Air Force?

Question

My husband is thinking of going into the Air Force as Security Forces. What should we know? What has the recruiter been keeping from us?

Answer 1

"Homeless" should change his name to "Clueless."

The main thing you need to know about the Security Forces is that their mission has changed drastically over the past few years and is still evolving. The SF career field used to be made up of two AFSCs, those being Law Enforcement and Security. The names pretty much say what each did: LE was the same as your city police, while the Security side of the house guarded aircraft, alert areas, and ammo dumps. A few years ago the Air Force combined the two career fields into one, and the mission of the Security Forces changed.

More and more SF training is geared towards Air Base Ground Defense and anti-terrorism, and a lot of Air Force bases are hiring DoD police to stand guard at the gates. My son is currently active duty Air Force and is in the Security Forces, and he's been to Iraq twice. Typically, SF personnel will deploy with their parent wings; if your husband gets stationed at a base with a high mobility tasking, he'll deploy a lot. If not, then he'll be at home a lot. All depends on where he gets stationed.

I doubt if your recruiter has lied to you at all. I know several of them personally, and they have VERY high standards of conduct and integrity.

If you want to find out the truth from the folks on the job, then do a web search for Security Forces web sites and talk to the folks in uniform right now.

Answer 2

Air Force is the way to go. My son is in the Air National Guard at present(5 years). He is finishing up college(VMI)this year and commissioning into the Air Force. His area will be Mechanical Engineering. He has told me in the past, that, once out of the Air National Guard, his chances of being deployed to war, are nill. Security Forces and MP's could be another story. He's not here for me to ask at the moment and I don't know how to contact you later, when I get his answer. Just believe it when you are told that the Air Force treats their people better than the other Services. My husband was Army and served in Nam. He told me stories of how the Air Force guys had it so much better.

Answer 3

First of all I spent 21 yrs in the AF and have worked over 4 with the Army, total opposite ends or the spectrum. I know that in all areas except for medical services the AF greatly surpasses the Army. The only way I'd say to join the Army over the AF is if you want to be in the infinity. I know of so many people who joined the Army, went to AIT(?), Tech School for AF folks, and never spend a day doing that job. Promotions are faster in the Army but that is because most people want out as fast as they can. Army supervisors, all the way to the top, do as they want regardless to what regs say. Promotions are based mostly on a board, sitting in front of a panel answering questions. Who cares if you know your job, just be in good with your supervisor, if you know who it is. Army still promotes using a quota system. I know 3 guys who got out because after being told the were getting promoted they weren't because not enough minorities or females didn't make it so too bad we have to cut you to meet our quotas. All Army deployments are a minimum of 12 months. With the AF they are 179 days and are at a much more fewer than with the Army. In the Army I've scene guys gone for a year, upon return move to another unit and go again in six months for another year. That cannot happen with the AF, no way!!! So much more you wouldn't believe, join the Air Force!!!!

Answer 4

There are some tricks to enlisting in the Air Force. First off if you plan to live off his income DO NOT enlist for 4 years!! Enlist for 6 years active with a guarantee of promotion. This will usually be to E-3 at something like 22 weeks or completion of tech school. Their logic is that those that enlist only for 4 years will do their time and get out, and that those that enlist for 6 are more likely to make a career of the service.
Security forces are needed right now for guard duty because of the wars. Among other things those airplanes must be protected while they are on the ground over there.

Answer 5

The Air Force has a reputation for treating personnel better than the other armed forces. However, it is probably worth the effort to check the casualty rates and injury rates for the Air Force and other branches of the service on the Internet. However, I have ethical concerns about supporting the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.

A personal concern is whether the U.S. invasion of Iraq violated international law. From an ethical perspective, I'd be concerned about supporting any activity that contributed to a violation of human rights. To a greater or lesser extent, the United States has detained and tortured prisoners and (to a greater extent) has denied due process. What will your husband do if he is given an order that violates his personal beliefs? How will this affect him?

If the Air Force wants your husband, it is likely that your husband could find employment elsewhere and perhaps you could even be together. There are other more important things in life besides material possessions.

Answer 6

Air Force recruiters are almost always very honest. The Air Force is very selective about who they take, so
they don't have to lie to get people enlisted. Security Forces is a decent job. Most Military Police I know wished they did somethin else though. it can be boring at times like when they have to check ID's at the gate. They also sometimes will guard aircraft, give traffic tickets, go to resident's homes for disputes. The upside is that when you get out of the military, you can go into civilian life quite easily if you want to be a cop.
You will almost always accompany your husband, unless he is deployed. yes, as security Forces he is more likely to deploy but not more than say a crew chief. My hubby is a crew chief and in the past 12 months has been to Iraq 3 times. he is there right now! Iraq for the AF is very different than what you see on TV. They pretty much stay on base but they are shot at and there are mortars that explode on base. they have great gear and are well trained. I don't say this to scare you but I'm trying to tell you everything. Your husband will be required to do a year long remote tour and you will not be able to accompany him on that tour.
The AF is very family oriented. They really take care of us, especially when your spouse is deployed. Housing is decent. We have one child so we hve a two bedroom house. We have a big kitchen, family room, living/dining room, 2 bathrooms, garage with door openers and big fenced backyard. It's really nice. You can have up to 2 pets in housing. You have to keep your yard up to standard and when you move out they walk through your house and it has to be SPOTLESS or you can't move.
You can look up the pay charts on the web. the pay sucks. My husband just made E-5 and and we still pretty much live paycheck to paycheck. But considering the housing is free, the healthcare is free, and the commissary has great prices on food and the BX sells stuff tax-free, you get by!

Answer 7

He can deploy no matter what his recruiter says. As far as training and military life I don't know because I'm Army. The living standards exceed that of the Army and Marines though.

Answer 8

Security force. I assume air police. The Air Force is a good choice. Lets hope he gets the opportunity to go to a tech school. Security force is like being in Supply, Cook, checking out basketballs in the base gym.
I doubt if the recruiter is lying to much if that is all he promised him. Plus he might like it and make it a career

Answer 9

he's going to spend more time deployed than most other career fields in the af. it's nothing like what 'homeless' just described. it can be very demanding. it can be a great career and learning experience.

Answer 10

Your husband will go to Iraq.