The F/A-18 community is broken into three distinct sub-communities. During your career, you may find service in one or all of them. Although all are capable of performing air to air (A/A) and air to ground (A/G) missions; nuances separate them. The F/A-18A and F/A-18C communities make up the single seat (one-person in the cockpit) Hornet force. The F/A-18D is a two-seat version of the Hornet that utilizes a pilot and a WSO (Weapons System Operator). The squadrons are based in Beaufort, South Carolina, Miramar, California, and Iwakuni, Japan.

While the oldest jets in the Hornet community, F/A-18A’s are excellent A/A platforms. Of note, significant advances are coming to this community including upgrades to software, radar and communication suites. These advances should enable the F/A-18A’s to participate in more joint theaters of operation and the upgrades are a positive step to extending the effective service life of the platform until the arrival of the Joint Strike Fighter JSF. F/A-18A’s deploy to Japan.

The F/A-18C community is notable for its participation on U.S. Navy carriers. Its members deploy to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf. F/A-18C’s perform the same wide range of missions as other Hornets, but their pilots get a keen appreciation for strike warfare as members of a carrier wing team.

The F/A-18D community is unique in its performance of tactical armed reconnaissance, Forward Air Control Airborne and Tactical Air Control Airborne. The ability to perform these specific missions reflects the close ties between Marine air and ground elements. F/A-18D’s routinely deploy to Japan.

Regardless of which community you join upon arriving in the fleet, you will fly the most versatile and capable aircraft in the world. You will train to perform numerous missions ranging from air to ground employment of iron and laser guided bombs to the suppression of enemy air defenses with HARM to multi-plane air to air engagements with AMRAAM missiles.

After completing TBS, you will proceed to NAS Pensacola, Florida for primary flight training. Upon selecting jets, you will go to Meridian, Mississippi, or Kingsville, Texas for intermediate jet training and pursuit of your wings. With wings in hand, you will go to the FRS (Fleet Replacement Squadron)

in Oceana, Virginia, Lemoore or Mirimar, California, where you will learn to fly F/A-18’s. Upon completion of the FRS, you will check into your fleet squadron in Miramar, Beaufort or Iwakuni.

As a first lieutenant or junior captain, you will fly. You will generally fly four times a week and after six months to a year, you will be ready to become a section (two aircraft) lead. The number and types of qualifications that you achieve after section lead is dependent upon your skills and squadron’s deployment cycle. Your first tour will be marked by one, or generally, two, six -month deployments overseas. Additionally, you will perform a "ground" job in the squadron that will change every six months to a year. Included in first tour jobs are schedule writing, safety officer, pilot training officer, or working one of several jobs in the "garage" such as assistant aviation maintenance officer.

There are numerous opportunities after your first tour. You can continue flying in the training command. Another option would be to attend AWS or become a Forward Air Controller (FAC). The opportunities are too diverse and numerous to list.

1. Jane’s Defense Manuals (Aircraft of the World)
2. www.usmc.mil

If you like the idea of strapping on the premier fighter in the world, moving at the speed of sound, and blowing up stuff in new and exciting ways, you’ll love being an F/A-18 driver.