Expert: James Bell - 3/4/2007

Question
How are you doing sir! I leave on May 29 to BMT. I'm headed to be a Loadmaster!!! I've read a lot of your answers on Loadmaster questions and I was just wondering if I would have enough time for a family with this job and also could I take my soon to be wife with me on some of the deployments?   

Thanks for all you do. Take it easy.

Answer
Greetings Tyler -

Congratulations on getting a slot to one of the most select Air Force enlisted jobs you can get right off the street.  Here is a brief breakdown of how your job and assignments will interact with your wife and family.

When you head off to BMT, you will go alone.  Your primary concern during this time is to learn the basics of military life, and that does not provide for time with a wife.  She will not be able to accompany you, and you will not have the private time to see her.  You will be with your training flight 24/7 for those first six weeks.

After Basic, you will be transported to your first technical training school.  This will be your initial loadmaster training.  It used to be at Sheppard AFB, Texas, although I am uncertain if it is still there.  Again, you must focus on learning the skills this school will provide, so you will again not be able to have your wife with you.  This school usually lasts two months.

After that you will be sent to your follow-on technical school.  Depending on what aircraft you are assigned, it will either be Altus AFB, Oklahoma or Littlerock AFB, Arkansas.  Again, your spouse is not able to accompany you but, by this time it wouldn't be frowned upon if she came to visit for a weekend or so.  This school will last approximately three months.

After that, you may be sent to Survival School at Fairchild AFB, Washington, or you may be sent to your first permanent duty station (PDS).  Survival school will normally last just two weeks.  Again, because the school is so short, no wife.

Once you reach your first PDS, NOW you may bring your wife.  If you have your marriage certificate, you may apply for base housing as soon as you have orders in-hand for the assignment.  You will normally find out what base you will be assigned while you are still in technical school.  The orders will normally be cut a couple of weeks prior to your departure.

As you are settling into your new base, you will start your qualification training at the same time you are unpacking your house.  You will still have much training to complete, including chemical warfare training, small arms training, a variety of survival training items, etc.

You will start your flight training and fly a number of missions with an instructor.  Once you have fulfilled all your training requirements and your instructors feel you are ready to fly on your own, you will receive a flight evaluation.  Once completed, you will be qualified to perform your duties unsupervised.

During this time, and for all of your career, your wife will stay at the base.  She will not accompany you on any missions and will definitely NOT go with you on any deployments.  A deployment is normally to a combat zone ... not the place for a civilian.  Her safety would be a severe distraction to the ability for you to perform your duties.

Think of your flying duties as going to work at the 'office'.  Your office is merely a huge flying warehouse.  Your day will start in one country and end in another.  A mission can range from a few days to deployments that can last a few months.  At the end of your mission you will return home, and to your wife.

The amount of time you have off between missions depends on a number of variables: The tasking level your squadron is given, the manning level, and the readiness level of your unit.  When things are quiet, and the unit isn't tasked for many missions, you could have a good amount of time off between trips.  If your manning level is low, you will be tapped to fly more often.

Another item to consider is additional duties.  Everyone has extra jobs in the squadron, be it training duties, awards and decorations, etc.  Most units don't require their younger troops to take additional duties for the first couple of years to allow you to continue honing your skills and getting experience in your job.  However, there are many who will volunteer to take on additional duties because it's an office job that allows you to come home each night.  Again, with many manning levels, depending on how busy your office is and how many people are assigned to that office, you will do a period of time in the office, then have a "flying break" to fly missions.

Now don't get the impression you won't have any homelife.  On the contrary, you will have a lot of time at home.  The military is the only organization I know where you start earning an entire month of vacation each year from the first day you join.  Most companies in the private sector provide a week of vacation for the first year, moving up to two weeks in subsequent years.  Regulations prohibit you from taking leave while you are in training, but as soon as you are qualified, you can take leave.  I became fully qualified exactly one year after I joined, and I have 30 days of leave accumulated.  I took three weeks and went home and visited family.  I'm sure your new wife would appreciate you taking some time off from the military to enjoy time alone ... get away from the base, go visit family, and just take the time to recharge your batteries before jumping back into the demands of the military.

I hope this answers your question.  If not, don't hesitate to write back.  Congratulations on becoming a loadmaster, and good luck on the first steps to an exciting and rewarding career in the United States Air Force.  You will make many friends and have many great adventures.  I guarantee you this will be a part of your life you will always look back on with fond memories.

Good luck.

Sincerely,
James Bell