LETTER ON WHETHER TO BECOME AN ARMY OR NAVAL AVIATOR, OR AN AIR FORCE PILOT.

The piece is written by Bob Norris, a former Naval aviator who also did a 3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished author of entertaining books about U.S. Naval Aviation including "Check Six" and "Fly-Off".

In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following:

Young Man,

Congratulations on your selection to the Army, Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which servar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href&#39var link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} ;);} vice would be the best choice. Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?"

USAF Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot…so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.

Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black Shoes (surface warfare) and Bubble Heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a lethal force. And some days – when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you – your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.

Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask…pack warm & good luck in Colorado.

P.S.: Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.

P.S.S. And oh, yes, the Army helicopter pilot program? Don't even think about it unless you got a pair bigger than basketballs. Those guys are completely crazy.

[Guy Fisk] GO NAVY

I wish you allvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.locationvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} = link.getAttribute('href');} a Happy Easter.

You will be able pull up every airplane that was built in everyvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} country in the world and evervar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} y aircraft company. Old, new, military, civilian? You will be amazed at what has been done in airplane design. The amount of info available is unbelievable.
Virtual Airplane Museum:
title="https://www.aviastar.org/index2.html"
enjoy

Impressive Jets Landing in Formation

Thisvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} is the Spanish Acrobatic Team Patrulla Aguila performing thisvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} exceptional landing formation. Very cool!

https://www.chonday.com/Videos/laformajet3

It has been voted on and decided the 2016 VP40 reunion will be held in San Diego, CA.
The dates are:
START Weds-10/5/2016
END Sunday -10/9/2016
LOCATION:
HOLIDAY INN SAN DIEGO BAYSIDE
4875 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
Tel (619) 224-3621 or (800) 650-6660
www.holinnbayside.com
There is now a 2016 Reunion page on this webvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} site (under the REUNIONS TAB) where all info concerning this reunion will be posted.
I will be posting the rates and sign up info soon.
I will also be posting the menu and agenda.

We voted at the last reunion to now include ALL former and current VP40 folks, not just seaplane era. This means that P3Vvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} and soon P8A people may join oujr group. We welcome you and I am sure you will enjoy our reunions and our company…..We do know a few sea stories also.

I am sorry to report that Mike Crownvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} over passed away in October 2014. I do not have the date and I cannot find a Obit for him as I just received this info from Jim Staes. His widow (Willie) has moved and I do not have any current contact data for his family. Mike was a LCDR in VP40 from 1962-1964. I last saw him at thevar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} San Diego reunon in 2012 with his family. I talked to him in 9/2014 and he regretted that they could not attend the 2014 reunon in Pensacola. He will be missed.

Navy Careers Impacted by P-3 Transition

Week of January 19, 2015

The U.S. Navy recently announced career guidance for Naval Aircrewmen (Mechanical) (AWF) and Naval Aircrewmen (Avionics) (AWV) affected by the shift from P-3C Orion to P-8 Poseidon aircraft. Active duty P-3 AWF/AWV Sailors in Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) Codes of 8251 and 9402 should contact their rating detailer either one year from their Projected Rotation Date or their squadron's transition conference, whichever happens first. Sailors will work with their detailer to determine open jobs among aircraft type and aircrew positions, along with latervar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} al conversion choices to other ratings and options for separation from the service. Details on the conversion process can be found on the Navy Personnel Command website at www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/enlistedcareeradmin/Pages/AcduConv.aspx. Sailors may also contact Capt. Bruce "Des&#34var link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} ; Deshotel, Head Enlisted Community Manager (ECM) at [email protected], and Cmdr. Donald Gaines, Deputy ECM at [email protected].

For more Navy news updates, visit the Military.com News Center.

It was voted on at our last reunion and I am pleased to announce that our VP40 (seaplane era) group is now accepting members from the P3 era also. It is about time as us seaplane sailors are geting avar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} littvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} le old and haggard. (well some of us).
So if you are a former member or a current member of VP40 (PATRON 40) , you are welcome to join our group. With that you will receive our roster and access to our web site member pages, along with the newsletters and will be welcome to attend our reunions. Our current dues are $20 for 2 years.

here is the form to apply for membership
VP-40 Application 2015

have a MERvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = linkvar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} .getAttribute('href');} RY CHRISTMAS and a
HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEARS

Guy

I have posted a lot of pictures from our 2014 reunion on our sitevar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} . look under the
REUNIONS/2014 reunion @ Pensacola, FL/Pictures from 2014 Reunion TAB

enjoy

I will be posting videos from the book signing we had there. He gave me some videos from the Currituck and alsovar link = document.getElementById('link2736');link.onclick = function(){document.location = link.getAttribute('href');} VP40 in View Nam.