiver ... unless I'm totally missing something.

 

The only thing that seems to fit that timeline is declining CW3, going to a USAR/ARNG unit, and then applying to the USCG.

Edited July 13, 2014 by zVo

[CharyouTree]

Is there anyone here that has gone through the USCG DCA program here?

 

It seems near-impossible for warrant officers to make it with the maximum 10 years time-in-service limitation they have, but guys apparently still pull it off. Even if you're a street-to-seater, you have to figure ~ 2 years TIS for BCT/WOCS/IERW, then 6 years for your flight school ADSO (puts you at about 8 years), then assuming you get promoted to CW3, you incur a 2 year ADSO that is usually concurrent when you have about one year left, putting you around 9-10 years, thus disqualifying you for the program.

 

The only thing I can think of is that guys that apply somehow get a DD Form 368 Conditional Release and essentially get an ADSO waiver ... unless I'm totally missing something.

 

The only thing that seems to fit that timeline is declining CW3, going to a USAR/ARNG unit, and then applying to the USCG.

 

I'm not 100%, but I'd suspect it has to do with being able to go to another service, while still serving that ADSO. As you said, you can also decline the promotion, though if you don't get accepted for the DCA, you're probably on your way out, at that point.

[Velocity173]

I think most get an inter service transfer. My Plt Ldr at Lowe did that. Another good friend of mine flying out of E City NC was street to seat, got out of the Army and applied to CG maybe 2 yrs after getting out. Both of those guys were on the Weather Channel Alaska special. I wanna say CG is 70 % former Army.

[zVo]

Interesting.

It sounds like an interservice transfer then. As appealing as the program is, I feel it'd probably be pretty easy to piss off your chain of command in the process -- even if the request is done diplomatically and in the most professional manner. The DD Form 368 (conditional release) sounds like it probably needs to get signed by one's branch manager -- that's probably where the "ADSO waiver" would fall in place. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but not getting selected sounds like it could get ugly.

[Creep0321]

 

Interesting.

It sounds like an interservice transfer then. As appealing as the program is, I feel it'd probably be pretty easy to piss off your chain of command in the process -- even if the request is done diplomatically and in the most professional manner. The DD Form 368 (conditional release) sounds like it probably needs to get signed by one's branch manager -- that's probably where the "ADSO waiver" would fall in place. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but not getting selected sounds like it could get ugly.

 

Just trying to get an DD 368 to submit my WOFT application pisses people off in my chain of command. O well.

[Joe_P148]

Is there anyone here that has gone through the USCG DCA program?

 

 

The only thing that seems to fit that timeline is declining CW3, going to a USAR/ARNG unit, and then applying to the USCG.

Two guys I know made it both street to seat and both declined CW3.

[zVo]

Unless HRC is okay with reneging a declined CW3 promotion (doubtful), sounds like quite the gamble.

[Joe_P148]

HRC doesn't have a choice. You don't have to sign your board file when it's time for your board. What pisses HRC off is when you don't let them know your intentions and blind side them with the decision to get out or try out for the coast gaurd. If you let them know your intentions your USUALLY in the clear. It's the same for assessing, tracking, PME and PCSing.

 

The problem arises when guys have one foot in the Army and one foot somewhere else. You have to commit to your plan. The Army doesn't like to play the "if I don't make it to the CG, I'll take that CW3 rank" game.

[Hotdogs]

Just trying to get an DD 368 to submit my WOFT application pisses people off in my chain of command. O well.

 

Considering your MOS, that's not surprising.

[zaurus]

In the end game, it's a win win for everyone including the defense department. You have enlisted from other services applying for the WOFT program and AWOs taking their talents to the other services in finishing their military flying careers.

 

Regarding the CG, they are always strapped for cash especially for flight training. If the AF needs additional helo pilots for whatever reason, they know they can always tap the Army pool of aviators.

[zVo]

For anyone Army who has gone through DCA, who ended up signing your DD Form 368?

[CharyouTree]

For anyone Army who has gone through DCA, who ended up signing your DD Form 368?

 

http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/continue-serving/transitioning-services/making-the-switch.html

 

I would assume it doesn't matter where you're going. GO signs off on it.