Navy helo pilot eligibility

[RobLyman]

As a prior navy helo pilot(SH-60B/F/H) I got out of the military in 1996 after being passed over for O-4. I was in the naval reserve, but not active, and made O-4 in the reserves. At some point I was transferred to the inactive reserves. I have renewed my flying qualifications in general aviaton and am now a certified flight instructor for airplane single engine land. Am I eligible to join the guard and be a helo pilot? Would I need to come in as a warrant officer? I have heard there are some shortages for UH-60 pilots. Would I likely end up flying Blackhawks? BTW, I am in northeast Florida.

[matthew.ritchie]

Florida has an Apache battalion, as well as other assets. There are several other factors involved, so I can't give you a definitive answer as to your eligibility, but I know who can -- 1LT Derick Taylor, my counterpart in Florida: (904) 823-0382, derick.taylor@us.army.mil. Mention my name, so I get bragging rights for sending you his way.

Caveat: you may need to convert to a CW2 (you'll still retire at the highest grade honorably held, however).

[RobLyman]

Thanks. I'll contact him for more info.

[RobLyman]

Major Ritchie,

I contacted 1LT Taylor and received a response back from him, but he is a bit slow in responding (2 weeks since I last heard from him). Could you possibly answer these questions for me?


Assuming I reverted to CW2 and was accepted to fly, would I be sent to flight school again? If so, would it be a full blown course or an abbreviated course (I already have 1320 helicopter hours, 1200 in a Navy H-60)?

If I revert to CW2 and fly, what happens if I join the guard in the middle of predeployment training? Do I jump in during the middle of training and try to catch up on what I missed? Do I wait for a later training slot and join my unit later while still deployed, or do I have to hold off on the whole thing until the deployment cycle winds down?

[matthew.ritchie]

1. Since you're already military rated, you'll attend a shorter course for that airframe. You won't need the full flight school.
2. You won't get deployed until you are fully-qualified. Even if your unit is on alert, you won't need to wait to attend training. We're recruiting people for deployed units all the time, so they'll be ready when the unit gets back and people retire or transfer to other units for promotion.

[pmadsen]

I am a prior 153D0 UH-60 A/L, CW2. There are a couple of Prior Service SH-60guys who reverted to warrant, floating around out there.

They required the UH-60 transition at Rucker and then a simple R/L progression at their assigned unit to R/L-1. trust me when I tell you how easy the transition is, especially with your kind of hours.

I'm sure that any unit who picked you up would sit you down with an IP or SP and run you through EPs and limits in the -10 and have you prepped before you hit the transition course. Navy lingo... maybe going through the NAVAIRs? The rest is just wiggling sticks.

What they fly, depends upon available slots and unit type.

I'm thinking about hitting it again too so good luck!