AF or Navy

[Adigo]

For computers.. How is the AF compared to the Navy? Any boot camp differences, etc? Quality of life? Serious replies please.. Thanks.

 

[Linflas]

Air Force is about as close as you can get to a 9-5 job with a uniform in the military. On the other hand nothing in my life has ever been quite as thrilling and exciting as working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during flight ops.

 

[darkxshade]

I would say Abercrombie & Fitch is better than Old Navy.

 

[GTaudiophile]

The Air Force is known to be a "pleasure cruise" compared to other branches, as far as I know. My father was career Army, so I get my opinion from him.

 

[jemcam]

I did 14 years in the Army Guard and got out. I decided a while back that I want to finish up and get that retirement and at my age, I'm looking to do those last years as comfortably as possible since I'm 46. Because of that, I'm going back in the Air Force Guard. I've slept in the dirt and eaten MRE's long enough in my 20's and 30's to know that I don't care to do it any more. I spent my entire Army career in the artillery and those types of units spend all their time in the field.

It was (with some note of jealousy) always joked that the Air Force always got the best billets and the best food. They never (to my knowledge) had to sleep outside in the rain or go weeks without showers or a change of clothes. It was fun in my 20's and early 30's.

So, I've decided that finishing up my military career as a C130 Loadmaster will suit me just fine. I'm only waiting on a waiver because I had LASIK surgery to get in. It should be in the next week or so that I'm sworn back in.

Sorry, I can't tell you much about the Navy.

 

[ProfJohn]

Air Force has the hottest women

/thread

 

[alfa147x]

Marine Corps not an option?

 

[coloumb]

I was in the AF - I'd say it was a piece of cake when compared to what I've heard about the other 3 [army, navy, marines].
Basic Training - 30 min morning aerobics, day filled with "how can they screw with your mind", and a simple obstacle course [my guess they needed something physical].
Tech School = "college" dorm life, march to class, morning exercises.
Your assignment = 9-5 job with a uniform on - you'll probably be stuck in the dorms for awhile unless you want to pay to live off base or have a family. Air Force for me was 4 years of easy work [I was a nuke tech - so my job was limited to inside a fence with no chance of travel/combat].

Of the people I know who were in the Navy - interesting stories about being at Sea for 6+ months.

 

[irishScott]

The Air Force is known to be a "pleasure cruise" compared to other branches, as far as I know. My father was career Army, so I get my opinion from him.

Actually AF SERE training is supposed to be the most hardcore of all the branches. Beyond training, guess it depends on where you go with it. I'm sure you could find a "pleasure cruise" position in any of the branches if you went at it. Marines would probably be the hardest in that regard IMO.

 

[preslove]

In the Navy you get stationed on the coast; Hawaii, San Diego, Jacksonville, FL etc.
In the Air Force you get stationed in some bumfuckistan, like Colorado Springs.

There are MANY other considerations, but +1 point to the Navy.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Some Airforce guys spend a lot of time in the field.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/1281461.html

There's Combat Controllers, Pararescue, and Stargate Command.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Of the people I know who were in the Navy - interesting stories about being at Sea for 6+ months.

Lot of gay friends?

 

[rudder]

If you wouldn't mind not seeing the sun for days at a time and being on a ship on a 6 month deployment... Navy is the way to go.

 

[FoBoT]

Go Navy!


most important thing to realize if you go Navy, is you will be stationed on a ship (at some point)
ships go out into the ocean
the middle of the ocean
there are no malls or internet (limited email, but not surfing youtube 8 hours a day) or cable TV or non-Navy peoples out in the middle of the ocean

 

[mmntech]

Airforce has the best toys. ^_^

 

[ichy]

Have you ever been seasick before? Are you vulnerable to it? If so avoid the Navy. Seasickness is the worst form of misery I have ever experienced.

 

[soulcougher73]

I was Navy but would go Air Force if i had to do again. When out at sea there are no weekends. it is 12 hours days 7 days a week for up to 6 months at a time. But you do get to sea some of the world this way. But Air Force would be cruise control compared to Navy i think.

 

[Bushwicktrini]

Go Navy!


most important thing to realize if you go Navy, is you will be stationed on a ship (at some point)
ships go out into the ocean
the middle of the ocean
there are no malls or internet (limited email, but not surfing youtube 8 hours a day) or cable TV or non-Navy peoples out in the middle of the ocean

I agree with the Go Navy but the email options have gotten better the cable tv issue is only when out to to sea but you'll still get reg movies and if the movie is big you'll get it i.e. we got Independence Day ( yes it was a long time ago) about two weeks after the US release and I was on a gator carriers are treated better.

Unless you on drug sweeps/subs or carriers you won't really spend to much time out to sea 2 weeks at the most 3 then you'l find a port. On my last 6 month med cruise i spent 3 weeks in France and another 3 in Israel but I also had a beer day (28 days at sea)

And lastly When I was in the it was really hard to make rate (advance) in the AF because nobody ever got out so it was a bit of a logjam (military staffing is set by congress)

 

[mmntech]

Have you ever been seasick before? Are you vulnerable to it? If so avoid the Navy. Seasickness is the worst form of misery I have ever experienced.

So go into the air force instead? You've never flown in a real plane (not a tin sausage), have you? Watch the Red Bull Air Races.

 

[Bushwicktrini]

I was Navy but would go Air Force if i had to do again. When out at sea there are no weekends. it is 12 hours days 7 days a week for up to 6 months at a time. But you do get to sea some of the world this way. But Air Force would be cruise control compared to Navy i think.

Depends on your job. I was a BT and sometimes we were 6 on 6 off othertimes we had 4hr watchs 8 hours off but we had to clean the bearthing/ main space for inspection and we did our work in the pit while on watch. If I never shine the brightwork again it will be to soon.

 

[Adigo]

What would you recommend for Computers? How is Navy boot camp?

 

[JTsyo]

Doesn't the AF run the Cyber Command? Both deal with high-end equipment. Do you mean hardware or software for computers? On ships I would think you would have more responsibility other than just manning a station if there is computer troubles. The feeling I get is stateside much of the computer maintenance is contracted out. Those that actually have experience can probably tell you for sure.

 

[fatpat268]

Didn't the AF change their bootcamp from 6 weeks to 9 weeks a few years ago with more emphasis on actual combat?

I live next to Ft. Hood, and I'm seeing an increasing amount of AF people being assigned to Army units.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Where can you find pleasure
Search the world for treasure
Learn science technology
Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true
On the land or on the sea
Where can you learn to fly
Play in sports and skin dive
Study oceanography
Sign of for the big band
Or sit in the grandstand
When your team and others meet


In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)


They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit


If you like adventure
Don't you wait to enter
The recruiting office fast
Don't you hesitate
There is no need to wait
They're signing up new seamen fast
Maybe you are too young
To join up today
Bout don't you worry 'bout a thing
For I'm sure there will be
Always a good navy
Protecting the land and sea


In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)


They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit


Who me?


They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit


But, but but I'm afraid of water.
Hey, hey look
Man, I get seasick even watchin' it on TV!


They want you, they want you in the navy


Oh my goodness.
What am I gonna do in a submarine?


They want you, they want you in the navy

 

[Linflas]

What would you recommend for Computers? How is Navy boot camp?

Back in the days when ships were wooden when I was in Navy bootcamp it was 9 weeks with a gotcha. The gotcha was that your 9 weeks did not begin until your company was commissioned which meant that while they were screwing with you in all the typical bootcamp ways it wasn't on the clock until your 9 weeks started. It was pretty similar to bootcamp in Full Metal Jacket except the Navy was more about marching and drilling with some PT and very little to do with firearms. We had basic military classes during the day, your 7th week was spent in something called "service week" where the most dismal thing you could get stuck with was KP.