CONGRATULATIONS! on selecting what is arguably the most technically demanding field of warfare in the world today. Unlike some other platforms, you will get to employ the weapon system every time you fly (just don't point it towards Seattle Center - they get kind of pissy about that...) You will become qualified to fly two missions (frontseat/backseat) across at least two variants of aircraft! The plane is old, but the technology is fairly new, and you'll be able to tell the young turks in the Shocker (EA-18) how it was back in the day!
Allow me to impart some stuff I wish I had known when starting out. Take it or leave it, all of it is personal opinion/observation. Some of it, you may say, "DUH!!!" but it's all stuff I've observed. Some of it is VAQ specific, some of it overall JO wisdom. Here goes:
1. Congratulations-you are now a winged NFO. This means that scoring a 100% on a written test or getting an Above Average on a flight is no longer the end all be all of your existence. The only selection left for you is squadron, and that is largely preference/flip of the coin. What IS important now is the knowledge and deep understanding of EW and the EA-6B that you must strive to acquire. You are now on the quest for credibility, not grades.
2. You will spend 12 weeks TAD at a course called AVEWS. This is the course that you will hate now but will wish you had payed more atttention to when the shooting starts. You will learn EW here from the ground up, and you will be expected to know this stuff from here on out, as this is the only time it is presented. Put in the requisite effort and don't go play golf when classes let out at 1200-1300. Study til 1700 instead!
3. You WILL graduate from the FRS (RAG). Pay attention, study hard, but relax, and actually LEARN NATOPS this time, instead of worrying about passing tests so much. No one will care a year from now whether you got a 100% on the NATOPS test or squeaked by, as long as you actually know your stuff. Don't argue grades/standardization issues/etc. during the post-flight/sim debrief. Turn MSTR RAD off and LISTEN.
4. You will be required to log a certain amount of "warmbody" backseat time at the FRS before your flight phase. As much as possible, fly actual graded events vs. bouncing, even if it means showing up at 0430 and staying til the end of your crew day (LOL-jab at USAF). This way it is possible to get all the "gouge" on some of the pitfalls of flights you will eventually be graded on. Take notes on how to brief and fly!
5. When you graduate the FRS, you will feel awesome. This will be the peak of your technical understanding of the aircraft. However, in the grand scheme of things, you are a freshly minted COMM (to compare to civil). You become an "ATP/PIC" in two years or so when you become a qualified mission commander. To that end, your #1 priority upon checking into your new squadron should be to get started on your 1-2 year long PWTP (Prowler Weapons and Tactics Program) quals, levels 2 and 3 (level 1 is the FRS). Until you're a MC, you can't fully contribute to the squadron's mission!
6. Consider everything that you currently know about the Prowler and EW. This is how much everyone ELSE knows about it too! Even Generals and Admirals. Once operational, you will be THE subject matter expert on EW tactics, integration, and capabilities. Even if you are only a "jg" the JFACC will want a thorough, well informed answer when he calls on you at the stand-up. Don't be the guy who gave your squadron a bad name! A lot of folks speak the language of Air to Air and dropping ordnance. Not many are well versed in EW. Viper drivers will sometimes believe you if you tell them that your jamming will affect their Fly By Wire (LOL-it happened once!) Keep this in mind as you become an information sponge over the next few years. Never say, "I'll never need to know that," because you will!
7. Your first 6 months in the squadron, listen 90% of the time. Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut. Even if the Skipper/senior O-4 does incorrectly brief go/no go criteria. Unless he's about to do something to get you killed, he/she is the Skipper/Department Head, not you. Even if you are right.
When you are a mission commander, you can legitimately debate tactics with the old salts.
8. Never pass up the opportunity to go on a cross country. Never.
9. When you find out that you have the duty on Christmas Day, smile, say "roger that," and make sure to bring coffee and donuts for all the sailors who don't want to be there any more than you do. No matter what, do not complain, especially in front of the troops.
10. If you don't like your new callsign, please don't bring it up. If you stay quiet and laugh it off, it may be revised the next time you do something stupid. If you speak up, it will stick
11. Never believe rumors/first reports. Things are never as bad as they seem.
12. Your primary job at the sqn will be some collateral duty, not flying. The first collateral duty you are assigned will be relatively minor, since they want you to have ample time for learning. Typical "FNG" duties include coffee mess/snack-O, legal, personnel, Assistant Tactics, TEAMS(the mission planning computer, they may have moved on to JUMPS by now? Anyway, learn the heck out of it at the FRS!), etc. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION! If you are the coffee mess guy, turn it into a cottage industry to rival ebay. Go beyond buying coffee - get tshirts, mugs, have bakesales- who cares, but do the job to its fullest! If you are the legal O, then strive to become a Jr. JAG who can spit off UCMJ articles on cue! No matter how much of an SLJ it may seem, give it your all! It will pave the way to a successful future!
I think Whidbey is heaven on earth. They only tell people it rains all the time to keep the tourists out! October through May is kind of overcast/yucky, but June through September is pure magic. It's not Seattle, so don't plan on a lot of clubbing/bar hopping, but I think it's a natural wonderland for hikers/bikers/skiiers. Make the most of it!
I would be more than happy to answer any other questions you may have - my info is only about 1-2 years old, so it should be relatively pertinent.
And above all, WELCOME TO THE FLEET!!!!
I am quite aware of the age and how crappy the plane is. But someone's got to do the job!
