Military Branch Survey

[OV10]

Maybe it's like working for McDonald's, after a while you get sick of hamburgers. Though there does seem to be quite a few Navy aviation rates.

More than a few ;)There used to be 25+ when I was in but in 1990 there was 8 that were merged into similar ratings.
My AQ (Aviation Fire Control) rating was merged into the AT's(Aviation Electronics Tech).
In my day on A-6 Intruders (early 70's) the AQ's were responsible for Inertial, Computer, Radar and Weapons release platforms while the AT's had the Radios, Displays, Navigation, Tactical and ECM Sensors.
Now these days the AT's have the complete avionics package which is quite the handful.:Whew:

[boomer108]

Thanx for the latest registrations guys.................this brings it to almost 80 vets that have acknowledged the brotherhood and stood up to be counted since I started this thread almost 2 years ago.:Cool:
The numbers are actually falling in line with my suspicions. ;)
The AF however I thought would be slightly higher rather than lower of the Army and Navy :pop

I would have thought so to.

[Valkpilot]

Thanx for the latest registrations guys.................this brings it to almost 80 vets that have acknowledged the brotherhood and stood up to be counted since I started this thread almost 2 years ago.:Cool:
The numbers are actually falling in line with my suspicions. ;)
The AF however I thought would be slightly higher rather than lower of the Army and Navy :pop

Maybe it's like working for McDonald's, after a while you get sick of hamburgers. Though there does seem to be quite a few Navy aviation rates.

[OV10]

Thanx for the latest registrations guys.................this brings it to almost 80 vets that have acknowledged the brotherhood and stood up to be counted since I started this thread almost 2 years ago.:Cool:
The numbers are actually falling in line with my suspicions. ;)
The AF however I thought would be slightly higher rather than lower of the Army and Navy :pop

[icepirate3]

USN 94' to 06. Aviation Machinist Mate (AD) VXE-6 Operation Deep Freeze LC-130's, based in Pt. Mugu Ca. and deployed to McMurdo Station Antarctica and Christchurch New Zealand, MALS-24 (Marine Aviation Logistics Support) test cell operator (multiple platforms) Kaneohe Bay, Hi., HSL-48/40 SH-60B Mayport Fl., deployed pretty much everywhere. First 2 years as an un-designated Fireman aboard the USS Emory S. Land AS-39 Norfolk VA. Realized quickly that I would much rather be above the water than on or below it!

[Hoomi]

Does this mean we can call you C3PO? Unless you're in the UK, then it'd be Davros.

I don't think I've ever been as fussy as Threepio. :)

[Valkpilot]

If there was anything I didn't like about the CIWS it was humping cases of ammo up to their sponsons. :Sweating: LOL!

Well those days may be coming to an end on the Ford class at least. JFK and Enterprise are supposed to have laser cannons instead of CIWS.

[Valkpilot]

I supported the CIWS program at General Dynamics, Pomona, for some ten years, and then for a few more years in Tucson before the line was moved to Louisville, KY. Great program for a Metrology Technician, as the system had just about everything - analog, TTL, high voltage, computers, motor controls, RF, IF, pneumatics, and one impressive 20mm Vulcan cannon. I miss Phalanx.

Does this mean we can call you C3PO? Unless you're in the UK, then it'd be Davros.

[WrightBrosRC]

I supported the CIWS program at General Dynamics, Pomona, for some ten years, and then for a few more years in Tucson before the line was moved to Louisville, KY. Great program for a Metrology Technician, as the system had just about everything - analog, TTL, high voltage, computers, motor controls, RF, IF, pneumatics, and one impressive 20mm Vulcan cannon. I miss Phalanx.

If there was anything I didn't like about the CIWS it was humping cases of ammo up to their sponsons. :Sweating: LOL!

[Hoomi]

USN '88 - '96 Ret. Disabled. Fire Controlman. USS Texas, USS California, Weps and RADAR spec. Harpoon, CIWS, RIM-66 surface to air, ASROC, Tomahawk and 5 inch guns.

I wouldn't trade that time for anything. I remember like yesterday the first time I stepped out onto the weather deck at night in the clear South Pacific sky.

I supported the CIWS program at General Dynamics, Pomona, for some ten years, and then for a few more years in Tucson before the line was moved to Louisville, KY. Great program for a Metrology Technician, as the system had just about everything - analog, TTL, high voltage, computers, motor controls, RF, IF, pneumatics, and one impressive 20mm Vulcan cannon. I miss Phalanx.

[WrightBrosRC]

Same here about night lite ocean sky... We were in the middle of the Atlantic heading to Little Creek amphib base from the Mediterranean during the short lived Gulf war... never seen sooo many stars in my life within a flat no obstructing 360 degree horizon. Thanks for your service!

...and thanks for yours as well. :Cool: Yeah, telling someone the stars are easier to see at night just isnt the same, eh? It's more like having a big screen telescope right in front of your face. :)

[Helmsman52]

Oh, didn't know the Chairforce did that too. Though in the Navy, the first half of boot was common core, second was specialized training if you were a drill company, like I was, and yes, I too was in drum and bugle.
But we still had PT, even worse, our Company Commander was a Water Safety and Physical Training instructor between companies.

My mom and dad were Marines on Paris Island at the time I was born... but I went Navy and ended up at Great Mistakes during the winter for boot. Our staff company 902 also did PT... abandoned ship... getting mashed... snow watches... also being a ARPOC/Honor Guard I ended up having to do IT (intensive training) with the seals... man that was interesting. Rifle ricks companies on the other hand seemed to be always getting mashed/hunting for Charlie and making it rain in their barracks along with regular PT.
All in all we started off with 87 in our company and graduated with 42. Good times...

[Helmsman52]

USN '88 - '96 Ret. Disabled. Fire Controlman. USS Texas, USS California, Weps and RADAR spec. Harpoon, CIWS, RIM-66 surface to air, ASROC, Tomahawk and 5 inch guns.

I wouldn't trade that time for anything. I remember like yesterday the first time I stepped out onto the weather deck at night in the clear South Pacific sky.

Same here about night lite ocean sky... We were in the middle of the Atlantic heading to Little Creek amphib base from the Mediterranean during the short lived Gulf war... never seen sooo many stars in my life within a flat no obstructing 360 degree horizon. Thanks for your service!

[WrightBrosRC]

USN '88 - '96 Ret. Disabled. Fire Controlman. USS Texas, USS California, Weps and RADAR spec. Harpoon, CIWS, RIM-66 surface to air, ASROC, Tomahawk and 5 inch guns.

I wouldn't trade that time for anything. I remember like yesterday the first time I stepped out onto the weather deck at night in the clear South Pacific sky.

[rctobes]

Active duty Navy 2012-Current. AME, Worked on F/A-18's (Legacy and Supers) then, Hawkeyes (E-2D) now I'm on CODs (C-2A) !

[Valkpilot]

The biggest thing I miss about the USAF is working on the airplanes. When I signed up, the recruiter asked me what career field I'd like to go into, and my main criteria was that it was on aircraft. With my ASVAB scores, he put me into Avionics Navigation Systems, more commonly called Radar/Nav. It was a pretty good field to get trained in, as it covered a wide spectrum of electronics. I've been steadily employed for over 37 years with that training.

What I miss the most is the travel. Over the course of 20 years I made 2 1/2 WESTPACS, 1 Med Cruise, a World Cruise, and various other ports of call. But my shore duty billets got weird. Most people are in either
San Diego or Norfolk. I had 2 years in Cleveland and 3 in New Orleans.

[Hoomi]

I miss the Army at times except when my back is killing me. Then: not so much.

The biggest thing I miss about the USAF is working on the airplanes. When I signed up, the recruiter asked me what career field I'd like to go into, and my main criteria was that it was on aircraft. With my ASVAB scores, he put me into Avionics Navigation Systems, more commonly called Radar/Nav. It was a pretty good field to get trained in, as it covered a wide spectrum of electronics. I've been steadily employed for over 37 years with that training.

[DR. Joy]

I miss the Army at times except when my back is killing me. Then: not so much.

[nuts-n-volts]

80-83 USS Constellation, 83-84 USS Kitty Hawk. AG2 (that's Aerographer's Mate or weatherman) Lauched all the weather balloons, bathythermagraphs, took observations, coded weather maps. Couldn't be a pilot cause of color vision. Dropped outta school and enlisted for the fun of it! Saw a couple of WestPacs and some of the greatest Navy aircraft of all time! Been building and flying models since I was 4 and to this day can't pass by a wooden glider without giving it a toss! Currently the local club president 'cause I just can't stop flyin' and talkin' about these things.

[Valkpilot]

Lackland. But then again, most of the basic trainees didn't know what PT was either. ;)

Oh, didn't know the Chairforce did that too. Though in the Navy, the first half of boot was common core, second was specialized training if you were a drill company, like I was, and yes, I too was in drum and bugle.
But we still had PT, even worse, our Company Commander was a Water Safety and Physical Training instructor between companies.