Military Help

[scubapohl1]

I've been in the Air Force for 25 years and have no complaints. I joined after a year of college and was able to finish both my BS and Master's while on active duty. I left the active force for the Iowa Air Guard after 10 years and got a commission. I have since returned to active duty and have no complaints.

I think the Air Force provides a good chance to learn a skill while still pursuing your education. Our system of rotation (called Air Expeditionary Forces or AEF) isnt perfect but it is much more college friendly then other services.

In the end, you will get out of it what you put in. The retirement doesnt suck either. I'm looking at around 60K year retirement with medical (base pay of 8K a month times 60% times 12 months) and I'll only be 47.

 

[St8Grad]

For the record I told my dad I figured out where I was going to college. I went out to his office, sat down in the chair and he smiled and ask me where I was going. I said I thought about it and signed with the United States Marine Corps. His jaw dropped. Then kind of shook his head and said did you check with anyone else or did you just go in and sign up with them?
I said I just went in and signed up. He kind of looked at me and basically told me that is what a Marine would do. I think he is still shocked about that day.
I will tell you one thing though. My picture is hanging on the wall of his office wearing my dress blue uniform. My college graduate brothers on the other hand are not on the wall.

My story is similar...went to ISU for 2 yrs & just walked in & enlisted in the Marines. My parents thought I was crazy & would never go back to finish school. They even said, "Why couldn't you join the AF or something? It's more of a 'corporate' branch." I'd always had a burning inside to serve my country & if I was gonna do it, I was gonna go all out. So I became a machine gunner, got hurt, & went back to ISU to finish school. The Marines are definitely gung-ho, but it was the things like fearlessness & attention to detail that I take with me today. Those are things you can apply in any job or situation life throws at you. Oh, & my dad has my picture up in my dress blues too...said he's never been prouder.

Moral of the story, join the branch that fulfills your passion.

 

[CloneBack]

Speaking from experience, when you go visit the giant sandbox (which you will) you will thank God that you joined the AF. When I was there AF spent 120 days tours where other branches were doing a year or more. That should give you just about enough time to take pictures.

go AF

 

[cmoore_23]

Two more names: Stewo (he'd be good for advice before bootcamp) the guys at Camp Dodge have had good preparation for the kids that will be going.

Cmoore_23......but I think he's still deployed...

Nope i got back in may..

It really does depend on what field u want to go into and what u are looking at getting from the military.. if u want to be active all the time and dont really mind being stantioned somwhere, then Active duty Air Force is for u, if u want to stay around iowa the go Air Guard, i am currently in the Army National Guard,

So i guess what type of ?'s do u have?

(i have not read the thread all the way.. but iwill shortly)

 

[swammi]

Aside from your special interest, I think military training and service is great. It can have a profound effect on a person's life. I had a successful military service in the Army back in the 60's. It changed my life completely and for the better. I would have made a career of it, but I could not reconcile the life of a combat soldier with the responsibilities of having a family, so I separated from the service after 5 years. That experience and the knowledge and self confidence I took from it have helped me immeasurably throughout my life. I envy you making this decision and embarking on the rest of your life. Good luck to you.

 

[Longhorns3131]

I'm also thinking about joining the Air Force. I always notice tho when I tell some of my friends that, they always make the comment that the Air Force is a bunch of pussys. That always pisses me off.

 

[isurat]

Actually been in Air Guard as a Firefighter for 13 years at the 132nd. I love it. Tech school is at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo and is 12 weeks long. The course is very good. If I remember you come out with Airport Firefighter, FF I, FFII, Haz mat Ops, First responder, and maybe Telecommunicator I if I remember right. All the other Certs you are after you go to additional schools for, but the training ops are limitless with good initiative. Course is pretty physically challenging and regardless if you join Marines, Army, or Air Force they all train in San Angelo. Not a great town but for basic school you are too busy to notice. I can try and give you more info if interested

 

[cmoore_23]

Even deployed, you're going to enjoy much better facilities, in general. Odds are slim you'll be without air conditioning, for instance.

This is so true.. i was on balad this past year and there are two sides of it.. there is the army side.. and the AF side.. u can def tell the difference.. AF has pool, movie theatre, bigger px, uso, bigger mwr, bazaar, and oh ya there own laundry point where they can wash it them selves..we had.. a px, and mwr.. enough said.. lol

OK so


Once again, let me know if u want to go active for sure or guard, because i have close friends that are or have been both i will say this.. AF deployment total.. around 6months give or a take a couple.. army nat guard 12months..

I wish i could give u alot more info right now.. but honestly im drawing a blank ive been under the weather since friday but ya message me sometime and i will try to collect some info for u

 

[jaretac]

Actually been in Air Guard as a Firefighter for 13 years at the 132nd. I love it. Tech school is at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo and is 12 weeks long. The course is very good. If I remember you come out with Airport Firefighter, FF I, FFII, Haz mat Ops, First responder, and maybe Telecommunicator I if I remember right. All the other Certs you are after you go to additional schools for, but the training ops are limitless with good initiative. Course is pretty physically challenging and regardless if you join Marines, Army, or Air Force they all train in San Angelo. Not a great town but for basic school you are too busy to notice. I can try and give you more info if interested

Do you have to go through some of that if you already have it (FF I, Haz mat Ops I'm already national certified in)? Not that it would hurt to go through it again, but I wonder if maybe I can work on another course instead.

 

[CycloneErik]

Do you have to go through some of that if you already have it (FF I, Haz mat Ops I'm already national certified in)? Not that it would hurt to go through it again, but I wonder if maybe I can work on another course instead.

Military schooling is usually a lockstep program without flexibility, my friend.

 

[jaretac]

This is so true.. i was on balad this past year and there are two sides of it.. there is the army side.. and the AF side.. u can def tell the difference.. AF has pool, movie theatre, bigger px, uso, bigger mwr, bazaar, and oh ya there own laundry point where they can wash it them selves..we had.. a px, and mwr.. enough said.. lol

OK so


Once again, let me know if u want to go active for sure or guard, because i have close friends that are or have been both i will say this.. AF deployment total.. around 6months give or a take a couple.. army nat guard 12months..

I wish i could give u alot more info right now.. but honestly im drawing a blank ive been under the weather since friday but ya message me sometime and i will try to collect some info for u

Hope it isn't what I had a few weeks ago, still recovering from that. I likely go active, it just makes more sense to me.

 

[sclotz]

I am an active duty Navy musician and have been for 21 years. I was a music education major at ISU for 3 years before joining the USN many moons ago. I agree generally with what has been said about the USAF and their quality of life. I have been on a ship a total of 6 months out of 21 years, so there are jobs in the USN that are comparable (if not better) than the USAF. All services have duty stations in cool places (I'm transferring from Virginia Beach to Japan next week) so that wouldn'r be something I would use to choose. Check on current promotion times also, historically the USAF is much slower than the other branches of service. If my son wanted to join the military I would recommend either USAF or USN.

 

[Phaedrus]

Lots of great advice here. Especially the bit about poor leadership in the USAF. Especially for non-flying jobs. Lots of USAF guys make a jump to the Army after their first term, such as the firefighters, MPs and PJs. Oh, and helo pilots come to the Army telling stories about being treated like crap by the fixed wing guys.

But if you have the personality that's resilient, and like your work/comforts, there is nothing wrong with the Air Force. My best friend from High School is going on 29 years enlisted.

Good to see you stepping up.

 

[usnclone]

I'm also thinking about joining the Air Force. I always notice tho when I tell some of my friends that, they always make the comment that the Air Force is a bunch of pussys. That always pisses me off.

I've been told that plenty of times for being in the Navy. What always amazed me though was that the majority of these people have never even served.

 

[jaretac]

I've been told that plenty of times for being in the Navy. What always amazed me though was that the majority of these people have never even served.

So, if your a ***** for being in the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, we shouldn't even have those branches, right.

 

[cyinthesky]

just got home and saw this...
Contact "Psyclone Brian", that guy IS an Army recruiter and leaving that tour very soon I think. He can certainly help you with Q & A.

 

[TarHeelHawk]

USAF

off we go, into the wild blue yonder.....

but if you join the AF, be prepared for this conversation with everyone back home:

them: what branch of the military are you in?
You: Air Force
them: Oh, do you fly planes?

This is correct. I always said, "No, I just put together the bombs that go on those planes."

 

[bugs4cy]

First, I have a deep and abiding respect for anyone in, or have been in, the armed forces.

With that said, I read your original post and two things jumped out at me. ICS and firefighting. Weird but true, I'm an entomologist (err, that's insects) AND through my bug-related job I'm neck deep in ICS because of homeland security issues. I'm telling you this because I want you to know that there are other paths to emergency management than the military.

Have you thought about talking to the folks at the IA Fire Training Center? They maybe able to talk to you about training, jobs, etc., and opportunities and paths that you may not have thought about.

Good luck!

 

[VAClonefan]

Sounds like AF might be a good fit for you. They are definitely known for taking good care of their people. You may want to take a look at the Coast Guard. I've been in for 16 years since leaving IA, and have been able to do some of the things you're interested in. Specifically, have worked in the incident command posts for major incidents (Hurricanes Katrina and Ike), interacting w/leaders from all of the key Homeland Security Agencies. If you look in the CG, check out the Marine Safety/Security field, as this is most likely to get you involved in this type of work. Good luck.

 

[CyVeteran]

As an active duty Air Force Captain, I can tell you the AF is a great way to start a career. I can't even begin to tell you the stuff I have been involved with(I really can't) I have been in for over four years. I just received my master's degree that the AF paid for and now they are sending me and the family to Hawaii(hope they cover ISU down there). In my experience, the AF by far treats their people better than any other service. This goes for both stateside and deployed locations. However, I wouldn't use that as a basis for your decision. Do you want to become and officer or enlisted? The AF does alot more stuff than flying. I have been doing some pretty cool stuff with information warfare and now I am in school for the next five months at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to become a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations(it is the Air Force's version of the FBI, or NCIS). There are great jobs in every service, it just depends on what you want to do. Let me know if you have any AF questions.