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I'm a 20 year old female who has just enlisted for a 6 year contract with the USAF. I passed my MEPS and took my ASVAB (scored a 72). I'm currently in delayed enlistment (DEPS) and I'm waiting for my job to be picked so I can be sent to BMT. I have a list to choose from and I tried gathering as much data as I could about the jobs being offered but I keep getting no help at all in deciding what I want to do.
I'm not picky but these are some things I'm looking for in a job:
Normal hours (5 days a week with weekends off), a job where I meet or work with a good number of people, most likely to be NOT stationed overseas, generally interesting, less time spent in tech school, enlistment bonus (if possible), not security, and preferably nothing ending up in flight line.
I am open-minded and I do know that I can't have the perfect job but if anyone can give me insights on jobs that I can pick that could send me to BMT quicker and fits some of the criteria above. Much would be appreciated.
Also, I keep hearing negative things about flight line and I want to hear from an actual person what flight line is like for them.
I hope to be stationed somewhere in California so maybe anyone has anything on that?
I know I'm asking too much, I'm fully prepared on being open minded with jobs that don't fit my needs. I just need help picking a few jobs to help me get started.
I retired from the Army before you were born, but I spent 5 years stationed at two Air Force Bases.
If I had it to do over, I would stay overseas a few more tours...
I have always noticed in three different branches that longer tech schools tend to create jobs with higher re-enlistment bonus's and higher chance of promotions. That's just my observations while in the service and talking to service members of families I know.
I'm a 20 year old female who has just enlisted for a 6 year contract with the USAF. I passed my MEPS and took my ASVAB (scored a 72). I'm currently in delayed enlistment (DEPS) and I'm waiting for my job to be picked so I can be sent to BMT. I have a list to choose from and I tried gathering as much data as I could about the jobs being offered but I keep getting no help at all in deciding what I want to do.
I'm not picky but these are some things I'm looking for in a job: Normal hours (5 days a week with weekends off), a job where I meet or work with a good number of people, most likely to be NOT stationed overseas,generally interesting, less time spent in tech school, enlistment bonus (if possible), not security, and preferably nothing ending up in flight line.
I am open-minded and I do know that I can't have the perfect job but if anyone can give me insights on jobs that I can pick that could send me to BMT quicker and fits some of the criteria above. Much would be appreciated.
Also, I keep hearing negative things about flight line and I want to hear from an actual person what flight line is like for them.
I hope to be stationed somewhere in California so maybe anyone has anything on that?
I know I'm asking too much, I'm fully prepared on being open minded with jobs that don't fit my needs. I just need help picking a few jobs to help me get started.
Good thing we are near Xmas since your list emboldened above is pretty specific. Of course you are picky and as for being open minded, not so much. I recommend you become open minded in case you wind up at Minot AFB or Moody in Valdosta, GA.
I do not blame you for wanting the best deal possible. Nothing wrong with that. Your chances of getting all the items you listed are almost nil. With that said, I think the MOST IMPORTANT thing you should go for is useful training that can transfer to civilian life should you bail out after your enlistment OR you are cut from the force due to cuts. I would suggest the medical end of things or the intelligence field where you might be able to land a big security clearance. The other thing you will want to do is earn at least a bachelor's degree during that 6 year term. That is doable and you should do it. AF will pay for some of that.
At the end of the day though, keep in mind a phrase that everyone who has served in any branch of service knows: "for the good of the service". That is the maxim under which the various personnel centers operate ultimately.
For my part, I'd shoot for overseas especially Europe. Nothing like it. I wish I could have spent a lot more time there in my career. Lots of US bases in the continential US that just are not very pleasant.
Wherever you wind up, know this. Promotions, advancements and anything else to do with a career is outlined in regulations, policies etc. All of it is available to you. Know the rules. Use them. Advance yourself through serious application of energy and knowledge. Otherwise, you will be at the mercy of someone who knows little, doesn't care about you and is lazy themselves. This could be your shot in life. Don't mess it up.
I may seem self invested, but I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that whatever I end up doing I'll be very proud for doing a service for my country regardless of what I end up doing in my career. I just want to be able to go in with a little bit of research on the jobs that I'll be picking for the recruiter to look at.
I did however came up with four. What do you think on the ones I've listed?
Cyber Operations
Weather
Logistics Plan
Munition Systems
Basically, I'm just stressed out and nervous about having to pick a list of five because I don't know anything and I have to pick something for my recruiter. I'm having to hear from a lot of people to "pick this or you'll be stuck doing this and you won't be happy." Honestly, I think I'm fine with whatever I get but I want to make sure it's something I'd enjoy doing during my service.
...and preferably nothing ending up in flight line.
Also, I keep hearing negative things about flight line and I want to hear from an actual person what flight line is like for them...
I spent a lot of my career on a flight line as the guy who flew and according to the crew chief occasionally broke the airplane. It's a busy place with long hours. And if I had been enlisted it would likely have been the place I would have wanted to work. I have an ENORMOUS (note emphasis) amount of admiration and respect for the flight line workers, whether expediters, specialists or crew chiefs. For every takeoff I made I had a landing, in 22 years as an active aviator out of 28 years total. Those folks worked hard to ensure a high FMC rate at every location I flew, in 4 different MDS's. I would not sell it short.
For a dynamic, evolving mission, look in unmanned aerial vehicles and the associated intelligence and surveillance interpretation career fields. [ADDED after I saw post #4 above: cyber ops is another great job, and as someone who spent a fair amount of time mixing it up with the weather, and as someone with a minor in meteorolgy, I'd also suggest WX as a possibility.)
Are you going to find a 40-hour, 5 days a week job as a junior enlisted right out of BMT? Can't say, but unless you're looking for a job in personnel or finance it's going to be pretty hard to find.
Last edited by SluggoF16; 11-25-2013 at 03:08 PM..
Reason: Added commentary
I may seem self invested, but I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that whatever I end up doing I'll be very proud for doing a service for my country regardless of what I end up doing in my career. I just want to be able to go in with a little bit of research on the jobs that I'll be picking for the recruiter to look at.
I did however came up with four. What do you think on the ones I've listed?
Cyber Operations
Weather
Logistics Plan
Munition Systems
I think ANYTHING to do with cyber is a good idea PROVIDED you have some aptitude and interest in it. It is a growing field throughout the DOD, Govt and in private sector. If you can score a clearance, that is a piece of gold worth a lot.
Logistics is also a good field for inside and out. Learning air operations logistics could lead to good things in the civ world as with Fedex or UPS. However, getting that bachelor's degree is essential no matter what you choose.
Munitions? That is service specific and unlikely to help on the outside.
Weather? Yawnnnnn........
Medical would be good especially if you can break into imaging systems: Xray, MRI, CT etc. Difficult school though. Math etc. Some shift work in a hospital.
I may seem self invested, but I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that whatever I end up doing I'll be very proud for doing a service for my country regardless of what I end up doing in my career. I just want to be able to go in with a little bit of research on the jobs that I'll be picking for the recruiter to look at.
I did however came up with four. What do you think on the ones I've listed?
Cyber Operations
Weather
Logistics Plan
Munition Systems
I think ANYTHING to do with cyber is a good idea PROVIDED you have some aptitude and interest in it. It is a growing field throughout the DOD, Govt and in private sector. If you can score a clearance, that is a piece of gold worth a lot.
Logistics is also a good field for inside and out. Learning air operations logistics could lead to good things in the civ world as with Fedex or UPS. However, getting that bachelor's degree is essential no matter what you choose.
Munitions? That is service specific and unlikely to help on the outside.
Weather? Yawnnnnn........
Medical would be good especially if you can break into imaging systems: Xray, MRI, CT etc. Difficult school though. Math etc. Some shift work in a hospital.
I guess it depends on where you are assigned. Luke AFB, Phoenix, Arizona? Very consistent weather. Here in Oklahoma? Yeehaw! Never a dull moment. Shoveled snow yesterday! After 85 degrees 5 days earlier.
I may seem self invested, but I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that whatever I end up doing I'll be very proud for doing a service for my country regardless of what I end up doing in my career. I just want to be able to go in with a little bit of research on the jobs that I'll be picking for the recruiter to look at.
I did however came up with four. What do you think on the ones I've listed?
Cyber Operations
Weather
Logistics Plan
Munition Systems
One of the requirements you listed in your original post was a straight day 9-5 job. Of the jobs you list above, the only one that will most likely be a straight day, weekend off job is Logistics Plans, which I believe falls under Administrative. If a weekends off straight day job is important to you, then I highly recommend Personnel, Administration, or Accounting and Finance. Granted, these jobs are not the high tech fields that will land you a high tech job if you decide to get out after 6 years; but they will allow you the opportunity to travel, see the world and attend college part time evenings, if getting a college degree is important to you.
Last edited by dorado0359; 11-25-2013 at 07:28 PM..
Reason: ...
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