Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Questions about the Air Force

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Expert: - 6/16/2009


Question
hey, i live on a small island(AS) and getting more information about the air force is hard. i am 17 yrs old now(going to be a senior soon) and im planning on joining the US airforce after high school. i got a few questions and ive been given a lot of answers lately by so-called experts online. so i really need some help here. (PLS!!)

1)how much do i need on the ASVAB to join the air force? will a 61 do?
2)what will happen when i get accepted? (like -do i have to go through training?)
3)what do students get to do at air force academy?
4)how can i get more information about the air force?
(i wnt to know what im getting myself into)

thanks!

Answer
Faasalafa -

1. The score needed on your ASVAB depends on what job you are trying to attain.  The higher the score, the more jobs become available to you.  A recruiter would be able to tell you what jobs are available to you with a 61 score.

2. Once you take the oath of enlistment and are placed on active duty, you will be sent to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas for Basic Military Training (six weeks).  This is where you will learn the basic military discipline and knowledge to be functional in the US Air Force.  After that you will be sent to a technical training school at a different base, where you will learn the basic skills of the job you have chosen.  From there you will be sent to your first permanent duty station (PDS) where you will enter qualification training to get proficient in the skills you learned in tech school.  Once done with your training, you will be able to perform your primary duties unsupervised.

3. The Air Force Academy is a military-oriented university, specializing in preparing officer candidates to join the officer corps in the United States Air Force.  It is a full-time four-year university.

4. I would suggest you visit www.AirForce.com.  They have many different areas where you can see what jobs are available.  You can also chat -- online -- with a recruiter who can answer your specific questions.

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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