Posted on Dec 2, 2019
How often do structural aircraft maintainers (2A7X3) deploy?
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Its bonus, critically manned job and im worried that if i take it i will be deploying a lot. Im fine with getting deployed, but I want to get my bachellors degree in accounting before the end of my 6 year enlistment amd deployments could definitely keep that from happening.
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 4
Finally! A question that I can answer as an expert in the field!
Thomas, I did 10yrs in sheetmetal and only racked up 3 TDYs. Two of those occurred in my first 6. Global situation and the direct mission of your base will dictate far more than the manning "issues" faced by the job. You are more likely to be sent out as an escort for construction efforts in a well secured forward location than actually be sent out to support an aircraft in your early career due to the wealth of experience needed to keep birds moving in a limited environment.
Even better is that just about anywhere they might send you will very likely have education opportunities available for you to take full advantage of in your downtime should you be sent to kick some sand.
Best of luck to you, and keep plenty of rags and tape around for when you inevitably need to do some unscheduled maintenance on your hand.
Thomas, I did 10yrs in sheetmetal and only racked up 3 TDYs. Two of those occurred in my first 6. Global situation and the direct mission of your base will dictate far more than the manning "issues" faced by the job. You are more likely to be sent out as an escort for construction efforts in a well secured forward location than actually be sent out to support an aircraft in your early career due to the wealth of experience needed to keep birds moving in a limited environment.
Even better is that just about anywhere they might send you will very likely have education opportunities available for you to take full advantage of in your downtime should you be sent to kick some sand.
Best of luck to you, and keep plenty of rags and tape around for when you inevitably need to do some unscheduled maintenance on your hand.
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Haha will do! I have three years manual machining experience and about a year of experience sharpening dies, so i immagine ill be pretty good at it, but im sure theres still a lot I have to learn! Thanks for the insight, I really appreciate it!
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SSgt Joe Bromley
Each one was a different situation.
First: I volunteered about 2mths ahead of time for an announced opportunity. I was not selected but the guy who was had an issue so I got picked up anyway. 10 days from being selected.
Second: 3wks notice and my shop chief saying "sorry for the short notice" I laughed and told him the first story.
Third: I think I had like 2mths notice, but after those first 2 I didnt care to pay attention because getting out the door was easy given my history.
First: I volunteered about 2mths ahead of time for an announced opportunity. I was not selected but the guy who was had an issue so I got picked up anyway. 10 days from being selected.
Second: 3wks notice and my shop chief saying "sorry for the short notice" I laughed and told him the first story.
Third: I think I had like 2mths notice, but after those first 2 I didnt care to pay attention because getting out the door was easy given my history.
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MAJ Ken Landgren predictability is helpful, but i think the optempo is going to be the problem. i know the airforce has had concerns with the deployment to dwell ratios regarding maintainers in the past. Yes to some degree i am. I play a lot of board games and im definitely a stickler about that sort of thing when i play.
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MAJ Ken Landgren same here. i went in the reserves so i could eventually funish out school at University of Texas at Austin.
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Sounds like you want to be an accountant more than a tin bender. Change careers now. In the military you are susceptible to deploy at any time. And in your first enlistment you will be doing your career development course and getting OJT and upgrade training which is more important than your wish to get your degree in accounting. If you are going to be a structural maintenance man, focus on that job. Don’t try to be a bean counter in a tin benders clothing.
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