Air Force job question?

Question

I am going to enlist in the air force this coming new year. The only question I still have, is which jobs or specialty I want to consider.
First: I am looking into active jobs that primarily revolve around flying and being in the air, any suggestions?
Second: I want the job to be exciting (which most probably are) so that looking back on my stint in the air force I will have experienced alot.
Third: My mother is a big influence on my decision and she does not like the idea of me taking a position that will put my self too much in harms way, I know there is risk in every military position, but a job that somewhat minimizes it.

These are the jobs that I think I would be interested in:
1A7 - Aerial Gunner
1A3 - Airborne Communications Systems
1A4 - Airborne Warning & Control Systems
1T1 - Aircrew Life Support
1T2 - Pararescue

Can you give me any and all information (especially personal experience) you have with any of these specialities.

Thank you

Answer 1

Have you taken their tests to determine you capabilities? The ABSVAB, I think it's called, will determine your skills and from there they (the AF) will give you choices on POSSIBLE carreer paths. You don't get to choose.

Answer 2

Not to down play the Air Force but have you looked into the Coast Guard? They fly in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Their missions range from drug enforcement to search and rescue. Although they usually don't deploy for a long period of time, like the other services, they do go out for a couple of weeks at a time. My experience was in the C-130 Hercules. Might look into being an AET or AMT. ASM job is very difficult to get through the school, but if you watch the movie, "The Guardian", you'll kinda see what a rescue swimmer goes through. Good Luck

Answer 3

Your ASVAB line scores will determine what jobs you are eligiblke for. Other factors will be citizenship, ability to get a Clearance, and color perception.
So, while it's good that you have done some research and found a few that interest you, please keep in mind that A. you may not qualify for any or all of these jobs, and B. the AF might not NEED anybody in these jobs when you enlist.

Every job entails some risk. every job has the opportunity to deploy into harm's way.

If you are 18, listen to your mother, after all she loves you and only wants what's best, but in the end do what YOU want, not what she wants. she isn't the one who is going to be stuck doing something that she hates for 4 or more years. YOU are. If you wanna jump out of perfectly good airplanes into freezing cold water to fish out some poor pilot who broke his airplane, then do it.

Answer 4

ASVAB first, then see what youre qualified for. PJ (rescue) is physically demanding and dangerous, and few get though the school. Life support is a ground only job, keeping up with chutes and such. The comm and AWC are airborne desk jobs. Gunner might find you hosing out the back of a Pave Low chopper as some Afghani tries to hose you back. Great fun for the young.

Answer 5

Listen... What country are you enlisting for. I was in South Africa's 105 Saquadron. I worked with helicopters.

If you are in America, UK, or any other country that is likely to be sent to war, dont do it... You WILL be put in harms way. The safest jobs are obviously the mechanics and ground support staff.

the most exciting job is either aerial gunner or pararescue although bith of these require being put in harms way...

Be careful with what you choose. Your search for an exciting job may leave you dead.

Answer 6

You are chosen for your AFSC based on your ASVAB composite scores and where the Air Force needs people. Reenlistment rates for each AFSC drive the need for new recruits. The 3E7X1 career field currently has no Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB), which means they are not undermanned and their reenlistment rate is sufficient to meet their manpower needs. What that means for a new recruit is that you'll be very lucky to be offered that AFSC! Other than Special Operations AFSC's, EOD has the highest Zone A SRB, so they need new recruits! Good luck!

Answer 7

Look, I'm going to give you some great advice. Don't get hung up on picking out a job until you've taken the ASVAB test and talked to the people in job classifications.

Until you've seen what you are actually qualified for, and what's actually available, it's all mental masturbation.

Answer 8

Take the test!!, your scores will make many of the decisions for you.

That said;
My daughter entered the Air Force as a Med Tech, and worked in a base clinic for her first couple of years. She then went to flight school and has been flying medi-evac since then.
The idea being to first get your foot in the door, and then move to a related career field that flies.

And yes it's true, every time they fly a mission to the Spanish Riveara the damn plane brakes down ;)
http://us.f6.yahoofs.com/blog/44fae6e4z368943cb/6/__hr_/4046.jpg?mggWRVFB4zX6Dcb4

Answer 9

Gunner and pararescue sounds most dangerous. 1A3 and 1A4 sounds like jobs that are in well protected (relatively) AWACS birds or simular. Thats mean less risk to be shoot at. Johan.