I'm 23, working part-time as a database admin/help desk, with a BS in Managerial Econ from UC Davis. I've taken the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test and scored an 80 (average was 25), and I have the physical tomorrow. I'm planning on requesting an IT position. Anyone out there with experiences with being an officer? Initial pay works to $40K plus benefits.
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Should I join the Air Force?
- Thread starter dquan97
- Start date
NikPreviousAcct
No Lifer
If you're considering it, then go for it. Nothing more admirable than a man who puts his life on the line to protect his country -even if it's administering the hardware that keeps the other men afloat. 🙂 If you decide to go, good luck to you, sir.
nik
nik
propellerhead
Golden Member
If you're a hands-on kind of an IT guy... keep this in the back of your mind.
Unless you get an actual engineering or pilot/crew job, you won't be getting much hands-on work with computers. Most officer jobs in the USAF are management jobs. You IT background will come in handy, but you'll end up with a team of enlisted people who will do the fun work. You'll collect the status and report it to the boss using pretty Powerpoint slides.
But still, the USAF is a great experience. Get a Master's degree while you're in and let us tax payers pay for it.
Unless you get an actual engineering or pilot/crew job, you won't be getting much hands-on work with computers. Most officer jobs in the USAF are management jobs. You IT background will come in handy, but you'll end up with a team of enlisted people who will do the fun work. You'll collect the status and report it to the boss using pretty Powerpoint slides.
But still, the USAF is a great experience. Get a Master's degree while you're in and let us tax payers pay for it.
NikPreviousAcct
No Lifer
Well, the satisfaction that you've served your country can't be bad, either. 🙂
nik
nik
Ex F15 here - commissioned in 78 had a BSEE with MS in computer engineering.
Did S/W work for R&D
In the true IT position, you will have enlisted working for you. However, you can get sent to the same tech schools and get the same training if you desire it.
Also, just being commissioned will bring you extra $$ when you get out.
I averaged 20% higher salary compared to those that I came out of school with. 5 years later, a couple of us were both working for the same company.
It is well worth the effort.
AndrewR is another who used to frequent these boards last year before he was sent to the Far East when he made O3.
Hold your head up high!!
Did S/W work for R&D
In the true IT position, you will have enlisted working for you. However, you can get sent to the same tech schools and get the same training if you desire it.
Also, just being commissioned will bring you extra $$ when you get out.
I averaged 20% higher salary compared to those that I came out of school with. 5 years later, a couple of us were both working for the same company.
It is well worth the effort.
AndrewR is another who used to frequent these boards last year before he was sent to the Far East when he made O3.
Hold your head up high!!
I'm guessing since you're talking about being an officer that you're planning on applying to OCS. OCS is great, but it doesn't guarantee that you'll get what you want. However, Direct Commissioning does. If they need what you have, you apply, get accepted, and you get to do what your degree/area of expertise is.
I wouldn't take joining the military lightly.
Are you prepared to lay down your life for your country?
If someone orders you to do something that will get you killed or get someone else you know/like/love killed, will you comply with that order?
These are very serious questions you need to ask yourself and answer honestly.
Also, you need to understand the commitment your are making to the military. I looked into the military in my home country and they wanted me to commit to them for 11 years of my life. I was 19 and was not prepared to do that so I went elsewhere.
Are you prepared to lay down your life for your country?
If someone orders you to do something that will get you killed or get someone else you know/like/love killed, will you comply with that order?
These are very serious questions you need to ask yourself and answer honestly.
Also, you need to understand the commitment your are making to the military. I looked into the military in my home country and they wanted me to commit to them for 11 years of my life. I was 19 and was not prepared to do that so I went elsewhere.
You can lock in your field before you go to OCS.
The recruiter can also give you a fairly clear idea of posting availability based on your background.
If you are extra special, you may have a stationed assigned as soon as you go into OCS.
If not, you are usually given a wish list that you can list bases that you would like to be at. They try to honor it.
Benefits include:
1. Medical and Dental
2. 30days vacation/yr
3. Retirement after 20yrs
4. Free tuition
5. Housing and food allowance
6. Chicks dig uniforms!
Initial term of service is 4yrs. I'm planning on getting another BS in Chemistry while serving, then apply for medical school. If I get in, my tuition/lab/housing is paid for, plus a stipend. Woohoo! To repay them back, all I have to do is serve the time that I was away at school (4yrs) as a doctor. Plus, this is something I can scratch off my "To-do before dying" list.
Link to Air Force Website
propellerhead
Golden Member
A few more points to consider about IT jobs in the USAF:
The IT jobs will probably go to the CS degree holders, but you may get lucky. My guess is that you'll be assigned a management job. You'll be the first level manager of a logistics/supply section, or a maintenance shop, or a security forces team, or a base services team, etc. The options are plenty and they will send you to training for it.
There are a lot of USAF IT officer jobs that deal with private companies and defense contractors. When the USAF buys airplanes, computers, software, services, etc., from companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop, etc., some blue-suiter (USAF person) has to provide technical expertise. The last USAF unit I was in evaluated Boeing's work on a flight simulator. I was in the Software Branch. I was enlisted, but worked next to a Captain.
The USAF has been going away from building their own systems and writing their own software. Most of it is contracted out to private companies. Blue suiters participate in the design reviews and acceptance testing.
USAF uniforms are much cooler than the other branches.
The IT jobs will probably go to the CS degree holders, but you may get lucky. My guess is that you'll be assigned a management job. You'll be the first level manager of a logistics/supply section, or a maintenance shop, or a security forces team, or a base services team, etc. The options are plenty and they will send you to training for it.
There are a lot of USAF IT officer jobs that deal with private companies and defense contractors. When the USAF buys airplanes, computers, software, services, etc., from companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop, etc., some blue-suiter (USAF person) has to provide technical expertise. The last USAF unit I was in evaluated Boeing's work on a flight simulator. I was in the Software Branch. I was enlisted, but worked next to a Captain.
The USAF has been going away from building their own systems and writing their own software. Most of it is contracted out to private companies. Blue suiters participate in the design reviews and acceptance testing.
USAF uniforms are much cooler than the other branches.
propellerhead
Golden Member
1. Not the greatest but still better than most. Plus no hassles with insurance claims. Worldwide coverage.
2. 30 calendar days. Weekends counted.
3. Can't beat this one. After 20, you'll be young and very experienced to get a good job on the outside.
4. Most major private companies have this.
5. Base housing quality and availability varies from base to base. It a matter of luck.
6. Yes they do!
UltraQuiet
Banned
Here's a payscale Payscale
That number is a little misleading. The military assigns a value to your medical care, your commissay/PX privledges, tax breaks, etc. . Those numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt There are also things like housing allowanc, food allowance, etc. that also add to your total pay and benfits that are much more tangible.
UltraQuiet
Banned
O is for officer, E is for enlisted with the years of service columns. Yes we do pay taxes with the exception of any money earned in a war zone. Many guys re-enlist in a war zone because all of the bonus money, even though it is paid in installments, is tax free.
Tax is payed on income to IRS just as a civilian does.
Combat pay and other allowances are tax exempt
State taxes may also apply unless you join from a non-tax state, or change you state of residence to a non-tax state.
PS - OCS is at Lackland AFB (San Antonio, TX) which is a non-tax state.
When you change you tax state, the AF will notify your original home state, however, the home state will usually not do anything about it.
Combat pay and other allowances are tax exempt
State taxes may also apply unless you join from a non-tax state, or change you state of residence to a non-tax state.
PS - OCS is at Lackland AFB (San Antonio, TX) which is a non-tax state.
When you change you tax state, the AF will notify your original home state, however, the home state will usually not do anything about it.
Couple of years ago I considered joining the military. I researched all branches of the armed forces and for education, training, and quality of life I would have to say I think the USAF is number 1. Regardless of what the pay is I think you get alot out of it. I would go for it.
That also varies a lot depending on where you are stationed as your Basic Allowance for Housing is based on your area. It can vary from almost $2K in New York to $600 dollars in say for example Mississippi. Of couse your BAH is tax free which is a big incentive. 40k is pretty high for a second lieutenant, your base pay is probably around 25k + your allowances.
If single, you may get assigned BOQ.
Do not look at the AF for income for the first 4 years, look at is a training for the next 30 years that will pay dividends.
Do not look at the AF for income for the first 4 years, look at is a training for the next 30 years that will pay dividends.
I'll second this word-for-word.
If you want hands on technical stuff, you need to be enlisted or operational. And a fair bit of the operational jobs are trained-monkey-follows-the-checklist sort of thing.
But, if you like pushing papers, doing powerpoint, and have aspirations to management ... go for it!
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