AH-1
From MarineGouge
Contents |
[edit] Congratulations
Hey, congrats on getting skids. You'll be checking into HMLA/T-303, Atlas, nestled between Los Angeles and San Diego. Although, much closer to the latter. You should be given 10 days to get here: 6 days travel, 4 days proceed. The drive takes at least a couple days of driving on I-10. Or you can break it up a little and see some of the country. BAH will raise considerably, and with some roommates the opportunity exists to come out ahead. For married Marines, base housing is a good option. They will tell you initially they won't have anything for 6 months, so you'll go crazy trying to find a place in 6 hours and end up in an overpriced apartment, only to have some sweet lady from base call with a 3 bedroom house 2 weeks after you get here. Point is, ask questions and get as many details as possible. Military housing info at this site: http://www.lincolnmilitary.com/camppendleton/ Offbase housing is expensive, but doable.
[edit] The Boot
So the first thing you'll do is check-in. The most recent check in is "the boot." So whomever checks in last is "the boot" until the next group checks in, usually 2 or 3 weeks later. No big deal - if we have a meeting the boot wears a stupid helmet and gets up to tell a joke and everyone makes fun of you. Honestly, since I've been here, I've only heard the boot tell two jokes. We don't have many meetings, so its no biggie.
[edit] The Check-In Process
From the time you check-in you are given "two" weeks to get through all the pre-flight stuff and get ready to fly. I say "two" because its usually about 12 days, not quite 14, but hey, whos counting. I made the mistake of trying to get ALL my check-in process complete before moving on to the courseware - don't do it. I recommend dedicateing the morning to the check-in process and the afternoon to the computers. You want to check into Ops immediately, delaying a few days will result in pissing off the Flight-O (aka pilot training officer) - which usually results in extra duty once your "two-weeks" are up or a six pack of their choice. They get an email from CNATRA as to your check-in date and are waiting for you.
The rest of the process is a go around and see who you can find at their office to get you checked in. Some of it is very quick, others take a while. Ones that will be a pain: CPAC (Combined Personnel Admin Center, or somthing like that): expect a couple hours; S-6: it just takes a couple weeks to get your email set up, and you cant get it set up until you have a ground job; Pass & Tag: you'll have to get your car smog checked before they'll give you a base sticker (if you're going east coast, don't bother), expect about $40 and a morning.
[edit] The Courseware
The first thing you'll want to get checked off of the check in sheet is the sim building. This way you can get a login for the computer so you can start the courseware. The courseware is pretty in depth and very useful. It provides a lot of amplification on NATOPS and gives a good bit of detail. A lot of people suggest the backward approach. Meaning start with the stuff that you don't need to know now and work into the FAM stuff. I highly recommend it. I did all the weapons courseware first, then went through the systems at the end. That way is was the freshest on my mind. Additionally, you don't have to do the clicking, only the tests - and you just have to PASS the tests, howEVER many times it takes. Keep that in mind. If you're busting through the slides and not reading anything, just skip to the test. If you're bothering to read them, it might be worth it. The weapons courseware will take a while, and the Comm package takes forever. But I recommend getting it ALL done so when you have flights come up you won't be caught with your pants down. Which is just uncomfortable for everyone.
[edit] The First Couple Weeks
A lot of this time will be spent trying to figure out what the F is happening around you. You'll be thrown into the fire as ODO - and they take it seriously. You'll get a couple shots with someone training you, then you'll be executing the flight schedule on you're own. You'll screw up, they'll yell at you and in a week no one will care nor remember. Don't sweat it. Also, you'll be trying to find out what your ground job will be. Ops and DOSS(basically NATOPS) are high intensity, S-2(intel)and legal are pretty relaxed, S-4(supply) and S-6 (comm/telecomm) are kinda inbetween, S-5(logistics) has periods of insanity and periods of calm. No matter where you are, don't count on getting a ton of stuff done at the squadron unless you punch out and go to a quiet spot or talk amongst the RACs in your office.
[edit] Your First Events
The first event is FAM 00 or, "double nuts." Its basically FAM-0 except the instructor "teaches" you everything. By "teaches" I mean, is supposed to teach but usually just expects that we know all the information and in turn they don't get pissed when you don't know the itty bitty pet peeve type stuff. Followed by FAM 000, or, can you guess it..."three nutted monster." Kidding, its "triple nuts." This is where the instructor expects you to know how many weights can go on the side of the rotor to balance it dynamically (14, and only on one side)...because he knows this information and so should you, I guess.
[edit] Things to do to get ahead
Before leaving Pensacola it'd be a good idea to complete a couple Marinenet courses that you'll waste time with when you get here ( Global War on Error (G.W.O.E.) modules 1-5, SERE 100, Information Awareness Version 8, and Personal Identifiable Information courses are all required for the check in. (Current as of 7/27/10)
Find someone to teach you preflight, play in the Sim/APT (APT = the CPT from advanced, actually CPT + Steroids). Learn some systems, probably in the order you'll be briefing them. As for EPs, they expect you to know the memory items at all times and have a thorough understanding of the Notes, Cautions and Warnings. Normally, you'll want to UNDERSTAND the procedures to non-memory items. For example, why am I turning this off, why am I doing xyz? Oh yah, and courseware.
Talk to someone about how to set up yor kneeboard/blue brains, and about setting up the Camp Pen Special (local area map). If you're super motivated/ahead, you can have somone take you over to the sim and fly you through course rules after you've looked at them. It'll take 15 minutes and they'll be in your brain forever. They're written for Marines by Marines. As opposed to the ones in Pensacola, which were written for Marines by Martians.
Most of the good gouge is obtained from the guys in front of you and from the shared drive. Once you get an NMCI account you'll have access to the shared drive which includes all the pubs, a lot of info for individual flights and kneeboard cards.
Lastly, and MOST importantly, ENJOY YOUR TIME OFF, there won't be anymore of it and the work is hard regardless of whether or not you know it in advance. Just kick back and enjoy the coupla weeks P-Cola gave you to get here. Drink some beer, have a barbeque and call your folks.
