Expert: James Bell - 4/6/2006

Question
------------------------Hello sir i dont know if you remember me but i i asked you some loadmaster questions about 4 months ago and im actually now in the pipe line.  I actually just finished survival training and now im off to florida for water survival.  I was just wondering if you had an idea on what i should be expecting in altus because thats where my level 3 school is.  I remember my eauc instructor saying that its not gonna be that hard compared to eauc, but im not buying it.  Also what was your take on pubs?  were those a pain for you to handle, because they seem like their gonna take up alot of time.  Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and i really appreciate you help.
Followup To
Question -
Hey James, once again thank you for the last question you answered.  I looked at your website with all your pictures.  I also have another question though.  Out of the year how many days should i expect to be home?  am i going to be like gone for a couple weeks and home for a couple days or something?  also when im not flying what am i supposed to be doing?  Thank you very much once again.
Answer -
Greetings again, Aaron -

While you are in training status, you are non-deployable.  That means they can not deploy you alone to a combat zone as a mission ready crew member for an extended period of time.  But, if they have a mission transiting a combat zone, and you have an instructor, they will definitely put you on the trip ... that's how you get experience and training.

How often you fly depends on how heavily tasked your squadron is, and the availablility of instructors in relationship to the number of other students.  If you only have a few missions, and instructors with several students, you may not get to fly as often as you would like.  If you have many missions and instructors but only a few students, you may fly back to back missions.

At the time of my retirement (in 2004), the Air Force had reduced post-mission crew rest to only 24 hours, with another 24 hours of pre-mission crew rest before you go out on another mission.  It is possible, then, for you to only be home two days before going out on your next mission.  Each mission, depending on where it is going and how long it is expected to be out, could range from a couple of days to two or three weeks.

Realistically, though, I wouldn't expect anything less than a week at home, as you need to review the mission you just returned from and get additional training at home station.  They also don't want to burn you out or overload you during training.

I hope this answers your question.  I'm sure you will have more, so don't hesitate to write back.

James  

Answer
Hello Aaron -

I had a huge response finished for you, then my computer locked up and I lost the whole thing.  I'll see if I can put my thoughts back together.

Congratulations on finishing survival school.  Trust me, that is the real hurdle.  Tech school will be a breeze after that. (I had another three paragraphs on this subject, all lost -- right now I'm so mad at my F(*&%^ computer, I can't even think straight).

If you are even aware of basic math, you will have no problems with Altus.  The civilian instructors are there to make sure you complete the school, and they will make sure you learn the material.  It is not like college where they take your money whether you learn the material or not, or if you are even there ... this school is there for you.  If you have problems, let the instructor know and they will take whatever extra time is required to make sure you know the material.

Believe it or not, I actually liked my pubs.  I have a personal collection of all the planes I flew on, plus a few my father flew, and even a few more because I thought the planes were interesting.  Yes, they can be a chore to post initially, but once they are up to speed, it is pretty easy to keep up with.  Remember, these pubs are going to be your flying 'bible' so make friends with them.  Especially the Dash 9, as that is THE loadmasters manual.  The pilots and engineers know the Dash 1, but the Dash 9 is YOUR book.  You will be the expert on all things cargo, and the pilots will look to you for advice when there are questions about what is being loaded on the aircraft.

I can't think of much else to say.  Like I said, I had written a lot more for you, mostly just stories about when I went to Altus and stuff like that, but I got the meat of what I wrote.  Good luck and keep in touch.  Let me know where your final assignment will be and what aircraft you will be flying.

Take care,
James Bell