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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Cross training into loadmaster or flight engineer

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Expert: - 3/6/2008


Question
i am a security force member trying to cross train.....i was wondering what the best airframe to choose. I am married to a fellow cop and i would prefer a lot so shorter TDY's(a few days up to a month) rather than long deployments. i also want to make sure i see a bit of the world(other countries rather than state side) Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Greetings Mark -

If this were peacetime in the mid-80's, I'd say you would have much more control over your schedule, and be able to get short TDY's.  But, we are in the post-9/11 world.  If you are in Security Forces, you of all people should know ... EVERYONE deploys.  I was a flight engineer on cargo C-141s and KC-10 tankers.  I deployed a LOT after the first Gulf War, and I deployed even more after 9/11.

I can't think of any airframe that has loadmasters and/or flight engineers that doesn't get shipped overseas for extended periods of time.  That's just a fact of the modern-day military.

But, on the happier side ... I can guarantee you will see more than just a bit of the world.  In all my years of flying, I visited every continent except Antartica, all 50 states (with Hawaii topping the list at over 130 times), and my log book reads like a geography course.  Pick a country ... if I haven't been there, I did get to the country next to it.

I hope this answeres your question.  If you have more, don't hesitate to write back.

Sincerely,
James Bell

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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James Bell

Expertise

I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.

Experience

Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager

Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.

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