jay_merrill
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2007
- Messages
- 5,653
Re: What a ride!!!
SgtMgr, when I was in the Guard I went to "A" School at Navy Memphis (Millington, Tn) to become an aircraft mechanic and flight crewman. At the time, the USCG did not have its own schools for my rating (specialty). My rating actually included job skills that were included in two separate ratings in the Navy, plus the Guard sent us to a "C" school while we were there so I was on base for about 6 months. During that time, the "honor man" for nearly every graduating class was either a Coastie or a Marine. Just thought this might put a smile on your face!
I have always found that boaters have a good appreciation of what the Guard does, and so do a lot of EMS types who may have worked with them, but prior to Katrina many civilians have not. I would sometimes run into ex Army or Air Force folks who would say I was in a "pansy" service or that it isn't military, etc. What they don't get is that they might well rather get shot at than do some of the stuff we did. They also don't understand some of the dangers inherent in things less spectacular than crashing through the surf in an MLB.
For example, during the time that I was flying SAR, the crew of one of our airplanes somehow managed to set off a Mk45, night illumination flare inside the aircraft. The only possible explanation is that they screwed up and set the pressure altitude for the altitude they were flying at instead of the desired deployment altitude, and then managed to accidentally pull the lanyard that attaches to the firing pin. The aircraft filled with smoke, crashed and all five were killed.
I am also in awe of what the flight crews did during Katrina. As is true of any aircraft, flying a helo in a cruise mode isn't hard, even without the use of an autopilot. Flying in a hover and trying to remain in an exact position while the crewman lowers and raises a rescue basket that may be a foot or so sway from an obstruction that could entangle it, is an entirely different situation. Imagine doing that, not once or twice to rescue a couple of folks off of a boat at sea, but all day long for days, all the while dodging power lines, trees, etc. The same goes for the crewmen, both the hoist operators and the swimmers that often went down to those who were to be rescued. In my book, these guys were nothing short of amazing in their ability to stay "on the ball" in what must have been an exhausting environment.
I agree wholeheartedly with BMB's opinion that our tax dollars are well spent on the USCG!
SgtMgr, when I was in the Guard I went to "A" School at Navy Memphis (Millington, Tn) to become an aircraft mechanic and flight crewman. At the time, the USCG did not have its own schools for my rating (specialty). My rating actually included job skills that were included in two separate ratings in the Navy, plus the Guard sent us to a "C" school while we were there so I was on base for about 6 months. During that time, the "honor man" for nearly every graduating class was either a Coastie or a Marine. Just thought this might put a smile on your face!
I have always found that boaters have a good appreciation of what the Guard does, and so do a lot of EMS types who may have worked with them, but prior to Katrina many civilians have not. I would sometimes run into ex Army or Air Force folks who would say I was in a "pansy" service or that it isn't military, etc. What they don't get is that they might well rather get shot at than do some of the stuff we did. They also don't understand some of the dangers inherent in things less spectacular than crashing through the surf in an MLB.
For example, during the time that I was flying SAR, the crew of one of our airplanes somehow managed to set off a Mk45, night illumination flare inside the aircraft. The only possible explanation is that they screwed up and set the pressure altitude for the altitude they were flying at instead of the desired deployment altitude, and then managed to accidentally pull the lanyard that attaches to the firing pin. The aircraft filled with smoke, crashed and all five were killed.
I am also in awe of what the flight crews did during Katrina. As is true of any aircraft, flying a helo in a cruise mode isn't hard, even without the use of an autopilot. Flying in a hover and trying to remain in an exact position while the crewman lowers and raises a rescue basket that may be a foot or so sway from an obstruction that could entangle it, is an entirely different situation. Imagine doing that, not once or twice to rescue a couple of folks off of a boat at sea, but all day long for days, all the while dodging power lines, trees, etc. The same goes for the crewmen, both the hoist operators and the swimmers that often went down to those who were to be rescued. In my book, these guys were nothing short of amazing in their ability to stay "on the ball" in what must have been an exhausting environment.
I agree wholeheartedly with BMB's opinion that our tax dollars are well spent on the USCG!
