People in the AF, I need some advice.?

Question

Alright, well I plan on joining the AF soon, but I can't decide which job I want to go into.

I was really thinking about SF [Security Forces], but after talking to some people, hearing your going to be in Iraq maybe 6-7Mths/Year, I don't think it's for me. I wan't to be able to spend time with my family too. I realize all jobs in the Air Force have deployment, and all, but are there any on my list, that are kind of what i'm looking for?

SF [Security Forces]

Aerial Gunner

Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice

Pararescue Apprentice

Those were some I was pretty interested in. Though I don't think i'm good enough with Math, for the Loadmaster job, since that's what it said you should be pretty proficient in for that job. SF sounds fun, except for being in Iraq alot. Pararescue? Dono much about it, except im sure its dangerous, looks fun though. Aerial Gunner looks awesome as well, it was actually one of the first I looked at.

Advice from any of you in one of these jobs? =)

I'm not saying I don't want to be deployed. It's fine, i'm just saying would they really deploy you like 8Mths/Year? C'mon, who wouldn't dislike being in Iraq, away from your family that long. But i'll say it again, i'm fine with being deployed.

Sorry about your husband getting screwed over like that though, i'm sure the military does that to alot of people.

And sir, you were an SF? Yeah the Tech Training looked awesome, though the normal job sounds boring from everyone I hear about it from.

Answer 1

Sorry to break this bad news to you but if you don't want to deploy Don't join any branch of the military...regardless of any job you choose, You will have an 80% chance of deploying with in the first year of joining....
My husband joined the Air Force in January 2006... We were told that he wouldn't deploy much at all... What a load of B.S. ... He'll be gone 2 times a year to Iraq... He will be there 4 months at a time... He is a Crew chief on the C17's.... He didn't even sign up to be a crew chief.. He joined up to be in the weather/meteorological department... They needed him as a crew chief so that's where they stuck him....We don't want to be separated but He has to do what they tell him... Good luck to what ever you decide... The Military is a Great career field if you can handle deployment...

They are deploying my husband for 8 months of the year next year... He'll go in Jan. for 4 months and He'll leave again in Sept. there are alot of people on the same base who only deploy once in a while but they're higher up in rank... Maybe you should talk to your recruiter and ask him if there are any jobs that would require very little deployment time... *good luck with that* The Air Force is great we do have great benefits for us and our children the pay isn't good though.... But with any job your pay sucks for the first year or two... If you really want to join and you would survive a few deployments than I'd say Join... Go Air Force or Coast Guard... Alot of the guy's my husband works with plan on transfering to Coast Guard once their contract runs out... The longer you sign up for the higher your pay will be... My husband signed up for 6 years and he's an E-3.. his friends are all signed for 4 years and they are E-2... they all joined at the same time..

Answer 2

Security Force is not exactly fun. There are long boring shifts on guard duty. When I was in Kuwait in 1998 they were working 17 days on duty 12 to 14 hrs a day then one day off. Their job consisted of looking out over the desert from a bunker when everybody knew we were in no danger or checking I.D.'s as a gate guard. There training is pretty cool 'cause they get to fire all kinds of weapons and do a lot of infantry type stuff but their actual duties are pretty mundane most of the time. As for para rescue think Navy Seal type training. I had a airman working for me in Saudi that was an all state swimmer in high school and could not pass the swimming test and he was a very sharp motivated troop. After he failed the test he ended up in civil engineering where I met him

Answer 3

When I was in the AF they gave you an apptitude test to see what ability category you fit into, then assigned you to whatever job they needed someone to do. You had very little choice in the matter. You fill whatever job slot that happens to be open. And another thing to keep in mind: most of them are jerks. But if you do get a chance, try to get training for something that can be used in a civilian situation, such as ambulance driver, fireman, police, etc. Don't go for a romantic-sounding job that turns out to be a dead end in a civilian setting. Try to learn something that you can get hired for. Also, they used to have "Air Force Community College". Take advantage of that to rack up some college credits on the cheap, if they still have that.

Answer 4

For all four of your top four choices, you're going to be deployed a good bit. If your objective is to stay at home, don't join the military.

Answer 5

Being an 81150A is not the way to go. Be a pilot.