More military info

[Shopvac]

As I continue my research into a possible career move into the United States Air Force, I came across some interesting information.

Live streaming video of the Air Force Memorial dedication in D.C. is available on the official Air Force web site tomorrow (Oct. 14, 2006).

http://www.af.mil


A story about the memorial and the 60th anniversary of the USAF is located at the following web address.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123028926

[Comet241]

Air force????

come on shop, say it with me: Marines!

eh, whatever. I have two friends that went off to the air force in february and actually one of them is coming home for the first time since then this next week. they seem to love it (both are airplane mechanics).

my dad was in the navy and gave me shit when i did go to the marine corps recruiter a few years ago (went to college instead). no son of his was gonna be a jarhead..... :)

you have your degree now, you can, if you pass the tests.... become a pilot! how bitchin' would that be, eh?

[Balti]

Cool Links Shop

[Shopvac]

Thanks Balti.

Comet, I don't know where to start. I can't swim (I like to tell people I don't need to know how to swim . . . I was born on this side), so the Marines would be a bad career move for me. Plus my dad was an airman so there's some history there.

As for how and why I'm joining, I would be joining the AF as a social worker, so I would be using my degree. Joining would not be something to do because I couldn't find work. Rather, I would be joining despite the fact that I can find work. I would enter as an O-1 2nd. Lt. and I would be a member of the AF Health Corp. There is a different basic involved that doesn't include as much PT which actually kind of makes me mad. I would want to see if I could keep up with the 19 year olds. If I get in, I'm going to ask if I can qualify for jump wings and for marksmenship on the M-9 (Baretta). I would go straight to OCS and if I didn't pass, I would be let go from the service. I would have to do a 9 month social work residency training in either MD, or CA, and then I would be transferred to my assignment that would last for the next 3 years.

The big thing for me is leaving our (my wife's, and my) family for four years. However, there are some very cheap or free flights available so that we could come see them during leave. I'll keep you guys up to date. I'm going to contact the recruiter in January (after I come back from China), so that's when the pace will pick up for real.

If any of you vets, or current active duty guys have any sage words of advice for an unsalted dog like me I would love to hear it. Maybe even more important, if any of your wives have any pieces of advice for my wife, that would be even better.

Thanks for reading; I know that was kind of long.

Shop

[Balti]

China....Shop???

Let me know as you get closer, exactly where in Maryland you'd be. Your desire to serve our country is very respectable!

Funny story - in high school, I was all set to go into the Army afterwards. Both of my grandfathers had served in the Army during WW2. I had talked with a recruiter for quite awhile, who had visited our school. Little did I know, the recruiter had stopped at my house and my mother refused to even let him in the front door!

[Shopvac]

LOL, Yeah there's a lot of those stories out there!

As for China, including the 2-4 hours I'll spend in the air port in Japan, this will make countries 10, and 11 that I've been to outside of the United States.

I think I'm addicted!

[IrishPennant]

Hey Shop.

If you would like, Drop me a pm and I'll give you our phone #. You can ask the wifey what your questions are or let the girls hash it out themselves. (just a thought)

On the other side of the coin.

Make sure of what you want FROM your carrer in the military, not just what your willing to sacrafice. Like any other relationship there needs to be a certain amount of equality. Things in your life will move and grow more rapidly then in the lives of those you leave at home. Lots of the relationships you have now will be strained. Some will go to the wayside, some will grow stronger. To serve is honest and decent but it does cost.

A personal sidenote.
GOD LOVES THE CORPS!! (7th day wasn't for rest)

[Inchon]

Shopvac,

Inchon here from <S8> I just got out of the Marines in June after 5 years. The airforce is a good choice if you want follow on education and great facilities for you family. However, do not discount the Navy or Marines. A lot of the Navy isn't based on ships and they actually have the most jets in the Department of Defense (Army has the most pilots). The Marines are the best service to join in my opinion purely for the fact that you will always carry that title of Marine with you. As far as not knowing how to swim, they will work on that with you. However, no matter what the decision you make, I'm still glad to see you going into the military. Just remember, no matter what job, or what branch... you are always supporting the infantry.

<S8>Inchon

[EnsignPulver]

Shopvac,
(1) Do what IrishPennant said.

(2) You need to find out what it is like on the other side of the table. I think you should continue your research by talking to an officer who is in the billet (job assignment) that you are considering. Without your recruiter, visit an air force base personnel office, explain your vist, get names from the clerk, and schedule face to face time with those officers. It sounds like you have a specific job in mind, you should find out what it is like to be in that job from a person who does that job.

(3) My nephew is an Air Force pilot. He is telling me that non-pilot officers are considered to be second class citizens in the Air Force. You should ask questions related to that during your visit.

(4) Check out what each branch of service has to offer like Inchon said.

(5) There are no free rides. The Air Force will expect something in return for sending you to jump school (or any of the schools). You may have to commit to additional years of service in a billet that requires a jump qual. That billet may not be the job you are looking for. Find out exactly what the Air Force expects, but not from your recuiter.

(6) Get everything in writing BEFORE you raise your right hand. If it is not in writing, it does not exist. After you are sworn in, the Air Force owns you. Make sure you are ready to commit and that the Air Force had made the commitments that you want.

(7) If after all that, if you still want to wear a Blue Bus Drivers cap, have at it.

[Shopvac]

LOL,

Thanks guys.

I'm fully aware that the AF is the leisure suit capital of the armed forces (right behind the Coast Guard), and that the Health Corps (which I would be in) are not "cut from the same cloth" as the fly boys.

You're absolutely right about talking to an officer who is already doing my job (that of a social worker). A name and e-mail address was provided to me of a
1st. Lt. that graduated from the same program that I'm in now. I have every intention of asking her in what ways the AF rules contradict the social work code of ethics.

I used to work in College Admissions, so I'm used to receiving, and asking tuff questions of other people. I believe that this is a skill that I will develop further during this application process.

My research is continuing and I've been able to navigate myself to some web sites designed for people who are already on their way to COT (Commissioned Officer Training). It's been very helpful to me so far, but like you said, there's a lot I'm not being told as well.

Thanks for all the words of advice and resources. It's a very big help.


P.S. It's not so much the hat, as it is the bars I'd put on it. ;)

[Shopvac]

UPDATE:

Well I am starting to get the feeling that my wife is coming on board with me about joining the Air Force. I had my sit down with the recruiter and we talked about some things. I might have my qualifying physical as soon as this Wednesday. After that we'll be setting up the interview with a Col. at Wright-Paterson AFB in Dayton, OH. If I get his O.K. then I could be heading off to COT.

I still have some things that I need to hammer out, but this is looking more and more like what I'll be doing in the spring.

P.S. Balti, if I do end up in MD, I would be at Andrews AFB for 9 months. If I don't end up in MD, then I'll be at Travis AFB in Northern CA. So this begs the question, how far are you from Andrews?

[Balti]

First - good luck amigo! I hope that you can find what you are looking for there.

Second- Andrews Air Force Base is about an hour and 1/2 from my house.