Re Fallon Naval Air Station.

Just Dad

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Just trying to grab some intel for my kid. Has anybody on the board been there? I've learned that Fallon is the site for Top gun which I understand has evolved from a fighter tactics school into support training simulations for entire air groups. With the squadrons stationed there and the rotation of entire air-wings in and out for training simulations, I am guessing that its a pretty hopping place at least for a naval air station in the middle of _____ ______ nowhere Nevada.

Is it a good/great OClub? Whats the "energy" like working there? Where do people go on weekends? Is there any kind of town around the base? Would you jump at the chance to go back, or die first? Would a single person enjoy the place or spend a few years wishing they were married?

Thanks for any help/info you-all can provide. DD has some decisions to make, any data on Fallon would be helpful. BTW I have done the Google stuff, looking for some personal observations.

Note: I don't want to imply that DD is looking for the best place to party through her first tour. Not at all; she's just put herself in a position to control where she goes next (a little bit). "The Work" is criteria #1. That said, after 6 years back East the idea of coming home to west has some appeal. Her other choice/s appear to have more visibility and potential in terms of career advancement, but she's worked hard and has some nice notches on her belt for a kid her age. She's asked me for input on this and I am thinking its time she heard her Dad say "Let the career stuff take care of itself; enjoy the journey". If I say that, I'd like to know as much about the Fallon option as I can;.......and YES I KNOW it's not my call to make.
 
There are not a lot of Officers actually based at Fallon. Many/most pointy nose aviators will rotate through Fallon but it is not a homebase for wings/squadrons that I know of other than the staff at Topgun itself. Students at Topgun rotate in a couple of months for school and then right back out. Air wings rotate in for predeployment workups and then back to their regular stations and then onto the carriers.
 
I thought they had one squadron VFC13 is there. Your post got me reading a little more and I learned the VFC13 lists F5s as their ride!

OK I get it, but there is no mistake in my post. I'm looking for info on what it might be like for a young woman to live there for a couple of years.
 
My favorite Fallon memory is our squadron of JO's getting "banned for life" from the Go Cart track. And the time some Nugget came into O Club to pick up a pizza wearing a ball cap and had to buy a keg.... And trips to Reno. Did I mention the Go Carts? Some awesome flying, too!
 
Let me guess ... Bumper Cars?

Nice Aussie, I'm on my 4th great dogs! Added a smooth coated border collie last year. Wicked smart (makes the Aussie seem slow witted). You just have to be willing to throw a frisbee 500 times a day.

Thanks for the info CatDog and Huskiefan; DD picked the better job in the crappier place.

The Cat?---well its a cat
 
Missed the fun on this one...
I was on a Det to Fallon long, long ago -- actually, right after Desert Storm,.
All I remember is it was in the middle of no where; one or two bar /casinos in town, but Reno wasn't far away,
Fly in the area reminded me of the surface of the moon.We had fun, but can't imagine being stuck there for long.
 
Yup, DD was thinking she'd hike/ski around Tahoe and trek into Reno on a weekend. I figured that with TopGun located there, operating under a revised format that brings in a whole carrier air wing for exercises, Fallon ought to be a hopping place--------for a NAS in the high desert of Nevada.

DD opted for a more challenging slot in DC. She's a west coast kid to the core, and she's been in the DC/VA area for 6years now. If it had been a straight-up location vs location competition NV wins in a walk.
 
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