Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: nirvana on February 09, 2006, 04:45:41 PM
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I was looking at enlisting in the AF if things don't work out great in 2 years when I graduate from high school. I was hoping to be an aerial gunner on Pavelows (nothing like going 100 knots 25 feet above the ground). Was looking at airforce.com and couldn't really find anything with regards to minimum requirements or whatnot. Really don't want to be a ground pounder, would rather be a mechnic.
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Best advice is to go and talk to a recruiter. And talk to one from each branch. Come with a list of questions written down. And dont be afraid to ask alot of questions, its their job. Also, dont sign anything your first time in their office. Maybe your second trip. Dont jump into anything your gona regret. If your dead set on signing up make sure you get into DEP as soon as possible. For the Navy atleast it counts as time in rate. I'll be advancing to E-4 right out of basic and into my "A" school. Only requirement for the Navy is a highschool education. Besides all the basic physical parts, such as having all your fingers and toes. Although the CO of the local recruiting area said that in the near future a college degree will be required. SO for you in 2 years it may change.
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Originally posted by BlueJ1
Although the CO of the local recruiting area said that in the near future a college degree will be required. SO for you in 2 years it may change.
Which has me wondering. Right now, the only real difference between enlisted and officers is the degree (excluding things like flight training).
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Bluej1 if you like tanks why the hell did you join the navy?
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My first chpice was the Marine Corp. as a tank commander. I love tanks, I cant get enough of them. But I thought about it real hard, and decided to work on the next best thing. Jets. Although I wont be flying them, I will be fixing the computers on them. I figure that after doing my 20 years of service I will beable to best provide for my family with a background in jet computers. Also, when signing up for the Navy I started off at a paygrade of E-3 instead of E-2 in the Marines. The positives of joining the Navy over the Marines were just to great.
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as somone who's served in both the Marines and the Air Force let me help you out a bit.
Marines allways get the short end of the stick.....the USAF usually get's the fattest end of the stick and the carrot as well.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Corps and still proudly call myself a Marine.
If you want to enlist make sure you pay attention in English and math. Assuming your good at your jiffy lube job the mechanics portion of the ASVAB shouldnt be too tough.
Keep in mind this. A door gunner is considered "Air Crew" or "Flight Crew" Mechanics usually do not fly or fill thos positions. Door gunners in the USAF usually only exist in the Special Operations carreer fields. If you are stuck on being air crew make sure you learn how to swim and run REALLY well, and I do mean well. The USAF has alot to offer in the armed forces and there's alot of high speed low drag jobs to do. I hear loadmaster is a pretty good one. Lots of travle, good base choices, and can cross over into real life.
If you do enlist in the USAF there's a good chance that I could end up your MTI (USAF Drill Instructor) cause that's gonna be my next job. :aok
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Originally posted by Sandman
Which has me wondering. Right now, the only real difference between enlisted and officers is the degree (excluding things like flight training).
Yes, and even that gap is closing/more pressure on officers to pursue post graduate studies.
I know alot of enlisted guys who have masters. The USAF is currently cutting a TON of 0-3 and below. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 zeros..er..officers. ;)
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
If you do enlist in the USAF there's a good chance that I could end up your MTI (USAF Drill Instructor) cause that's gonna be my next job. :aok
LMAO! How funny would that be. Go to basic only to get yelled at for trolling on a BBS.
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Ha I can hear it now...
Airman Nirvana, please explain the proper procedures to HO in a La7.....wrong answer maggot...drop and give me 5 (this is the Air Farce we are talking about:lol )
Go Coast Guard
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Nothing wrong with going into the military as an officer...finish college first.
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Pffft college, military is second choice after college, if things don't quite work out. Was planning on going for mechanics and small business. Tell me more about this gunners, Drill Sgt. Gunslinger.
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Originally posted by nirvana
Pffft college, military is second choice after college, if things don't quite work out. Was planning on going for mechanics and small business. Tell me more about this gunners, Drill Sgt. Gunslinger.
From what I understand most of the arial gunners in the AF are spec op types or at least in spec op units. The USAF doesn't use or have many helos that run cargo. The are mostly for special insertion and for pilot rescue. Again you have to be a strong swimmer and physically fit for most of these. Again I don't think the USAF helo community is that big. Eagl might have a different perspective. I work fighters and bombers myself. The biggest carreer field in the USAF is security forces (cops). If you ever had a desire to get into law enforcment that's a good route to take.
Take this to heart though. Unless you are dead set on joining the military go to college first. Even if it's for a couple of semesters and you realize you don't like it, get that expereince out of the way. I enlisted when I was 17 more than 11 years ago. I missed most of my senior year and graduation and never go to screw college chicks in the dorms indescriminatly. I kick myself for passing that up.
It sounds like you have a few years to think this over and things definatly change in that time. Do your research and study.
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What about flying with the army, Nirvana? They have plenty of choppers and need lots of door gunners etc etc. You can even fly helicopters without a college degree and without becoming an officer.
But really I would recommend going to college too. It is always my biggest regret. If only I could go back in time and advise myself.:(
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Why not just join the service and let Uncle Sam pay for college? Decide what you want to do when you grow up, Go to your recruiter of choice, get a guarenteed job, they train you on the technical aspect of that job and pay you to boot. When you get to your first assignment, start taking elective classes on base for $10 to $20 each and complete your degree. When you're done with your enlistment, you've got your degree and 3+ years of OTJ experience, while someone who just goes to college has a degree and a huge college loan to pay off.
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Originally posted by cpxxx
What about flying with the army, Nirvana? They have plenty of choppers and need lots of door gunners etc etc. You can even fly helicopters without a college degree and without becoming an officer.
But really I would recommend going to college too. It is always my biggest regret. If only I could go back in time and advise myself.:(
If you are going to fly (not ride in) a helicopter but not as an Officer, you will have to be a Warrant Officer. Don't drop those college ideas either as a Warrant will need college as well.
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If you're joining the military to make it a career, go to college.
If it's not a career choice, make sure you get a job that will help you once you get out.
That's all I can really say. I can't join the military so you're going to go father than I ever could. :)
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Seriously, i'd be going to college for mechanics and small business, mechanics i can do at vocational for 2 years if I wanted. That's why I say I want a little extra cash in grants or scholarships, otherwise i'll join military, have Sammy pay for it, and go from there. You say you need college education to even ride in helo's? Hell i'll be willing to go AF or Army just to be able to gun. That's really where i've set my mind. Looks like a fun job, every job requires hard work though.
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Not to rain on your parade. But, keep in mind that the job you do in the military will help a heck of alot if/when you get into the civilian world. So keep in mind that if you plan getting out of the military and not making it a career that you should pick your job wisely. Being a mechanic on helos would be a great job.
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I wanna have funnnnn though. I'll work on ugly F16s at the local base (hopefully) if I become a mechanic.
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Nirvana,
Zap me a PM with some contact info......
I have been in AFSOC my entire career. I started on AC130H gunships then crosstrained to MC130s. My current job is in AETC (air education and training command) where I can put you in touch with a bunch of guys that can give you the straight skinny on being an MH53/HH60 gunner. They all share an office with me in the SOF section....and we still get to fly!!!!
Keep in mind though...the MH53 is being phased out with the CV22 in the up coming years.
I'd be glad to give you the in's and out's.
Thoughts on college....hmmm.....thats a personal choice but I would see about going and perhaps doing ROTC or OTS. You can also look into USAFA.....(I graduated in 1990 from there).
Good Luck......you can email me at shadow17th (at) aol (dot) com.
Regards,
Mike
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I'll be working on beautiful planes either on a aircraft carrier or hopefully I'll be lucky enough to get stationed on the East Coast. Germany would be nice to. Always wanted to go to Germany.
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Its nice to dream of a posting in Germany but you have to be realistic. There is a very good chance that you will get shipped out to Afghanistan or Iraq after boot camp. And be prepared to have to man a rifle while you are there.
They are short of people and traditionally non combatant type positions are being used as riflemen.
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Originally posted by Habu
Its nice to dream of a posting in Germany but you have to be realistic. There is a very good chance that you will get shipped out to Afghanistan or Iraq after boot camp. And be prepared to have to man a rifle while you are there.
They are short of people and traditionally non combatant type positions are being used as riflemen.
Im in the Navy.If I get stationed in Iraq or Afganistan I will continue to do my job as best I can. its part of the job, going to war is included. Just like a garbageman, no one wants to do it but theres those who do.
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Hope for the best but plan for the worst.
Good luck.
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Nirvana, mate,
*LISTEN* to what the nice men are telling you about college.
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/\
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is a smart man. Seriously college chicks are easy and getting easier every day.
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:lol Gun
I AM planning on going to college, I wouldn't be taking "advanced placement"and "college prep" classes if I wasn't. Military is just my second choice.
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I went in 22 yrs ago, but unless you get a guaranteed job, the recruiter has no more clue what you will face than you do. But I suggest the AF if you decide to join. EVERYTHING is better than in the other branches. Unless you like salt air.
THE MAIN THING YOU NEED TO REMEMBER- They are'nt sitting at HQ hoping you join. As much as you think of your abilities, when you get there you are just a number. Another thing is..officers always have it better.
And third, if you do go in and cause trouble..do it on base..because if you get busted off base and tarnish the USAF, its gonna be twice as bad for you when you get back on base.
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the USAF usually get's the fattest end of the stick and the carrot as well.
Thats why i joined the USAF
The recruiter will promise you the moon, stars & everything in between:noid
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If you're going to be in the military, there are a few truths (as I see them) that you should keep in mind.
First, do NOT join the military unless you very specifically want to do something that you can't get out in the civilian world. The downsides to military service outweigh the paycheck unless you're doing something you really enjoy.
Second, there is only one downside to being an officer vs. enlisted - you will never work straight office hours. Almost everything else, from personal freedoms as the new guy to the paycheck, is better as an officer. But the military does exact it's revenge, as a good officer typically shows up early, leaves late, works weekend, and gets left behind if he does only "his job". Enlisted troops have to get dirty and work 12 hour shifts like everyone else, but while a 2Lt with 1 week of experience may realistically get called upon to come in at 1am on a Sunday to bail a troop out of jail, the youngest enlisted troop that would typically get called to do that job would be a first sergeant with a dozen years of service. It's simply a division of duties and even if he's not on the ramp turning a wrench in a snowstorm, a maintenance officer (for example) isn't exactly keeping office hours either.
Third, in my opinion, leading is more fun than following. Yea being in charge can be scary and I've spent more nights awake worrying about the people who look to me for answers than I do worrying about what is important to me personally, but I still prefer that to having to shut up and take it.
Of course, if you just want to do your job and be able to go home without having to take your work home with you, maybe the enlisted force is the place for you. Everyone has to make this decision for themselves. That said, initiative and hard work is usually rewarded throughout the ranks, from the youngest airman to the oldest General.
Knowing what I know now, I'd do it again (USAF Academy) and I'm even more glad I didn't go enlisted because for me personally, the only possible job worth the daily military BS, stress, long days, early report times, and sleepless nights, is being a pilot. But that's just my opinion, and there are a few hundred thousand other troops who love the military and do not share my opinion on what is "worth it".
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go to college. i joined the navy right out of high school because i didnt want to go to veitnam. i went to gunnery school thought it would be pretty safe. wrong choice. i wound up on pcf-50. dont let this happen to you
On 16 May 1970, PCFs 50, 64 and 692 were proceeding east on the Song Dam Doi, when all units were taken under heavy automatic weapons fire and rocket attack. PCF-50 was hit amidships, by 125mm launch bomb, and suffered a 5'x6' hole. PCF-64, astern, was hit by a B-40 rocket, on the fantail, killing two (2) US Navy personnel and wounding three (3) US Navy and four (4) Kit Carson Scouts. All units returned fire and spotted for seawovles and black ponies as they placed strikes. PCF-50 was stripped of all weapons and most of its gear, and then left in the river, because of the extensive amount of damage suffered.
say this each nite before bed. ummm i will go to college i will go to college ummmm.
repeat as needed.