MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- The Raiders of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, celebrated the arrival of Miramar's first KC-130J aircraft in a flight line ceremony Sept. 20. The new technologically advanced model will replace all the older KC-130F and R models, by late 2007.

The new J model marks a transition not only in computerized aviation, but also in man versus machine capabilities.

In the past, VMGR-352, a squadron from Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, flew solely KC-130F and R models, all of which require the use of an enlisted navigator, or their newer title -- Tactical Systems Operator, to perform several functions before, during, and after flight. In the new aircraft, pilots alone are expected to use the navigational systems to find their way around the world.

VMGR-352 TSO Gunnery Sgt. Greg S. Fivecoate has been a navigator since the use of sextants, an outdated navigational instrument used for measuring the altitude between the plane of the horizon and a line extending to a celestial body.

"We were all taught celestial navigation.  We now have the global positioning system and inertial navigation systems; the sextant is extremely obsolete."

Both the sextant and enlisted navigators are deemed unnecessary for the new aircraft. In a couple years, The Raiders will have 11 new J models and no use for tactical systems operators. Although reserve squadrons will use the older KC-130T models for many years to come, eventually, J-series aircraft will retire all old models across the Marine Corps.

Where does that leave the tactical systems operators? The Marine Aerial Navigation School closed down July 31. It is estimated that by the year 2014, the Marine Corps will have upgraded its last KC-130T. When that happens, the last navigators will retire, and the TSO military occupational specialties of 7372 for enlisted, and 7380 for warrant officer, will disappear completely.

In the meantime, 13 first-term navigators are looking at a choice in the near future: a lateral move into another MOS, or the civilian option. Marines that have already reenlisted, or will do so in fiscal year 2005, have the option to remain navigators until retirement.

Career Marines are allowed to stay in the MOS because they will retire before the last T-model is replaced in the reserve squadrons. The first-term Marines would not be eligible to retire before the aircraft become completely obsolete, so they must look for new options.

VMGR-352 TSO Cpl. Graham T. Denniston is considering the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. "It's kind of pushing me towards MECEP, something I may not have done if I'd had the choice to stay. It definitely made me realize what I wanted to do," said the Alamo, Calif., native.

"We saw it coming, but in school we were told we would be able to reenlist. But obviously we couldn't tell at the time," added Denniston. "If I had known then that I would only be able to do it for one enlistment, I would have gone to a loadmaster's screening (instead,)" he said.

"It's good that we'll get new planes though. The older models see approximately fifty hours of maintenance for every flight hour," commented Denniston.

Raiders TSO Cpl. Christopher M. Slater is affected by the change, but thinks it's reasonable. He said, "It's fair, and kind of necessary. We need new planes.
But, I would have liked to have done my job for longer than five years."

Slater is a little skeptical about trusting technology. "Computers fail all the time. Look at how many times our network has gone down," he said. "We're looking at a time where we will rely on a computer, and if it goes down, and there's nobody onboard with our training, it makes it kind of hard to accomplish the mission."

Most career Marines will see a much smaller impact than the first-termers. After all the older models are replaced, career TSOs  will go to reserve units until their retirement.

Professional development may be the largest effect the change has on them. "As the need for navigators decreases, being promoted in this MOS will become harder," said VMGR-352 TSO Warrant Officer Mario A. Helpley.

According to Helpley, lateral moves into crew chief, loadmaster or similar fields should be attainable for those first-term Marines seeking to stay in.

"They are an intelligent, professional group of Marines.  (In) anything they do, whether it be lateral move, end of active service, or MECEP, they will be successful," added Helpley.