[The Proud]

I am a 6174 UH-1N (Huey) Crewchief. Basically a mechanic that also has to learn weapons systems, a little about what an airframer does, a little about avionics components, and also flight characteristics, aircraft dimensions, limitations, and become a gunner on the M240, GAU-16, and GAU-17. We are jacks of all trades, and flying mechs. It is our job to assist the pilots in landing into confined areas, fire the weapons, perform hoisting operations, look after all cargo and passengers, whatever needs to be done. One of the requirements in being a Crewchief is to also be a plane captain, which means you need to know almost everything about your aircraft, it's components, and what it's limitations are. It is alot of work and alot of school. You go to Pensacola for about a month to swim your ass off and learn egress techniques. Then you go to SERE school, then off to the mechanical school particular to your airframe, then to a school where you learn how to fly as a Crewchief. Once you finally do make it to a squadron you put in insane hours your first few months. I worked from 5:30am till as late as 1:00am many times. And then had to study for about 30min after that for my flight the next day. Usually your day is about 14-15hrs. Constantly doing something, very short chow breaks, if at all. Most times I eat while flying or running from one job to the other. You also learn how to test and rig the engines, perform vibrex tests and many other jobs. That being said it is still the best enlisted job in the Marine Corps in my opinion.

C-130's have load masters - it is not really a combat MOS and they fly alot more. They used to have navigators, but computers replaced them. If you want to be aircrew, you had better be able to think on your feet, handle stress very well, be able to put up with alot of crap and have an exceptional work ethic. Especially if you want to go Huey's/Cobras. Pilots and crewchief's lives depend upon your integrity when inspecting an aircraft and certifying it safe for flight. Let me know if you have any other questions.