Join Air Force after college?

[cessna152]

So, I'll be graduating this year with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was debating the idea of joining the Air Force as an officer. I think it would be a good experience for me and would definitely prepare me for a career when I leave the Air Force. Has anyone done this? Any stories to tell about the experience? Was it worth it?

 

[alm4rr]

lil late considering could have been doing AFROTC all this time.....

there's a couple peeps here that could tell you volumes... search (archive) and should get a bunch of USAF Join? threads

 

[EagleKeeper]

That was the path that I took many years ago. Never felt sorry for it.

 

[cessna152]

Yea, I never really considered it until now. I think the main problem was I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life back then.

 

[BadSweetums]

A short USAF technical officer career may work BUT a lot will depend on what kind of technical officer you become. ["may work" means using your time wisely to take advantage of off-duty educational opportunities and job search.]

Very few officers are directly involved in research and development. Most are involved in operations. Operations as in "managing, supervising, and/or administering" mundane day to day activities. [basicly operating a rubber stamp]

If you can get a guarantee in writing that you will be doing stuff that will prepare you for a civilian career as a EE (specific stuff that you can define); then you should get what you contract for.

BUT, based on my 20 years as an enlisted helicopter mechanic and electronics technician, there is little guarantee of getting specifics unless they really, really need you for those specifics. The bottom line always reads that you will do what the USAF needs you to do and go where the USAF needs you to do it.

My first helicopter maintenance officer was a psych major. I would NOT be hugely surprised if you are offered the opportunity to become a food services officer.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Depending on you civilian skills; MPC will try to place you where you can be the most valuable.

I had background in programming and simulations prior to being commissioned.
Had my chioce of 3 R&D slots; took the one that would allow flight time.

You can usually leverage that into 10 years of technical work :thumbsup: then you start to become a paper pusher to some extent when you hit the O-4 level :thumbsdown: