Air Force Questions

[mydesigner]

Okay, i am seriously debating joining the AF this fall but im not sure what to do in teh airforce. When i took the ASVAB in high school 2 years ago I had pretty high scores and they told me i could do most things. I want to do something in the Air Force that if i were to get out of the military it would give me the training to go into a career where I would be making good money. Anyone have experience in this? Anyone a recruiter that could help me out? I know there is some military guys out there.

 

[Lee_Burough]

I'd be slow to believe every word a recruiter might say. But the recruiter is a gatekeeper of sorts, he has a lot of information at his disposal. The recruiter has quotas to fill, just like a cop in New York City

The military is going to offer sign up bonuses for the hard to fill positions (with no civilain counterpart). Don't go that way. Ask the recruiter for a listing of AFSC's (Air Force Specialty Codes) offering big bonuses for reenlistment. Those are usually the career fields that are in demand in the civilian world at the time.

Training in the medical field offers transfer to civilain life. I worked for 20 years in a Military hospital. I've seen some administrative types trained in computers and become experts in computer systems administration, something in demad in civilain life. Many of the med tech positions find work in civilian life very easily too. Security police training transfers very well.

I spent 8 years as a pilot (1976-79 OH-58 in Army Guard, 1071-78 Active Duty in the UH-1 & Jolly Green Giant in Air Force Rescue and Recovery Service-I refused fixed wing training). Those who maintain the aircraft have job opportunities in the outside.

While many employers look for people with military experience, many things you could do in the military do not have a civilian counterpart. Not much call for a tank driver, or infantry experience on the outside

I don't think you have to have a degree to be an Army warrant officer (and fly). My son went to the Warrant Officer Program at age 17, in 1986, right out of high school.

The needs of the Air Force will dictate what is available when you sign up.

As far as becoming an officer....Its a good thing. But, I put in 1.3 hours of work for every 1.0 hour of work the enlisted folks did, especially while I was flying. Its not easier, but, there is some pride like Bruce says.

Good Luck

Edited

 

[TylerDurden]

first, LEE your were an AF pilot? when and what A/C?

mydesigner:
my first question to you...HOW high were your asvab scores? high enough to be a pilot?

if so, look at being an officer......hands down the way to go if you qualify...its a tough road, but you make more money and probably do less work later (but dont tell the enlisted guys that)

if you dont think you can hack the airforce academy, there is always ROTC at probably over a 100 schools in the US....dont ever let a recruiter tell you, you can fly yet remain enlisted....ALL pilots are officers....who either went the academy, or went to ROTC....(there are a few others in limited programs who became officers another way)

if you dont want to be a pilot or officer....im not the one to ask, as i am in the navy (went to the naval academy)

but i do think the air force is the best choice for enlisting....more or less becuase of the lifestyle...its generally easier....navy=gonna be on a boat (ALOT), army=getting dirty, MARINES!=getting REALLY dirty...

i am sure there some others on here who can chime in as well

 

[mydesigner]

I cant be a pilot cause my eyesight. I wear contacts, plus you have to have a 4 year degree and i got about a year of college.

 

[TylerDurden]

well that sux bout your eyes, but being an officer is still available, ROTC scholorship can PAY for college....or part of it, OR the academy is FREE plus you get paid while you go there.......

 

[jastrckl]

If you decide to go USAF enlisted, I recommend the 3C category of career fields, especially tech control and then communications operator after that. Programming is up there but not as nice from the coders I've talked to. 3c2 is tech control, 3c0 is operator. Both have relatively high SRB's right now, and that's good advise btw about the SRBs. The reason the 3C career fields have had good SRBs is that people have been leaving to make big bucks out in the civilian world so retention was poor. A combination of extra patriotism after 9/11 and a weak civilian job market have conspired to drop our SRB by a full point recently though (from 5.5 to 4.5).

 

[bruce]

Just do it.
The benefits are what to look at. From education, home loan, medical, you can't beat the deal.
If I hadn't put my time in the military, I'd be dead right now, from not being able to afford the care I needed. For me having the VA was an incredible twist of fate.

You very well might change careers 2-3 during your life, so I wouldn't base your whole desicion on what training you'll get while on active duty. There are lots of jobs that even after 10-15 years just all of a sudden turn folks off.

No to mention the pride of actually having done your duty. that's kind of lost nowadays. I served during a not to popular time, and for all the nonsense that was going on, I still was able to know deep down in side, at least I'd done my duty.

 

[n20junkie]

i am a helicopter mechanic in the army, getting out after 6 years in a few monthes, and i can say that being an airframe mechanic and power plant mechanic can make a pretty good bit of money on the outside, i have my FAA A@P license, but plan on going the pilot side of the fence, and as a side note, i am also a flight engineer on a chinook, i fly every day, actually now i am in the desert fighting the bad men, its the biggest ruch you can ever get, so crewing is not a bad choice, and you get more pullon the outside when you want to get you A@P, hope that helps.
Grant
ps, recruiters lie lie lie, don't trust them a bit.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Be an AF "oscifer"!

Tyler has the right idea. Be an officer.. A side benefit is you are also deemed to be a gentleman by act of congress!!!

BTW, believing the recruiter is like playing Russian roulette w/ a fully loaded gun! Even if he puts it in writing, when you get there, the good ol AF will determine, [as someone has already mentioned], what it is you are going to do......BTDT!!!

 

[Lee_Burough]

Officer and a Gentleman....

The Air Force is politically correct now

My first commission in 1970 confirmed that I was "an officer and a Gentleman" by an act of congress.

My recommissioning in 1979 as a Biomedical Scientist didn't say that....It was politically correct, and, gender neutral

That's progess I don't mind. I served with several females that were my intellectual and physical equal. Not many of either though They eat raw meat every day and pinch themselves just to keep strong and "on the edge"

P.S.

TylerDurden, I edited my first post to answer your questions.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

The eyesight part is a thing of the past. Down here for $299 an eye you can have laser surgery that will give you 20/20 vision. Thats if you really want to be a pilot.

 

[Lee_Burough]

Laser surgery for flight crew members is SPECIFICALLY prohibited. Its easily seen on examination during the induction physical.

I had a reservist assigned to assist my clinic. When the Air Force discovered she'd had eye surgery, they wouldn't even let her back in the Reserves.

 

[SinistrV6]

Do a search on this board, this was talked about in depth for someone else not long ago.

Having said that, I was a "Site Developer" in the Air Force then the ANG. That's the military's name for a draftsman/land surveyor. If the AF has upgraded to some AutoCad programs since then it can be a good "transferrable" career to civilian life. Drawing on a board never hurt me any either but it's usually only smaller companies still doing non-CAD style work and even they are disappearing rapidly.

Take advantage of all opportunities military life has to offer. Travel to new places, get an education, meet new people and absorb as much knowledge as you can in every place they send you.

 

[1badTTA]

I have to chime in here,

As of right now, aircraft mechanics are suffering!!!!!

I am an Aircraft Sheetmetal (Structural Maintenance) Technician, AFSC 2A7X3. I served 7 years in the Air Farce and got out in '98, worked at different repair stations, and am now unemployed. The number of people out there that work on airplanes far exceeds the number of jobs right now. The money may be good, but the job security absolutely SVCKS!!!!!! I wish I would have stayed out of trouble and just stayed in for 20. Hindsight always is 20/20.

As mentioned earlier, Recruiters are payed to get people into the military and fill hard to fill slots (read CraÞÞy jobs), NOT help the people joining.

 

[IRACEIT]

My 2 cents...

Retired USAF Master Sergeant 20 1/2 years...

#1. Think about your future.

- Some folks pick a career field that will take them no where after they leave the USAF. Imagine for a moment being a Forward Air Controller (The guys that point a laser at the target a B-1 Bomber drops a JDAM weapon at from 15,000 feet). What will this translate to in the civilian world?

- On the other side of the coin; you can pick an exciting job like Loadmaster and see the world... and some lousy parts of it too as a young man. You can always cross-train into something better after your 4 to 6 years of experience... "suffering."

Disclaimer: The USAF will assign you where THEY have a need. Sometimes they don't give you what you want or need in this decision process. Once you become a Career Airman with Career Job Reservation in a career field you become an asset of the career manager of that career field.

It worked out for me. I went into the radar career field (then it was AFSC 276XO, now I believe it is 1C5X1 (if you want to live in a fox hole, eat lousy food, and suffer... this career field is for you!)
They mandatorily cross trained me into 277XO (Space System operations) where I got involved in the nation's space program. This career field is now designated as 1C6X1. If you want something that will stretch your brain cells, and also set you up for civilian life run with this info to your recruiter.


Think about college... and plant your rear end in a fast paced college program to obtain your Bachelor's degree before your 4 years hitch is over. If you get into the 1C6 career field look me up. I can assist you in getting ahead in civilian life with the skills they will give you.

On a side note: Officers are only good for two things. 1. To die on the battle field of America's choice. 2. To get promoted. If they aren't doing one of the two they get kicked to the curb (or ran over by the other officers)

 

[Shane]

Don't do it, you'll ruin your life.
You can get the same result by getting a job and working 70 hours a week and going to college.

 

[mydesigner]

I'm working 70 hours a week, and going to college but its going no where. The hours suck.

What is 1C6X1 and the 3C categories of careers how do i know what ones those are?

 

[IRACEIT]

Tell the recruiter you are interested in the Space Operations Career Field "1C6" designation. That will get you the information you need.

Perhaps the US Air Force has this information readily available on the Internet?

I can understand your killing yourself working those long hours to go to school, put food in your mouth, and a roof over your head. Been there... Done that. There were times in my USAF career that those hours existed as well.

Keep your nose clean when you get in... avoid the pitfalls of failure; drugs, alcohol, and soured women. Pay all of your bills.
Forget about getting married unless you want to be more traumatized. Very few women out there understand military life, and the sacrifices required of it. It is tough to be married when you are away from each other 6 months or longer at a time.

 

[mydesigner]

Yeah there is some on the website about it. Where are you stationed at for that?

And no marriage wont happen till i have all the toys I want, and I want a lot of toys

 

[IRACEIT]

Denver, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Thule, Greenland
Clear, Alaska
Beale AFS, California
Vandenberg AFS, California
...and a handful of places I can't discuss here (Classified)

almost 70% of the assignments are in Colorado