Hi, I am a mom of 2 little girls (3 years and 4 years old) and a wife of a former USN Sailor thinking about joining the USAF-hubby says he thinks I'd be great at it. Both my hubby and I miss the bene's and the financial stability the military offers. How likely is it I'll get shipped off if I join? Are there enlistment billets that I can fill that stay state-side? (what's the equivilant of Yomen in the AF? and would I be more likely to stay state-side with this job?) Please answer only if you have AF experience or other military experience. Thanks in advance!!
2007-03-05 05:17:32 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Also, many of you were saying "if you have a degree"... no, I don't. But I have been in the Business Admin field for 10+ years. And, I guess I don't mean only state-side. We are open to going anywhere... especially if we can do it together and experiece it as a family. I am VERY familiar with military life after being a military spouse.
2007-03-05 06:42:19 · update #1
Joining the military is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. The effect on you and your family will be profound, and you should enter military service with your eyes open and the support of everyone around you.
If you enlist in the AF, you will be sent away to basic and advanced indiviual training almost immediately. This period of time you will be absent from your family and under the direct control of the Air Force. After tarining you can be posted anywhere in the world that the Air Force determines that you are needed. Since you have two minor dependents, you may be unqualified for a lot of overseas billets, but again, the needs of the Air Force will come before the needs of your family.
There are many different types af administartive clerk MOS in the AF. Your recruiter can help you select one.
I spent 30 years in the military, and found it to be a richly rewarding career with lots of desirable assignments and experiences. I was able to go from a high school dropout to an MBA while on active duty. I went from E-1 to E-9, which as far as you can go. I am now retired, and in a second career drawing 75% of my military base pay and full benefits.
However 95% of my buddies that joined on my recommendation had horrible times and got out as fast as they could. To this day, they think that I was just lucky to have made it as far as I did.
Maybe so, but I still think it is all about attitude.
2007-03-05 05:36:16 · answer #1 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OMIGOSH! I don't know why I even bother reading other people's responses... all it does is get me fired up about their stupidity and I can't concentrate on answering the question!!!
OK, I am a female with 8+ years active duty (enlisted) Air Force. This is my first deployment but I have been very lucky. I would say as a general rule, the AF deploys less than other branches but you are definately not guaranteed to stay stateside. I don't know of any AFSCs (billets) that do... Even if you don't deploy to Iraq of Afghanistan, you could still be stationed in Korea, Japan, Germany or anywhere else they decide to stick you.
One of the people said only go in as an officer... while being an officer is great and you make more money, you get no more guarantees than anyone else when it comes to where you're stationed. You are still likely to get deployed, especially as a junior officer.
Also, AF deployment tours used to be 4-6 months; I am here for a year and this is becoming the norm...
Whatever your decision, I wish you the best of luck. Since your husband is out of the service, I see no real worries regarding your enlistment as far as your children go... I have seen a lot of dual-military married couples get deployed at the same time and they have to leave their children with other relatives, which seems so hard to me... at least if you had to go somewhere, your husband would be there to care for them.
Good luck and if you have any questions, please let me know. I'd be happy to help. :)
2007-03-05 06:13:50 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you if you dont want to deploy the AF Is your best bet. However there is NO Guarentee. But if you do deploy then youll only be gone 4-6 months at a time and thats not that bad. But if you have 2 daughters and you dont want to leave them. DO NOT JOIN. If you decide to serve then be ready to go. Im not trying to be mean i am just being honest you CAN NOT join the military (any branch) and expect to never go, its not logical in todays world. You might not go to war but you could go on humanitarrian missions. I am army, my husband is army. I have been deployed twice in the last year. and when im home my husband is deployed. the AF is not as bad but the standard is to be ready to deploy. There are ways to lower your chances by the job you select. RESEARCH IT ALOT, but remember deployments give you a edge up on promotions. i hoped i helped some, i know i am not AF but i was with AF in Iraq and i know the military on most fronts due to a lot of friends in the AF being i am a nurse and i deal with all branches
2007-03-05 05:33:25 · answer #3 · answered by resqshanna 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The only military institute that is family oriented. It would help if you have a dagree. Women in the AF would probably be used for administration if your not going tto be a combat pilot ( no need to put yourself in harms way. More than likely if enlisted or officer you will be with the entire family and if shipped off, it would be for very brief stints Go get your bene..s its the best choice and easier to get in right now because of the fghting abroad.
2007-03-05 05:29:34 · answer #4 · answered by manoman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many admin jobs in the USAF. I think that is the best service, I did 20 years the easy way, No war. You could give it a try for 4 years and see if you like it. If you have decent scores on your entrance test, and your husband is content to see you go off to basic training and tech training, you should be able to do this. Good luck
Capt Darell USAF Retired
2007-03-05 08:43:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if you are joining the military the safest would be Air Force or Navy. But this isn't related to your ? at all.. but would you be willing to die and leave your girls behind... or just the fact of not seeing them for years @ a time..? those are the ?'s you should be asking and thinking about not really about $... I
2007-03-05 09:26:37 · answer #6 · answered by Chris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the AF you would likely have the least chance of any branch of being shipped out depending on your career.
Unless you have your degree and can go in as an Officer I would not recommend it.
With a husband and two children, you would still qualify for welfare and food stamps being an enlisted person.
Your husband would also have to know that he would have to move around with you and sacrifice any job stability he may have.
2007-03-05 05:24:14 · answer #7 · answered by elmar66 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeoman is a purely clerical position. You probably wouldn't go into combat areas but there's no guarantee you'll stay stateside. Now if you go Coast Guard the odds are slim you would get outside CONUS duty. I would expect advancement to be slow.
22 years retired USN.
2007-03-05 05:26:34 · answer #8 · answered by namsaev 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't have answers to all your questions, but in the navy you would have to do sea duty. There can be no guarantees of staying stateside in the current world we live in. The US military is spread mighty thin and needed all over.
2007-03-05 05:23:13 · answer #9 · answered by Nancy W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are only 3 and 4? Kind of a bad time for mommy to be gone. And you will in training and whatever service you pick the odds are even stateside you might not be able to get housing for all of you.
2007-03-05 05:39:35 · answer #10 · answered by jackson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋