which is better Air force or Army?

Question

My husband is wanting to join the Army but I keep hearing that the Air force takes better care of you. We do have two children and I want to make sure we will be taking care of while he is gone . Well my husband is wanting to work in the Food ServiceSpecialists, Construction Equipment Operators , or Construction Specialists . Would the Army be better for these jobs or the Air force? Also I keep hearing the Air force has you set for life then the Army. I just dont want him to make the wrong move. Also people keep telling me to make sure he gets everything in writing what he gets. Ok how does he do that please explain thanks.

Answer 1

I vote Air Force of those two. (Navy is my first choice though.)

When they say get it in writing what they mean is the recruiters will tell him about anything he wants to hear...

"Why with these scores on your test, you can pick any job you want to do!"

"You can sign up and 6 months later transfer into that job!"

They will tell him ANYTHING to get him to sign (that is their assignment in the service... get bodies to sing the bottom line.)

Okay, so if they tell him "We can send you to that school..." he should see that school listed on his papers before he signs up for the service. If they tell him, "Oh yea! You can be a fighter pilot..." then his papers should show that he has a seat in flight school....

Anything they promise will be listed on his initial sign up papers or it is a toss up as to wether he will ever get it when he joins.

AND don't let them talk him OUT of anything. If he wants Food Service Specialist and they tell him his test scores would make him a great Radar Operator (because they got an email that day that the service needs more radar opeators), have him stand FIRM and say, "Nope. I'm going into Food Service or not at all!" Them Recruiters go home at the end of the day, your hubby goes into the service for years after that. He better be sure it is what he wants and not something he was hornswadgled into.




g-day!

Answer 2

The Air Force is downsizing. So promotions will be very difficult as it will be harder to qualify for enlistment in general.

Quality of life for the Air Force is better on bases then the Army.

The Army has more opportunities, jobs, and better promotion.

While the Air Force does stick close to planes, they do deploy. Sometimes they deploy more, but for shorter preriods of time. I recently read in the AF Times that Air Force deployments were going from 3 months to 6 months. This means shorter times gone, but they often go more frequently, expecially since they just pack up on a plane and go. Army deploys for longer periods of time, 12 months, but have longer waits between deployments... again a trade off.

Take your time and look at all your options. Make sure you get what you want.

Answer 3

Neither is better. They are just different. Both pay the same and have the same benifits. Housing and post/base accomodations will be similiar as well.

The AF is probably and "easier life" in that he will work fewer hours away from home and be "in the field" less. Also, most AF jobs tend to work more regular hours (9 to 5) in an office or shop setting. Deployments in the AF are shorter and typically less dangerous but he will deploy more often. Howver, the AF also doesn't usually guarntee him the specific job he wants upon enlistment but rather a "career field' that could include many jobs.

The Army will have him away from home on training excercises a couple of times a year. Also, more will be demanded of him physically. That said, promotions in the Army will be much faster which equals more money in the long run. The Army will also offer him more bonus money when he joins and then every time he reenlists. The Army is the only branch that will guarantee his MOS (job) in the contract. The AF doesn't do bonuses or job guarantees. Deployments in the Army are the longest of any branch and depending on what MOS he chooses, he will probably be in harms way.

I'd say that both or all branches do a good job of taking care of their people. All have recreation and child care facilities as well as similiar base/post services.

"Get everything in writing":

Make a written list of every incentive his recruiter promises. When he goes down to MEPS to sign the contract, make sure that it contains everything he/you expect to recieve. You can be present for the contract portion at MEPS.

Answer 4

I would talk to both these recruiters and see what they say. Make sure you both have a list of questions to ask. Yes always get things in writing or else it will not happen.
I was in the Army for 8 years they took good care of me. My husband is still in and the Army is still taking care of us.
The Air Force when deploying has it better than we did. I think they have shorter deployment times but the food was worse.
I'm not sure if the Air Force lets you pick your job or not, I know the Army depends on the ASVAB test but you usually get to pick.
Good luck and thanks for supporting our country and freedom.

Answer 5

They are both good choices. I am in the air force, so is my husband. We get taken care of, but like it has been said we are downsizing, so getting the job you want is really hard. It used to be that you come into basic training with a guarenteed job and taht is not the case anymore. They gave me 5 choices to write down and then I didnt find out what my job was until i was leaving for tech school from basic. I got stuck with a job that I hate so much I want to get out. The benifits are really great though, especially medical if you have children. I am on my first deployment in Afghanistan and I have only been in 2 years, they pay you well when you deploy. Its only for 4 months thought. One of my friends is in the Army and he was supposed to leave like 6 months ago, and instead he is staying here for 6 more, hes been away from his wife for over a year now. So i would say if you want him to be home more than deployed, go air force. also depending on his job, he would never have to leave the base, and not be in the face of danger. Its really scary over here, i know i am going to stay on the base as long as i have to! Iraq is getting really bad, and Afghanistan is slowly getting better. its a good choice going into the military, but it has its down sides, you have to be prepared to support him in anything, this is the truth, the divorce rate in military families is rising all the time. its really hard but if you can work it out its a good career choice.

Answer 6

I will try not to be to biast as I am in the Marines. Both services are given a lot of money for families. However after having been on both Air Force and Army bases, the Air Force has better living conditions. However, looking at what jobs he wants to do, I would almost sudjest the Navy SeeBees. They are the Constuction force of the military. Just remember this though, coming from a married man, I know you want him to be home as much as possible, but he will deploy no matter what service he goes into. There will be no getting out of it. Not even with the reserves or national gaurd. To get things in writing, if it is not on his contract, it isn't true.

Answer 7

alot of the answers are correct. The army does gain promotions alot faster, which means more money. But the tours are alot longer than the AF. Im not sure what you mean by who would take care of you while you huband is deployed. Your on your own. I suppose you could lie on base and have more of a friend network, we always lived off base and when he was gone I was on my own (and did just fine).
Funny about the AF vastecomy thing....My husband was already "fixed" before we met. I talked to an AF dr., and she said she couldnt belive h was able to have that done being single.
Oh well, all has worked out

Answer 8

I may be prejudice in my answer, but after serving 20 years in the USAF, I have a reason to be. The USAF is better than all Branches of service when it comes to taking care of their people and for family quality of living. Base housing is better, hospitals are better and the deployment cycle is longer - meaning in times like these your husband will spend less time in Iraq if he has to deploy and when he come's home he will be home longer between rotations. If he can get assigned to a "Training Base" his chances of being deployed are reduced because the bases mission is to train (pilots, new service members etc.) The pay is all the same regardless of branches so that doesn't make a difference when chosing.

Let me know if this helps.

Answer 9

The Air Force is slower with promotions.
The Army would have more openings for any job category since it is the largest.
He can usually get a contract from the recruiter for a particular job category, but if he fails to complete the training, he would be at the mercy of Army needs.

Answer 10

That is very correct about the Air force! The Army is made up the majority are grunts and medical. The Air force is more about support of the military and Air attacking during combat operations.