Thinking of joining Air Force, experience?

[MetalMat]

Good friend of mine enlisted in the AF a while back. While he liked it at first after his 2nd year he really started to grow tired of what he described as the "military culture". I don't think he was very happy where we has stationed, think he got a little homesick. He did get an honorable discharge because of seizures though, I think around 3 years in.

Either way, if I had to enlist it would be Air Force or Navy all the way

 

[Arkaign]

My best friend since I was in the 2nd grade has been in USAF since 1990, he's O3. I think he put in 20 active before switching to reserve. He has nothing but great things to say about it. I know that's probably no help, but w/e Best of luck to you!

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

If you're thinking of commissioning (becoming an officer), you don't get to pick your job. You get put in a field, but that doesn't really matter because whatever field it is 99% chance your job will primarily be management/paper-pushing. Enlisting you can guarantee a job (and if you do absolutely do not go in without one).

 

[Kung Lau]

Been thinking this for a while, seems like a good way to get some of the school loans off my back and serve my country.

I have been posting on the military forums, but those guys expect me to know every term before I even ask a simple question, so i'll ask here.

I currently work IT, as a network administrator, and will have my BS complete in early 2014 (i'll be 27 years old, shit haha).

So I was thinking of going down the route of getting in with the air force as an officer, and then get out, and get a job with the one of the big government agencies out there, CIA/NSA/FBI, that sort of thing. It also seems to be very helpful when applying for jobs to have a VA preference.

So what jobs would be a good idea, assuming I can test into them, that I could take into the civilian world?

If you handle the military structure and have the ability to do what you're told, you should definitely apply. The Air Force definitely treats their own better than the Army and Marine Corps. Not sure about the Navy. But yeah, I can't tell how many TDY's I've went where it's hotel, rental car and per diem when we have to hear from grunts that they had to pair up, or live on base, take a bus, etc.

I spent 20 years in the AF immediately after HS graduation and got a decent job as an aircraft electrician. It was extremely satifisying work. Fixing an airplane so it could fly. Immediate satisfaction for the work performed.

After Desert Storm and the huge draw down the DoD had, I changed jobs into one of the best jobs in the Air Force as an air traffic controller. I spent the majority of my career in ATC with some of the best provisions one can imagine. After I got out, I didn't even want to pursue ATC with the FAA because they're not friendly with military controllers. (Think ATC strike in the 80s and Reagan firing them all and replacing them with military controllers) I didn't want to go through the hassle that FAA placed on retired controllers. But based on my AF training and experience, and no degree, I was able to turn down a nice offer at Honeywell and joined the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping other veterans out with disability claims.

I do feel for the grunts though. There was an Marine artillery officer outprocessing with me and he had no leads, or training to translate to an outside job. He was seriously stressed out and thought he'd have to just go over to the sandbox as a contractor and do work in a similar field he worked in the Marine Corps. If I had to do over again, I go AF again, but probably as a PJ or CCT and get a degree down the road. I trained some CCTers in the tower, but they get to play with guns, and all the cool toys too.

But IT will always be needed in the AF, or DoD as a whole, when you get out.

 

[alienb]

My best friend since I was in the 2nd grade has been in USAF since 1990, he's O3. I think he put in 20 active before switching to reserve. He has nothing but great things to say about it. I know that's probably no help, but w/e Best of luck to you!

20 years in active Army you would most likely be a LTC looking at COL.

Captian = O-3 @ 20 years $6240 /month

LTC = O-5 @ 20 years $8339
COL = O-6 @ 20 years $9350

Pretty serious pay difference there, at least to me.

I've seen some damn fucking retarded LTCs, it cant be hard to become one in the Army.

Air Force will be difficult to meet retention goals and make rank.

 

[ballmode]

When I was stationed in Germany, we worked with the Air Farce.

We worked 12 hours on and 12 hours off out in the deep woods. We stayed in leaky tents, slept on cots and ate two cold meals a day.

The Air Farce stayed in hotels. Drove rental cars to our locations, put in six hours (8 a day) and drove back to the hotel where they ate in restaurants.
Bastards.

Did that all last year

Banked good money too

 

[ballmode]

I'm Air National Guard and all I can say is that even though I'm Air Force it still has its ups and downs.

Being part time, I can volunteer to "deploy" which is basically going to support active duty at other locations within the US.

I'm a Comms guy (AFSC) 3D0 which you would probably ace out the park once you get to tech school. If you wanted to do the same stuff, get a Top Secret clearance (if you happen to support the missions that warrant) you could pick up a tech job for a defense contractor use your clearance from the military and land you a nice paying job.

I had a bachelor's when I enlisted, and I'm nearing my 4th year in the AF ANG. When I said it has its ups and downs its because you never really know what is going to happen. The State partially funds the guard units and you never know what they are going to fund or not. What this means is they talk of deployments, they talk of more training and sending people here and there but you never really know unless you get orders in your hands.

The benefit of going active duty is you really know where you are going to be for 2-3 years at a time before anything major changes (unless we go to war of course). But with the guard you just come in month to month one weekend at a time and never know what really to expect. If you know you don't want any deployments don't worry about anything just come in do your currency, BS alot, and talk to friends.

If you do decide to go comm your tech school which is at Kessler (also where personnel does their tech school too) its over in Mississippi and it's a dump. You are only there 3-4 months, if you already have a Net+, A+, Security+ you don't have to take the test you just go through the course and when its time to certify you just slack off that week. Should be cake if you are already in that field.

The AF will pay for your schooling if the state has it. GI Bill is available and depending on how many years of Active Duty (Title 10) you do (guard is title 32) you can get more % towards a payment. The magic number is 3 years and it will be 100% up to 80 or 90k which is amazing for the post 9/11 GI bill. You can give it to a child or after 10 years to your spouse. If you are guard you have your whole career to get 3 years of active duty its no big deal.


I love the guard, but at the same time if I ever wanted to move it would be easier to join the reserves. Reasons why is because I am wanting to transfer to Kentucky National Guard for a different mission, closer to family etc. But the state of Indiana has to release me first and Kentucky has to pick me up.

If you were in the reserves since the gov pays for it all you just drill at wherever you are at.

If and when you get involved with this let me know, I can give you the ins and outs of tech school, basic training, etc.

Basically the minimum requirements for physical test males under 30 is:

13:30 1.5 mile
30-40 pushups and situps in a minute forget the exact number.
Have less than 40 inch waist.
You need a 75% to pass

I ran a 11:18 1.5 mile (based out of 60 pts)
32" waist (based out of 20 pts)
62 situps in a minute (based out of 10 pts)
57 pushups in a minute (based out of 10 pts)

I scored a 92.8% now I don't have to do that again for a year

 

[ballmode]

.

Air Force will be difficult to meet retention goals and make rank.

AF has no trouble retaining anybody because nobody wants to leave. They force people out because of age etc.

It's hard to make rank in the AF because well nobody leaves... if I was army I would either be O-3 right now or if I would have been enlisted e-6.

 

[ballmode]

Military enrollment is getting cut hard and so are the payouts on things like the GI bills and sign on bonuses. Make sure you know how much you really will be reimbursed.

My SLRP (student loan repayment program) is 15% a year for 6 years up to $20,000 whatever comes first. My loans are in the 4 digits now and keep going down every year

Enrollment is tough, but guess what! October 1st is the new fiscal year, I would get on your recruiter ASAP so he can enlist you first thing October 1st because what he/she is doing right now is waiting for kids to verbally commit so when they graduate this coming May in highschool he gets them in at age 17/18 and they take off to basic training first thing come end of May/early June. If you get in there and he needs to fill a spot fast take it!


I've seen the sign on bonuses come and go, I joined and got a $20k sign on bonus (first 10k after BMT graduation, the other 10k after my 3rd year mark.)

Food is great in the AF, and if you get stationed at some army bases you get paid extra money because the quality of life is so bad for AF standards they pay you

 

[alienb]

They force people out because of age etc.

This is what I meant.

 

[OutHouse]

Been thinking this for a while, seems like a good way to get some of the school loans off my back and serve my country.

I have been posting on the military forums, but those guys expect me to know every term before I even ask a simple question, so i'll ask here.

I currently work IT, as a network administrator, and will have my BS complete in early 2014 (i'll be 27 years old, shit haha).

So I was thinking of going down the route of getting in with the air force as an officer, and then get out, and get a job with the one of the big government agencies out there, CIA/NSA/FBI, that sort of thing. It also seems to be very helpful when applying for jobs to have a VA preference.

So what jobs would be a good idea, assuming I can test into them, that I could take into the civilian world?

officer is hard to get. at your age, how much you have left for your BS, not to mention the selection process and if you get accepted its at least 2 years and you still may not get selected.

best bet for you is to join as enlisted for a 6 year stint and get your student loans paid for and go in as a A1C.

my nephew wanted to do exactly what you posted but it didnt happen. he has a BS and your age. he realized how selective AF officers are and went enlisted. he now loads bombs on B2's.

<<< USAF GLCM Ranger


my unit in Germany

My flight on deployment in the German forest. the thing in the back with 4 holes is what we call a TEL. it housed 4 nucular ladened BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles pointed at Russia.

Vehicles cammoed in German forest.

 

[alienb]

Food is great in the AF, and if you get stationed at some army bases you get paid extra money because the quality of life is so bad for AF standards they pay you

Ugh. I should copy the big rant about how I respect very, very few people in the chair force, exceptions being EOD, JTAC, pilots, and those crazy pararescue mofos I cant remember....But this isn't inter-service-rivalry time, it's Vivi Wants to Enlist!

 

[ballmode]

Let me mention all the chair force perks.

First off I work in a chair.

PT is optional until you fail, since I get my 90% or higher they leave me be and focus on the fatties.

I eat at my computer while sitting on my chair.

I get paid per diem $46 tax free, get a rental car and get 55.5 cents a mile from base and back home on orders. If there is a break in orders for any amount of time, I tell them I'm going back and they pay me to and fro again.

90% of AF bases have golf courses

It is laid back, I have never seen anybody get yelled at in public setting post BMT/tech school. Since I'm Air Guard I call everybody I work with by first name or their nickname.

Did I mention I sit in a chair in perfect A/C temp controlled environments because all the stuff I do is near the computers which have to be kept in cool condition.

I was able to eat healthy because I liked the food at the chow halls (not all AF bases are the same YMMV)

Did you know that if you do join the AF you are joining the world's greatest air force?
haha

 

[alienb]

Stuff

Die =P

 

[ballmode]

This applies to all guard/reserves.

Every drill weekend day is worth 2 pts
Every annual training day is worth 1 pt
By being in the system you get 15 pts

You have to get 50 pts a year for a good year. After 20 you can retire, however unlike active duty you don't see your money till you hit 60 where as active its as soon as you retire.

 

[roguerower]

The biggest piece of bullshit re: the Air Force is their PT test. Besides it being ridiculously easy, they have that weight vs. height component. I had a lot of friends who were ridiculously jacked and had larger waists and weighed more than they were "allowed" to have so they never got perfect scores on their PT tests.

 

[ballmode]

I will say this, if it wasn't for the AF I would be stuck doing unclassified work in marketing wasting away in the midwest.

Thanks to my clearance, my new job field, I am able to work a nice paying job, always have insurance thanks to being in the guard, and if I get sick of my job go on a deployments of 3-6 months at a time (while getting paid at my employer back home too)

 

[ballmode]

The biggest piece of bullshit re: the Air Force is their PT test. Besides it being ridiculously easy, they have that weight vs. height component. I had a lot of friends who were ridiculously jacked and had larger waists and weighed more than they were "allowed" to have so they never got perfect scores on their PT tests.

AF pt tests got rid of pullups in 2008.

You can't be taller than 6'4" I believe due to not being able to fit in planes.

As for the waist, it's 40", if they are that jacked up I don't think they would stay that long sitting in a chair all day

 

[alienb]

Props to the guy military-pressing the Mk19. God I hated that fucking pos weapon.

 

[OutHouse]

Props to the guy military-pressing the Mk19. God I hated that fucking pos weapon.

that is not me but i was qualified to fire it. went to the MK19 school in Holland, damn that was a kick ass 2 week TDY. Amsterdam is all its said to be. funny thing is of the 6 of us that went to the school 3 of us got a "random" piss test when we got back. lol

 

[ViviTheMage]

so many posts!

I basically understand you all, it depends on the person if they can make it through the military culture...everyone has their own reasons for wanting to join.

My main goal is to get VA preference when applying for civ jobs afterwards, unless the AF works out, and I really excel at it. Not to mention I might be able to travel to neat places (not that I just got back from my 5th trip to Europe last week, haha), meet great people, shoot some guns (or do you not in the AF, is that army only?), see how a part of our military works...just seems like a neat idea, and a good 'break' in what I am currently doing.

So many main questions still stand :

1) What will my MDS degree get me? I have been emailing a recruiter and he's skirting the question, but says I can pick my job, and I could go in through OTS. He also asks me about enlisting as an option B, which makes me believe my MDS is viable to get into OTS.

2) What are the enlistment terms? 4 in 4 out?

3) What kind of bonuses can one expect, assuming I can pass the test and other requirements?

4) Would enlisting at 27 (this is when i'll have my 4 year complete) be a good idea, sounds like I could get an E3/E4 status at least.

5) Is reserves an option? Can you do OTS as a reservist? I know we have an AFB here in MPLS that is reserves only.

6) If I got some 'lame' intel/analyst/computer/desk job, would I just sit around all day for 6-8 hours, and go home?

 

[OutHouse]

so many posts!

I basically understand you all, it depends on the person if they can make it through the military culture...everyone has their own reasons for wanting to join.

My main goal is to get VA preference when applying for civ jobs afterwards, unless the AF works out, and I really excel at it. Not to mention I might be able to travel to neat places (not that I just got back from my 5th trip to Europe last week, haha), meet great people, shoot some guns (or do you not in the AF, is that army only?), see how a part of our military works...just seems like a neat idea, and a good 'break' in what I am currently doing.

So many main questions still stand :

1) What will my MDS degree get me? I have been emailing a recruiter and he's skirting the question, but says I can pick my job, and I could go in through OTS. He also asks me about enlisting as an option B, which makes me believe my MDS is viable to get into OTS.

2) What are the enlistment terms? 4 in 4 out?
4 or 6 year enlistments

3) What kind of bonuses can one expect, assuming I can pass the test and other requirements?
depends on the job and how bad they want to keep retention for that career field.

4) Would enlisting at 27 (this is when i'll have my 4 year complete) be a good idea, sounds like I could get an E3/E4 status at least.

top is E3 with a 4 year degree.

5) Is reserves an option? Can you do OTS as a reservist? I know we have an AFB here in MPLS that is reserves only.

you will need to ask your recruiter this one.

6) If I got some 'lame' intel/analyst/computer/desk job, would I just sit around all day for 6-8 hours, and go home?

i spent many days either burning up in the panama jungle and many days freezing my ass off in a foxhole in the European theater kicking myself in the ass for not selecting a cushy desk job.

see bolded notes.

 

[ballmode]

You'd start e-3 if you enlist. e-4 with bachelors with army but that should be out of the question.

Reserves you have a better chance of going in straight officer. When you go reserves/guard you pick what you want based if you qualify if you take the AFOQT (officer test) and the ASVAB (enlisted test).

Enlistments in the guard are 4 year for the first term, 6 if you get a bonus. After that I think you can sign on as little as 2 or 3 at at time. Bonuses are revealed per career field. Depends on the retention and their needs at that time. If you know there isn't a bonus you still want to do that job near the end of the enlistment you sign on for 2 years because in 2 years the bonus might be back.

If you take a AGR/Technician full time job you have to pay back half the bonus I believe.

 

[OutHouse]

OP my daughter is seriously thinking about enlisting in the AF as well. im behind her all the way. it will be a great experience for her. not only will she get paid to learn a job but get some outstanding college benefits.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I will say this, if it wasn't for the AF I would be stuck doing unclassified work in marketing wasting away in the midwest.

Thanks to my clearance, my new job field, I am able to work a nice paying job, always have insurance thanks to being in the guard, and if I get sick of my job go on a deployments of 3-6 months at a time (while getting paid at my employer back home too)

That is one of the things I hope to get out of it, more options later on. That's why I am getting my BS in the first place, opens up doors.

Is enlisting 'harder' then going in as an officer? How is that path different exactly? I would plan to go in as an officer, and maybe plan B as enlisted-active...or would reserve/guard be better and try to snag a TS job?

My recruiter said i'd have to test into the computer field, which I assume I can, I could practically teach the INET courses I am having to take at the U of M.