1A7X1

[Hemtt]

Hello All,
I am looking for information about the 1A7X1 field, Is it a seperate job from the old munitions special duty assignment, and if so how's the cross training potential for a SSgt with about 7 years in. I'm now a 1C471 and am interested in getting out and seeing a couple more jobs before I'm too broke to do it
Hemtt

[SATCOM]

How about cross training into CCT/PJ? Talk about opportunities! If your close to the time (36 months), check out specialtactics.com and give the STS recruiter a call at Hurlburt.

I cross trained into CCT, and it's the best thing I EVER did in my life.

Good Luck

[Pavejim]

Yes it is a separate career field. You have the opportunity to be gunner on either the HH-60G, which is a combat search and rescue asset, or the MH-53M, which is a special operations/CSAR platform. On the HH-60 you will operate either the M-240 (7.62) or the GAU-2 Mini-gun (7.62). On the MH-53 you will operate the Mini-gun and the .50cal machine gun. And if you want to load ammo into a gun, let someone else shoot it, and shovel brass, then you can also consider the AC-130H/U gunship. Key word there is load. They pack a big wallop with a 105mm, 40mm, and 20/25mm gattling gun.

As for your rank and TIG, you are a perfect candidate. They are presently taking brand new airman right out if basic as well. Let me know if you are interested and I can put you in contact with the right people. Also, are eligible to retrain?

[Hemtt]

I'd love to try for PJ/CCT but I can't go because of vision. I am very interested in the Gunner job. As I am coming up on time to re-enlist in about a year and I am willing to cut some kind of deal (IE The cross train would keep me from getting out and going in the Army) I could probably work with the Base enlisted career advisor on it as well.
Any contact information would be greatly appreciated
Hemtt

[Jeeves]

As far as I know, the gunner career field is either completely closed to cross trainees or at least the opportunities are very limited. New gunners are being selected out of basic, and these non-prior service types have already started showing up at the units. Not to discourage you, just trying to give you some more info. Best idea would be to call the career field manager and explain your situation.

TC

[Pavejim]

1A7X1 is still open to all. Although I am not sure what the exact numbers are, at present, more cross trainees are being placed into gunner training than pipeliners. This said, we are seeing fewer pipeliners washing out than cross trainees. Granted, these stats only represent the MH-53 school. To date the fresh out of basic guys are doing great...

[Hemtt]

I see I would imaginge a lot of the crosstrainees were used to a bit more sedentary job. I'm pretty confidant I could hang, I was a crosstrainee ETAC and I've turned out OK. As I look at the AFMPC page I don't see it on the Crosstraining-in list so I assume it's unavailable for now. Thanks for all the inputs and I'll just have to keep watching
Hemtt

[Rotor Strike please]

It is VERY much open to everyone that can qualify. The problem is that not a lot of persco folks now about the job, so they are pretty much little to no help at all. You have to track down the head of the career field and do a "work your own" type crosstraining.

[Defender377]

Yeah dude...be a gunner. My dumb ass tried to do the FE gig on the 53 and said screw this after "contact". 40 hours as an FE on the Pave Low and I was wondering "why in the hell didn't I be a gunner"?. Just my .02 cents.

[KJ]

I don't know about today, but two years ago I was the functional manager for gunners in PACAF. Myself and a HQ helo pilot got the gunner program started in that MAJCOM. I didn't take anybody who WASN'T a cross-trainee. Preferably aircrew, followed by munitions, followed by a job that had experience in large caliber weapons. Can't speak for AFSOC, but ACC was pretty much in line with that also (we were the H-60 side). That was the good, now the bad, last time I checked, the vision requirements for a gunner were the same as a PJ. CCT I believe had a harder color blind standard (don't quote me, but my memory seems to think it was this way).