Expert: Rod Powers - 4/24/2006

Question
Rod, I just turned 17 years old recently. I have always been interested in joining the United States Air Force and think it would benefit me for the best. However, everytime i contact a recruiter he simply tells me that the Air Force would be a god choice. THATS ALL. I want more information and options regarding this ranch of service. I want to join, but i am getting no help. I meet the physical requirements, age requirement (with parents consent), and I am on track to graduate with my Core40 highschool diploma next june. Am i being blown off because of my age? Should i wait to turn 18 to try and pursue my careers? Also, is it possible to talk to another AF advisor other than my local recruiter?  

Answer
Hi Casey,

Here's what you are probably running into:

Of all the services, the Air Force needs the fewest new recruits.  In fact, most Air Force recruiters currently don't even have a monthly recruiting quota they have to meet.

This is due to several factors, but primarily, between now and 2009, the Air Force is going to decrease in size by about 50,000 troops.  In short, there are several hundred more applicants who *want* to join the Air Force, than the Air Force is allowed to accept.

Are you in your senior year in high school, or are you still a junior?  If you're not a senior, then the AF advisor is probably not all that concerned about working with you right now, because there is still *alot* of time before you will be eligible (more than a year).

In the meantime, you can visit my website, the U.S. Military Information Site at:  http://usmilitary.about.com  Of particular interest should be the article called "What the Recruiter Never Told You" at:  http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm

This particular article contains most of the information that  you were probably planning to ask the recruiter.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com