bronxbomber252

In the HC-130, we fly with an M9 and M4 each, and (in some AOR’s) M203’s mounted on our loadmaster’s M4’s. We also fly with bunch of illumination flares in the cargo hold that can melt through the floor. Pyro on the plane doesn’t bother me as long as people are properly trained.

3

Go under blue four news, then scroll down to the Mishap Summary Briefs (MSB). It should be one of the top two

The Flight approved OCP jackets cost way more than even my fully loaded A2 from pops.

Its not just the loads making fun of you... That said I am sure the KC-10/135 crews make fun of us for falling off the boom at 200KCAS while we are at or near max continuous and they have their flaps hanging. (HC-130J guy)

Shooter hat = OCP baseball cap

Show them the reg, then ask them to show you where it is written that you need to meet what they are saying.

IMHO, it will depend on how it is worded. From a Rescue perspective, I would like to see something like: SQ/CC can waive crew rest for real world rescue missions. Basically constrain the authority to missions where a fast decision is needed and lives depend on the mission going right now.

Well... if nothing else, I don't have to worry about my board next year if this actually happens like it seems it will. (I'm a 2010 guy so my board is 2018)

What could possibly go wrong?

Or PJ's they are highly trained, went through a tougher course than UPT, routinely fly on HH-60's and HC-130's, even wear aircrew wings.

Thats not really a question anyone here can answer for you. You and your family need to sit down and have a serious discussion about the pros and cons and decide what is best for all of you based on the priorities you all agree to. Adding food for thought: the C-130 is going to give you the mission closest to AFSOC while being in AMC. Very busy, very involved in tactical ops, lots of base choices including overseas. The HC-130 (ACC rescue) has its share of issues but flying style is very similar to AFSOC and and doesn't go to Cannon (Moody and DM for ops, Nellis for WIC, DM for test, and Kirtland for FTU). The main problems with the HC-130 are less involved (people don't need to be rescued very often) and a little bit of an identity crisis regarding what capabilities need to be developed or abandoned.

When did you go. I went about a year ago and there was a Capt in my flight who had just pinned on a few months prior and was going to be an instructor as soon as he finished.

Thank god we are getting my HC-130J CSO's we are painfully short manned. BTW, it is always CSO with the HC-J; nav went away with the HC-P

https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/air-force-rolls-out-13-year-455-000-bonuses-for-fighter-pilots As a 12H, $20,000 for 5 might make sense. Assuming I make major, the timing of my next PCS and the timing of this 5 year one both ADSC's would be expiring would be the same year (roughly) and with the ADSC for my current PCS and my TA, I'd only have about a 6-9month window in which I could punch before that next PCS anyway. So basically I'd get $100,000 for what is effectively a 2 year extension. I have some contemplating to do.

Some 23d wing CSAR guys are wearing them, (all are authorized, just not all choose to) at Moody, DM, and Nellis.

FIFY

As a 12H, and one who actually likes his job, here is my take on it. And it is multifaceted. HC-130's have some of the worst promotion rates in the USAF (2 years ago we had something like 2/7 make major) which makes many feel unappreciated. There are a few reasons behind this. First we do a lot of alert and waiting for stuff to happen, which rarely does. This means that we don't rack up the impressive numbers that the 12S's and other 12's do. This is especially hard when seeing the stuff a lot of the 12S's with similar aircraft and skill sets get to do and how well 11S/12S tend to do for promotions. Second, our community tends to be bad a writing and taking care of people's careers (stingy with strats, medals, etc... for example) though that part appears to be starting to improve. Aside from promotions, there is sometimes a perceived "second class citizen" status of the HC-130 guys within in the rescue community. IMHO this appears to be improving as well. Because of all of the above, many in the community feel that rescue is a dead end job so they want to get out so they can advance elsewhere. As for me, I was a civilian firefighter in High School and College who joined the air force because it seemed like a nearly as fun way to serve (compared to career firefighter) with much better pay. I found out about the HC-130 at UCT and the mission spoke to the firefighter in me and still does. But I love rescue in spite of its flaws, not in denial of them.

Maybe looking through old records and trying to decide what to put on a PRF?

ABQ's quality and quantity of food and bars is superior to Clovis as well

Most likely either USAFR HC-P, or AD or ANG HC-J... The AD is not slated to be finished receiving their HC-J's until about 6 months from now. Some time After that AK ANG will start receiving their J's. Last I heard the one USAFR HC unit (patrick) is not slated to get their J's until 2018-2020 time frame.

Unsure of the TX course. I am a current HC-J CSO at moody who flew the old P models for a few years as well. Training is almost identical for HC and MC. Ops tempo including TDY and deployment is roughly 1-1 with deployments being in the 4-5 month range. The mission changes with AOR. Mission was CASEVAC in Afganistan, and rescue alert elsewhere. In some AOR's it is easy to feel under utilized because they are primarily SOF. When the SOF guys do a high risk op, they usually have a SOF backup plan if it goes south leaving rescue as the backup to the backup, but we do get alerted and launched for pop up issues (i did one such mission on my last deployment, we were even the RV, left the helo's at home). In that AOR we also flew some overflow trash hauling missions since the single slick was not enough, and some overflow SOF infil/exfil/resupply since they often needed more airlift than they had. In more conventional AOR's that involve more fighter and bomber missions we pull airborne or ground alert for those guys as the primary rescue force. As far as flying opportunities, we honestly get less hours than the MC guys especially since there is a lot of alert time while deployed. At home, it seems the typical schedule will be 7x 5hr sorties per week, which should translate to 1-2 flights per week for most. As for job satisfaction, it depends greatly on your personality. If your satisfaction comes from being the center of the action and racking up hours, the HC may not be for you. For me the job satisfaction in this community comes from knowing that your presence makes all our guys safer, flying a highly rewarding mission that only occurs occasionally is needed, etc... I really enjoy the launch and have to plan the whole mission on the fly aspect as well. It does take a certain mentality to really love rescue. Valdosta, imho, is not bad. We are easy weekend trips from many awesome places, there are a few good restaurants and bars in town, the locals are very pro military, but it is definitely country living (pro or con depending on personal preference). If you are into cars there are plenty of activities from off road to autocross to drag racing, a few good gun clubs if you are into shooting, plenty of hunting opportunities. Morale at the squadron seems to be steadily improving. It seems that a combo of more utilization, many of the bitter types getting out/moving, and the new J capes are having a very positive effect on the community. It does seem that we are trending towards being more involved/utilized and getting more hours.

Yes, its the camo painted Herc by the main gate in front of the visitor center. Remember checking it out when I went through there in 2012.

Word to the wise on C-130's, from an HC-130 CSO. If you go this route, best bet is to find a unit with a specialized C-130 (WC/EC/HC/MC/ETC). The slick C-130 navs are slowly going away, but so far, all the specialized ones have kept the CSO going to the J.

I'm on my 4th TDY there in 2 years. (6 months for FTU 2 years ago, 1 week and 3 week trips for safety school 1.5 years ago, and I am back for 5.5months for another FTU) I'll echo what other's are saying, all the recommended areas are really nice and pretty different, so I suggest checking them all out. For my two FTU trips I got an apartment in the NE Heights and love it up here. Lots of easy access to running/biking/hiking trails, and great views, but as other's have said $$$. Great weather, if you do any recreational flying, there is awesome flying here.