considering air force?

Question

im considering the air force because my major is meteorology. however they told me i have to qualify through the asvab to get meteorology in the air force.

what are the beniefits?
do you really stay 4 years at a base?
no sign on bonus but start at e2...
do you know anyone who likes it?
is there any programs that can let me continue my university schooling but attend air force and train for meteorology?

please give your opinions or ideas they are very well apriciated. and please no bush trashing or military trashing

Answer 1

Believe it or not, meteorology is critical field in the Air Force. We can't do anything without good intel on weather conditions for operations. I'm assuming you haven't finished your degree yet because you asked about the ASVAB. If you are enlisting you can find most of what you need from AirForce.com. The huge benefit to you would be your pursuit of meteorology as a degree. This is a technical field that qualifies for all of our scholarship programs:

http://www.airforce.com/education/enlisted/ea_comPrograms.php

I'm also assuming you are speaking of E-2 because you are carrying a few college credits right now. No there is no bonus, save for special forces and the linguists career fields. Why? Because we are 40K people overmanned and have to reduce levels by 2009. And no, you don't really stay 4 years at a base (you can if you want).

As far as do I know anyone who likes it... Honestly, it's an amazing career and you do things you never figured you would have a chance to do as a civilian. I've been all over the world to include: Germany, Spain, Turkey, Japan, Guam and that's just naming a few spots. Just like any other job, there are going to be parts about the Air Force that just sucks. Then again there are days when I step back and realize I'm part of something bigger than just me and my fellow Airmen rely on me to get the mission done.

I joined while going to college and it's proven to be a great vehicle to pay for school, travel and get training in the IT field. A few years ago they tweaked the education programs. Now it's 100% tuition assistance. Plus, if you win a scholarship, the Air Force will pay for you to finish your degree and then bring you back as an officer. What's the catch? Every 6 months of college they pay for, you owe a year of service. Then again, if you put in for the scholarship after you knock out two years, it really ends up being a 4 year stint as an officer....which is a normal commission for an officer joining right out of college. Plus you draw officer pay with a prior enlisted service bonus that bumps your pay higher than that of someone who joined as an officer without prior Air Force background. Nice...

Here's info on the weather career field for the Air Force:

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforceenlistedjobs/a/afjobweather.htm

These are questions your recruiter should be answering. Personally, I think it's a pretty cool way to get your first years experience in the meteorology by joining the Air Force. Seems like there would be so much more to do and the data would be more critical to your "customers" because missions are a go or no-go on weather! How else do weather guys get their start? Seems boring to me to do it the civilian way.

Answer 2

All branches have a linguistics program. I'm a CTI3 in the Navy and I attended DLIFLC for the past 70 weeks. DLIFLC (Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center - DLI for short.) is where all career linguists in every branch are stationed and receive their language training. Right now the Navy has the highest pass rate here at DLI but that changes from time to time, from my side, the Navy has the loosest military requirements while stationed here due to the difficulty of the course (some are 63 weeks long). All the other branches constantly have training, some on weekends which is your only time off. They also have a strict "Phase" policy which restricts you from going off base, drinking, driving a car etc. The Navy's "phase" policy is only about 2 weeks long while the air force has many months and the army is way more than that. So if you're set on the Air force , I applaud you joining. There is however linguistic jobs in every force. Edit: Most of what Candid LoveBug has said is inaccurate. 1. The school is not for 2 years, there isn't a single course that lasts two years. The longest is technically 63 weeks long but can run 64-65. My links to DLI go into more detail in that area if you are interested. 2. One BIG point I forgot to tell you about...you will need to be able to receive a TS/SCI security clearance. This is no easy feat, there are tons of paperwork, a background investigation, interviews with your friends, parents, teachers etc. 3. You get language pay when you PASS the final (DLPT). If you don't pass it all counts for nothing, no matter how good you might be. Survival and Airborne are not required, they are for the airmen that will be flying but there are jobs on the ground as well. 4. There is almost a 0% chence that you will get to be in any romance language. Russian linguists are being retrained into Chinese etc. Romance languages are for officers more than 99% of the time. Your "choices" for a language will most likely consist of the following : Chinese (Mandarin there is no Cantonese at DLIFLC) ; Arabic (MSA); Korean; Farsi. As an Air Force linguist you will know before you even get to Monterey what your language is. 5. There is also no one who gets a Bachelors much less a Masters from DLI. It is accredited and you do have the option of an Associates, but that is all. That of course can be put towards a bachelors, etc. 6. I also forgot about the rapid advancement in the Navy. I came in as an E2 and will be an E5 in Sept. None of the other services in my class can say the same. Thanks for reminding me Scuba Steve. In closing, I would recommend that you check out the links, and then think about what you want in your military career.

Answer 3

you can stay 4 yrs at one base but its not really too likely. my hubby gave them 32 years and he would go back today if he could. you can take college courses through the airforce and get a degree and then apply for officers candidate school. the asvab test isnt that hard, i took it and my daughter took it and they chased her for years wanting her to join because her score was the average of three boys combined. your housing is paid, your medical is covered, your food is paid for, you learn all the rules and regs in the first 6 or 8 wks at basic and then you know just what is expected of you, basic is mostly in texas for the airforce, then they send you on to your training base, i dont know where they do meteorology but it might be florida, you get to fly in the hurricane chasers, big plane with a huge radar dish on top. Then when you are trained which might take up to a year, you will go to a permanant duty station. thats usually any base that needs someone in your field. usually its not overseas right away because they want to make sure you fit into your job properly, then you could be sent anywhere from the artic to the antartic. this is where you learn about the other parts of our country and the world which is interesting. we were stationed in florida, south carolina, indiana and georgia and he was in texas before that and he went over to taiwan for a year and he had a great time, i got a lot of photos and raised my new baby for the year he was gone. oh most of your wife and childrens medical services are provided as well, and once you are married you can live off base at your choice or you can apply for base housing, which is good because you are right there within a few minutes of your work so you can even go home for lunch if you want. We lived in base housing for 5 years and it was a nice insulated way of life, the base cops were always about, no crime, everyone shared the military life and if he got sent away the neighbors were handy if i needed help for anything, since we all dealt with similar situations everyone was very helpful. Military life can be great, but it can be hell if you cant follow rules and so on.

Answer 4

I have a friend that went through air cadets and got into the Air force
Great career and he loves it.
He's made friends for life, got an education (engineering) trained as a pilot.
Instead of staying 4 years, he opted to complete his MBA and give the service 7 years.
This guy is set for life. Sometimes I wish I had gone that route.

It's not for everyone, there is rigorous training and boot camp and crappy chores but in the end you end up with a group of people that will lay their life on the line for each other.

Answer 5

You should visit recruiters of all branches see which offers options that best suit your needs. Whatever you decide "get it in writing" and read it carefully b4 signing. I know a few recruiters and many of them will stretch the truth if necessary bcuz they all have quotas to meet. Explore your options, ask about a program that allows you to go to the college/university of your choosing full time w/out having to show up 4 work( I think it's for a couple of semesters).

Answer 6

Im applying for the Health Scholarship Program. Hopefully i get accepted, i go as a O-3 (captain). For me there is a signing bonus.

For Military Physicians there tons of benefits so im guessing there are benefits for you guys also.

About your schooling, try AFROTC, that helps.

I think its a great idea, try contacting a recruiter. My recruiter was very helpful and very friendly.

Answer 7

COMPLETE YOUR COLLEGE EDUCATION (DEGREE) AND
TRY OFFICER (OTS).
IF NOT GOOD LUCK. YOU CAN COMPLETE COLLEGE WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY.
FEW SERVE FOUR YEARS ANY ANY LOCATION.

YOU NEED GUARANTEE ABOUT METEOR BEFORE ENLISTING-- FEW IN THE AIR FORCE...

NO PROGRAMS FOR TRAINING OTHER THAN YOUR CONTINUING COLLEGE WHILE OFF DUTY.
YOUR PARTICULAR JOB SPECIALITY WILL ALSO EARN YOU COLLEGE CREDIT-ESP IF YOU GET INTO METEROLOGY.

AIR FORCE WILL PAY OVER 90% OF YOUR OFF DUTY TUITION COST...MOST CLASSES ARE RIGHT ON BASE...

YOU CAN EARN A DECENT PAYCHECK AND GET A FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION AT THE SAME TIME....

THE AIR FORCE IS NOT IN HARMS WAY--LKE ARMY OR MARINES IN COMBAT....
FEW AIR FORCE GROUND PERSONNEL COME UNDER FIRE--- BECAUSE FEW EVER GET AROUND HOSTILE FIRE.

I RETIRED 1984 AND TRAVELED THE WORLD THREE TIMES.

AND DID SEEN --FIRE-----------

HAD SONS IN AIR FORCE AND ONE IN ARMY..

ALL OUT NOW.. THANK GOD.

GOOD LUCK...

ITS A GOOD MOVE--EDUCATON--PAY AND WORLDWIDE VIEW. DO IT WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG.. WHAT A TRIP.

Answer 8

Going to the military is honorable thing and you meet a lot of people. My opinion is that you should try to talk to other who have been in the service and talk to other branches about you goals
Good Luck

Answer 9

I think that right now is the wrong time to enter any government agency that deals with fight. There are too many people getting killed and not enjoying life. You can choose colleges that offers grants and loans. That way you will be alive to pay them back while enjoying life. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER !!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

If meteorology is what you want to do... do not sign the contract unless they give you a guarenteed meteorogy job, not a guarenteed apt!