Thinking about joining the air force

[miko2d]

...plus I was dealing with really STUPID people, and I've always been intolorant of idiots.

 Dealing with really stupid people was the single most usefull experience that I brough from the army. In my ordinary life I have very little chance to deal with people who do not have at least a graduate education. When I do meet them occasionally, the tolerance acquired in the army is an invaluable asset!

 That is "most usefull". Most valuable I still consider ability to withstand physical and moral hardship and TWEP people but I never had a need to use one of those yet.

 miko

[Kratzer]

Ugh... I deal with nothing but college educated people, and believe me, education does NOT equal intelligence, nor lack of it ignorance.  What all that education DOES add up to in a lot of cases is egotism and elitism, which are far, far more annoying.

[Saurdaukar]

Wow - lot of interesting posts here - I see some people complaining that the military was a waste of time and some stating that it was the best decision they ever made.  Personally I agree with the latter comment.  In terms of whether it is more favorable to enter as an E or an O again there seems to be some differences in opinion here.  Granted my experience is drasticly less than most of the guys on this board but going through OCS I noticed 2 things.  1.  Most of the officer corps, of which I will be a part... is unimpressive... the officers at MCCDC were idiots, morons, suffering from delusions of grandure, and downright unfit for their posts.  2.  The higher enlisted guys (E6-E8) were some of the finest people I have ever met in my life.  For the individual who stated that lifers who retire drink themselves stupid and cant make their own food I respond with this - of my three instructors in Quantico - 2 E6's and an E7 - ALL THREE had BS's and the Gunny had a Masters to go with it.  Just an idle point - I guess every branch is different.  I will agree with the idea that service is what you make of it.  You wanna think of it as prison, it will be - you want to think of it as an oppurtunity to advance?  It will be.  My father is happier than a pig in toejam that Im doing this because most of the guys he has met via his professional life are ex-military and MOST of them were hired on that basis alone.  On a different note - you will hate Basic - no matter what branch... unless its the CG.    Regardless - dont let Basic shape your view of the military - its not even close.  Good luck in whatever you decision may be.

Mazz/Mike
OC, 177th OCC, USMC

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by Elfenwolf


Hey, you post your picture and I'll post mine. I'm really pretty good looking, if I do say so myself.

Elfenwolf

Was this supposed to prove something? Just curious.

Anyhow, There you have it Cody. If you don't want to put up with stupid people telling you what to do and yelling at you. Or you don't feel like excessivly shining your shoes, stay away from the military (although The Airforce has these plastic boots that are always shinnie, they look hilarious too lol).

Sikboy.

[Wotan]

Elfenwolf... you get an honorable or general? LOL

Dont ask Dont tell xbat

[miko2d]

Originally posted by Kratzer
Ugh... I deal with nothing but college educated people, and believe me, education does NOT equal intelligence, nor lack of it ignorance.  What all that education DOES add up to in a lot of cases is egotism and elitism, which are far, far more annoying.

 Then you just have to believe me that ignorant and stupid people with college education are very different then people who view ability to read or being born in the city as suspicious and beating someone as the only way to deal with suspisious, solving an argument or a good entertainment.

 How many times did the annoying college-educated elitists tried to beat you up for fun in the last weak? How many times did they try to take away your food? How many nights did they cause you to stay awake with a knife under your blanket?

 How many people did you have sleeping around you who have never been exposed to any mechanism beyong a donkey, barely understand the language and who's fathers bought them wifes while they served in the army?

 miko

[Octavius]

Basically, you get out what you put in, BigCrate. Sure it'll be a change of pace for you, but think of how you'll feel once the dust has settled.  You'll have a good base to build from, you'll be in great shape, you'll learn discipline, and IMO you'll have a feeling of "yes, I *did* it."  Think of all the other yahoos in the world loafing their way up the Burger King ladder while you, on the other hand, will have valuable life experience.  Sure, you can gain experience at BK... finding the best way to flip da burger, but when will you really need that?

 I'm still in school, I sign up for advanced and more difficult classes to challenge myself.  I see screw offs and knuckleheads simply gliding through the years on the bare minimum.. skipping most classes, screwing around with a care free attitude.  Some teachers say "oh look, there goes your future employees."  

My problem used to be I thought too much.  Had to think everything through twice before I even attempted to make a move.  I turned myself around.. I feel I take many risks... Taking the dive, jumping into the unknown, just going for experience really pays off.  I honestly can't wait for my opportunity.  Whats the worst that could happen?  So you end up not liking it?  What could you lose?  Some time out of your life in exchange for mounds of knowledge and experience?  My philosophy has been to get a taste of everything you can, experience all you can experience, big or small, just be there.  Then make your decision.

[Kratzer]

LOL

I guess we're looking at opposite ends of the spectrum... I was trying more to make the point that good, honest, middle of the road people, with higher educations or not, are better than either... and education doesn't always mean a whole lot.

[Vermillion]

Two good jobs to consider if you can get them, and you want to be aircrew (but no degree to be pilot/navigator/weapons officer) , are actually a Flight Engineer or a Loadmaster.

I know, Trash Haulers are not glamorous (cargo planes), but let me tell you.  I spent 6 years in a C-130 unit, and these guys ALWAYS get the best trips, and get to see the entire world.

[rogwar]

I went to Navy OCS after completing my BS in mechanical engineering. After that I went into an area where I learned to SCUBA dive and travel around the world shooting, looting, and blowing things up. After the Navy I went back for my MBA.

I learned several langauges during my time in service and this has really helped me in my current job. I now work for a major international electronics company and travel all over the Americas. I do not believe I would have the confidence and success now had it not been for the service.

However, it's important to remember you won't get much out of any branch unless you committ yourself 100% (or anything in life for that matter). Committ yourself more than 100% and the returns are exponential.

My advice having seen this thing many times before...

Go to college....then go to OCS or become involved in ROTC.

If not ready for college, then join up, pick an area where you can learn something. Take as many college courses in an area of interest as possible while in the service. Utilize the bonus and money they can put aside for college to complete your degree after you leave.

After this if you want to go back in the service, options are direct commission, reserves, or OCS depending on your specialty and the needs of the military. Also, when you leave the military after the first round, the Guard or Reserves are a great way to earn money and continue building time for possible retirement benefits.

Personally, I had a blast and learned alot about worldy things and myself. Most of all I had the chance to serve my country and sometimes make a difference.

Buena suerte,

rogwar

[BigCrate]

I'm gonna go talk to the tech school I was going sometime next week. To see if I can get  a job throwing bags at DFW airport.
It gets my foot in the door with a big company.
If they can't help me i'll  probably going the AF route.. I'll tell everybody when I leave for basic.. And see if i can get some leave to go to this year's AH con.. heheh I don't think of yall as friends its more a family this to me. some of the guys I have known for 6 years!

everybody in this game!
Cw

[Pongo]

Well Cody.
Its a good way to refine your decision making process which seems to be one of your challenges.  Nothing like being bound by law to continue a job you hate for 3 years to really teach you to think about what you do....An you will have very few decisions to make once you sign.

Myself..I did three contracts in the Canadian Infantry.  Once I had my fill I went to school(on my own nickle, Canada has no GI bill program or anything like it) and became a software consultant. For me the army was a huge waste of money. But a valuable investment in myself.

The people you should be talking to are your parents. They know you better then anyone here. Here you will get polarized discussion from people with positive or negative opinions.  I think the only one that matters(I liked fdskis take on joining for education though) is that like any other job. It is what you make of it.

Make sure you challenge yourself. If the biggest fear you have is making it through boot camp as some kind of airforce or navy wog then your after the wrong job. Any boot camp is just shut up school..Dont waste 3 years on a job thats easy.

[SAPO]

I was on nuclear submarine fer 6 years.

Wotan, so was I.  What boat?

[Toad]

Originally posted by BigCrate
To see if I can get  a job throwing bags at DFW airport.
It gets my foot in the door with a big company.

Cw

A note of caution here. In the old days, all the folks working in and around the airplanes usually were employees of the parent company.

That is to say, the guys loading bags were Delta or American or United (etc) employees that enjoyed the benefits (wages, medical, vacation, etc) of working for a large, profitable corporation.

Now it is quite different. The Harvard whiz kids have decided that company loyalty is meaningless and that most employees are easily replaced.

Thus, you have subsidiary companies that provide what amounts to part-time entry level employees to the "parent" companies. These employees are paid minimum wage and receive only the very minimum of benefits the government may require. In other words, no medical, etc.

So, if you go to join a company cleaning airplanes or tossing bags, odds are you WON'T actually be working for that airline.

Just something to ASK FIRST at the interview if you are really serious about airline work. (Southwest may still hire directly into the parent.. I'm not sure.)

In any event, find out who your employer actually is and what benefits that will entitle you to receive. (For example, if you go to Delta, you'll probably wind up working for Delta Staffing Services, a low/no benefit company from which you will NOT work your way up in the ranks of Delta Air Lines... because it is NOT the same company at all.)

Good luck.

[-ammo-]

Mighyt1, I was at the Shady J for 8 years myself. I was an ammo troop in those days. Been some changes here, I am still active duty but now I do more data and manpower analyzation than keeping F15E's loaded.

Bigcrate, I can answer some questions for you if you wish, email at jwells9@satx.rr.com.  There are some do's and don't to joining any service, be advised. You can help yourself in this process.

Here is the regulation that explains in detail every enlisted "AFSC"or Air Force Specialty Code. It ius a very big reg, but it outlines the duties of each job.  BTW, are you fluent in another language?

http://afpubs.hq.af.mil/pubfiles/af/36/afman36-2108/afman36-2108.pdf