Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/daughter interested in joining AF

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Expert: - 9/6/2008


Question
Hello, I'm Retired Navy 22 years, Chief Seabee Builder
Question is:  How long in years, is a typical contract with the AF?

Answer
Mitch -

Your daughter would have to check with a recruiter to be sure, as I have been retired myself since 2004 and it seems the rules change daily.  I remember when I joined that the minimum enlistment was four years active duty, and two years inactive reserve for a total of six years.  I hear that, to support the war effort, the military is now looking at enlistments as short as a year in certain non-technical fields.  

Me, I retired with 24 years and, as a condition of my receiving a pension for the rest of my life, have to remain on inactive reserve until my 30th year of service.  Uncle Sam can still call me until February 24th, 2010.  If he calls, I'm still ready to put the uniform back on.

Good luck with your daughter and I hope she finds a military career to her liking.

Sincerely,
James Bell

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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James Bell

Expertise

I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.

Experience

Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager

Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.

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