$3.50... try not to spend it all in one place. Depending on who they're there with, overland Iraq is another $7.50 for Imminent Danger Pay... plus Air Medal points.

Even in Isa? I had heard it was a little higher.

Negative, Ghostrider... I know from very firsthand experience. It is tax free though, and you get your own room/air-conditioned shipping container.

Ah okay so their out of the tents now atleast haha. Oh well! $3 is better then nothing I guess.

Graduated bootcamp July 24th, got to Pensacola on August 4th and classing up for NACCS tomorrow!!

If anyone has any questions about what goes on here at NACCS, ask away!

@navygirl so whats it like just being there so far. i been told it will take a while for me to class up so yea....

I've been here for 3 and a half weeks. I got here on a Tuesday, spent the week in what they call backlog, which is a holding group. It has people waiting to class up for NACCS, and grads waiting to move over to a school. The first Monday you are here you will be in indoc for a week, and then backlog for a week after that. Most people class up for the start of their third week here if you don't have any holds. RSS is another story. There are people who have been waiting to class up for RSS for months.

Morales,

What's up, dude? I'm Haasino, the resident AW here... I'm still getting settled in here on deployment, but I've got internet access in my hotel room, so I should be able to get back to you within about 24-48hrs if you have any questions... in the meantime:

I'll say! I swear, the Navy doesn't understand the AW pipeline at all when they give out SelRes AWO orders... you'll see why in a second.

It's more than a bit odd... not even touching on the fact that they're making you take the AWO2 exam (What's your current paygrade?)... without the Water Survival training from NACCS, "A" School, VP-30, and SERE, you are unable to fly on naval aircraft as anything but a passenger. Given that our job only exists in the back of a plane, I'm not sure what they're planning there...

So, as I touched on above, in order to be given the basic 8201 Aircrew Candidate NEC, you'll need to graduate Naval Aircrew Candidate School. So NACCS is the first school you'll need. The next NEC that will be awarded will come at the end of Category I Fleet Replacement Aircrew Training at VP-30... you'll be awarded one of four NEC's depending on whether you went P-3C Orion or P-8A Poseidon, and whether you're an Acoustic or Non-Acoustic Operator. The trick there, is that those orders originate from AW "A" School... so while "A" School technically doesn't give you an NEC, you need it to get your foundation and orders to VP-30. Finally, all Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircrew are required, at a minimum, to attend 14 days of Level-C SERE in either Warner Springs, CA or Rangeley, ME... most AWO's will be required to attend more advanced follow-on courses at other sites in the future. Once all of those classes have been completed, and you've passed an Open/Closed Book NATOPS exam and Check-Ride, you'll be able to fly as aircrew and begin the 18 month AWO PQS.

Unfortunately, 98% of everything we need to know is not obtainable unless you have SIPR access. The only things I can think of that are Unclass and potentially obtainable would be the OPNAVINST 3710.7U for NATOPS, the Stennis Space Center RP 33 for oceanography and acoustic fundamentals, and either Janes Fighting Ships/Aircraft or just Wikipedia for ship and aircraft visual recognition... you're not going to be able to access the ranges of weapons, but try to memorize what ship and aircraft have what weapons... try to know land-based weapons as well... especially surface-to-air launchers and radars associated with them.

Hopefully those can set you in the right direction to start... let me know if you have any other questions.

- AWO2

Hey Haasino, I was curious if you were acoustic or non-acoustic? And if you can explain the differences in their duties. Thanks in advance.

Okay, that's making a bit more sense... since you have the 8201 NEC already, you'll only need AW(A1) "A" School, VP-30, and SERE. You'll also need to refresh on your water survival and helo-dunker stuff... but that can be done at NAS Jax or NAS Whidbey, depending on which reserve squadron they assign you to.

I'm an Acoustic, NEC 7841. In a nutshell, Acoustics are trained to search for, localize, track, and attack submarines using sonobuoys... Non-Acoustics are trained to operate radar for safety of flight, weather avoidance, and Anti-Surface Warfare; they also have training in Electronics and Signals Intelligence collection.

With the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance community shifting to take on much more of an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance role, both Acoustic and Non-Acoustic operators also delve into additional tasks that can't be discussed on an internet forum... it's pretty cool stuff though!

...please.


;)

/r
CTT1

I said training... didn't specify how much... or how little. :p

I am now in AWF a-school. If anyone has any questions about how school works or living over here on the a school side of base, ask away!

Lol you just might find yourself over here in TACAMO when you get your first command

Right now the only people guaranteed TACAMO are the 4 AWS2's going though our class. Other than that, the F class before mine got a bunch of different aircrafts

That's a shocker. We've been trying to snag a lot of Fs lately. Maybe they finally got enough in the pipeline for us for now. Consider yourself lucky lmao

In the last class, there were mostly c-2s some p-3s, c-130s, and like 3 c-12s

NavyGirl, if you're active duty then please have your account verified by Guppy.

/r
CTT1

How do I do that??

Message Guppy and she can verify you. If you see any of her posts she also provides a link there.

/r
CTT1

Graduating O school this friday. Then home to Whidbey. Im a reservist. This whole experience has been amazing. I had a great time here and in school. AWO1 Bowie and AWO1 Eller are the best instructors. If your lucky enough to get either of them you'll be doing great. Any questions that anyone has for me go ahead and ask

Nice, man... congrats! Eller was in my current squadron before taking A School orders; he taught me some great stuff as an upgrader. Any word on when they're sending you to VP-30 or SERE?

Bumping for NavyWife160

/r
CTT1

A school
 

My Husband is on his 4th day of bootcamp.
He went in as a AW
From what I understand he will choose his specific job at ACC school.
Can you explain what ACC school is?

Welcome!

Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS) is a 3-week training course consisting of physical training, water survival, and flight physiology courses. I could go into detail about it, but this thread, and this video will cover more than enough information for you...

Prior to the last week of NACCS (After Hell Week), he will be able to list his preference of AWO, AWV, or AWF in order from 1-3; the instructors will then determine what rates are needed at the moment, and assign as necessary. With the current transition and reshaping of Naval aviation, he's most likely to get AWO... though AWF and AWV do still come out.

From NACCS, he'll go on to his respective "A" School, where he'll choose his sub-billet and aircraft type before continuing on to his Fleet Replacement Squadron and SERE before reporting to his initial command. In total, he'll probably be in training commands for ~2 years, and you'll be able to live with him at his FRS when he reports there in ~8-12 months.

Thank yo sooo much for your in depth answer! Im new to this so Im unfamiliar with the Navy terminology.
What do you mean when you say they will need to check ratings when he goes to pick his job?
So more than likely he will be assigned a job rather than choosing one?
I thought Hell week was in RTC bootcamp?

They have to check and see what Aircrew ratings are in demand for the week that your husband's class is graduating... one week might be entirely AWO; the next week entirely AWV and AWF, etc... And you are correct... he will essentially be assigned a job. When I gave my list, it was AWV, AWO, and AWF... my classmate put AWO, AWV, and AWF... I got AWO, and she got AWV. In retrospect, I'm glad... but just goes to show they kinda assign at random even when the options are available.

Everyone likes to have a "Hell Week"... RTC Hell Week is Disneyland compared to NACCS... which is Disneyland compared to Rescue Swimmer School... which is Disneyland compared to BUDS, lol.

Haas,

What can I expect for Hell Week at NACCS? I report in next week, I'll have that week long indoc, and then into class I go.

Thoughts?

/r
CTT1

As a Fleet Returnee, you'll avoid most/all of the backlog and watches that recruits from RTC deal with. You'll start Week 1 with INDOC, which will be classroom as well as a PRT and Class II swim test. If you don't pass the swim test or PRT (Which requires 100% perfect form on push-ups and sit-ups), you'll go on Swim or PT Hold until you do. From there, you'll jump into the next available class and start Week 2, which is "Hell Week". I'm told the cirriculum has shifted slightly toward the easy side... but as of Feb/Mar 2013, this is what it looked like:

Thursday was "Shock & Awe" day - we did 2 stress-sets, followed by a 3mi formation run, followed by a 3rd stress-set... all the while there were about 15 instructors ranging from PO2s to Marine SSgts and Senior Chiefs screaming at you and telling you you're a piece of shit, that you should just DOR (Drop On Request), that they're not gonna let you graduate anyway, etc. They're just trying to weed out the weak ones, and it worked on 2 candidates. This is also the day they make their judgments on whether or not they want to see you graduate in 3 weeks... if they don't like you, you'll become their Pvt. Pyle and they'll do what they can to make sure you don't make it to graduation. The key is to show determination... watch the instructor leading the PT and, when one walks past you, look at them and sound off loud and proud... they seemed to swarm the ones who were quiet, struggling, or afraid to make eye-contact.

Friday was a 5mi formation run at about an 8min/mi pace... we noticed the attitude from our instructors went from demeaning, to motivating now that "shock & awe" was over. Then, after lunch, we went to the pool and did our WS-3 and WS-4, which was 2min tread/5min float in swimsuit, then again in flightsuit and boots. After that we did a 15min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots.

Monday we went down to the seawall and did the equivalent of 3 stress-sets, with 200m sprints between... then the WS-5 after lunch, which was 2min tread/6min float in flightsuit, boots, gloves, and vest. After that we did a 20min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots.

Tuesday we went to the Aircrew track and did 3 stress-sets, with 2 laps in-between which were timed... then the WS-6 after lunch, which was 2min tread/7min float in flightsuit, boots, gloves, vest, and helmet. After that we did a 25min endurance swim in flightsuit and boots.

Wednesday we did another 2 stress-sets, followed by a slightly slower 4mi formation run... then the WS-7 after lunch, which was jumping off the tower in flightsuit and boots, and swimming submerged for ~25m without any part of your body breaking the surface. Then we did some synchronized swimming where they taught us how to flail our arms and swim through burning surface oil/debris.

Thursday we watched a few episodes of "The Pacific" with the graduating class, while everyone shock & awed the new class outside... then the WS-8 after lunch, which was a 100m swim in flightsuit, boots, gloves, vest, and helmet... followed by demonstration of the 4 ways to use your clothes as a flotation device.

Friday wrapped-up Hell Week with the 1mi confidence swim in the morning, followed by liberty at 1100... easy day. Most annoying part of the mile swim was fighting boredom, and getting kicked by other people in your lane.

Week 3 is "Disney Week" because you do the low-pressure chamber, the helo dunker, parachute training, and low light/night vision training.

Week 4 is another PRT where you have to score at least a Good in every category, then flight gear issue, CPR training, and graduation.

So thats your Job your an AWO? Can you ever be reassigned your job throughout your tour?

I'll give you guys an update on what NACCS does...
You start indoc the first Monday you are there. On the Tuesday of indoc, you will do the second class swim test which has to be done with perfect form or you get out into swim hold, on the Friday of indoc you will do your PST in, which is to see where you are. If you don't pass the "in" scores which is the passing score from bootcamp, you will be in pt hold. Then after indoc, most people are in hold for about one week until they actually class up. It's called backlog. People are in there waiting to be classed up, waiting for orders to leave for a school, people on security hold, and people who got dropped from aircrew waiting on new rates.
You will find out you got classed up on Thursday and you will meet with your class on the next day, Friday. This is where you will get to know your instructors. Andif I remember correctly, you will take the second class swim test again. Monday starts the real fun.

Week 1: I wouldn't consider it "hell week" but maybe just hell days. Like the first two days. You do like 3-4 stress sets in the morning, and in the afternoon you will go to the pool. You will get a brief before each swimming evolution and gradually add more gear. Starting in just swim suits and ending in a flight suit, boots, a flight vest, gloves and a helmet. If you are comfortable in the water you will be fine. Just don't freak out and remember the helmet floats. Week one ends with the mile swim on Friday. In the afternoons, you will have lessons taught to you by your instructor. Oh and on Thursday you will go on a 4 mile run with the grad class and backlog.

Week 2: Disney week. Mainly all of the hard stuff is over by now. You might have a couple stress sets on Monday morning to show the new class how it's done. (I didn't because I had a short week the week before and they didn't class anyone up). We did workout then, wasn't too hard. But this week is more classroom learning. The hardest part is staying awake. If you are non rescue swimmer, this is where you will find out if you will be fixed wing or dry AWS. This week is a lot more fun for fixed wing people because you get to go on the "rides". You will learn how to operate a parachute and how to fix any problems with it, some on land, some in the water. You will have class in the morning, and practical application in the afternoon. We did the in water parachute training on Wednesday and helo dunker training and the dunker on Thursday. After we did the dunker, we went through how to use a raft, what to do when we are rescued, ect. Friday is the PST out. You need 'good' scores to graduate NACCS. And yes, if you fail, you will get put into pt hold. I saw it happen.

Week 3: Congrats! It's graduation week! Monday is more classroom lectures. Tuesday is Tom Cruise Tuesday! This is where you will get issued all your flight gear in the morning, and learn how to wear and care for it in the afternoon. Wednesday morning you will play team sports with backlog and in the afternoon you will do graduation practice. Thursday is the big day! You will put on your fancy graduation shirts and lead a 4 mile run with your class, week 1 class and backlog. I had the pleasure of the rescue swimmer school join us because they had nothing else to do. After you get back you will do a couple stress sets with everyone and then go shower and put on your flight suit for the first time! You graduate around 10 in the morning. Just make sure the Aircrewman's Creed is nice and loud. Following graduation, you will change and then have graduation liberty. On Friday you will be back in backlog.

After you graduate you will be on grad hold waiting for orders. I was on grad hold for 4 weeks. During this time they will hold a grad meeting where you will make your wish list. To kind of put in perspective, we had the grad meeting on a Tuesday, I found out Wednesday I was leaving Thursday. It can happen really fast, or you could find out you are leaving in weeks. Just be ready.

This timeline might not be perfect because I had a short week during my class so events might be on different days when you will go through.

Good luck and Hooyah Aircrew!!

What happends if you DOR or if you just dont make it?

You will be re-rated. Most people right now are getting a-pact. Which is undesignated airman. You will be at the needs of the navy when you get to your squadron.

Does that mean they can put him whereever they choose?

Yes, often to a ship that's about to deploy since they often need personnel... you may get to request a coast (East Coast vs. West Coast), but I often saw it ignored.

What would he most likely be doing on the ship if that was the case?

Haas,

Thanks for the insight man, I appreciate it. I check in on Wednesday but will be there by tomorrow. Taking tomorrow and Tuesday to get acclimated to NAS (never went there when I was at Corry) and work out some.

Ready to get this shit started already haha Plus the last few years at NIOC destroyed my PT, so I'm looking forward to an ass kicking for a bit.

When you say stress set though, what's that actually encompass?

/r
CTT1

It'll be a set consisting of several different exercises... wide-arm push-ups, crunchs, flutter-kicks, standard push-ups, in-outs, burpees, diamond-grip push-ups. That would be one set... usually with about 15-30 reps for each... and you'd do 3-4 sets before going for a ~3mi run.

Selected for Orders
 

Hey guys, hoping an aircrooman can help. I just got Selected for some AWO2 orders. No clue as to what they do. Here's what I found on Google:

COMSUBLANT's job as Commander Task Force 84 is to effectively employ and improve the combat capability of Atlantic Fleet submarines and ASW forces afloat while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of operations ashore. T-AGOS ships are operated by the Military Sealift Command and are under the administrative command of Commander, Undersea Surveillance. They are deployed under the Operational Control (OPCON) of the Theater ASW Commanders, CTF 84 and CTF 12. Civilian technicians who operate and maintain the mission equipment man the SURTASS Operations Center (SOC), the nerve center of the ship. When operating with tactical forces, military detachments are embarked for onboard analysis and direct reporting to fleet units.

So yeah, what am I gonna be doing there? (Attached is the screenshot of the email I received from CMSID)