Aerial Gunner

[King Tut]

I was talking to a guy on another forum who's an aerial gunner but he hasn't checked back and doesn't have his e-mail up so I'll ask you knowledgable folk's.

I'm a Sophomore in H.S. and am interested in enlisting after graduation. I grew up in a very strong military family so I decided at an early age to follow the leader.

Now for the aerial gunner part. I essentially want to fire a fast gun.(either on a helo or LSV)The guy in question really sparked my interest. He said he scored in the 90's on his ASVAB, is this the norm?
Also what are the prerequisite's for this MOS? (if any)

------------------
It won't be funny when it happens to you.

[PaveVargas]

Well, if you want to shoot guns, being a gunner is definitely the job for you. Can't promise the Pave Low will still be around in three years (probably will), but I think rescue will still need gunners for the HH-60s and whatever replaces them. The career field just changed for gunners. Now, you can go directly from basic to Kirtland AFB and enter the BAG course (Basic Aerial Gunner). The train all the AC-130, MH-53J and HH-60 gunner students, then they split off to their specific airframes to do all their flying. You don't have to be that smart or anything, but you should have decent scores on your ASVAB (if you score too low, they'll just make you an SP and ship your ass off to Korea). You also have to pass a flight physical and not be prone to airsickness. Other than that, it's a pretty easy field to get into. Can't vouch for the HH-60s, but the gunner students in the MH-53 get put through the wringer. A decent number of guys wash out every quarter (don't have the exact numbers on me). Anyway, if you have any pointed questions, the guy to talk to would be Sergeant Gary Moroney, the NCOIC of the BAG course. His email is gary.moroney@kirtland.af.mil, I think. Tell him Capt Lance sent you. Later!

[King Tut]

Thanks alot.

I don't get airsick (or seasick for that matter) I have 20/20 vision, and score in the superior range on the national PF evaluations. (which isn't to hard) And I scored in the 89th percentile on my MEA's. (my math score sucked) Is math important for this MOS? (hope not, Korea dosen't sound appealing)

Thank's again, Rick

------------------
It won't be funny when it happens to you.

[This message has been edited by King Tut (edited 03-14-2001).]

[PaveVargas]

No idea if there is a cut-off for the math stuff. If you really want to do something more exciting than what the run-of-the-mill airman does, being in Pave Low is definitely for you. Just don't go into the program with a half-assed "I'll try this and see if it's for me" attitude. The guys who don't really want it tend not to do too well. Later!

Vargas

[Fire-Gunner]

I don't think you can go directly from Basic to BAG yet, but Gary Moroney would know. They're not set up yet for Airman Basics and the phase stuff. As far as I know, all the BAG students so far are crosstraining from other career fields, which is what I'm in the process of doing. I just finished BAG about a month ago. I think they're supposed to be ready early next year. The CDC's are supposed to be finished around that time also.

[King Tut]

Well I'm still intersted. (talked with the local recruiter not to long ago, but I still have a year before early enlistment)

As for going to BAG right out of Basic I'm pretty sure you can. I was checking out the enlisted occupation under operations/support at on the airforce web page and that's the feeling I got from the description.

Later, Rick

------------------
It won't be funny when it happens to you.

[GunPilot]

You sound like a pretty high speed young pup. If you want to get into gunz and aviation. Apply for the Army warrant officer program. Fly apaches or long bows, and then some day jump over to the chit hot men among men club...the nightstalkers and really get into some high speed shooting.

[Ace]

GunPilot,
That's a hell of a signature, along wih some other things I picked up on. Send me a PM with your PIN# and I'll call you today, LOL.

[RLK]

Actually I was looking in to it. (Ace, are things cool?)