Tell Me About the Air Force.

In My Humble Opinion
21

You can still do ROTC as long as you have 2 years of school left. One guys in my class was doing ROTC while getting his Masters. Just something to think about. For the best info regarding officers, contact the closest ROTC detachment. They will steer you in the right direction.

As a side note, if you do go in and become a Force Support Officer (formerly Manpower, Personnel or Services–they just merged), you’ll be required to take the course I just finished writing!

Edited to add that I was an officer for 10+ years and am also available for questions. I’ve been out 3 years though and many things have changed.

22

nikonikosuru,

Army recruiter checking in. You can take my suggestions as you will, but I do want to make sure you get some of the facts.

Joining the Army is not a free trip to Germany. Nor is it a guaranteed trip to Iraq. The National Guard has no assignments in Germany, because Germany is not part of the Nation the National Guard serves. FTR, the National Guard is created by the states, so the pay, assignments, training are all part of the National Guard, which is not part of the US Army. (Yes, I know they have US Army on their uniforms, and they can be activated by the federal government, but the NG is a whole nother branch from the Army.)

If you enlist in the Army, you will enter at the rank of Specialist. You could find yourself promoted to Sergeant in about two years. If you go in as an Officer, you will begin as a Lieutenant. Officer’s get higher pay, but there are some opportunities that they will miss out on. I came in Enlisted even though I had my degree before I enlisted and never have I regretted my decision.

In the Army you will be guaranteed training in a job that you choose if you go in Enlisted. As an Officer, several career fields will be offered to you, but a job will not. If you are fluent in Japanese, you may receive special pay for being proficient in a foreign language.

The Army is not all pounding sand and boots in the dirt. There is more to the Army than running and shooting. For example, my regular job in the Army, when I am not recruiting, is Mental Health. I love my job and the good that I do for the Soldiers that use my services. The Army is the only branch that is totally self-sufficient, so think of any civilian job, and the Army probably has it.

Also, and I really need to address this to clear up any misconceptions, if you are planning on joining any branch of the Armed Services based upon an impression of the likelihood of deployment, I will tell you that ALL branches deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi, etc. Any recruiter who tell you otherwise should not be trusted.

Finally, as a favor to your potential Recuiter, DO NOT go down to take the ASVAB just to see how you score. Please, don’t do that. The reason is that the Recruiter will have to account for why you did not enlist. (TNE as we call it, Tested not Enlisted). See the thing is that when a Recruiter gets a commitment from you that you will test, it is because you agreed to process to join the Military. The Recruiter will be asked by his/her higher ups why this person tested and is still not enlisted. Also, you may be taking a test opportunity from someone who is planning on enlisting, but cannot because the test site is overfilled.

If you really want to see what you will score, you can do an online search for ASVAB prep, or go to the bookstore and get an ASVAB study guide.

If you have any Army questions, you can PM me.

Thanks for your interest in the Armed Forces.

SSG Schwartz

23

Thank you about the warning against going down just for the ASVAB, Schwartz. I won’t do that. I looked at the link you sent me and now I’m not so worried about taking the ASVAB. :slight_smile: Could you elaborate a little more as to the benefits and disadvantages of being an officer versus being an enlisted?

24

I just got out of the Air Force, enlisted, and you can PM me for any specific questions. I was an aerial gunner, did the whole Iraq thing a couple of times, almost died etc etc.

I will say this: after all that, I’m thinking of going back in once I get my degree.

25

What what WHAT? Sincw when is the ARNG separate from the Army? The pay is the same, the promotions work differently but the ranks are the same. We use all the same gear and manuals. We go to the same schools and do the same training. Hell, in Basic and AIT, it’s literally the same training. As in, we ARNG guys sit right next to the active and reserve guys. What are you talking about, it’s a whole 'nother branch? Are you saying I’m not really in the Army, not really a SGT, haven’t been to ‘real’ Basic, etc? I can’t understand why you’d say something like that.

Ditto. Nikonikosuru, I realize your brothers have gone to Iraq, but it’s really not that bad. The worst part is leaving your family behind, and maybe the long hours. Especially when you get to pick your job. I’d like to second that EVERYONE goes to Iraq, regardless of branch. Who do you think flies us there or sails our gear in?

I’m not sure what you’re referring to when you say “bureaucratic crap” about paychecks. Were they injured or getting some sort of special pay? I’ve never heard someone complain about a paycheck or the process to get one. It’s automatic and never ever late.

26

Former AF guy here - many many years ago. The best advice I can give is make sure when you sign up, you are getting the exact job you want. - Just like you would want in the civilian world. I joined really young, the job I wanted was unavailable, so I just took a random job that was available. I was miserable. Not because of the Air Force, but because I was bored with the career field I picked. Play hardball, hold out for the job you want, it will make all the difference.

27

I spent 8 years in the Air National Guard, but I did many of my 2 weeks active duty overseas. I got to Germany and England. Our unit annually sent people to Korea, Italy, Hawaii and Turkey. It was almost impossible not to go overseas. And during Desert Storm our unit went to Saudi. The National Guard is just as much a part of the Army or Air Force as the Reserves are.

28

SSG Schwartz

29

Though I never joined the Air Force, I work full time at an AFB. (I’m a professional contractor.) I work for people who are currently in the Air Force. I also work with civil servants who retired from the Air Force.

If I were to do it all over again, I would have joined the Air Force after I graduated from college. The perks are awesome, especially if you have a 4-year degree. Assuming you don’t royally screw up, you’re pretty much set for life if you join.

30

nikonikosuru, do you mind if I piggy-back on your thread? I was this close to starting my own.

I, too, am considering the Air Force. I have a degree in biomedical engineering, so the following officer careers piqued my interest:
Aerospace physiologist.
Bioenviromental engineer (specialty shredout F)
I was also looking at Bioomedical scientist, but that is a very vague description. Does anyone know what they actually do?

I’ve looked around at the other career options, and these are really the only ones that I would want to do. How qualified am I for these?

I’ve been told that if I join the air force (which I would want to do as an officer) I can pick what career path I want, assuming there are openings…ie, they cant say I’ll get this one thing, and then after I sign the papers suddenly I’m doing something I have no interest in.

31

Giving a quick bumparoo for the OP and me.

32

No advice to give (never served in the military myself), but just wanted to thank you both for considering serving our country in uniform. Good luck and God bless!

33

I was enlisted back in the late 90’s.

I’d like to reiterate what you’ve already been told: Do NOT sign anything unless you’re getting exactly what you want. When I went in, I didn’t know I could ask for an enlistment bonus, guaranteed job, and could come out of Basic as an Airman First Class. The Air Force knew I wanted in, so they gave me a bum deal: no rank, Open Mechanical (no guaranteed job), and no signing bonus. Know that you can ask for these things, especially now since they’re desperate for people. They’ll initially tell you that they don’t offer any of these things, and when they do, get up and start walking toward the door.

You’ll go through MEPS where they ASVAB test you and put you through a physical. The physical basically involves a lot of standing around in your underwear with 20 people of the same gender. You’ll go into some doctor’s office where he’ll tell you to drop trou and show him your brownie. Try not to giggle when you do.

When it comes time to sign, they’ll spring on you that you’re actually technically in for 8 years, not 4 (4 years active/reserve/Guard, 4 years Inactive Reserve). Be prepared for this.

Basic Training in the USAF is kind of a joke, it’s true. While the physical requirements aren’t high, I’ll admit that I came out of Basic in the best shape of my life. Wish I had kept it maintained. Keep your mouth shut and spend 6 weeks like a ghost and you’ll do fine. Always use your reporting statement, “Sir/Ma’am, Airman So-And-So reports as ordered,” before saying anything to a superior.

Oh, finally: DO NOT get married to any girl/guy you meet in tech school. This happens all the time and it never works out.

34

Listen to everything Agent Foxtrot said - especially the part about not getting married in Tech School It’s amazing how much that happens.

Also, treat your recruiter like you would treat a car salesman. While there are many recruiters that genuinely interested in doing the best for you, they’re are many that aren’t and you have no way of knowing.

If you can, go in as an officer. Better pay, better jobs, more repect. - I say this as former enlisted member.

Again, get the career field you want. Negotiate to get the best deal you can. When you join the military, you are potentially putting your life on the line, so you should do what you can to put yourself in the best position you can.

35

Alright, so I figure I should go see a recruiter, but here’s the thing:
The careers I’m interested in are considered part of the “healthcare officer” field, which is separate from the regular officer careers, and seems to have their own recruiters…the nearest one of which is four hours away. Would a regular officer recruiter (which is only one hour away from me…yay :rolleyes:) be able to help me with questions I have?

36

He might be able to, but you really shouldn’t take what he says with more than a grain of salt.

37

The way it worked for enlisted with me was I went in with a guaranteed job. Not “guaranteed training,” guaranteed job. As long as I passed the school I’d get my job. If for some reasons all the slots were full I can either choose another job or have my enlistment terminated.

You won’t have to worry about being forcibly cross-trained until later in your career. Even then you’ll always have the option to separate. You fail out of your school though, all of that goes out the window and they can pretty much give you whatever job they need (Security Forces, huah!).

38

Call them, maybe they will come to you or help with travel arrangements.

39

Piggybacking a question here:

Any added benefit to joining up holding a four year degree AND a masters? Both are non-technical degrees, BA and MFA.

40

Have you considered the Foreign Service or the CIA?