Happy Memorial Day 2014. As a pilot in the Army, I have mad respect for the pioneers in combat rotary-wing aviation going back to Vietnam. The Huey pilots of the 60s & 70s paved the way in making military aviation what it is today.
Passed my UH-60M Contact checkride. :)
I have really good news. Not only did I ace my UH-60A/L contact checkride Friday, but I also found out from a higher up that my company is going to be recommending me for the Army Fixed-Wing Multi-Engine Qualification Course (FWMEQC) upon completion of the UH-60M course in March. It's a long story about how this came about, but if the position presents itself, I'll be getting trained in the C-12/RC-12X. I'm praying that I get it; time will only tell.
Just a photo from my first ever flight as a pilot in the UH-60 "Zack Hawk" Black Hawk.
My official start date for the U.S. Army's FSXXI UH-60M Black Hawk course is September 25th. :) Meanwhile, I'm studying like crazy while awaiting word as to where I'll officially be headed for my first duty assignment. I'm hoping either Germany or Ft. Campbell. :) I'm thrilled that my options are finally narrowing down now that I am on a specific career track. My goals are finally taking shape. :)
SHORT TERM GOALS My short term goal is to learn my aircraft and successfully complete the course here (obviously). Subsequently, I want to begin RL progression as soon as I make it to my first unit so I can become a Pilot in Command and Aircraft Commander. That should take another 1-2 years. Oh, and getting promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 will be a nice pay increase. :)
MID TERM GOALS I'm looking to get my Masters Degree in Homeland Security to assist my long term goals, but also be promotable to Chief Warrant Officer 3. Hopefully I can get a minimum of one deployment under my belt for career progression, a combat patch, and added weight to my resumé. I might also apply for a fixed-wing slot to be dual rated. LONG TERM GOALS "Long term" in this case is not that long; I'm looking at 6-8 years from now. Unless the job market is much worse than it is now (highly unlikely, but who knows), I'm planning on getting out of the Army and either getting a Direct Commission into the U.S. Coast Guard (top pic) or Customs & Border Patrol (bottom pic). The U.S. Coast Guard has an awesome mission in some pretty incredible locales around the United States -- and you're not getting shot at, which is a plus. If I could go to the CBP, I'd be making bank; additionally, I could serve in the National Guard and build two pensions from both federal and state service. Either way, flying Black Hawks is the best choice I could have made. The USCG & CBP both fly the latest UH-60M, and I'll be one of the few qualified to fly it. Exciting times. :)
BIG NEWS! Aircraft selection was today: I'll be flying the the latest model UH-60M "Zack Hawk" Black Hawk. All-glass cockpit, leather interior, and XM Sirius satellite radio (lifetime subscription, obviously) ... ok, well maybe not the last two, but I'm excited. My class will start mid to late September. :)
Yesterday I took (hopefully) my last flight in a scout/observation helicopter. The Kiowa is a fun little bird, but as a military pilot, I wouldn't want to fly something as vulnerable as that little guy... one engine, zero armor, and the co-pilot has an M4. I passed my Basic Warfighter Skills checkride, so now it's on to the last event of primary: the record APFT. Once I finish my PT test on Monday, the Order of Merit List will be finalized for Wednesday's aircraft selection. Finally. :)