AESOp ( MOC 081)

[jdog]

I was going to inquire about UAV ops! I asked once about UAV and I had been given the feeling that was a very bad question to ask. (Needless to say I didn't get an answer).

For me, that would be the grand-daddy of all positions that I would love.
It may sound ridiculous, but I'm assuming Canada has a fleet of UAVs? I can find pictures and articles about it on Google. But nothing through recruiting or "official" channels. To run sensors/electronics on Canadian UAV missions, is that the AESOp position or another similar one? (Perhaps I need to start adding to my position choices as I only singularly put AESOp on my list).

Sorry to suddenly drive the topic on a tangent. But this got my attention.

 

[dimsum]

may sound ridiculous, but I'm assuming Canada has a fleet of UAVs? I can find pictures and articles about it on Google. But nothing through recruiting or "official" channels. To run sensors/electronics on Canadian UAV missions, is that the AESOp position or another similar one? (Perhaps I need to start adding to my position choices as I only singularly put AESOp on my list).

The Canadian Army has some small UAVs, but they're operated by the artillery branch.  Canada used to lease Heron UAVs (Predator-sized) for Afghanistan and were flown by Pilots or ACSOs, with AESOp as the sensor operator. 

 

[Adventurecalls6]

The Canadian Army has some small UAVs, but they're operated by the artillery branch.  Canada used to lease Heron UAVs (Predator-sized) for Afghanistan and were flown by Pilots or ACSOs, with AESOp as the sensor operator.

I hear the Navy is now testing some UAVs now too!

 

[Eye In The Sky]

This is all applic to entry level folks just entering the trade as it is what you'd be looking at. 

LRP (Aurora):  based in Comox BC or Greenwood NS.  Comox has 407 Sqn, Greenwood has 405 Sqn.  Additional in Greenwood are 404 LRP & T (Training) Sqn and 415 LRPFD Sqn (Force Development).  404 and 415 are things you'd potentially move on to after you do your first tour at 407/405.  As an LRP AES Op you could be a 'wet' sensor operation or "dry".  I think I explained the differences earlier in the thread in detail.

MH (SeaKing/Cyclone).  Pat Bay BC and Shearwater, the operational Sqns are 443 and 423.  Shearwater also has HOTEF (Helicopter Operational Test and Evaluation Facility and 406 (OTU) Sqn. 

You can look up any of those on the Internet for open source info.

UAVs - the RCAF isn't yet operating a fleet of UAVs, might in the future..."might".  We do have 2 x OUTCAN (outside Canada) posting for AES Ops on UAVs;  one with NATO and one with the USAF.

We have one OUTCAN position in Poland (Warrant Officer rank).

AES Ops also fill positions in Wing Operations, usually as ESS (Electronic Sensor Support) preparing the kit we use for crews and doing PMA (post mission analysis).  As of now AES Ops won't be operating the sensors on the new Fixed Wing SAR platform but I think that will change;  the people who are slated to do it now don't have the corporate knowledge we do and we could end up on the FWSAR.  I can teach anyone to push buttons and look at the screen, but they'll never have the experience we do and its almost impossible to duplicate that in a short amount of time.  Who knows, we might end up on SAR.  There may also be opportunities to fly in support of CANSOF;  but I see that as a 2nd tour opportunity;  MH and LRP would give you a good foundation to do something like that and it would be a more specific 'person-job' fit IMO. 

We do have a few positions at CFLRS as instructors as well. 

On top of that there are various 2nd, 3rd tour and beyond positions as you progress.  We have people in positions in other RCAF training establishments like CF School of Survival and Aeromedical Training, CF School of Aerospace Studies, CF Electronic Warfare Center.  So yes there are positions outside of Canada and outside of the 1st tour LRP and MH flying positions.

Initial training is in Winnipeg but the operational training is done in Greenwood or Shearwater.

Initially, though, plan for 4-6 years on an operational sqn getting trained, upgrading, training your replacements and then moving on to the various 2nd tour positions.

Some links on open source stuff....

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/2-cdn-air-div/402-squadron.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/14-wing/404-squadron.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/14-wing/405-squadron.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/14-wing/415-squadron.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/12-wing/406-squadron.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/12-wing/423-squadron.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/12-wing/443-squadron.page

http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/12-wing/helicopter-operational-test-evaluation-facility.page

http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/training-establishments/cf-school-survival-aeromedical.page

http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/training-establishments/cf-school-aerospace-studies.page

 

[Adventurecalls6]

Just wanted to post that I received my OT to AESOp today!! Very happy to hear I got it. 16 July is my start date.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Congrats!  Enjoy the time, as frustrating as it may be, while you wait to start your courses in Winnipeg because once you start...its a pretty constant "go!" for the next several years...or longer.  I have to think really hard to find a month I haven't been away the past few years that I wasn't on Annual, pre or post deployment leave.

Enjoy the wait for training!

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Stumbled on a pretty decent video made by a MH AES Op.  I'll never understand why people want to work in an office when they can stuff like this.

CH-124 Sea King AES Op

 

[StoneRock]

Hey guys, something incredible happened today. I started basic last October (2017) after accepting my offer to AC Op, and completed basic 1 Feb 18. Well, immediately after getting out of basic and clearing in to Trenton I put in a VOT-U for AESOp (just in case) and to CMBT ENG, as it was what I was initially interested in. Well, I've been on my current DP1/QL3 course for 3 months now, and have just under a month to go, and today I got my confirmation from Ottawa that my transfer went through to AESOp!

I'm beyond excited. I hope to see some of you guys in person in the following months, but for now I have to get the paper work done and I'll be heading back to Trenton.

 

[w0ngt0ng]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone can give me more details about the Sea Survival phase that you have to go through as an AESOP.

The thing is, I'm not a really good swimmer. What kind of exercices do we need to do and do we have a floating vest at all time ?

Thanks !

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Sea Survival will cover the survival pattern, equipment, and survival topics such as first aid, signalling, food and water, etc and obviously some water time.  If you're in the water, you're wearing an issued LPUC (Life Preserver Universal Carrier) the whole time.  You're also in a wet suit.

Water time will basically consist of simulating a ditching (forced landing over water), where you take all the info and lessons you've been given, and with your coursemates you'll inflate, enter and then get familiar with life in a 10 man life raft for a specific amount of time.

If the water is calm, the staff will use the crashboat to generate a sea state.  :nod:

Along with that, you will do the 'outside the raft' portion which will likely consist of flipping, washing out, and righting the raft, followed by forming human rafts and a chain-swim as a group with the raft in tow.

It's very safe, controlled and I really enjoyed the course.  The initial course is taught (or was when I did mine) at Quadra (IVO CFB Comox) so the water temps are more forgiving then they would be on the east coast (in the fall atleast, when I did mine).  Since then, my Annual wet ditch training has always been conducted in the pool at the Wing.

All AES Ops must do Sea Survival; those going Martime Helicopter also have to complete RUET (Rotary Underwater Egress Training).  That is a little more challenging.

SeaKing RUET:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7sgaq_wBrA

Cyclone RUET:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J86G7GIxECA

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Hey guys, something incredible happened today. I started basic last October (2017) after accepting my offer to AC Op, and completed basic 1 Feb 18. Well, immediately after getting out of basic and clearing in to Trenton I put in a VOT-U for AESOp (just in case) and to CMBT ENG, as it was what I was initially interested in. Well, I've been on my current DP1/QL3 course for 3 months now, and have just under a month to go, and today I got my confirmation from Ottawa that my transfer went through to AESOp!

I'm beyond excited. I hope to see some of you guys in person in the following months, but for now I have to get the paper work done and I'll be heading back to Trenton.

I missed this post way back in the summer...how is the VOT-U going?  Get any courses dates or anything yet?

 

[w0ngt0ng]

Sea Survival will cover the survival pattern, equipment, and survival topics such as first aid, signalling, food and water, etc and obviously some water time.  If you're in the water, you're wearing an issued LPUC (Life Preserver Universal Carrier) the whole time.  You're also in a wet suit.

Water time will basically consist of simulating a ditching (forced landing over water), where you take all the info and lessons you've been given, and with your coursemates you'll inflate, enter and then get familiar with life in a 10 man life raft for a specific amount of time.

If the water is calm, the staff will use the crashboat to generate a sea state.  :nod:

Along with that, you will do the 'outside the raft' portion which will likely consist of flipping, washing out, and righting the raft, followed by forming human rafts and a chain-swim as a group with the raft in tow.

It's very safe, controlled and I really enjoyed the course.  The initial course is taught (or was when I did mine) at Quadra (IVO CFB Comox) so the water temps are more forgiving then they would be on the east coast (in the fall atleast, when I did mine).  Since then, my Annual wet ditch training has always been conducted in the pool at the Wing.

All AES Ops must do Sea Survival; those going Martime Helicopter also have to complete RUET (Rotary Underwater Egress Training).  That is a little more challenging.

SeaKing RUET:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7sgaq_wBrA

Cyclone RUET:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J86G7GIxECA

Thank you so much for your quick and detailled answer ! I really enjoy reading your posts, always give lots of info to get excited about.

I applied for a CT 2 months ago from NAVRES and I can't wait to get an answer

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Thank you so much for your quick and detailled answer ! I really enjoy reading your posts, always give lots of info to get excited about.

I applied for a CT 2 months ago from NAVRES and I can't wait to get an answer

Don't mention it.  The AES Op trade is very small;  we don't have many people at CFRCs and, honestly, outside of the MH and LRP communities, not a lot of people have any real idea on what we do in the AES Op trade.  This forum can help fill the info gap for people interested in what we do.

Good luck with your CT...not sure what the CT timelines are like but patience is a requirement. 

 

[w0ngt0ng]

Don't mention it.  The AES Op trade is very small;  we don't have many people at CFRCs and, honestly, outside of the MH and LRP communities, not a lot of people have any real idea on what we do in the AES Op trade.  This forum can help fill the info gap for people interested in what we do.

Good luck with your CT...not sure what the CT timelines are like but patience is a requirement.

Do you happen to know what is the new training sequence for AESOPs ? I heard that Soldier qual is not given anymore (replaced by BMQ-Land ?).

I would be interested to know in general what notions are taught during the courses and how long do they last ?

Thanks again

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Do you happen to know what is the new training sequence for AESOPs ? I heard that Soldier qual is not given anymore (replaced by BMQ-Land ?).

I would be interested to know in general what notions are taught during the courses and how long do they last ?

Thanks again

AES Ops don't do SQ/BMQ-L.

This should still be fairly accurate:  https://army.ca/forums/threads/22838/post-1235490.html#msg1235490

* note - the 2 course that used to be completed in Winnipeg (BAQC and IAQC) are now 1 course.  I can't remember the name of it now, but there is one of the instructors from Winnipeg on the forum, he might be by and give you info on the way things currently happen in Winnipeg.

 

[Eagle_Eye_View]

The course in Winnipeg is BAQC. As mentioned above, it’s now one course of approximately 6 months. Before you start BAQC, you’ll probably complete a few courses (Land survival, AMT, Sea Survival and BEW).

 

[w0ngt0ng]

AES Ops don't do SQ/BMQ-L.

This should still be fairly accurate:  https://army.ca/forums/threads/22838/post-1235490.html#msg1235490

* note - the 2 course that used to be completed in Winnipeg (BAQC and IAQC) are now 1 course.  I can't remember the name of it now, but there is one of the instructors from Winnipeg on the forum, he might be by and give you info on the way things currently happen in Winnipeg.

Thank you once again !

I'm in the process of preparing for my BPSO interview that should be in the incoming year. Would you mind if we communicate by private messages so that I can ask you a few questions ?

Eagle Eye View : Thanks for the precision

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Thank you once again !

I'm in the process of preparing for my BPSO interview that should be in the incoming year. Would you mind if we communicate by private messages so that I can ask you a few questions ?

Eagle Eye View : Thanks for the precision

Fire away...I'm bouncing between locations but will get back to you asap.

 

[Zoomie]

RCAF Comd officially announced in a QQ Town Hall that 7th crewmember on FWSAR will be AESOP.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

I'd heard *it was likely coming*.  Time to get knitting!  ;D