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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:12:00 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted: ...and remember, everything your recruiter says is a lie. |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:16:31 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted: I spent 11 yrs in the AF. The first 4 as a SP. If you decide to go in as an SP, it is important to know that there are two types. LE and security. If you want to be a LEO later in life then make sure you get into the right one. I was in security and spent most of my time guarding planes. I don't think that's what you want. Security was 811x0, I don't remember what LE was. LE's also have a sub-field called Dog Handler. If you like dogs, that might be something to think about. Instead of being an SP, you might think about becoming a Red Hat, I don't know the offical name, but that's what we called the range guys. They taught weapons training, worked on our M60's, 203's and m16's. They also ran the shooting ranges. Don't confuse them with the armours, who were just SP's who spent all their time checking weapons in and out of the armoury. Larry |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:19:11 PM EDT
[#3]
AP/SP only way to go......if you are into sports, even better.....security opens a LOT of doors!!!!!.........[:)]
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:21:15 PM EDT
[#4]
If you want, I`ll hook you up with a air force lifer (my brother) and you can pass some questions by [email protected]...............[dracula]
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:22:44 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted: Instead of being an SP, you might think about becoming a Red Hat, I don't know the offical name, but that's what we called the range guys. They taught weapons training, worked on our M60's, 203's and m16's. They also ran the shooting ranges. Don't confuse them with the armours, who were just SP's who spent all their time checking weapons in and out of the armoury. Larry Those are CATM- Combat Arms Training and Maintenance. If you are interested in Emergency service-type work, but are unsure about SPs, then maybe you should consider Fire Protection. I've been doing it for the Air Guard for 15 years and now I do it full-time as my civilian job. I already had an interest in firefighting and chose the Air Force because they had the best training in the world. It's even better now. They have a new Fire Academy at Goodfellow AFB with incredible training facilities and the course is twice as long as when I took it. The bad news is that the Air Force is having a hard time with retention in that carreer field right now. They are working their firefighters pretty hard, with lots of TDYs and remote tours but you may like that. The good news is that since they are short-handed you have a better chance to get a bonus and a guaranteed position when you enlist. (That will probably hold true for most of the other critical career fields too). Whatever job you choose, make sure to take advantage of the educational benefits. I think you get only one chance to sign up for the G I Bill in basic training. In addition to that, they will cover 75% of the cost for classes you take on active duty, and in some cases 100% if it applies to the degree they offer in your career field. The Air Guard was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made. |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:22:55 PM EDT
[#6]
Did you ever consider the Navy ?
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:24:52 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted: Quoted: ...and remember, everything your recruiter says is a lie. If you know someone with military experience, it might help if you ask them to go along when you speak to the recruiter. |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:25:53 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted: Did you ever consider the Navy ? Air Force is better! [:D] |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 4:32:50 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted: Quoted: Did you ever consider the Navy ? Air Force is better! [:D] "I knew it wouldn't take long for that answer" |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 6:03:57 PM EDT
[#10]
Be a crypto-linguist. Although, you will probably end up with a goofy language like Korean like I did.
I can't say much about the job, but for the most part, I am disappointed with the Air Force. Too much business and not enough military. |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 6:06:04 PM EDT
[#11]
When I was in the AF, we deployed to Nellis AFB, NV for a Red Flag exercise. We stayed at a casino resort in downtown Las Vegas, ate prime rib every night, swam in the pool in the evenings, played slots, went to shows, etc. We rode to work every morning in air-conditioned mini-vans.
A Marine unit next to us on the flightline (joint service exercises), stayed in WW2 era, un-air conditioned wooden barracks eight miles out in the desert. They had no hot showers, no refrigerators, and ate field rations every night. They were allowed into town ONE NIGHT, out of a two week deployment. They rode to work in an un-air conditioned Bluebird school bus. In which service do you want to spend multiple years of your life? |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 7:06:29 PM EDT
[#12]
It's beena few years but as I remember if you wanted to be a Combat Controller you had to enlist in a AFSC and then try out once you were at Lackland ( something like a 10 mile run than swim 3 miles + PT test) If you didn't make it than you traned in the career field you enlisted under. As others say , if you wan't to be worked like a dog become a Crew Chief, If you wan't to be bored be an SP. Another thing to remember about the AF is that If you choose one of those difficult AFSC's like PMEL and electronics and wash out of technical school you'll end up flipping reheated burgers at the chow hall as a services drone or stuck in some other dreary AFSC !!! Me I liked airplanes and became a Pneu Specialist ( on tdy's you do yor speciality and be a Crew dog)and got to see the world, Good AFSC but not much use on the outside.
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Posted: 8/16/2001 8:02:13 PM EDT
[#13]
For happiness, listen to the good advice here.
IMHO, every able bodied male and female in this country should enter military service upon graduation from high school. Here's my advice - - Stay single. - High school graduates without a college degree don't fly aircraft in the USAF; if you want to fly, go to college first. - Unless you are going to make it a career, get into a fun AFSC, do it better than anyone else for four years, and get out. - Don't have high expectations of receiving training and job experience that will transfer to civilian life. - Don't become alcoholic. - Pay attention in leadership training classes. - Pursue Excellence. - Be professional. - If you are in a stable job with no travel, attend college or vo-tech courses in your time off. I was able to complete a year of college work, even with deployments and temporary duty. - Flight line maintenance has its good days (and nights), and bad - expect rain, snow, sleet, cold wind (colder than you can imagine), cold wind with rain, cold rain, unbearable heat, and unbearable heat accompanied by unbelievable humidity. Then there are the clear sunrises and the mild spring or fall evenings - soon to be followed by the weather described above. - Don't spend every penny you earn; save some for the day you get out. Fun jobs - - Loadmaster; hard work, but you travel around the world - Refuel Boom Operator - B-52 tail gunner (you don't have to ride in the back anymore). Get the idea? Look for a flying job. There are probably others that escape me for now. By the way, AF basic training is a hoot - it will be over before you know it. |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 8:25:07 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted: .... I heard a story of a high school senior who was at the local high school and was taking all advanced placement classes and was going to graduate early. She walked in and scored a 12 on the asvab! It's just basic math and reading. I recruited from '89 to '92 in San Bernardino, California. We had a kid that had just graduated high school score a [b]4[/b] on the ASVAB. We had two terms to describe intelligence of that level: 1) piece of meat with eyeballs; 2) a rock with lips. BOTH applied to him. IMO, the best advice is the simplest: [b]Get the job you pick IN WRITING, on your enlistment contract.[/b] At your age, military service will be leaps and bounds over any other job that you can get, branch irregardless. Chris |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 8:34:12 PM EDT
[#15]
Moses.. Give Transportation (Vehicle Operator/Dispatcher) (2T1X1) a look at.. It's a pretty relaxed job and you can get schooling done.. I'm stationed at Minot AFB in ND..(it's not bad, but I'm from ND so I can't complain like everybody else does) I just hit my 4 yr mark. Personally I would stay away from the Security field. Crazy hours..
Shoot me an email if you want anymore info on the Trans career field. Later, Chris |
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Posted: 8/16/2001 8:47:04 PM EDT
[#16]
ARFFJEFFC- I've been a volunteer firefighter for two years now, and to be honest, I don't think I could do that forever. Of course, being volunteer, there is no paycheck, and a very small budget, but other than that, it's just not all that exciting and fulfilling like it was when I started. Around here, 75% of our calls are medical related, like cardiac, respiratory, and other common medical emergencies, and other than that, the other 25% are small kitchen fires, or so-called whiplash accidents. The main thing I'd like to do is work with firearms, that's why the cco or the SP interest me. Thanks for all the replies.
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Posted: 8/17/2001 1:11:52 PM EDT
[#17]
At least on an AFB you probably wouldn't run as many of the medical calls. Primarily aircarft and structural incidents but usually a lot of dead time between calls.
A big advantage is the time off between shifts. A lot of folks use their days off to take college classes or work part-time jobs. |
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