WonTon

iTrader: (17)

i leaning towards Airforce.....

turotufas

iTrader: (7)

Chair Force! That's what I hear when I talk **** with military guys at school.

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

Go ahead and start getting used to wearing a highly reflective bright neon colored PT belt at all times!! LOL, Air Force seems like its great from everything I hear but I'm not in and have spent a limited time on AF bases, so I can't really say but so much.

WonTon

iTrader: (17)

from what i hear the Airforce or Chairforce is more education oriented. plus the company i really want to work for hires alot of people that have been in the air force or have **** load of training in aircraft mechanics. the compay is Lockheed martin up in Marietta not far from where my family lives.

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

If you're trying to work for Lockheed Martin then the AF or the Aviation branch of one of the other Branches is a no-brainer. When I re-class (change my MOS) in September I'll be going 15E which is Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Repairer, hopefully that'll pay off for me as much as I think it will, if I decide not to come back in after I go to college.

WonTon

iTrader: (17)

so im pretty much on the right track then?

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

The airmen I've met love to wax poetic about the Air Force being smarter, yet the brass doesn't trust them enough to cross the street without wearing a reflective belt and stopping to look both ways even when no traffic is coming for miles, lol.

WonTon

iTrader: (17)

if i could handle it i would go to the marines, but i dont think i would make it through basic on that one!

man this is a hard choice.....

messiahx

iTrader: (2)

We only have to wear reflective belts during tech school and basic. But I will agree, the number of safety related briefings I've gotten since finishing tech school 2 months ago is ridiculous. And I can't count how many times a week I hear the words "Don't drink and drive" or "Don't drink if you're under 21".

The AF pushes education pretty hard. You're expected to get your CCAF (2 year degree) after finishing your 5 level (Journeyman) skill training for your career if you want to get anywhere. An associate's degree prior to enlisting will get you E-3 right out of basic, too. Always be working towards something. It's pretty much all paid for, so you might as well, right?

If you have any bit of interest in trying to get your comission, do your research and check out all the options. Before I enlisted, I was in ROTC in college and depending on your major it can be pretty awesome. A lot of engineering students I knew at the time were getting full rides. And the training was pretty easy, though I dropped out right before the 6 week "Summer Camp" training, but I can't imagine it being worse than basic since it's shorter.

You're obviously technically oriented, so whatever you do, pick a service and a job that will keep you interested and motivated. It is a minimum 4 year commitment, usually. If you want an aircraft related job, there are plenty of them, ranging from avionics, mechanic, jet engine mechanic, all sorts of airframe maintenance, etc. You could find those jobs in any service, but the Navy or the AF would probably be your best bet to get there.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

The Air Force is a black&white organization. Everything is done exactly by the book. They take it to an illogical extreme... like if the answer to your problem isn't in a book or instruction, then there really isn't a problem.

The Navy on the other hand likes their books and generally learns them, but the actual way of doing business is entrenched in the mindset of "There is nothing written in this book that is an excuse for not excersizing sound judgement". We make **** up when we have too, which is often.

The Marine Corps is the opposite of the Air Force and does whatever it takes in half the time with half the men and 10% the budget.

Bottom line, you are a servant to your country first, and whatever your actual job is comes second. It is a life filled and filled with suck. You cannot escape the suck no matter where you serve or what service you're in. The long-term benefits cannot be beat by any other job anywhere... but for 20yrs, your life is not your own, your time is not your own, and your family will go through everything you do.

The best thing going for a young man looking for a bit of direction/disipline now is in the IT field... 4-6yrs enlisted with an honorable discharge followed by 4 free years of college. The NEW GI BILL is absolutely fantastic. Your tuition and books are covered, and you get a decent monthly stipend that should cover all of your housing. You are instantly marketable in just about every part of the country and covering any kind of work.

WonTon

iTrader: (17)

this is so confusing!

the thing that sucks is im going to have to go in a recruit. so it will probably be E-1 for me right? how hard is it to move up through the ranks?

Edit: i know im not going to be able to ovoid the suck, im just trying to figure out which branch is best for me, and its pretty much down to Navy and Airforce......

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

Stay away from the Navy unless you can handle living on a boat for months at a time, that was the deciding factor for me on that one, I'm not good at all with being locked down to somewhere that small.

I'm not sure about other branches but if you come in anything less than E3 in the Army (like I did at E1) then you or your recruiter one (or both) just isn't trying hard enough at all.

Safety briefs are the suck for sure, I get an hour and a half lecture every friday from my CO, then 1SG, then CO again, then my PLT SGT, **** is horrible and only makes me want to drink even more, lol. I guess I'm glad I'm in Germany simply for the fact that we get to skip the "don't drink if you're under 21" part of the lectures.

Ramstein Air Force Base a few minutes down the road is the only one I've had the pleasure of dealing with so far and while the base itself is awesome the majority of the "smart" AF guys there are dumb as **** and they DO wear PT belts 24/7 while on post (as long as they're in uniform.)

Don't think you're locked down to the enlisted life, there's more than enough options to get a commission if that's what you want. Good luck.

WonTon

iTrader: (17)

i just know i wont be able to go in as an officer, yeah i cant do the boat thing......****, i get pissed if im stuck in my house for a day. so i guess its Airforce for me. now i just need to go talk to a recruiter, get slightly in shape and throw part of my life away

Import Al

iTrader: (5)

What the **** trainee... *knife hand to face* Two words, Air Force!

No go roll your t-shirts perfectly. Why aren't you wearing your reflective belt!?! =) It sounds like you'd enjoy the USAF,
go check out some military forums with guys who join as CO's to see what's required & what your in for. But if you enlist its likely you'll stay there your entire 4 to 6, which isn't bad since AF life is less suck. Good luck!

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

Go take the ASVAB and post up your line scores and whatever they tell you that you "qualify" for.

WonTon

iTrader: (17)

i definitely will post my score up and what they say i qualify for. is there a ASVAB pcatice test i can take online? i know you can take a practice test at the recruiting office.....

chicksdigmiatas

iTrader: (11)

Please what ever you do don't go open general, i beg you. That is the air forces tool for ******* people. But everything else is great. They have tuition assistance once you get in, so your school gets paid for and you don't touch your gi bill. If your supervisor is worth a damn, they will help you get in and help change your schedule for classes you need. I would wager to say that the air force is the most family oriented. If i ever need to take my wife to the airport i get off work, but that depends on your supervisors. Anyways if i had to do it over again, i would have went in sooner.

WonTon

iTrader: (17)

dont go open general! check.....

may i ask why?

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

More or less means that you're signing a contract for X amount of time to do whatever they need you to with no guarantee of anything except food and a place to live... if you need an explanation as to why this isn't in your best interest then I recommend reconsidering the Military.

messiahx

iTrader: (2)

At the very least, go open mechanical or electrical. But honestly, if you want a job, don't sign anything unless it's on the contract. If you have any college credit, get the transcripts to your recruiter. You may be able to get E-2 or E-3. At the very least, its some money in your pocket.