KnightmareLS1

iTrader: (12)

^EXACTLY

sparky1397r

i don't know about the Army but in the AF maintainers are over worked and under appreciated.

specialized careerfields are where its at.

MGMC

iTrader: (46)

the navy is the same way, im trying to go aircrew. thats where its at

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

see.... i am aircraft support. our bird is only 2 seater, and you can go on MFT's and thats it... if you wanna fly, gotta go with H-60's or 47's...but its not like the ground mech's.... we get to play with the expensive ****

Daredevil_TA

iTrader: (6)

Maybe YOU are just a parts swapper but some of us can actually troubleshoot and figure things out rather than just guess and change parts to hopefully fix a problem. This has been the biggest issue I have seen with the mechanic MOS's. Any Joe who tweeked on his shitbox ride in highschool thinks he can get in the Army an do fine as a mechanic but when it comes to diagnosis they are lost in the sauce. It takes more than being good at swapping parts to be successful in this job-don't sell yourself short Sergeant.

Daredevil_TA

iTrader: (6)

True, being a 63B isnt' too hard but you'd be surprised at how many truly suck at it-NCO's included. You are definitely right about operators, I could write a book on some of the dumb things i see them do or say. I wouldn't recommend 63B right now either, have you seen our eligibles for promotion?-and they just stopped re-enlistments for us for the year. No, replacing parts isnt rocket science but diagnosis sometimes can be. I'm in a CTC unit (Cargo Transfer) and we have RT 240 Kalmar RTCH's-these things have 6 seperate computers on them and can be diagnosis nightmare. I take it you've been in ORG Maint. your whole career, thats what sucks when they combined 3 MOS's into what you now know as the 63B (63W, 63S, 63B) It use to be that the 63W was a 3rd shop mechanic-Well now you can end up doing anything from replacing tranny's to replacing lightbulbs with 63B, sad but true. If you truly believe that you haven't learned anything while being in the Army then I feel sorry for you, the one thing ive learned since ive been in, is sometimes you gotta be open to the possiblity of being a jack of all trades. Our SAMS clerk is on leave so i had to take his spot with NO knowledge of the SAMS box. Good thing I'm a fast learner because we got inspected a week later-and we passed with flying colors. Learning more than just your MOS is what gets you promoted ahead of your peers and makes you the "go to" guy in certain situations. sorry for the long post but had to get that off my chest

steven.lindsay1

I love my job been a 63B for 10 yrs now our mos is a 91 or something. I will tell you you will get **** on alot and not learn exactly what you would like from just OJT. get out and get your schooling and ASE while you are in the military get lucky and land a job in a SMU. there you will be able to achieve your goals and learn alot. For my first few years I felt like I was working at jiffy lube, now I am on a roll and learning everyday.

Daredevil_TA

iTrader: (6)

Ya I HATE doing services-that gets repetitive and boring-hopefully I wont have to do too many more here when i get promoted. You are right about doing school while in the military-especially as a mechanic. I am glad i got some HVAC knowledge during my school option-man does that payoff in Iraq with 120+ heat lol.

robcas47

iTrader: (2)

Hey Bro, I'm currently a 15UF3N, all that means is I'm a CH-47D/F Chinook mechanic/Flight Engineer/Non-Rated Crewmember Instructor. I started out as an 11B1P in the 82nd and eventually switched over to Aviation due to the fact that there far more job opportunities as an aviation mech, especially if you can get you Airframe and Powerplant license,(A&P License). You may be on the right track if you are considering Aviation Maintenance and if that's the case then consider CH-47's. I know it seems biased but honestly I know a lot of guys that have only worked on Chinooks and have had no problem finding work on the outside as a civy working on all helicopter airframes due to the fact that Chinooks have the most complicated hydraulics/flight control systems and also is a PITA to have to trouble shoot. I'm not trying to downplay any of the other airframes in the Army arsenal, I'm just stating what I know and have seen. Also if you are lucky enough to find your way into a Flight Platoon whether it be Chinooks or Blackhawks, you will fully see and enjoy Army Aviation and the work that comes with it. I have also spent some time in 160th and can tell you that if you are looking to be in Army Aviation and also with an Elite unit then go for it. But you won't really get to see any of the action unless you are in a Flight Platoon. You will also have to undergo what can be considered another basic training, and camp slappy. Not a whole lot else I can say about that place on this forum but I think you get the point,. Jump school is a must either before or after since it's an Airborne unit,(you'll still be just a 5 jump chump ), but all in all you'll get paid well and spend your time at home in different intervals. Hope this helps, if you have any further questions just PM me, I'd be more than happy to help. Also, don't take much stock in what the website or a recruiter tells you about being an Aviation mechanic, I'm doing the job as of this day, I have been to several different Aviation units, and I can tell you how things really work on the flight line.

Also for the record UH-60's are pretty decent birds that are also your MEDIVAC acft that you'll be grateful to see when/if you ever need them, OH-58's are great acft when they are uparmored and kill'n tanks, also a handy acft during Air Assaults whether it be spotting or kill'n, AH-64's pretty much speak for themselves and are great escorts in hot spots,(who messes with a flying tank?), And I already talked enough about CH-47's but as a parting shot for any other fellow Aviators, Once you ride the Big Bus to work, everything else is for retards.

Black FormulaLs1

iTrader: (10)

NCO here too...and i have learned how to troubleshoot all kinds of ****..there is a very technical side to it all..but i mean it just gets so damn booring..i can teach/lead/guide/mentor soldiers all damn day..but some of em just DONT FKN GET IT..*I have some real SHINERS in my current unit* i just hate the same repetative crap over and over..and i am the go to guy..and its always the same damn questions..with 90% of the same damn answers..making sure that the PMCS is done right and that the parts get ordered right..but its the SAME DAMN THING..i have a few soldiers who know what right looks like..but sometimes you want to grab one or two and take em back behind the connex and T.E.A.C.H. them a few things..anyways my whole point was that wheel mechanics get treated like ****..especially in the field artillery..so pick a job you can create and get some diversity in...i mean damn..80/90w gets old after a bit..

Daredevil_TA

iTrader: (6)

80/90 smells like **** and pine oil lol. Hey man you ever thought about doing warrant officer? 915A? Its an automotive maintenance tech-I was gonna try for it once I get promoted and get some more field time sounds like you might enjoy that more than what you're doing now. Trust me man, i hate dealing with those idiot soldiers just as much as you, thats why i'd opt for the warrant-better pay, better training, an don't have to deal with as much bullshit as the NCO's-just a thought. As for wheeled mech's getting treated like ****..well I've only been in one active unit and I can say we are highly respected. The "good" mechs anyway because they know we can make their life a living ******* hell if we wanted to lol. So i guess it just depends on where your at-can't speak about FA.

lovescamaros28

Typically,those who come into the Army as a 63b without prior Automotive and mechanical experience are the ones who usually end up disappointed.I have seen too many soldiers come through without any prior knowledge to being a mechanic and end up being the ones put on details,given alternate duties,or doing their job half assed because of lack of knowledge.A few do come through if they spend time with a very experienced technician and have the discipline to learn from someone with experience and knowledge.Truth is...to be a good mechanic you have to have an understanding of how a vehicle works and what every part does.You also need to have some knowledge in troubleshooting electrical and mechanical issues.First and foremost,you cant be afraid to bust your knuckles and get your hands dirty.In the mechanical field you have three types of mechanics.The worthless,the mediocure,and the go to guys! Which ever you end up as depends on how much you want to learn.Notice you never see the word "technician" used in the military(lol).Very few of them end up in the Army.

Black FormulaLs1

iTrader: (10)

we can make their life hell cause damn near everthing is operator level with a supervisor...lmao

derekderek

iTrader: (21)

I am a 15S been in for 8yrs now. I will tell you this aviation is completely different from the rest of the Army it is way more laid back environment. Being a 15S is a pretty cool job I would say almost any aviation job is good. I like my job for the most part it gets pretty dam boring out in Iraq though doing the same thing over and over again.

I think if you are wanting to be in aviation mechanic I would go 58's or Chinooks if you want a support job go sheetmetal, armament, or powerplant. Just my suggestion but after bootcamp and ait aviation for the most part is like a 9-5 job. Any questions about AIT or duty stations just let me know. I know you asked about Promotions if you are high speed and a 15S there is no reason why you couldnt be a SGT in under 3yrs I did and alot of other people have to.

Aaron23

Not to cut on "lovescamars28" MOS, but if you want to actually get off the ground with the same helicopter you just fixed, go 15T. UH-60 Blackhawk. Bigger airframe, can do more, be stationed more places, wider span of "missions" Flight pay is nice too.

Aviation is the way to go as fas as being a mechainc. If you REALLY want to do it when you get out, work on your A&P license. Not cheap or easy, but doable after 3 yrs Army experience. I got mine, although I don't use it for current job. Always nice to have something to fall back on. GI Bill will cover most of cost too.
OR save yourself the headache and don't join at all! Kidding, the bullcrap is annoying, but what you take away from the Army is priceless. Trust me and these other guys.
Good luck

robcas47

iTrader: (2)

Aaron is right on with getting an A&P license, but the Army will actually pay for all of that. Unless you fail your first test, then you will not be reimbursed for that.

Pewter_LS1

sweet welcome aboard... wanna split the referral bonus 50/50 haha ..

second_2_none

iTrader: (6)

im an NCO here as well(if that matters any) and was a 63B1P(wheeled mechanic) in 1-505, 3rd BCT 82nd airborne division for the first 3 years i was in the army. it was fun for a while and i feel like i deff. got something out of it. but it got old really fast. after working on trucks and **** all day i didnt want to touch my car, doing your hobby as a job everyday isnt as good as you think. you wont ever rebuilt engines or transmissions, you'll just replace them. but you do a lot of troubleshooting, and thats where you make your money. anybody can replace parts following the manuals. you are always dirty and smell like damn oil and grease. but after a deployment of doing that i decided i had enough and reclassed to a 15T(blackhawk mechanic). I am now a UH-60 crewchief/mechanic in the 82nd combat aviation brigade and freakin love it. not trying to knock any other airframes, but 60's and 47's are the only ones you can fly on and shoot **** from. the new fox model 47 would be the fastest but the speed is limited on it, so really we are faster than them. they are like a flying bus, and a big *** target. but they do some badass **** in afghan as they have no power issues and if you can get there systems and hydraulics down your money. umm 58's are like a big remote control helicopter, they are pretty pointless here in afghan cause the altittude here and they just dont have the power, i mean there engine is the size of our apu. they cant even fill there tanks full of fuel or have a full load of rockets and ammo cause they cant handle all that weight. and the 64's are slow as **** as well and dont have single engine capabilities here cause they are heavy as ****. 60's are really the way to go but like said in an earlier post, its hard to get into a flight company. if your not a **** bag, good at your job, good at pt and have a good attittude you will probably get into a flight company after a while though. 60s or 47's are the way to go. you actually fligh on them and can really call yourself a crewchief, unlike the 47 and 58 guys.

robcas47

iTrader: (2)

Our (47's) max speed right now is 170 knots, this is mainly due to the fact that she'll shake herself apart if you push her over for to long.But with the new F models stronger frame and skin this won't be as much of a vibe as a D model. This is the same limitation that the D models have, now I've heard of Blackhawks being able to pull 190 knots but only at a dive, how true is this? Either way second 2 none had a good point that you're only going to be able to fix and fly on Chinooks and Blackhawks, some 58 crewchiefs are able to fly on ocassion but rarely on actual missions across the pond.

derekderek

iTrader: (21)

I dont see how flying with your aircraft makes you a real crewchief doesnt make much sense to me dont 47 guys fly with there A/C? But anyways what kind of HRS are yall putting on your airframe per month when deployed? 58's average about 100hrs or so per frame depending on the mission we are doing. I dont want to turn it into a airframe bashing or anything just curious about it I know the 64's dont average much at all to much maintenance on them to do. Have A CAVTASTIC DAY!!!!