What do you think about enlisting in the Air Force?
 

Anyone and everyone...

Sorry, I'm asking for someone else I know.

How old are you?

How's your eyes and math skills?

Only time I ever considered it was when a recruiter came into our classroom and told us to enlist right out of high school because it was the college grads that became officers and were sent off to the dangerous spots. We'd be safe guarding some hole in the ground in Wyoming.

A Naval aviator, Sir.

http://jim.edwardsdesign.org/wp-cont...02/topgun2.jpg

Not at the academy to be an officer or pilot. Being enlisted.

I did it. Don't do it.

Why not do ROTC or OTS?

Winding up the rubber bands was hard work, eh?

:D

I've got a cousin in the AF. He went through ROTC in college and is an officer.

He's doing fine as an MP or something, and he was one of the wussies in my family tree.

There are AF members on this board who I'd ask if considering. Ask for the good and the bad.

The military is a great option for poor people.

my son enlisted in the air force about 5 years ago. met and married his wife in school right after boot camp.

at first he was going to serve his time, then finish the one year of college he had left. she planned on doing the same. however, they both re-enlisted. she's graduated college, and he's currently taking classes. according to them, it's a great deal and for now they plan on staying in.

seems like they're doing all right. unless they're deployed, i don't think they work any more than 4days a week.

sec

I did my four years in the Air Force. What do you want to know?

It is actually really easy work. At least where I was. But the pay is crap. They pay me more now to do nothing than they did when I had to show up every day.

My father did 30 years in the USAF. Retired as a CMSGT and was the last head Boom Operator for SAC. (Strategic Air Command for you pups)

He also dod 2 tours in Nam, one Army, one AF. He was in the 101st for the Army.

It would be a good career choice IMO.

Would you do it again now?

More chicks in Air Force than any other branch of military... but, they are mostly Marine mattresses. But, there are some hot ass Air Force chicks out there... I banged 2 while at DLI in Monterrey CA... not at the same time, though :-(

I think the pay structure has been improved since you were in skip.
Didn't they pay you with rocks or some shit? :)

This is what my Ol' man did...

http://www.defenselink.mil/DODCMSSha...-2034C-013.jpg

I almost did it when I was your age actually. It kinda blows my mind to think how profoundly different my life would be right now if I had, I actually would be in my 4th year of enlistment right now.

From my brief experience with it, I liked what I saw although there are certainly drawbacks. There are others on here that can speak to it better than I can.

Depends on where you get stationed. My best friend was stationed in Bitburg Germany and traveled all over Europe. He loved it - got out, went to college and went back in as an officer. He's a major now. My uncle, OTOH, spent a year and a half in Okinawa and a year and a half at some pisshole missile base in Montana, 60 miles from the nearest town (and the nearest town sucked) and he hated it. I can't say the words "air" and "force" together in a sentence to him without him getting pissed, and he's been out since before I was born. If you go in the Air Force you'll get treated better and have better accomodations than the other branches.

Now, if you go in the Navy, and are assigned to a ship, you'll live in a small room with 100 other guys and have no privacy, but you'll travel all over the world.

True, military pay is shit, but if you are smart and STAY SINGLE (trust me on this) with room and board paid it's not that bad. Obviously you should take advantage of the college thing (another mistake I made). You strike me as the sort who would have no trouble with the discipline.

As ****ed up as the economy is now, seriously, you could do worse things. Hell, you might even find a career there.

In highschool I had all my paperwork filled out to join the Air Force academy, and I let a woman talk me out of it...

I regret it.

Yeah. I met some great friends....did some cool shit and I got $36000 for college out of it. I only wish that I was smarter while I was in...and went to school. Instead....I went out partying every night.

I'm a 17 yr enlisted man. It's what you make of it. It's changed A LOT since I came in. It's not a bad living, just use all the benefits (college) while you're in. Get yours. It definately has the best living conditions/Quality of Life of all branches.

Young Jenson in a military environment, I'd pay to be a fly on the wall when your idealism meets the steel toed boot of "shut the **** up and do what your told".

Good luck BTW, just found the contrast in philosophy amusing.

Follow this....except one exception. Find one or two good buddies that you're stationed with and move off base into a house. You'll have a cool place to live....and you'll all be banking BAH (Housing Allowance) on the side.

I saw a few days ago that officers make something like $90,000/year. I presume that is a major or higher. Does anyone know?

I have had the honor of serving my country in the Air Force for the past 22 years. I am now a CMSgt and serve as the Pacific Air Forces Fire Chief. I am currently living in Hawaii and I have never gone a day with regret on the decision I made. There are a lot of benefits of serving in the USAF as an enlisted Airman. The pay has risen considerably and the entitlements are outstanding (free medical/dental, free housing, free college, etc.). The key to being enlisted is the job that you receive. If you are truly interested, please drop me an email at [email protected] and I will answer all of your questions.

The draft was still in effect so they paid whatever they felt like paying.

You can look up the pay scales on line. My friend, IIRC, as an 0-4 with over 14 years active duty makes around $75K, but with all the extras, including command level housing with all expenses paid, plus free health care, it's like he's making well over $100,000.

This was totally tongue in cheek. I assume you all know me well enough to know that, but just in case, let me be clear that I have nothing but the utmost respect for those who defend my freedoms.

After I’d been stationed in Germany for a while I made my first trip back to Rhein Main AFB to shop at the PX there when I noticed the gate guard was smiling. I thought, “WTF is his problem?”
You never saw that going onto an Army post. No one there was happy to be pulling gate guard. Point of the story is, the soldiers I met that were in the Air Force were generally happier than the soldiers I met in the Army.
Make sure you sign up for a good job, one that translates to a job in the civilian world, and go for it. Get some duty overseas. It’ll be an eye opening experience, I guarantee.

I know they pay a lot beter now and the benefits are considerable. No rent or utilities, no food costs. I've seen guys gamble away their whole paycheck on payday and still make it to the next one.

My nephew graduated from the academy and is still in the AF. He seems to enjoy what he does.

My dad spent 12 years active duty AF and 18 years full time Kansas Air National Guard.

He retired with a nice pension and benefits at the ripe age of 48. His stories from his 3 years at Clark AFB in the Philippines and 2 years in Germany back in the late 70's were enough to make me want join when I was younger.

Could never talk myself into signing 6 years of my life away though.

Yeah....don't be like me. I was a Radar operator in the Air Force....and now I don't do anything that resembles it.

When I was 20 years old I dropped out of college and had decided to enlist. However, I had a reason to enlist, I wanted to become an air traffic controller (ATC). It sounds like you don't have any idea of what job you would like to perform, which is a more important decision. To just enlist without any research as far as schools and occupations is a major mistake.

Once I had decided the school option of ATC, I next went to every recruiter, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army. The Air Force wanted me to select three different schools and after I had already enlisted and was in the fifth week of basic they would then let me know what school they had chosen, not a good deal for me. Every branch was the same and wanted four years except the Army gave me my school choice in writing and only required a three year enlistment. Every promise the Army recruiter made came true, including promotion to E-4 after graduation from ATC school. In fact I made E-5 in 16 months after enlistment, that could take years in the Air Force, and that means money in your pocket and less extra duties.

I'm not saying the Army is better than the Air Force, because I'm sure the Air Force is a more elite branch as far as lifestyle, however the Army does guarantee your school and rank is much quicker. Also, any aviation job in the Army is a step above the rest of the Army and is somewhat elite compared to the majority of the Army.

I know, it sounds like a lot when you look at it that way doesn’t it.
But to get any kind of a good job you’re going to have to sign for 4-6 years.
There’s a reason they offer grunts 2 year commitments.

That's not too shabby.

I’ve got an old high school chum that spent 6 years in the Army as a “gun bunny”, 11B Infantry. After he’d spent all his bonus money he got out with nothing more than the GI Bill money and some crazy memories.

I'm 43, and if I had done my 20 and retired I'd have been getting a decent pension for past four years now, plus I wouldn't have to pay $400 a month for mother****ing healthcare.

You don't think about that when you're young, but that's about a $2,000 swing in monthly income.

They say there's lots of evangelicals at the AF Academy now, sort of like going to Liberty U or Notre Dame....

So, hope you're really really into Jesus...

The daughter of my boss is an Air Force pilot flying C-130 gunships. She has done 5 tours of duty, mostly in Iraq, but at least once in Afghanistan. Within the last six months she was redeployed out of the Air Force and into the Army to serve as some kind of "Electrical Officer?" riding in the front Humvee on patrols in Iraq. It looks like for some missions the military doesn't have enough trained troops and are pulling them from other services. You might consider that aspect of it. I think my bosses daughter was upset enough about the "reassignment" that she will probably get out when her time is up.

Jim

My dad was in the Army the and Air Force, and he said the Air Force was like a 5 star hotel in comparison.

For a couple of months my friend in the Air Force was stationed at Hampton Air Force Base while my ship was in port in Norfolk. He shared a large room with one roommate. IIRC the room had an attached, private bathroom. Basically, this was the equivalent of a stateroom for an officer, only larger, and only the captain had a private head. So basically their no-rank enlisted men had better quarters than our officers.

When I took him on a tour of the ship and showed him the berthing compartments with their 3-high bunk beds, he was horrified. In a space the size of his barracks room, the Navy would have squeezed in at least 20 guys. :D

I've been in the AF for 17 years. For me it has been a good choice, because I didn't want to go to college. I've seen most of the world and are looking forward to my retirment check when I'm 40 in 3 years. I'll still have to work of course.

If you have the means to go to college and have a career at something you are intrested in do that instead but if not and you want to do some traveling then join the AF. I would not recommend any other branch unless you are a gung ho mutha.

The military has alot of rules you must follow but you get use to them.

The AirForce is a great alternative to the military.

DT

I don't know why more kids don't do this now days. Sign up for a 4 year hitch and essentially have your college paid for when you leave.

What do you think about enlisting in the Air Force?
 

Think I'm a little to old now, but thanks for asking. :shrug:

From what I've seen of you ideological views here, it would be an enlightening (and perhaps, difficult) experience for you....but I would encourage it, if your heart is really in it. There's no faster, and I'd argue....not many....better ways to really grow-up. I mean, really grow-up.

But, why enllist? Why not join ROTC? Unless I've misjudged you, you'd be someone who should qualify--maybe even for scholarship money depending on your major and projected "specialty"....I'd think.

Shut up, Kotter.

You said, "Anyone, and Everyone." I qualify. Heh.


Truth is sometimes hard to take though, I know. ;)

No, just shut up.

Read the second line. My economic views have no bearing on this. And neither would they if it was me I was talking about. I've sat in classes with a former Marine who campaigned for Obama. It doesn't ****ing matter. You're a ****ing moron who looks for a stupid comment anytime you can pull one off.

No matter what one's political views are, I'm sure the Air Force would be enlightening and difficult. So shut the **** up.

It depends what you go into. If you go into something that will translate into a good career after you're out, It's well worth it. I had one buddy that fueled jets when he was in, worthless when he got out. My brother on the other hand, went into Hazmad and saftey, got his master degree while he was there on their dime and has done very very well because of it.

Finals? Stressed, eh? :spock:

Or have you just become a total asshole...instead of a part-time arrogant punkass liberal? The latter, is excusable--most grow out of it....the former, too bad. :shrug:

:hmmm:

Your ridiculous, baseless, superiority bullshit pisses me off.

Otherwise, this thread was great.

If your friend feels he is called to serve in that way then he should go for it.

It pisses you off, because you know in your heart I'm right. Heh. It's okay. Let it out.

Your thread is fine; and my advice is still sound...regardless of whether it's you...or your "friend."

I remember when Jenson was just a puppy that sat around wagging its tail all day. Looks like those days are gone.

Yet to this day I sometimes think you are still full of shit. :p

He's still a pup; still pisses is in his own house/misses the papers...to "show" the owners. Heh. ;)

ROFL

The Air Force is even gayer than the Coast Guard but not quite as gay as the Navy.

I have a couple buddies that went to the navy right out. One hated it with a passion, one didn't mind as much but re-enlisted. The happy one has a wife with him.

The pay isn't what you should worry about. It's better than what I made in college.

When civilization collapses, the Air Force will be like a big gang that comes through and takes whatever they want, kind of like those rebels in Sierra Leone. So it would be good to be in the Air Force when that happens.

God, that reminds me of so many porn camera angles....

Former AFSOC Combat Controller (Hurlburt Field, FL) and AF Recruiter (South Bronx).

The AF shaped my life tremendously. I was a KC hoodlum raised near East High School/Van Brunt, and I love how I left everything that was wrong with my life behind and started fresh.

AF has great benefits. I recommend doing 4 years, not 6. Wait for the job you desire, or study for a better ASVAB score to qualify for something that translates into civilian sector.

And keep your mouth shut at MEPS, except to laugh at the Navy enlistees.

I bet I could get laid in the air force...

At least no one ever mistook me for a ****ing mailman. nlm

I say go for it. I hated my first year of college and when 9/11 hit in September of my freshman year my mind was made up. I have zero regrets and now I go to Mizzou for free. One bit of advice is to make sure and get a guaranteed job before leaving for Basic Training. I mean that, no matter what your recruiter says. Get a guaranteed job. Also, don't be a cop (security forces.) Someone said earlier that the Air Force only works 4 days a week, I don't know of any career field that does that other than the fire department. They work insane hours for those 4 days and their job is one of the harder ones. They may even do 3 24 hour shifts then 3 off or something like that.

Most jobs, at least in maintenance where I was, work 5 10s, and then are on call every 3rd weekend or so. You'll be on call a lot your first couple years.

I only served at two bases, each base is slightly different so my frame of reference is limited.

Honestly the Air Force isn't that bad of a life, it's hard work and you will get zero respect from other branches (even ass hole army/marine/navy dental assistants who think they are bad asses and have never seen what an active duty flight line is like.)

Despite what you hear, you will not be riding bikes and taking nature hikes for basic training. It's not as bad as the Army or Marine Basic, but it is still a huge pain in the ass. If you aren't in at least decent shape, I would work on that before going. It will make life a whole lot easier.


Yes, as far as your first couple years you'll live in a barracks, but AF barracks are similar or better than most dorms at major universities. Hell my first two years I had my own room, which had a kitchen, living room, my own shitter, and a separate bedroom. More of a studio apartment than a barracks.

After year three at most bases you'll be given the opportunity to live off base, and you'll receive extra money for rent and food. This is great, except you have to start paying for your meals at the chow hall if you want to go there for lunch. Air Force food is actually really good, even after eating it just about every meal for 3 years straight I will admit the food was good.

Someone earlier mentioned that rank is slow in the Air Force. This is extremely true. I made rank as fast as it is possible and I still didn't make E-5 until 2 months before the end of my 4 year enlistment. And that was even with making Senior Airman (E-4) below the zone (basically you get promoted 6 months before you have the time in service to qualify for it.)

I doubt it.....in fact I don't think you could get laid in a whorehouse with a fist full of Benjamins.ROFL

I did 4 years. What are you interested in doing?

Got that right...

I did computer and display systems on the AWAC. Traveled all over the US and the world.

That is the truth...

This is true.

This says it all.

This can also be true in the Army depending on what job you have. Generally speaking, with any branch, the better your job, the slower your rank. I was in the Army and in my MOS E-5 usually took about 6 years IF you busted your ass. You pretty much had to re-train to make E-6. For me, however, I concerned myself much more with learning everything I could OJT, and going to college on the Army dime at night. I spent just under 4 years in, came out with a 2 year degree, and most importantly 3 years of broadcast engineering experience. Got me right in the door at a commercial radio station right out of the Army. Still took me about 4 more years of moving every year to make any money, but that's just the way the broadcast business is.

And I may bust balls about the Air Force being lax, but they do take care of their people. I went to tech school at Lowry AFB and then was fortunate enough to be attached to the Air Force for my first assignment in Greece. My supervisor was a party-hard Air Force E-5, and honestly outside wearing a monkey suit it was like a civilian job.

If I had it all to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. It was a huge springboard for me career-wise.

DT

This is another thing I forgot. I think every service has one now, but the Air Force has their own Community College. You can take placement tests for credit, and with taking classes at night it is extremely easy to get your Associate's degree. I got mine within my first two years. A lot of your credits won't transfer to a major university, but smaller schools and definitly internet schools are all to happy to cater to cash paying GI bill recipients.