Is what they are saying about the Air Force right now true???

Question

I keep hearing that now is NOT a good time to join the air force and you should switch to or choose another branch because right now it is like they are asking people to leave and go into the army who are already enlisted and there, and I have also heard that people who are joining the air force will mosty likely not get the job they want due to the overfill there. Can someone give me the facts on this?? Anything would be helpful/

Answer 1

You should talk to a recruiter, but yes they are conducting a draw down in some fields and asking some folks to move over to the Army. They dont have to go if they dont want to, but they cant stay in the Air Force in those career fields. However, if you get a critically manned career field you can get a job you like. Good luck!

Answer 2

The Air Force is certainly downsizing its standing forces, to fulfill the doctrinal concept of fighting smarter rather than harder. This means that we function with dynamic change to ensure that our processes deliver maximum effect for minimum effort. That being said, the Air Force is changing and developing now at a pace as hasn't been seen before.

At the same time the rotation is attempting to let people get out voluntarily (with large seperation bonuses) or through early retirements. The best way that we're handling this is that when people are choosing to get out, the Air Force simply isn't choosing to re-fill those spots.

If you want to apply to the Air Force, by all means, go ahead. If you get accepted you're good to go. Just know that it's going to be slightly more competitive to get in at the moment

Answer 3

Yes, the word is that the Air Force and the Navy are undergoing a slight downsizing, while the Army and Marines are expanding. Therefore, the Air Force can be a lot more selective on who they accept and what positions they have available.

Answer 4

Talk with a recruiter is a good amswer. From my experience, so many people try to go into the AF that they turn people away, have HORRIBLE promotion potential and rarely offer re-enlistment bonuses. They can not force you to leave service and serve with another force. As far as your MOS is concerned... ALWAYS make sure you get promises of schools in writing!

Answer 5

The Air Force has asked many officers to resign their commission, due to overstaffing. I cant say for sure if the overstaffing will not allow you to get your job, but in the army, that would be breach of contract since we sign on the dotted line with our job already set up. The air force also will not take prior service any longer as with the navy.

Answer 6

Rather than listen to the uniformed ramblings of the bunch of armchair warriors - especially those like Hello, whose ignorance is surpassed only by his bigotry - on Yahoo! Answers, I suggest you contact the local Air Force recruiter and get the truth from him/her.

Answer 7

Its true, and Hello, nowhere in your incoherent ramblings, did you ever touch a response to the question at hand. Only pilots are given "go pills" and heck who can blame them? They fly 24 to 30 hours mission. I would ask for them too! I'm guessing that this issue touched your life in some way, cause you sure sound pretty butthurt!

Answer 8

Depends on your grades and what specialty you are looking to get into. My nephew joined a few months ago got right in and at the end of bassic went right to his tech school as a radar technician. When he is out of school he will be training on an AWACS and they are hot to get him done and into flight training. He was a straight A kid in school so maybe that helped.

Answer 9

Its always been overcrowded in the Air Force. Its safe work. Its technical work that translates to jobs. So people jam into it like lemmings. But the Army what can you say operating an M16 qualifies you to do?? This isnt to insult. But alot of army jobs simply dont translate to good paying jobs. This is why I believe we should become more of a Mercenary Army country. Other countries hire american firms like Blackwater who hire ex-army to use in their wars.

Answer 10

Check this site out before you sign on the dotted line !!

http://www.channel4.com/news/2003/05/week_1/01_speed.html

Would YOU want to work for an employer who turns thier back on you for doing your job - to the best of your ability and as you've been trained to do?

"....The US Air Force says the pilots behaved recklessly. The pilots say that their judgement may have been affected by the fact that they had taken amphetamines, amphetamines prescribed to them by the US Air Force. "

"....The US Air Force says the pills are only given when there's a real danger of fatigue - on long missions, or when pilots fly at night. All pilots are tested before Dexedrine is prescribed to make sure there are no adverse reactions and use is voluntary - the pilots themselves decide whether to take the drug or not. But it is not without side effects; the warning's there on the packet:

"...Amphetamines may impair the ability to engage in potentially hazardous activities such as operating machinery or vehicles." And some experts believe its use may make accidents like friendly fire more likely. "

The USAF state they give DRUGS to thier pilots to keep them awake on long patrols... this begs the question -

WHY NOT GIVE EACH PILOT PROPER REST TIME AFTER EACH PATROL rather than KNOWINGLY allow anyone on DRUGS to be in charge of a lethal weapon where they KNOW there are side-effects to these DRUGS?

Don't ALL employers have a duty of care - even during times of active duty - to thier employees?

George W Bush, as Commander in Chief during these Friendly fire incidents, where drugs have been proven to be in the system of any pilot concerned should be very concerned as "The Employer".. moreso as USA is a very litigious Nation...

So, are you SURE you want to join the USAF?... join up in perfectl health, get hooked on prescribed

amphetimines which impairs your otherwise sound judgement, and stand the risk of having nightmares for the rest of your life?

Bear in mind, you'll get no back-up from "your employers"...