Should I Join The Air Force?

Question

Do you have to shower with other men? Is basic training hard? Can I still smoke? Are there any reasons I shouldn't? Do the people who rank above you yell at you like in all the movies? Is the pay good? Do I get to pick where I am stationed? Do I get to pick my job?

Answer 1

Well here's the deal:

You will have to get naked and shower with other men.

Basic training is grueling and hard.

You will be allowed to smoke, but not when you want to, when they tell you that you can.

The reasons you shouldn't are because you are legally giving yourself to the government, and giving them the right to decide your future. This may including putting you in a war zone or forcing you to take drugs to 'protect' you against chemical weapons.

People who out rank you will and can shout at you for the most petty reasons. They can and will make your life a living hell if you upset them.

The pay is crap, until you work your way up the ranks.

You may have a say in where you get stationed, but that say is likely to be a choice of two destinations. They are not going to give you a map of the world and ask you to pick.

You may get to pick your job, but in all likelihood they will decide what they think you are good at and if you are lucky give you a choice between two options.

If you like choice and free will, then the military is not for you. If you are willing to be a follower for several years and eventually become a leader, then maybe it is for you.

Answer 2

The shower is a large group shower area. You spend about 30 seconds in the shower. You can not smoke while in basic and you can't smoke in tech school for the first month. The TIs at basic will yell at you. Actually they don't yell, they talk at a volume so others can benefit from the instruction. Once you get into the "real Air Force", superiors don't yell at you. If you mess something up, it is used as an opportunity for instruction. one-on-one or group depending on how many FNGs your supervisor has in his shop. The pay is ok if you are single, but not great. An E-1 (very bottom of the totem pole) makes 1,178.10 per month. You won't get to pick you first duty station. If you want to pick your duty station, volunteer to go remote as soon as you can. Remote means you will go to Japan or Korea for at least a year and if you are married, you go alone. In some cases you can pick your job, usually if you score really high on the ASVAB, but the job usually picks you. In spite of what others are telling you, you CAN NOT SMOKE. I went through basic in 1998 and they were talking about a smoke free Air Force by 2010 or something like that.

Don't listen to ZCT he is a dilhole who has never seen the inner workings of the military and knows dick about what he's talking about.

Answer 3

I have 2 close family members that were in the Air Force - they both were honorably discharged early.
Yes, you have to shower with other men - but they don't give you barely enough time to wash up let alone look around - so I've heard it's not a big deal. You and everyone else will be more concerned about getting cleaned up as fast as possible because they will rush you. I don't think you can smoke - you won't want to in basic cuz you'll be exercising alot. The pay is ok. I don't think you can pick where you are stationed because my sister said she wanted to go anywhere but Texas and that is where she ended up... I don't think you get much choice of your job - but it depends if you are smart/gifted or have special skills...

You should join, because when you get out you can become a mail man and make like 75K a year and that ain't too shabby. You could also get college money from them and go to college. My brother had the Navy pay for almost all of his bachelor degree. Good luck.

Answer 4

I'm all in for joining the Air Force! Yes you do have to shower with other men, the training is hard but it is worth it. No, you can't smoke, what do you think that will do for your training!? And yes, the people who are above you do yell at you, but just take the wrap. They pay for collage and just about anything else! Yes you do get to pick where you are stationd, sort of. Same with picking your job. Try looking it up on the net! Good luck!
Tubachick

Answer 5

The air force is the easiest of all the armed services as far as basic is concerned (so I've heard). I went through the Army basic in 1986 and it's even easier now. Yes, they yell at you, DUH!!! but not quite like in the movies if your thinking of Full metal jacket. It's more like Major Payne. It's actually funny when you think back on it. People still got to smoke, but only at the DI's discretion. So if everyone's screwing up, they may not let people smoke! I got to choose my first station-which was Germany. After that you go where they tell you until you re-enlist. Then you get some choices. Depending on the branch of service, they may pick the job for you (navy and Marines?) In the Army, you pick your job and they pretty much stick to it, unless you are what they call a "bonus baby" and then they are obligated to keep you in that profession. Once I got out of basic, no one ever yelled at me and I never gave them reason to either! Hope that helps. I don't regret it at all-it was the best thing I ever did. Some of these whiny-azz guys on here won't admit the real reason they wouldn't go in...they're pu**ies!

Answer 6

I would say yes! I was in the air force a few years ago and I loved it. It changes your life. No you don't shower with men but you do with women yes basic is very hard exercise and you will be fine.You get a choice of where you will be stationed but you pick many places and hope you get one of the ones you picked. You can pick your job if you get it in writting before you leave to basic trainning. The pay is based on your rank you start off low and it grows from there. You get yelled at in basic training but not after it is just like a regular job. Go for it you will love it. Remember get your job in writting before you leave.

Answer 7

Depends on your situation. If you're motivated enough, why not go to college. If you're short on tuition, consider staying in the Air Force just long enough to qualify for college bonus dollars. In many cases, you can atttend college (night classes) at branch campuses while on active duty in the Air Force.

Do you have to shower with other men? No different than high school gym classes.

Is basic training hard? Yes - especially if you are not in good shape. If you are a smoker, you will have to invest even more effort to keep up with the other recruits.

Can I still smoke? Yes - but why do you smoke. If you add up the cost of your smoking habit over a lifetime, you could buy a house with the money you are sending up in flames. Really foolhardy, not to mention the effect on your health. I own stock in all the tobacco companies, so really love people like you - your habit has helped me to retire early - thanks.

Are there any reasons I shouldn't? Right now - no - later on - maybe - we could be at war with China or who knows where - get your minimum service over with before all hell breaks loose.

Do the people who rank above you yell at you like in all the movies? Yes - but mostly during basic training. You are not treated much better after you finish basic, either. That's because officers can get away with just about anything, provided they don't lay a hand on you. There is a lot of psychological abuse in the military.

Is the pay good? No - the government is counting on your patriotism as a substitute for reasonable pay. You'll retire in poverty if you stay in the Air Force.

Do I get to pick where I am stationed? Don't count on it - they send you where you're needed - if you make a career in the Air Force, on the other hand, you can count on seeing the world.

Do I get to pick my job? Their advertising claims that you can but don't count on it. If you read the fine print, they reserve the right to put you to work where you are needed most. If you end up doing something you really want to do, it's often due to pure luck or chance. List your top three choices - you just might get one of them.

Answer 8

Yes basic training is hard. My niece's husband is in Fort Belvoir Virginia he is doing Arlington Cemetery that is what he chose. He has a wife and 3 kids so the move was good for them. He is in the army though, Yes you have to shower with other people in different stalls that is. you have to do the gas chamber and the obstacles courses and have to clean the showers with tooth brushes. if you are single go to college. if you have a family go in.also in the army you can pick your first job and no IRAQ

Answer 9

I almost did a couple years ago, but you have to be a certain weight before they will even except you, and trust me, when you get to boot camp you won't want to smoke anymore. they will ride you forever if you keep smoking. the drill sargeant is the one who does the yelling, and some that is ranked above you still yell at you cause the sergeant told them too. but you do get paid good after u go through all the hard azz work. that is something you have to choose on your own, no one can decide that for you. good luck if you go!! i almost went when i graduated high school, what made me not, was i had to loose more weight before i could get in. and iam skinny enough, i didn't want to look like a bean pole.

Answer 10

My son just got out of the Coast Guard. It's the safest branch to be in, as far as he is concerned (and me, too.) He was able to pick his station, too. He went to Puerto Rico so he could surf the waves! He had a grand time, earned the schooling benefits, etc. One tip, look up the test online and study beforehand so that you'll pass with flying colors.