Air force......??

Question

I have a friend who has been talking about going into the Air Force. He's actually going to talk to a recruiter tommorrow. I just have a few questions, well, actually alot. He's thinking about MP or maybe mechanic. He knows he can't sign real quick because he has to get his GED first. He's got a child and him and the mother are still close. I would like to be able to give him some advice, but I have no idea what to tell him. He's actually considered the Navy too. I'm totally clueless about the military and thought you guys could help. Anything you can tell me would be great like where BT is, where he could be stationed, when deployed where he might go. Just anything...... thanks!

Answer 1

BT, basic training, is at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas.

A GED only is not enough to get into the Air Force. A High School Diploma is enough, GED is not. He'll have to take a few college courses to meet entry requirements.

The training for Security Police, (SP), is in San Antonio also. But if he has a brain at all he should do something else. If he likes working on cars and trucks then mechanic is a great idea. He might get to work on Tanks !!!! He should, at a minimum, do something that he likes doing. Also consider if the skill will be useful outside of the military. Many jobs have no use in the civilian world.

Last but not least, Very Important !!

DO NOT enlist without a Guaranteed Job. Most of the guys that go in without a guaranteed job end up being cooks and garbage men and SPs. Absolutely most important. Find a job you like and are qualified for and then sign the Guaranteed Job form.

Answer 2

This is all stuff that his recruiter will be able to tell him... but BMT is 8 weeks (it was 6 when I went through in 1998 but I think they made it longer) in San Antonio, TX.

Depending on his job, he could be stationed anywhere! Especially SP (Security Forces, MPs are Army) or a mechanic. Along with that... if he is an SP he will definately deploy, and often. We have a lot of SPs that go to Iraq, Afghanastan... they are stationed in Turkey, Korea... all over! I dated an SP and he and his friends were always deploying... they would go to Iraq for 6 months (now, standard deployments are starting to be for a whole year) come back for 3 or 4, and then leave again. There are other career fields that don't deploy as often, but there is nothing guaranteed. They can send anyone, anytime (trust me, I'm a Spanish Linguist and thought I would never have to come to Iraq!)

I don't have any children, so I don't know how the dependant allowances work for situations like his (generally, if you "claim" a dependant-- like a wife, or a child, they give you extra money! Hurray!) but I don't see why it would be any different for him.

Both of those career fields will give him good experience to use in the civilian world if/when he gets out of the military, but again, he will be deploying probably pretty frequently.

And yes, you can get in with a GED but he will also have to pass the ASVAB... I think the latest you can enlist is age 37.

Answer 3

Well, he does need that GED. What's his age anyways? I think there is an age restriction of 24. I'm not sure a GED will cut it to get in the AF though. They are very selective with who they bring in. Even the Navy might be tough. He will need to take the ASVAB test to help clear up his potential though. The recruiters will administer that first thing.

The Navy basic training would be in Great Lakes (Illinois), also known as "Great Mistakes". My wife went there for Basic, I went to Orlando, Florida (now closed).

If you don't know much about the military, you really aren't in a great position to give advice. Find someone who was in the service recently for your friend to talk to...but one big thing: never never never believe the recruiters. They lie like nothing else to get you to sign the papers. Believe me on that one.

Answer 4

I have a few answers. What ever you do talk him out of being an MP. They have one of the worst jobs. They are always deployed and always in convoys. IF he joins the Air Force basic is down in Lackland which is in San Antonio Texas. There are many places he could be stationed around the world. Main spots to deploy to is Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope this helps a little.

Answer 5

He can't be an MP in the Air Force, but he could be an SP. The Air Force actually might not even take applicants with a GED.

Answer 6

I'm an Air Force veteran and joining up was one of the smartest things I've ever done. I learned discipline and teamwork, I got to see the world, I made a lot of good friends, got to work with some great people, and my education was completely paid for.

Basic training is in San Antonio, Texas.
There are bases all over the world, and it really depends on what kind of unit he's in that will determine where he goes.

Tell him to go for it...he won't be sorry.

Answer 7

My advice is to tell him to get a real job in the real world... to get his GED then go to college. He has a child. The best gift he could give his child is a daddy that didn't die in Bush's illegal war for oil.

I am a believer in fighting when we have to. I am a veteran of Gulf War 1; but, I can tell you this with all my heart and soul, 'if they had called me up to participate in this war, I would have taken a court martial.' I would go to prison before I sell my soul to fight in an evil man's murderous war.

Answer 8

Go to the branch of service where his heart is. It is his decision whether to select the Air Force or Navy.