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Hey everybody,
As some of you know I was supposed to ship out September 1 for Air Force basic training but got sick at MEPS. As a result of that I lost my guranteed job with AMMO. Now almost 2 weeks exactly after I got sick my recruiter calls me and tells me my number 1 job (security forces) opened up and I ship out next tuesday September 22.
Now I've done my research on Security Forces and am very much looking forward to it. I was wondering if anybody that has some experience with SF or has been SF before could offer some adivce?
I was prior Security Forces. I was also an instructor at the Tech School. I'll touch on a few points and if you have other questions I'll respond to those.
1) You put down Security Forces willingly so I guess thats the sort of lifestyle you want. You'll get to shoot lots of guns and throw grenades and things of that sort, especially in Tech School. You'll mostly be responsible for defending an Air Base or possibly convoys when you deploy. When on home station, you'll either be in a Law Enforcement type of role or a security role.
2) Tech School is gonna suck a little bit for you. Not because of the training but because a good portion of the students arent going to have picked it. You've heard misery loves company? Dont let them drag you down and realize that the "real Air Force" isnt like that.
3) DO NOT...I repeat...DO NOT put down anything that is Northern Tier on your assignment sheet. These bases include Minot, Malmstrom, and FE Warren. I wouldnt put down Whiteman or Barksdale either. These are whats known as PRP bases. Meaning you have to have a special clearance that allows you to work there. And once you're there...they dont want to let you go. And they can be some of the most miserable assignments in the AF.
I dont mean to come off super negative or anything. Just making sure you dont make a few mistakes that many others do. Go in with an open mind. A lot of Security Forces is what you make of it. Good luck!!!
Thanks Robe81. Yeah Security Forces was my number 1 choice i'm wanting to do police work if i don't make the AF a career so I figured this would be a good way to get accostumed to it.
I didn't plan on putting any of those bases down on my dream sheet. The ones I had mainly looked at wanting to get where in northern California, Washington, Idaho, Utah, or Colorado. I've done some work already with children and adults with special needs and did pretty good with that so I figured handling a few people in tech school that don't want to be there will be a cake walk.
Hey, CollinT! If you get sick at the MEPS next time, you could always sign up for Aircraft Maintenance... (Just kidding!)
CollinT, attitude is 99% of the job! No matter what AFSC you enter, give it your best. If you find it's not for you, there's always cross-training or a Special Duty assignment. But at least give your first enlistment 100%. You'll be amazed how fast 4 (or 6) years FLIES by! The good news is that Security is one of the AFSCs that tend to be bottom-heavy; LOTS of Airmen and junior NCOs. But as you get higher in rank, there are less slots available. So you may have the opportunity to retrain into something else that interests you.
I'll let the experts that have been in LE/Security do the talking, but I was impressed with the Security folks I encountered on the flightline. Good news: when it's snowing and blowing, I'M up on top of the aircraft taking off panels and they're sitting in a warm truck guarding me...
Even as a maintainer, I'll agree with Robe81; the bomber/missile world can be a WHOLE different Air Force at times. With a lot of different challenges than, say, Security around fighter or other flying-mission bases. The USAF tends to keep folks with specific training at the assignments that best use that training...
Anyway, best of luck! Hope the USAF is a good fit for you!
Thanks Robe81. Yeah Security Forces was my number 1 choice i'm wanting to do police work if i don't make the AF a career so I figured this would be a good way to get accostumed to it.
I didn't plan on putting any of those bases down on my dream sheet. The ones I had mainly looked at wanting to get where in northern California, Washington, Idaho, Utah, or Colorado. I've done some work already with children and adults with special needs and did pretty good with that so I figured handling a few people in tech school that don't want to be there will be a cake walk.
Those are all decent bases from what I've heard. Why not put down some overseas bases as well? Travel while you're young. You also get a lot more control over your career (at least as far as assignments go) when you are stationed overseas. I spent almost 9 years trying to get overseas.
Dealing with some of the fools in Tech School will make you feel like you're dealing with kids. Especially if you're older. Good luck!
Just one more thing to add - You need to be very sure this is what you want, because SF is really hard to cross-train out of - at least in the past (and I don't think this has changed) it has been a critically manned field and difficult to get authorization to cross train from. My husband worked with a guy that cross-trained out, and another that went to CRO school from SF, but my husband's career field is also critically manned so perhaps that is how they got permission to cross-train out of SF.
Not trying to be a downer - I am sure there are plenty of SF that reenlist and stay in the field their entire career due to choice, but its one of those fields that you can get stuck with.
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(Just kidding!) 
