Im a recent graduate from High School and I have decided to join the Air Force. I chose to do this because I feel like it will help me in getting real world experience and i will see seeing places ive always wanted to. Adding to this is a family history of military service to every branch, this just seems to be the best choice for my life.

My family agrees that this is a good option for me, but im confused on a few details and would like any advice you are willing to offer.
One of my big things is how long I want to be in at first. I know the three option are two, four, or six years. The main sticking point is do i really know what this commitment is, and if i turn out not to like it do i want to be in for more than two?
So the first question is are there big disadvantages to joining for two years at first compared to four or six?

Thats the main thing, but any advice for boot camp or actual service would be helpful.
Thanks.

Got some advice from /k/ place that went like this,
"I believe it's only 4 or 6 years. Signing up for 6 gives u e-3 once u leave boot camp. If you have any mental issues or visits to mental health don't mention them. They can't check your medical record unless you received your treatment in the military health system. Also don't mention any drug use unless you got a record of it (you got caught), don't mention inhaler use in the past unless you need it atm due to respiratory issues. If you want to travel the world, go with jobs related to aircraft. Medical is boring unless you get lucky to be in a big hospital or if you go IDMT and go AFSOC."

"I'm cyber surety (3D0X3). As a general rule all COMSEC and COMPUSEC jobs give you the skills to make bank as a contractor or regular civilian. You also get to brag that you have a legit Top Secret Clearance.

Depending on where you are the work can be a bit overwhelming, but don't be a pussy, this is the military."

What do you guys think?

4625161

One of my big things is how long I want to be in at first. I know the three option are two, four, or six years. The main sticking point is do i really know what this commitment is, and if i turn out not to like it do i want to be in for more than two?

That's really up to you, and what job you get. It mostly depends on if you enjoy your time in the service, which if you do I believe you can just reenlist.

4625161 I was in Air Defense when I served for six, and it's actually a three-year term rather than a two-year. Air Force is a great way to accumulate technical experience for a career post-discharge. Something you'll definitely want to do if you go for four or six is attend college as well, get a nice degree to back you once you're out.

Also, the only real combat you'll see in the Air Force is as a combat controller or other similar specialist classes like my own. With those, you'll get loaned out to the other branches occasionally, like I was with the Navy and Army, though the latter was only for a couple of months while the former was four of my six years.

- 1LT Novogorske
- USAF, ADA

>> AlphaFartOfDoom
In your regards to how long you want to be in for; that's entirely up to your opinion of the air force (and you can't enlist for two years: the options are four or six for the first term). I enlisted for four years with the intent on getting out after that. My opinion was solidified, in a way, during my tour at my first base (Seymour-Johnson, NC) because I simply hated it there, but I got orders to Japan after about a year there and have henceforth decided to stay in for longer. It's all about testing the waters. If you don't like the base and it's affecting your opinion of the air force, try putting in for a new base and see how you like it; likewise, if you don't like your career, you can try to cross-train into a different field that appeals to you more.
For general advice:
-Be prepared to get screamed at during BMT. Even if you're a ghost (like I was) through basic, you will screw up in some way, shape, or form. Be ready to do a lot of push ups and go from day-to-day, meal-to-meal.
-Do not go in Open anything. Especially open-mechanical, because you will become a crew chief and you will hate your life. I, myself, came in as Egress, but I have heard plenty of other maintainers complaining about coming in open.
-Power Points. They will kill you and there is nothing you can do to avoid them.
-If swearing and vulgarities bug you, either learn to get over it or find another career choice because Sailors aren't the only service members that swear excessively.
-Just do your job to the best of your abilities. You won't know how to do everything in your career field for a long time, and any NCO that thinks you should be a library of knowledge and experience as soon as you get your 5-level is an asshat idiot.
-Friendship is (as a matter of fact) Magic. Make friends in BMT, Tech School, and every base after that. It will make the grind so much more worth it if you can joke around and hang out with people within and without your work center.
I hope this helps in some way and that you can take a a good bit of advice from all of us here in this thread.

-A1C Grove, Egress Systems Journeyman

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Thanks for the great advice, could someone explain to me the benefits of starting at E-3?
I know the it it goes from E-1 to E-9 for elisted, but other than a higher rank is there a particular reason that makes E-3 worth it?

4625709
E-3 pulls a higher paycheck because of the difference in rank, but you're also expected to be a bit more responsible and competent because of that. IME, there's not really an added benefit past that. Sergeants are the ones giving orders (if you think that's a benefit), and they're at E-5.

4625161 you might just get stationed on a base but you more likely will still see the word so to speak

4625161
What job are you looking at? My first recommendation before joining is to know what you'd like to do, and what you're willing to do. If you just enlist and don't designate what you'd like to do, you'll likely get a job that most people don't want, like a maintainer. Now, this guys are EXTREMELY important, so I happily encourage you to take it if you aren't sure what to do. Plus, that kind o mechanical experience and know-how will translate into some serious job fields after you're done. There's also maintainers for non-aircraft fields, though, so you could go anywhere. I jus know the AF is looking for maintainers for the F-35. As for rank grades, the pay scale is available online, and generally being responsible for people under you and (potentially) giving orders is the main consideration.
Personally, I'm going Navy for Naval Special Warfare, so I know I want to be in for a while, probably a career, at least 16 years I think. But that's because I know what I want to do. I'm also in a program for people interested in that career field, so you might look into things like that for any Air Force jobs available. I know that there are a few you could try, though not sure where they're available.

4625161
I agree, don't be a pussy.

4625709
More pay and a little more responsibility, really. You're still a window licker, you just have heavier stripes.

4625161

Ok, so first off: AFAIK, you won't get any 2-year deals in the Air Force Active Duty side.

My advice for service-term is this:
If you want to do your service, leave, then attend college for free... sign on for four years. You won't have to worry about progression, you can focus on mastering your trade, and you can probably get some class-time in. If you are honest about your intentions from day one, you won't be pressured into too much "package-building" nonsense. You also won't go home with a lot of experiences, or a rack of medals unless some madness happens in your workplace on a daily basis.

If you think the military might be a good career to tie yourself to, then go ahead and sign on for six years. There is almost 0 difference between a 4 and 6 year enlistee once you are operational, but getting paid more earlier is better than not.

If you don't know how deep you want to tie yourself to the military, just go for the four year contract. My workplace just recently had a chief promotion in it. He started off as a no-striper, with a four year contract. He has made chief two years later than the ABSOLUTE fastest possible time by keeping himself out of trouble, keeping himself busy, and keeping himself educated. He has mentioned that he never regretted signing on for four years instead of six, so don't let your recruiter pressure you into it!

If you want any other tips, feel free to drop me a PM. (Active Duty USAF, E-4... hoping I made E-5 lol...)

4625709 Great paychecks come with great responsibility.You'll be expected to be able to do more because of it.

Also, one of the perks for BSA is that if you're an Eagle Scout when you enlist in any of the branches, you'll be boosted to E-4 on graduation of Boot. I'm speaking from experience.