Cyris0014

Hey guys I'm gonna be joining the army in a month or two and wanted to know what you guys thought about military mechanics? Any and all advice is very much appreciated

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

be a helicopter mechanic if you can... much better jobs once u get out and a lot more chill of a job....

Cyris0014

My friend who joined in jan started as an mp but said he wants to change to heli mech. I would go to basic in Nevada right? I have a pretty decent vehicle mechanic knowledge but know nothing about aviation

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

i knew a little about aviation when i joined... but not much... i was more of a gear head/ garage mechanic... it is super easy. as long as you have a good head on your shoulders and some common sense, then you are good to go.

if you do go, work on the OH-58D... im a 15J . it is a super awsome job, and when you get out, the heli is based on the bell model 206, which has over a million in service right now.... so good chance to get a job on the outside

and aviation world is a very laid back and chill place to be if you dont wanna be in the hooah hooah army.... and if you do wanna gung ho, look into the 160th SOAR, i wanted to go there, but i cant now.... they do all the bad *** ****

Cyris0014

Ok thanks alot for the information. Is that the same heli that tv and news crews use? And whats the 160th SOAR?

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

yup it sure is the same bird.... ours just has guns, rockets, missiles and better cameras on it...

and have u seen black hawk down?? 160th is the helicopter unit that is in that movie... Special Operations Aviation Regiment....

Cyris0014

So i would need jump school for that (i wanted to go to jump school anyway)? Also what do u think the reality of me being a sgt after im done with my 8 year contract? Im coming in at either an e2 or e3 because of rotc in hs.

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

ya with the 160th, u will go to airborne and air assault course... its highly encouraged.... and u will be at least a ssgt after 8 yrs.... if u dont get in any trouble...

Cyris0014

k and im getting married before i go to basic. How different will my pay be since i have a wife?

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

u will get money for bah (basic allowance for housing) where ever your wife is staying at. if your AIT is longer than 6 months, she might be able to move to where you are, most likely ft eustis, va , outside of newport news, va. u should be able to stay off post with her if u are allowed to have her there...

and make sure you go into MEPS knowing EXACTLY what you want to do... they will try and bullshit you and tell u to pick the jobs that are critically short on people... which is usually the most shitty jobs... but they will try to get u with the bonus. DONT TAKE IT!

if you wanna work on the OH-58D, then the jobs are 15J and 15S.... 15J is weapon systems/avionics/electrical systems maintainer (what i do) and is a fun job.... and 15S is the crew cheif (guy that does all the wrench monkeying, gets dirty all the time, and keeps the Acft flying) they work on all the stuff that makes the bird fly and keep it clean (we call them window washers.. haha)... but its all up to your preferance. if you wanna learn how to work on electrical stuff, be a 15J.. if you wanna work on the flying parts, be a 15S

but look online at the army's website and read up on all of the aviation MOS's.... u might like one of the other ones more than these... they r under the transportation section.

let me know if you wanna know anything else...

Cyris0014

how long is ait for 15s heli mech? cause norm wheeled vehicle is 19 weeks. Ya my friend who is coming back is gonna walk me threw meps. Hes doing recruiting here for a few weeks.

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

15S is 14 weeks after basic...http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=129

15J is 26 weeks after basic...http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=128

$O$OE

iTrader: (14)

What about work as in Auto body and what not, they have anything related to that?

Cyris0014

ok Thanks alot for all the info, Where are you stationed? And how much time do you have left on your tour? Might we working with you when im done with AIT

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

they have aircraft sheet metal repair.... if that is something u would like to do....

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

im stationed in hawaii right now.... gettin ready to move to GA, but im getting reclassed to work on UAV's.... not by choice though.... so i am about to be out of the cav world untill i start flying

Cyris0014

That sucks bro

KnightmareLS1

iTrader: (12)

Any ground vehicle mechanic in the Army is basically just a parts swapper. I'm an E5 63M (Bradley Mechanic) and been doing it for 4 years. You don't really repair parts unless you're 3rd shop, you just change them out.

FrankSS

iTrader: (18)

ya we do the same thing on birds... but we do alot of troubleshooting too... which makes the job hella fun

Black FormulaLs1

iTrader: (10)

the job of a 63B wheel mechanic is not very hard...however it is tedious and a lot rides on you doing the right damn thing all the time...operators are morons who cant be taught with a steel rod..and if you go wheel mechanic * i dont recommend it* stay the HELL OUT OF THE FIELD ARTILLERY* they treat you like straight up liquid ****...go CAV for the love of god..go CAV..
if i could do it all over again i would of have been a machinist or a welder...lets be honest, replacing parts aint exactly fkn rocket science..and it BORES you quickly...i enlisted to build engines/ trannys/ rear ends...but that has NEVER NEVER EVER happinned..so what have i learned? nothing i didnt know already....go be a fabricator or soemthing else...soemthing fun and something you can have fun doing..too goddamn many set standards on stupid ****...you cant craft/create/modify anything...just take this part of and put this part on...