Why do people say that the US Air Force is better than the US Army?

Question

I am a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. I've been on active duty for 7 months. 4 months on an Air Force base and 3 months on an Army base.

I don't really notice a difference on the treatment of personnel. So why do people say that the Air Force treats their "people" better? What does the Air Force do that the Army doesn't? What foes the Air Force have that the Army doesn't?

Answer 1

I work for the "Chair Force" and date a "Army" Grunt! There is a huge difference. Example # 1 they do PT ONCE A MONTH, LOL Yes, every 3rd Thurdsay of the month.
ENOUGH SAID!

Answer 2

As you've hopefully figured out already, 7 months isn't enough time to see a resounding difference in the way Air Force treats their people vs. how the Army treats their people...especially when the bulk of your time is spent on an Air Force base.

I'm prior AF, and now work around a lot of Army. The big difference I've seen over the years is the mentality of the people in the respective services. What I see today, is that the Army as a whole is more inclined to make snap decisions whereas the Air Force is more likely to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a certain action before taking it. That's not to say that either way is wrong, because both mentalities are needed when it comes to fight the enemy. I'm an analyst, so the AF environment fits me better because I have people around me that appreciate my skillset. Try to analyze anything around the Army and you're "too wordy" or "you think too much" or "let's just go kill people"...and YES I'm serious. So it's a matter of what kind of people you want to be around for the most part. They're both necessary, and each one will have it's advantages and disadvantages when the fight begins.

Thanks for serving your country and remember to make a Senior NCO your best friend...they've "been there and done it", and can make your life easy or hard as hell. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

I have been overseas and will tell you AF bases without question is better and have more ammenities. The people there have a lot more college degrees. In my view, there is a big difference when it comes to problem solving and training. because they work with the air, they better able to control their own destiney and very rarely are constrained by resource issues. For me, it appears because of their generally higher education, there are less problems in both the structure the working in and a greater understanding of what the structure it. It's also a lot easier to get people to adapt to the type of problems the AF comes across than the Army.

The Army has improved a lot. Put it to you this way. AF has barracks generally, Army has tents Marines struggle to get anything they can get. In war, start the effort and a lot die setting up things as the Army comes in. During prolong engagement, the Army loses a lot on soldier and get help from the Marines. Meanwhile what about the AF. The type of work they do is more technical and business in it's nature and far less physical. Less dog day afternoons. Just my opinion

Answer 4

I have know idea why anyone would come to such a conclusion, maybe just an ego problem. I was in the air force and the running joke was if a fight broke out and all branches were involved who would you side with. The answer was the army because the marines belong to the navy. But seriously I was radio communications and we worked right along beside the army because our fields were quite similar and I had a great time and met allot of good people and I didn't see any difference in treatment. I think I wouldn't waste my time on such crap and have a good time with whoever and what ever branch.

Answer 5

i believe when people say they treat their people better they are generally referring to the fact to these things. first off AF is more family friendly.....the majority of AFSCs still do 4 month rotations every year or so. (some including my husbands do 8-12 months with a couple months home in between, and are on the ground on the front line) secondly, for the most part ....and there are exceptions of course AF bases have nicer facilities.....there are really bad AF bases and really nice Army bases that totally ruin this image though so would depend on which army base and which AF base. Also the AF is known for having the best food, I personally dont go around eating on too many bases dining facilities...but i do have to say AF chowhall food isnt bad....ive heard from friends that were in other branches that it was all they could do to choke down their food lol. Also generally the single Airmen live in a dorm as opposed to barracks of other branches... most dorms you have your own room and share a bathroom with one person. I have a friend in the army that shares a room with 3 other guys.....and they have 1 community bathroom on the whole floor for like 40 guys to share. Oh and btw.....just an opinion here, but from what ive experienced first hand....the Navy has the best medical facilities.

Answer 6

I spent 20 years in the Air Force. I have nothing against the Army. I just always felt our service was more technically oriented and our career fields more specialized. The Army is more combat oriented and the discipline is geared towards that mentality. Blue is also a much nicer color than green...so there!

It's probably not much different for a 2nd Lieutenant between the Air Force and Army. In either service you're less useful than the lowest ranking enlisted man and the most disliked of all ranks. You think you're an officer, but you're barely even in the military. Other officers don't respect you and enlisted folks just laugh at you. At least in the Air Force they don't shoot you in the back.

Answer 7

The main reason is due to the Air Force's higher qualifications educationally to get in. Also, general consensus is that the Air Force has better food and conditions for it's personnel which are pretty important when someone is making distinctions and maybe deciding which service to join. Common sense too says Air bases being in generally more secure locations further away from things blowing up may also be an important factor.

Answer 8

Officers tend to be treated a bit better than the rest of the Army, so the differences would be more subtle- less 'smack in the face' different.
Thought the gulf between services is closing with repeated ground deployments of Airmen and Sailors, Marines and Soldiers tend to lean more towards immediate obedience than the Air Force and Navy.
Typically, the on the ground troop needs to follow orders 'right now' as multiple lives may well be at risk.
The '1000 miles from harm' Airman on the flightline (no offense intended- Air support is REALLY appreciated), can be afforded the time to discuss needs, timelines, etc.
Someone shooting at you and you buddy tends to lend some immediacy to requirements.

Answer 9

Why do people say that the Air Force is better than the Army? Because they are in the Air Force...

Answer 10

I am an air force brat plus retired army. I continue having conversations with my father to this day about life in the military. Who are the people saying these things? Are these people who have served in both branches? As an officer, I would observe and make mental notes on leadership issues. Observe everyone, not just one branch. You are a leader, it is up to you to lead and maintain your little piece of the pie within the army. I will tell you that air force people usually have shorter deployments but make more rotations. They usually have their engineers set up quarters in foreign environments with all the the little things you need to sustain a good quality of life. The air force and army have different missions. The army does not support the air force, it is the other way around. You are a member of the main armed forces branch. Your mission is not easy, it is very difficult at times. It is up to you to provide the best possible care and leadership for your personnel. Taking care of people is not always about who has the creature comforts on a deployment, it is about leadership. It is not about having ice cream, KFC but about you, how you treat your junior leaders, sergeants, specialists and privates. They will respect you and follow your every move but you have to take care of them. How can you accomplish your mission if you do not care for your troops? You need troops to accomplish all of your missions. Lead from the front, show and set the example. Do not micro-manage your sergeants, let them accomplish their tasks. They are your technical experts and have years of leadership and hands-on field experience. You can be hard but you have to look out for their welfare, take care of them and they will follow you for life. When it comes to comraderie, team work, and a brotherhood, you are in the right branch. That is the best place to learn and develop true leadership. When in doubt, remember the ranger creed, review your leadership manual, communicate with your troops, sergeants, first sergeant, sergeant major, commander and fellow butter bars. Don't judge the air force from a mess hall point of view, just observe the decision making and you will understand leadership and taking care of your troops.

Answer 11

Well, i'm also a soldier so hooah to you sir,
But i don't believe any branch is better than the other we all spill the same blood. Airforce obviously less then us army boys hahah :P but ive also done some time on airforce base and army and well flyboys do more technical work while we do more physical work but aside from that airforce ain't better nor is the army so :p