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Any USAF vets in here?

Ruptga

Ruptga

Lifer
I'm considering enlisting. I have been out of college for 3.5 years now and have yet to land a big kid's job, so if they will train me to do something practical and give me a few years of experience with it... why the hell not? I should even be able to enter as an A1C since I've got a BA.

I'm going to see a recruiter Thursday, and probably take the ASVAB later next week. But, I feel a bit like I'm going in blind since I don't really know anyone in the military, don't know much of their terminology or air force culture, etc. I know they do a lot more than fly planes though, and I'm actually hoping to get a job on the ground, like in logistics or as a flight controller.

Anyway, what are a few things you think everyone ought to know and be ok with before they sign up?

update:
So I saw a recruiter today. Apparently, enlisting while holding a BA isn't unheard of, especially for those that don't want to deal with the hoop jumping and politics that go with being an officer. Still, I don't think he knew what to make of me at first, but his disposition sure changed when I scored in the 91st percentile on their practice ASVAB.

He also told me that there are plenty of opportunities for smart motivated people, even when they're not officers. Granted, he knows that is what I want to hear, so I don't know... I am doing this because I want to start a career, so everything hinges on how much I will be allowed to succeed. But, at this point I am confident enough to continue the application process. I figure I can always back out until I accept a position and sign my name.
 
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tcsenter said:
Go straight for officer candidate school and get a commission. Enlistment is for the GED and HS diploma types.
Click to expand...

That was my thought too, but, well, my GPA is only good enough to qualify me for a rated officer's position. I could be a pilot, drone pilot, air battle manager, or a navigator, and that is it. Not only do I not want to be a pilot, the commitments are 6-10 years, while I am looking for more of a 2-4 year thing that will teach me skills that will be valuable in the civilian sector. I could see myself sticking with the Air force for longer than four years, but right now it seems a lot more likely that I won't want to do that.
 
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-Go in as an officer
-Make sure that you get the job you want in writing
-Basic will suck, but you'll get through it
-You may move around a lot

Most of my family is Air Force. I tried to join the military four times, but was rejected. If you can get in and get a job in a field related to your field of interest, you'll be in a solid position to get a job after you get out, especially government jobs.
 
What can I expect if I simply enlist? The recruiter I talked to didn't seem to think I have much chance of making the officer's cut.
 
ADDAvenger said:
What can I expect if I simply enlist? The recruiter I talked to didn't seem to think I have much chance of making the officer's cut.
Click to expand...

Here are the entrance requirements. If you aren't happy with your recruiter's answer, go talk to another one or even one in another branch.
 
I went in with Electronic Warfare as my job. After the 6 week basic in San Antinio, tech school was at Keesler. At some point we put in our dream sheet of where we wanted to go. That kinda put us in the two categories of electronic warfare, bomber or fighter, depending on what base we were heading had. One of the base I picked that i got had f16s and a10s, so I went that route which had a shorter tech school(5 months) than bombers(6 months). Once I got to the base it was like a 9-5 job except for the occasional war reenactment and occassional deployment to Saudi. This was in the mid 90s so I'm sure things have changed alittle.
 
ADDAvenger said:
That was my thought too, but, well, my GPA is only good enough to qualify me for a non-rated officer's position. I could be a pilot, drone pilot, air battle manager, or a navigator, and that is it. Not only do I not want to be a pilot, the commitments are 6-10 years, while I am looking for more of a 2-4 year thing that will teach me skills that will be valuable in the civilian sector. I could see myself sticking with the Air force for longer than four years, but right now it seems a lot more likely that I won't want to do that.
Click to expand...

Six years as an officer will suck much less than four years as enlisted. And you can always take classes while you're in to develop skills.
 
Chaotic42 said:
Here are the entrance requirements. If you aren't happy with your recruiter's answer, go talk to another one or even one in another branch.
Click to expand...

The problem is my GPA is only 2.8. I had no idea wtf I was doing in college, and it showed. From all I've read, the non-rated officer positions are highly competitive and even a 3.5 is no guarantee of being accepted.

I suppose I'll check the other branches' officer programs too... but I don't expect them to be all that different, and I would be fine with just enlisting so long as it would still give good skills and work experience.
 
Unless things have changed drastically, you have some things backwards. Typically USAF rated positions (i.e. flight crew type jobs) are more desireable, and thus harder to qualify for. If you are seriously interested in the Air Force, go take the AFOQT, and definitely visit with more than one recruiter. Keep in mind that recruiters aren't necessarily looking out for your best interests - they are trying to meet their goals - so each recruiter may have a different story for you.
 
I did 4 years and that was all I could take, they wanted everyone to dress the same and kept trying to tell me what to do, not for me.
Kidding aside, it was a good experience, forced me to grow up a bit and it did end up paying for my education, no regrets but 4 years was enough. I was just an enlisted swine, peddling parts (Supply) for fighters.
 
tcsenter said:
Go straight for officer candidate school and get a commission. Enlistment is for the GED and HS diploma types.
Click to expand...

air force vet here. and that statement is 100% bullshit. i personally knew junior enlisted with Ba and masters. My nephew has a BA and joined the AF as enlisted. Last week he got Senior Airman below the zone promotion.
 
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OutHouse said:
air force vet here. and that statement is 100% bullshit. i personally knew junior enlisted with Ba and masters. My nephew has a BA and joined the AF as enlisted. Last week he got Senior Airman below the zone promotion.
Click to expand...

I got out four years ago and didn't know of a single one. I knew plenty of guys who got their degree while enlisted, but none who enlisted after getting their degree.
 
I knew of a couple. Mostly they were ones doing kinda like the OP but their desired service branch wouldn't promise the line of work they wanted so they did a minimal enlisted career to help pay of the college bills.
 
So I saw a recruiter today. Apparently, enlisting while holding a BA isn't unheard of, especially for those that don't want to deal with the hoop jumping and politics that go with being an officer. Still, I don't think he knew what to make of me at first, but his disposition sure changed when I scored in the 91st percentile on their practice ASVAB.

He also told me that there are plenty of opportunities for smart motivated people, even when they're not officers. Granted, he knows that is what I want to hear, so I don't know... I am doing this because I want to start a career, so everything hinges on how much I will be allowed to succeed. But, at this point I am confident enough to continue the application process. I figure I can always back out until I accept a position and sign my name.
 
OutHouse said:
air force vet here. and that statement is 100% bullshit. i personally knew junior enlisted with Ba and masters. My nephew has a BA and joined the AF as enlisted. Last week he got Senior Airman below the zone promotion.
Click to expand...
It was partly tongue and cheek (partly).
 
Airforce, ewwww. Grow a pair and join the Army or if you can't get a good score on the ASVAB, the Marines.

ADDAvenger said:
I'm considering enlisting. I have been out of college for 3.5 years now and have yet to land a big kid's job, so if they will train me to do something practical and give me a few years of experience with it... why the hell not? I should even be able to enter as an A1C since I've got a BA.

I'm going to see a recruiter Thursday, and probably take the ASVAB later next week. But, I feel a bit like I'm going in blind since I don't really know anyone in the military, don't know much of their terminology or air force culture, etc. I know they do a lot more than fly planes though, and I'm actually hoping to get a job on the ground, like in logistics or as a flight controller.

Anyway, what are a few things you think everyone ought to know and be ok with before they sign up?

update:
So I saw a recruiter today. Apparently, enlisting while holding a BA isn't unheard of, especially for those that don't want to deal with the hoop jumping and politics that go with being an officer. Still, I don't think he knew what to make of me at first, but his disposition sure changed when I scored in the 91st percentile on their practice ASVAB.

He also told me that there are plenty of opportunities for smart motivated people, even when they're not officers. Granted, he knows that is what I want to hear, so I don't know... I am doing this because I want to start a career, so everything hinges on how much I will be allowed to succeed. But, at this point I am confident enough to continue the application process. I figure I can always back out until I accept a position and sign my name.
Click to expand...
 
you don't join as enlisted to make it a career unless you plan on the career being staying in the military, but I think we've already told you that.
 
Even the military can be restrictive. Unless you have some kind of skill they need like Dentist or aeronautical engineering good luck. But with a 4 year degree as an enlisted man after basic you would probably be an E-4 and may be ahead on points to become an E-5. I dont know too much about air force but in the Army you have to go before a promotion board and have enough points to be promoted.

My cousin is an E-7 and is some kind of a Flight Line Maintenance Supervisor. The Aircraft industry is very problematic to make money in. There is probably some money to be made in airframe and engine repair. My father was both an Air Traffic Controller and in the OSI (Office of Special Investigation).

The Airforce is more than just Pilots. It is full of Military Police, Fuel Delivery Systems, Mechanics that travel with their planes, Aircraft maintenance crews, Flight Rescue Teams to recover pilots, ICBM Missle teams, Engineering units, Doctors, Nurses, Medics, Weapons Specialists, Cooks, Truck Drivers, Motor Pools, Water Purification, Fuel delivery Systems, Deployment Air Load Teams, Legal support, lawyer, etc.
 
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