How long does it take from the time you see a recruiter to sign up, to the time you actually leave for BT?

Question

I am interested in joining the Air Force, but I'm not sure how long it would be before I would leave. I'm sure this answer differs, but I was wondering how long it would take in general.

Answer 1

They try to get you processed asap! You will have to go to MEPs to do your physical and your ASVAB, some people go to MEPs and do that, stay at the MEPs hotel and ship the next morning.
I leave in Jan. 3rd but had to request to wait until then. I enlisted Oct 16th and had to get in the DEP program to wait...because they want you to ship as soon as you are qualified.
Average, if you dont DEP (which you have to have a documented reason like school, or in my case teaching church classes) is usually a week or so, unless you have a criminal background that needs cleared, or a medical condition that you need a waiver for, or if you cant pass your preliminary PT test (which is very simple... its 1 mile, and 1 min push-ups and sit-ups you have to get a certain amount...) The only other thing that will slow you down is if they dont have a spot available for your advanced training school... then you'll have to wait for it. But I think that may only apply to Army anyway, because AirForce wont guarentee your job...
So if you are healthy, sort-of in shape, and dont have a criminal background... you're good to go!! Otherwise give it a month or two.
Good luck and congratulations on your decision!!

Just FYI to respond to "AF Recruit".... the AF will guarentee you a JOB FIELD, but not a specific Job. I originally went to enlist with AF, but after going round and round with them about this... I changed to Army, because they can guarentee my actual "what I will be doing on a daily basis" job... not just a general job category. Please, please, AF Recruit, clarify this with your recruiter... you do not want to be dissappointed!! Not only do I know this from my own experience but my dad graduated AF Academy, and wound up about ten years out transferring to Army for that exact reason... He was a b-52 pilot and was winding up doing some other "as needed" stuff.. and he was even an officer, it will be worse for enlistedmen... so he switched to Army to fly Cobras and never had a problem... Im not saying you absolutely wont get the job you signed up for, but still it is a job FIELD that they train you in.... Army is the only "guarenteed job" service. I will say though, that if you arent that adamant about your job... say you have like a "top 5" or you would be happy anywhere within just a general field... AF is the way to go!!! They tend to live a little more... posh... and tend to have more out-of-the-front-line, technical jobs... they treat families really well, and are the more "classy" of the military branches. Keep in mind only 4% of AF are actual pilots and most of those graduate from the AF Academy.

Answer 2

skuilah is mistaken.

The Air Force is more likely to guarantee you the job you want more than any other service. If you don't see the job you want available when it comes to your career advisor at MEPS, you can tell them you just want to wait until Jobs drop the next week. They drop (open up) about 1/month or 2/month. They will guarantee you the job you want if you are qualified for it.

There is a waiting list, however. Most people only wait about a week to a month, it is quite hard to ship out for the AF as early as the day you go to MEPS because it is so backed up. We only have one place to train and all of the potential airmen cannot fit there at once, haha.

I am on the DEP (delayed entry program) until August 2008 because I am going to finish up high school.

But, Like I said, they will usually hold you in DEP up to a year so you can wait on the job that YOU want.

Answer 3

It's your life. If you want to wait for that MOS to open it's your choice. Don't get shoved into something you don't want. Just remember, it could be a long wait. Recruiting is easy right now. There's no incentive for your recruiter to "screw you over." Your recruiter would much rather send you off happy, believe me. You will have to wait in DEP until the slot you pick is open. If you need to ship in a couple weeks you won't have much of a choice as to jobs.

Answer 4

Depends entirely on scheduling, what's available when and what you want.

When I enlisted, they gave me a ship date that was 7 months out form the diate I signed the paperwork. They had assumed I'd want to do OSUT (One Station Unit Training--stay in the same place for BCT and AIT, straight through). When I told them I didn't need that and didn't mind going to a separate station, they came back with a date two months out.

So findout that the options are, and decide if you'd rather go sooner or later or what. They'll work with you.

Answer 5

3-6 months depending on what job you have. The Air Force projects you for a slot in tech school, not basic. That is why it takes a good amount of time.

Answer 6

Don't try to set any records by signing up and shipping out immediately. That's a guaranteed stressful life for a person. Take your time and do your research til you live and breath military....BEFORE you sign up.
You have up to one year upon signing up, before you ship out. How soon? I do NOT know and I wish that no one would find out.

Answer 7

They try to schedule you for Basic so that when you graduate, you go straight to Tech School. So it really depends on when there is an opening at your Tech School!

Answer 8

the longest you can be in DEP is 12 months. some people are able to get everything done and ship in a matter of weeks.

Answer 9

i seen the recruiter in dec and left in feb but some people's wait is longer