Expert: Howard Lorenz - 1/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: I am in the process of enlisting into the Airforce. I am getting married soon and want to be with my wife, but also am very attached to the idea of enlisting in the Airforce.

I am interested in computers and the security forces. I don't know how common it is to be deployed these days, but I was hoping to find a job the better my chances of not going.

What do you recommend those jobs are?

How common is it to be deployed these days?

Thanks so much for your help Lorenz.

Matthew

ANSWER: Matthew....

You had better get used to the idea of deploying...its apart of what we do.  All career fields deploy. The one good thing is that the most you can see being gone right now is 6 months. Other services are looking at 18 months....do the math! Your future wife will have to get used to you being gone from time to time. We all dont really want to leave the family, but thats why we sign on the dotted line....Right? You cant find a better job to have...Good bennies, great pay....family support while we are deployed. She will be ok...

HW

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the answer. One final question I just remembered.

On the about.com site for the Airforce, they said look forward to being deployed 7months out of an particular year. That seems to be an absurd amount of time. 6months and even a year seems acceptable for me, but up to 7months per year is insane.

Thanks.

Matthew

Answer
The way the Air Force deployment works, everyone is assigned to an AEF. There are 10 of them and usually 2 go at one time. The rotations switch out every 4 to 6 months, sometimes longer depending on current rotation times, travel, diplomatic clearances Etc.... Your AEF will rotate every 15 to 17 months....do the math thats almost 2 years not quite but close. So you will have to plan on deploying about every 15 months at a minimum. There are instances where the rotation could last 9 months but its rare.

You have to take about.com for the information they provide. He is close....thats all thats required. If you think that the possibility of 7 to 9 months is insane, look at the army and the marines. They deploy for 11 to 18 months, get a 6 month break and then they are gone again for another 18 months!! THATS insane!! What the Air Force has is a cakewalk compared to that!

Matt You have to do some soul searching. Why are you joining the military to begin with? If you do not think you cant hack being away from your future spouse for a relatively short amount of time, then find something else my friend. The military is designed to do one thing....Keep America Free and those who pursue freedom. With the job comes being gone for a while....thats just a fact of life in the military....Thats what we do. My wife and kids are used to it...the family will adjust.