is it a good idea to join the air force in these times of war?

Question

im a 20 year old male, undecided about the future, but i do want to do something in the law enforcement field, so if i enter the air force, i mean its the air force its not like its the marines where 90% of our troops are in iraq, so whats the chances of me going overseas in the air force right? Plus when you get out, police departments give you extra points if you were in so that all adds up to a good idea if you ask me, but im not, im asking you what should i do?

Answer 1

Could you go overseas, certainly. Could you go to the current theater of operations, probably not. But, frankly, being overseas is one of the best parts of being in the military. Although you are certainly right about the training and experience you receive while in the AF makes you highly marketable in the civilian community when you separate/retire.

Answer 2

Sorry dude but your thinking on this is all wrong.

Yes in the past the AF was known as a more slack military branch where for the most part you were safer. Its not that way anymore. The AF is over in Iraq just like any other branch. Due to the short manning in the Army the AF is filling in the slots these means no matter what you job is in the AF there is a good chance you will do a year in Iraq performing convoy missions. I knew a dental technician, they handed him a M-16 and sent him to convoys. Another thing is if you come in as SFs then you will def be working along side the Army.

Before you join you might want to think about what you want to get out of the military. No matter if we were in war now or not. If you join the military you will find yourself overseas soon or later.

Answer 3

Jesus there's some retards here. Nuclear war on 12 Sep 06? Bombing peaceful Muslims? Hope you kooks got your tinfoil hats on to protect against mind rays.

ngit1010spring, this is all I can tell you. I'm being dead serious here--no joking. If you join up, expecting that you'll stay safe in the rear with the gear, you're an idiot. Straight up, you're a damned fool, and I don't want to see you in my Air Force because you'll be a liability. As an AF cop, I guarantee you'll spend time in the sandbox. Mabye the missions won't be as dangerous as what the Army and Marines face, or maybe you'll be in gun trucks escorting convoys.

If that's what you're afraid to hear, don't join up. Maybe you're a coward and maybe you're not--you have to look inside yourself and decide. It's a volunteer force, and we don't need people who joined up only for the educational benefits or the job opportunities and who crumble when the bullets fly and the mortars fall. Just like the rest of life, you have to put something in before you take something out. Take some job in the States and be happy that there are people out there who are willing to do what you are not.

By the way, nowhere near 90% of the Marines are in Iraq.

Answer 4

I struggled with that question in 1972. The end of the Viet Nam war was not far off, but no one knew when. The draft was still on, and I did not want to Kill anyone, or be killed.

So, I joined the Navy - to avoid being drafted into the Army. I got an education, GI Bill, 'safer' tour of duty.

If you get into the Air Force - be sure to get some education out of the deal! The time in school may lessen any time in Iraq. The odds of you going are HIGH.

Answer 5

Joining the air force is probably the best thing you could do. You'll be trained in a very high tech environment and gain experience that civilian employers would kill each other to get. Depending on what trade you go into you may not go to the mideast. If you're with a transport unit you'll be stationed at a large airbase fairly safe from roadside bombs and whatnot. If you're with a tactical fighter unit well, what's cooler than working on fighter jets? My dad was in the air force and I've seen things and been places that most of my friends can only dream of.

Answer 6

I'm a military wife so I can tell you from experience, it's called the armed forces for a reason. You will most likely deploy no matter what your job is. My air force friend had to do her 6 months in Afghanistan just like the Army and Marines. (And she's a weather girl) Any job in the military is short staffed right now, which means more chances of being deployed. If you aren't prepared to deploy, don't join. But if you are ready, good luck.

Answer 7

You have to realize that even if you join the air force, you will have the high probability of being deployed at some point in your career, but as you said, its the air force, they tend to shy away from the actual combat roles. I am an MP in the army and have worked with SF of air force, they tend not to really head out on convoys and the like. The air force is a pretty sweet deal, just make sure you sign up for the right reasons and you will be fine. Don't worry about being deployed, trust your training and your fellow airmen and you will be alright.

Answer 8

Go to school and get an AA in Criminal Law / Police Science. And you're in. Many police departments are hurting for people. Any military is a bad idea right now. Just read the news...

Answer 9

If you don't want to go to war don't join. Military is not the boyscouts. Air force takes their turns in going over seas too. My coz has been there once. He is about to go again in a couple of months. He is in the air force. If you are afraid of going over don't join.

Answer 10

You are playing a dice game with that kind of thinking.

If you don't want to go to war, do not join the military. The next war hasn't started yet and it might be air-based attacks requiring all airborne personnel.