Air Force: Base preference Questions?

Question

So I may be enlisting in the Air Force soon. And I have some questions about base preference.
1. How many bases can you pick? domestic and overseas.

2. What are the odds that you get to be on one of the bases you pick?

3. What are the best places to choose from?

i was thinking of being a physical therapy assistant. i think any base would need one of those.

Answer 1

1) 5 of each

2) chances you'll get one on your list somewhat decent
chances you get number one very slim

3) depends on the job you get you may be limited on what base you can go to but if I had the choice of any base I would choose Hickam AFB HI, McChord AFB WA or Luke AFB AZ

But I can only go to Minot AFB, ND or Barksdale AFB, LA

Answer 2

1) You can choose 8 of each. They can be specific bases, such as McDill AFB, or general locations, such as Southeastern U.S.

2) It all depends if the bases you picked have any openings. If you put down Travis AFB, CA, and they are already 110% manned in your career field and rank, guess what? It's not happening. Some bases are not open for certain career fields either. If you are a Flight Chief, and put donw Malmstrom, MT, guess what? They don't even have an active flight line, so why would they need any crew chiefs. But, remember, the needs of the AF come first. They will try, but it doesn't always work out that way. That's pretty much the same for any branch.

3) I guess that's up to you. Each base is what you make of it. I was at Malmstrom 3 different times and loved it! Hunting, fishing, camping....it was great!! But, alot of people hated it. I know people at Egland AFB in Fl, that hate it!! It right on the beach, but the gulf is SO touristy there. Let us know what your interests are, and what career field you are going in to, and we can help more.

EDIT: By the way, I just went online to the AF portal and looked up assignment preferances, and it is indeed 8 choices for CONUS and Overseas.

Answer 3

The huge factor here is what will your Career Field be? Will you be a cook, a cop, a mechanic, a missile maintainer, special ops, aircrew...what? Certain jobs are available at most all bases. And certain other jobs are restricted to just a few bases. Anyone here who even gives you a remote percentage chance of your odds of going to one of your choices, is merely giving you their opinion. No one can give you the odds based on your question. Even when you supply your chosen career field, you probably won't get an accurate percentage. Needs of the Air Force are all that matters. If your wants, happen to coincide with their needs, you might get lucky. The beauty is, you won't know until you get your first set of orders handed to you following successful completion of basic and tech school.
Good luck with your enlistment. For more specific military discussion, go to forums.military.com/eve That is a link to forums from the website military.com

Answer 4

1. 8 & 8

2. I'd say it 's it's a safe bet saying that about 95% of people get one of their 16 choices. Just make sure you fill in all 16. If you only put down 2 and they are full, you will be coming to Clovis, NM with me (look it up, it's nowhere.)

3. It all depends on what you like to do. The North seems to be great for hunting and fresh water fishing. I have only met a handful of folks who disliked the northern assignments. The southeast has the beaches. But remember it's humid. Charleston AFB is the best for singles. Five colleges in the area. Texas has, well, Texas. I don't personally care for the west coast. Europe is great for traveling. Ramstein is in the center of everything. The language barrier is minimal.

Answer 5

I believe it is three or five. As for getting the base you want that requires some luck depending on what you are asking for. Oftentimes for the more popular ones you get the region of the country and if by chance you get the base you are lucky since there are only so many slots or positions at each base. As for the best to choose from consider your interests and hobbies. If you are into hunting and fishing then a lot of the northern bases are great! If you are an urban type person then put down bases that are near large, major cities that have a lot to offer. Climate is another factor; don't ask for something in the northern part of the country if you like the beach and sun!

For hunting and fishing; Mountain Home AFB, McChord AFB, Peterson Field, are good; for urban Andrews AFB, Scott AFB, are just a few of them; for the sun and beach, Tyndall AFB, Travis AFB, Keesler AFB are all pretty good.

Answer 6

Mac is right, you get 8 of each. You want to figure what you like/want. Are you planning on going to college, then you probably want to be in a more urban environment where you can take classes etc. Do you want see the world. Germany is a great launching point. Whatever it is that you want for you. Talk to your recruiter about the bases that have your AFSC (that way you don't waste choices on bases you can't go to). He can pull a list off of AMS....if he won't/can't repost and I'll see if I can't get you one. Then what you want to do is pick a base per MAJCOM. Ask your recruiter about the different MAJCOMS... again if he doesn't/won't go into it, repost and between MAC and I, we will get you squared away.

Answer 7

you can choose up to eight stateside and eight overseas. The odds are not good that you will get anyof them. I put down all overseas and east coast bases. I got sent to wyoming. After that I got sent on a remote to the north pole which is supposed to guarentee BOP, but mine got denied and they gave me the choice of seperating or going to Minot North Dakota. I seperated. It's not called a dream sheet for nothing.

Answer 8

Back in the day, the late 60's and early 70's there was what we called the DREAM SHEET. You were allowed to fillit out and if I recall you could picl 3 bases, bith overseas and in the States. It all depended on AF needs, I got my 1st choice after basic, and my 2nd choice when I was at Westover to go overseas. I don't know the odds, but what the hell, give it a shot and see what happens. Good luck on getting what you want and again AF needs will have you train in the med'l service you would like.