What did I get myself into by joining the Air Force?

Factual Questions
1

First off, my apologies if this is in the wrong form/been discussed before/whatever.

That said, I just recently signed up to the US Air Force. I don’t go to boot camp for a few months yet. In general, what can I expect there and afterwards? While the recruiter was helpful in answering some questions, I know her job is to get people to join so I presume that I may not get an entirely unbiased opinion from her. So what can I really expect?

(Just a disclaimer: I’m not regretting my choice or just now starting to think of the consequences. I would simply appreciate any voice of experience here.)

2

Everything the recruiter told you will turn out to be false. You will not be able to choose what training program to enter, etc.

At least that was the story when guys my age were going in and I have heard enough since to believe that it still holds.

3

You got into a country club! :wink:

4

I expect Airman Doors, Bluesman and others to show up with the specifics. As to a general sense of what awaits you…

… Nowhere near as much physical pain and discomfort as any of the other 4 services, would be the answer from those in the other 4 services :wink: a.k.a. the “country club” . Be prepared for many “Air FArce” wisecracks from those of us who had to crawl thru mud, stand in the burning sun and get dunked in chilly water with annoying regularity.

… And to get the respect and admiration of those who recognize the dignity in the task you have embarked upon, like all the other servicemembers putting it on the line on behalf of every other one of us.

But it’s OK to be having second thoughts and doubts, hardly a serviceman/woman lives who did not think “Am I making a mistake?” after signing up. It’s natural.

Someone with no military experience at all, is likely in for a shock to the system. Specially in Basic. The initial loss of independence and demanding routine will be a serious wake-up call, more for the mental stress than for the physical strain. You will be driven to think and act as part of a unit, under pressure.

However, contrary to ftg’s sources, if you did a moderately reasonable amount of read-before-you-sign you will NOT be getting shafted that badly (small-to-medium-grade shaftings will be inevitable, it’s the nature of the beast). Nothing will happen to you that is not already contemplated in the papers you signed. One thing about getting the desired training: what happens is that the time to get guarantees about what training a recruit will be getting, in ANY of the 5 services, is BEFORE getting sworn in. If your enlistment contract says you’ll be a radar operator then dagnabbit you WILL be a radar operator… however that will happen when the Air Force’s schedule, not yours, calls for it. And in virtually every enlisted specialty in every service, while you wait for the specialty training to begin, and once in there on your non-school time, and afterwards during duty time that you’re not at your specialty post, you will be expected to perform whatever duties (including the unskilled labor for the unit) the Air Force wants to give you.

The AF has a rep for taking their sweet time getting you to and thru specialty school and afterwards getting you up to NCO rank. But then again they don’t have as many billets in learn-as-you-go trades as the others. And, they do have another rep, for the best living conditions for the enlisted man/woman.

All in all, a good choice, as are any of the other 4.

5

Learn to choose your ‘friends’ carefully. Keep your mouth shut, mind your own business.

Keep your personal affairs in order – In todays helmet wearing four cylinder driving limp wristed zero tolerance excuse for personal responsibility society we live in it might come as a shock to you (not saying it is/was/will be) that military organizations don’t take excuses very well.

Don’t drink and drive. Don’t bounce checks. Never loan anyone money, especially in training. Don’t borrow any, for that matter. Remember that your leaders have been in uniform longer than you’ve been alive, maybe you can learn something from them. Be where you are supposed to be at the right time, in the right uniform, keep your area squared away. Take the initiative to do the right thing whether or not anyone tells you to. Take advantage of any and all educational benefits they afford to you. Start a Roth IRA right after you pay off all those credit cards. Don’t get into debt. Don’t get into debt. Be careful – and keep us posted on how things are going.

6

loved your question, hahaha. i joined the air force in 1963 to keep from getting drafted.
what a naive idiot i was. i actually thought they would be giving me a tour of a base and letting me touch airplanes.
got to sanantone at three in the morning after being up since six the day before, we were taken off the civilian flight and immediately lined up on the runway and frisked.
we then got loaded into a bus, driven to lackland afb, lined up, hair cut off, put in fatigues, marched to breakfast and then we started training.
for the next four years i sat on my ass at a drawing board and heckled my sergeant, hahaha.

7

I always say, “Joining the Air Force was the best mistake I ever made”. I didnt have a good time in the Air Force but that was my fault. Its never as good or as bad as it seems. If you are not a screw up and were blessed with a little common sense you will do fine. In basic the key is to blend in. Dont volunteer for anything. Do as you are told. It will be a very long 6 weeks. ** Airman Doors** just got out recently and he should be along shortly, hopefully. I did my basic late 94 early 95 so I’m sure stuff has changed. As has been said, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL EDUCATIONAL OPPURTUNITIES. CLEPs (and the other type that I cant remember right now) are free and college is highly encouraged. Get the GIBill and use it. Depending on your job you can actualy get out of work to go to class. Take advantage of that. Dont go into debt. Dont go into debt. You dont get paid jack squat your first year or so. I pay more now in Fed Income tax in 2 weeks than I did ALL year my first year in the Air Force. On the other hand, if you’re single, everything you NEED to survive is free. Most importantly, have fun, you’re young. Enjoy it.
dead0man

8

You got yourself in for a moderately rough time and a huge world of opportunity. Make the best of it! You probably made an extremely good decision when you signed that dotted line.

When I was in Army Basic Training, it was best to stay invisible. When escaping attention wasn’t possible, it was best to get noticed for doing something good. Stay motivated.

Otherwise, what Tedster up there said sounded about right.

Take care and good luck!

9

Good luck to you. Everything everyone else said is correct. Its more of a mental fatigue than a physical one. Once you figure out its just a big mind game that they’re playing with you. And that they don’t personally have anything against you (no matter how many privalidges they take away) you’ll be fine. Not that its easy by any means, but playing the game by their rules makes it a little easier to swallow.

10

Hi Geshtal. Welcome to SDMB and the USAF! Congratulations!

There’s a lot of good info in this thread: My daughter is joining the Air Force

If you have any follow-up questions, feel free to ask. Do you know what your Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) will be?

11

To add my two cents, as everyone said, take advantage of every educational opportunity you can. If you are right out of high school, you should have little problem getting an Associates Degree in your first tour - do it. Also take advantage of every program the Air Force offers.

I did my 4 years in the AF, and for the most part I enjoyed it. Stay away from negative people, they will bring you down. There is so much to see and do, so much comraderie, so many intellectual and physical challenges - all you need is initiative. The greatest skill you can have - learning how to show initiative without actually volunteering for anything (can be done - best skill I learned in the USAF).

12

Another U.S.A.F. vet checking in. (1984-88)

First things first. Unless Basic Training has changed tremendously since '84, you may be surprised at how easy your first round of calesthenics is. The first time on the PT field we hardly did any. At first… They gradualy worked us up to the long runs and bunches of jumping jacks etc.

All will be well if you keep in mind that it’s all a mind game. The T.I.s (Training Instructors) do not really hate you. You are nothing to them but Raw material into which a passable Airman must be molded. They will yell, and they will belittle. They might even make you cry. But they do it for a reason. The Air Force needs Strong Minds. They want you to be able to operate under great mental stress. They don’t want Airmen who freak out when the pressure is on.
Stay under the T.I.s radar. The greatest thing ever said to me by a T.I. in basic was “Are you in my squadron?” This was after four weeks.

It may seem like you are in Basic forever, but it isn’t. Hell, when I was in, I thought it would never end. Now it’s been fourteen years since I was there. Seems like ages ago.

You will make friends in the service. Some you might never hear from again after you get out, others might call you out of the blue ten years later, and it will be like you saw each other yesterday. (Happened to me yesterday. :)).

Good luck, Airman!

(Oh yes,BTW, everyone else is right. Recruiters lie. Do not believe them about anything!)

13

USAF 1994 - 1998.

Well, Basic Training won’t be tough (I wouldn’t call it boot camp…)

You’ll rise n shine nice and early, and go to bed late. You won’t have much personal time or any privacy. It will most definitely be a unique experience, to say the least.

But, the reality of the situation is that it’s only 6 weeks, and it’s pretty much nothing. It will seem like forever while you’re there, but once it’s done you’ll almost forget you ever went.

Remember, never be first and never be last.
Walk, don’t run, use the handrail.
Always always always maintain military bearing. (In other words, stand up straight and keep a straight face, essentially.)

Good luck.

14

Former marine speaking:

The only time I wished I had joined the USAF was when I got their recruiting material in the mail at boot camp. Bastards!

That said, you will get out of this experience at least as much as you put in in ANY branch.

Some wise words above about debt. Anyone who wants to lend you money IS NOT YOUR FRIEND! Especially the “we finance anyone E1 and up” places. The are out to rip you off. Do not buy a new car/motorcycle/waterbed; the debt will be atrocious, and you may find it hard to take these things with you when you are moved. Wait a few years for them.

Pay attention to your seniors, they (generally) know what they’re talking about, and if you can form a mentoring relationship with your senior enlisteds, some of them will just about kill themselves (or you) to help you out.

Good luck, and thank you for your service. I APPRECIATE it.

15

You’re a guy, right? There’ll be plen-ty of guys around showin’ their c*ck 'n balls (not literally, mostly), and you can practically see the testosterone running off into the drain. Same thing goes, pretty much, if you’re female, but with much more groping. For you. Wheeee! No, it is a very noble thing to do, but serving does require a very special kind of mindset.

16

Ah, many thanks. I appreciate all the helpful advice.

Um… actually, I’m not sure. I know what job I think they’ll be giving me, but there’s been a lot of numbers and papers lately so I don’t know what’s what. :frowning: How should I know what my AFSC is?

Yep, last time I checked. :wink:

Thanks again everyone for the positive comments. Aside from close friends and my Mom, I’ve either gotten negative comments (i.e., “Are you going to waste your potential by going there?!” ::sigh:: Thanks a bunch, Dad.), or snide comments about how I’m only doing this as a knee-jerk reaction to Sept. 11th, (Not true, I’ve been trying to join since last summer).

17

My major gripe about not joining the Air Force was all the babes. Serious tactical error on my part. Oh Well.

Yeah, the smart thing to do is to save your ca$h; it won’t be a hell of a lot at first (or even later, really) but you pay no rent or health care, insurance is minimal and the food is cheap or nearly free at times. In any case, you’ll find lots of great bargains from Joes (what’s the generic term for Air Force?) who find just a little bit too much month left at the end of their money.

Not exactly sure how the Air Force works with regard to Leave but here’s my advice – Always have 15 days banked as a safety net in case of emergencies.

You accrue 2.5 days per month. For folks who join near the holidays, they often cut everyone loose for 2 weeks even though technically they have no leave accrued, or very little. This puts you in the ‘hole’ so to speak. 2 weeks vacation and it will take you 6 months to get to Zero. This sucks, I can assure you. Then, it’s not unknown for a real emergency to require your presence at home and that can easily result in 3 or more weeks negative leave balance. Ouch.

The ideal situation is the “use or lose” nature of Leave. I believe in peacetime no more than 45 days Leave can be accrued before Oct. 1, the fiscal year end for federal government. That’s where you want to be – “Jones, you better take leave this month…” OK Sarge, no prob.

There are also Tax issues to be aware of before you join. Many serviceman declare Texas as their state of residence, as there is no State income tax. I paid $60 to $100 a month in state taxes years ago, and it hurts. Something to investigate anyway if you’re so inclined.

18

Tedster, it’s 60 days (for the Army, at least – I presume it’s the same for the others) use-or-lose leave. I’ve been on use-or-lose status since my third year, and I’m bloody well staying there.

geshtal, the two ways you can never go wrong is saving money and taking classes.
Put your money away, whether in IRA, mutual fund or just savings, and do it by allotment (direct deposit) so you’re never tempted to say, “Well, I’ll just cut back on my savings this month.” When you get a raise, increase your allotment by half of the raise and spend the other half on yourself.
DO NOT GET A CAR. I have seen literally dozens of young privates go out and blow their bonus on a car or, even worse, sign up for a loan at usurious rates, just so they could have a car. Screw it. Walk, take the bus or get a ride.
Florida and Nevada also have no state tax. I live in Nevada still, even though I haven’t spent more than a week in the state cumulative in the last twelve years.
Corollary to saving money is saving paper. Never, ever throw away a single scrap of official paperwork that you get. Get a box and keep everything you get in it. Every year or so, make copies, file the stuff you don’t need anymore and keep it anyway.

You will have all manner of opportunity to take classes at very, very low rates. Take every one you can get. Most are offered after work hours, and most supervisors don’t even mind you taking classes at lunch. Sign up for the GI Bill.

As others have said, in training, don’t be first and don’t be last. No one cares that your dad’s in the state senate or that your grandfather won an Air Medal in WWII. No one cares that you already have a college degree. No one cares that you were salutatorian of your high school class. No one cares that you were the tristate champion in discus. No one cares what you’re doing next or what you did before.
Listen to your instructor/drill sergeant/whatever they call them these days in the Air Force. They do not have it out for you unless you have it out for them. Six months after you’re gone, they’ll have forgotten about you. They have done more things in the military than you’ve heard about, and they’ve done them all well. When they tell you to drink water even though you just drank three canteens, drink it anyway. When they suggest something
If you’re hurt, even if you think you can handle it anyway, tell your instructor. The worst thing in the world is to get tossed out because you tried to gut through a minor stress fracture and ended up crippling yourself. The second worst thing in the world is making it through 90 percent of the training and then having to do it all again because you only temporarily crippled yourself.
Don’t get involved in barracks politics – and there are politics, even in Basic. The instructors already know who’s shirking and who isn’t, and giving them up won’t help you. Criminal behavior is another matter entirely.
Three things to do whenever they let you, even if you don’t think you need it: eat, sleep, go to the bathroom.

19

I would have loved the Navy if the entire time was spent at boot camp. No need to think, no need to spend money, and you were to busy to smoke. :wink:

The lack of sleep pretty much sucked, though. No doubt about that.

The real military sucks, IMO. Hope you make friends easily, and have no real politics, or you are going to find yourself with some enemies pretty easily. I was ostracized for befriending someone who was gay. That’s better than the treatment he got, I assure you, but I have my own politics and I couldn’t put them aside. It got me into trouble many times.

Otherwise, the best advice has already been given. Save your money! ALL of your general living expenses are pretty much covered in the military, so there is no reason to not stockpile money and/or pay down debt you’ve already incurred. Banks and such will LOVE to give you loans, and will happily do it only on the condition that you get payments automatically deducted from your paycheck. Forget it. You’re only going to be in 2-4 years. Buy stuff later, when you get out. “It really isn’t that long, and I don’t really need it” – this is your mantra!

There are nice savings plans available to you. Portions of your paychecks can go to buying government bonds, for example, which is really never a bad move. Unless you absolutely positively need to spend your money, save it.

Sure, this sounds simple, but pissing away money on books, phone calls, and nights out adds up easily and quickly. Loneliness loves company and bars/arcades/CDs/you name it. Do not replace companionship with expenses! You’ve been warned by everyone here! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

Otherwise, enjoy yourself. Many people manage to, and like all things, it is what you make of it. (hope you went for the college tuition programs they have available!)

If you are fresh out of high school, the military is a PRIMO way to build a fantastic credit rating. Use some money to get a secured credit card. Pick something small like $500 (I don’t think you can get less on a secured card). Use this to purchase stuff and you shouldn’t ever exceed your income. This way you can also pay it off every month (you should be able to as long as you don’t max it out every time, and even if you do you should still be able to pay off a large portion of it every month). You never over-spend yourself this way, and you will have great credit by the time you get out.

I’ve known several people in the AF and they never regretted it. One ended up being a lifer (well, so far, anyway)!

Enjoy your time in! It isn’t hard or easy, but like all things, it is what you make it!

20

Geshtal, what I should have asked is simply “Do you know what job you’re going to do in the AF?”

If you told me your AFSC, you’d say “Oh, I’m gonna be a 1N6x1.” And then I’d have to say, “Great! Uh, what’s a 1N6x1?” (that’s a linguist, by the way.)

I started out in Aircraft Radio Maintenance, cross-trained into Computer Programming, and became a Meteorologist when I went through a commisioning program. The Air Force has been good to me.