Air Force Question

[BeauJangles]

I was talking with a recruiter the other day and I didn't get a straight answer about how jobs are selected in the AF. I'm well-qualified for everything (99 ASVAB, BA + MA in history, etc) and I'd like to do intelligence work. From what I understood, though, the AF works differently than the Army whereas you don't get to directly select your job, but instead are allowed to pick a certain number of jobs (5 I think he said) and the AF will assign you one.

Correct or incorrect?

PS - Yes, I called him back to get an answer, but nobody in their office is picking up so I figured I'd just post here.

 

[FoBoT]

unless your contract that you sign specifically guarantees you a school, they don't have to send you to that school

whether or not the air force is currently offering guaranteed schools, i don't know

if you want a guaranteed school that the AF won't give you, consider asking the Navy recruiter if they can guarantee you the field you want. nuclear power is loads of fun, with good scores like that, i am sure the Navy recruiter could hook you up

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

The Air Force does not offer guaranteed "jobs". You basically pick your preference, and when you ship off to basic, they will try to place you in one of your preferences. However, if they don't have any openings, sorry! Off to peel potatoes for you!

I believe the Army and the Navy are the only services that offer guaranteed "jobs", and I think the Army does it more often than the Navy.

 

[nwfsnake]

Since you have degrees, I would assume you are talking to an Officer Recruiter about OTS and then an AFSC. Not the same criteria for Officers vs Enlisted...

 

[lupi]

Yeah, off or enlisted. And only the army really offers designated type prior to entry, even the limited "selections" the navy offers has a high gumby factor.

 

[destrekor]

the Air Force can be really effing retarded about your degree. But having an MA should definitely help, that is, if you want to go Officer.
The USAF can be ridiculously picky because it's where all the Nancys and frat/sor folks go.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Yeah, off or enlisted. And only the army really offers designated type prior to entry, even the limited "selections" the navy offers has a high gumby factor.

"high gumby factor"

???

 

[BeauJangles]

Since you have degrees, I would assume you are talking to an Officer Recruiter about OTS and then an AFSC. Not the same criteria for Officers vs Enlisted...

Unfortunately, AF OTS would ship, at the earliest in early '11. I want to get started before then. Hence I was going to go enlisted for a year then apply for OTS.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Unless you go in as open - something you'll have your job before you do a final swear in. DO NOT GO IN OPEN -SOMETHING unless you want to be the lowest rung jobs (security forces/Personal Services/ETC). No matter what your recruiter tells you will have a 90% chance of getting SF. I knew someone in basic who went in open - general with a 99 on the asfab got services (working a gym counter guy/mourtician/etc); all other I knew got security forces. Doesn't matter if you have a PHD you'll more than likely be SF. Your recruiter will have you pick several jobs and have you go DEP (delayed entry program) but you can back out of that up till your final swear in and you'll know which of those jobs you picked well before then.

 

[JDawg1536]

Unfortunately, AF OTS would ship, at the earliest in early '11. I want to get started before then. Hence I was going to go enlisted for a year then apply for OTS.

The OTS packages can take a long long time. My flight chief had his accepted and the process from application to training was well over a year.


You are correct about job selection though. You choose your top five jobs and you are "guaranteed" to get one of your choices. That's the way it usually works. However, I took my cousin to see a recruiter a few months back and I guess because the economy is so bad they stopped doing that and everyone was going in open general.... at least that's what he told me. It will work the same way when you become an officer. You get to choose your favorites but you aren't guaranteed anything.

 

[yinan]

But officers can quit whereas enlisted cannot.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

But officers can quit whereas enlisted cannot.

wat... Officers are in for set periods just like enlisted, and it's much easier to bring an officer out of retirement when needed than an enlisted although still extremely rare afaik.

 

[yinan]

AFAIK officers are only in for a set period of time if the government paid for part of their schooling, other than that they can resign their commission at any time if that debt is paid/non-existent.

 

[EagleKeeper]

But officers can quit whereas enlisted cannot.

wat... Officers are in for set periods just like enlisted, and it's much easier to bring an officer out of retirement when needed than an enlisted although still extremely rare afaik.

An officer will have an committment for 4 years or more. Much will depend on what the government's obligations has been prior. As $$ is spent on training/education; the time of committment will grow.

However, one can request an early out depending on circumstances (favorable for both the gov and the person). This is the same as an enlisted.

As stated, an officer can be reactivated from retirement and/or general seperation.

That reactivation period can be in terms of days or years.
Also, that reactivation can happen at any time and without notice.
From experience, I received a phone call at 2AM informing me that I was reactivated and a staff car was picking me up at 4AM.

 

[FoBoT]

But officers can quit whereas enlisted cannot.

most officer programs (at least in the Navy) have initial contracted commitments (typically 3-6 years, just like enlistment contracts). once that is up, they are open ended, until either the officer resigns their commission or the service passes them by for promotion twice , i think it is, then they are basically forced out or retired

 

[KK]

When I went in back in '93 i knew what my job was going to be before I swore in. I don't recall when we got to chose our station, i'm thinking that was done at the tech school, but it may have been toward the end of basic. That wasn't a given that you would get your first pick, they had you pick a few locations. I'm not sure how it is now though.

 

[OutHouse]

The Air Force does not offer guaranteed "jobs". You basically pick your preference, and when you ship off to basic, they will try to place you in one of your preferences. However, if they don't have any openings, sorry! Off to peel potatoes for you!

I believe the Army and the Navy are the only services that offer guaranteed "jobs", and I think the Army does it more often than the Navy.

they did when i served. my job was guaranteed. but there was the other called "open general" and most of them became cooks.

edit: i just called a AF recruiter and this is what she told me.

"applicants have to list 4 jobs in preference
order and an aptitude area. And the Air Force will select them for one of
the 4 jobs or aptitude area that they listed"

so in other words not only is your duty location called a dream sheet but so is your job. that sucks.

 

[HumblePie]

Ummm ex Air Force here and I'll explain the process

The Air Force does DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program) for people with exceptional scores. If you have a high ASVAB, such as yourself with 99+, then you get to pick a job set you will like you be in. You get to pick up to 5 jobs and the Air Force has up to one year to place you in one of those jobs. If the Air Force can not find a job opening after that year, you do not have to sign up if you do not want to. They guarantee that they will place you in one of those 5 jobs and nothing else. So if you don't want to be a kitchen officer, you are not going to be one.

Only people that score high on the ASVAB, I think it is 90 or higher, have the option of doing the pick 5 setup. Doing the ASVAB does not mean you have signed up for the military at all. So even someone that scores low, such as a 45, can elect not to sign up. Why? Because with a low score, they have to go in as Open and get whatever job is available. Which many do anyhow. With a good range score, such as 70-90, you can pick preferences, but if they can't find your preference right away, they pick whatever is available for you.

 

[Bateluer]

Uh guys, the Army does not guarantee a specific job, they only promise training. I am not certain about the Navy, but the Air Force will guarantee you a specific job if its in your contract. This is why you read paperwork. You also have the option to come into an 'open' contract. I am in Open Electronics, for example, and ended up in Avionics.

 

[lupi]

Unfortunately, AF OTS would ship, at the earliest in early '11. I want to get started before then. Hence I was going to go enlisted for a year then apply for OTS.

that's a fairly terrible decision unless you are just looking to get out of the country or something.

 

[Joony]

Stick officer if I were you!!! There are other programs you can compete for too.

http://www.airforceots.com/portal/index.php

Lots of info there.

 

[biggestmuff]

Tell the recruiter what AFSC you want and that you are willing to wait. If he gives you any grief or tries to talk you into another field (which he will), walk out and wait for him to call you.

I enlisted at my recruiting station as a computer programmer and waited about four months until the AF had an opening.

 

[HumblePie]

Tell the recruiter what AFSC you want and that you are willing to wait. If he gives you any grief or tries to talk you into another field (which he will), walk out and wait for him to call you.

I enlisted at my recruiting station as a computer programmer and waited about four months until the AF had an opening.

You can only do this if you get a high enough ASVAB and have the schooling records to back up your education and scores.

Trust me, if Joe Schmoe comes in, scores a 45 on the ASVAB, has a GED instead of a diploma and a GPA from highschool of 2.0.... he's not going go to get to pick what he wants to go in as. True, he doesn't have to sign up, but he's not going to be picking either. The Air Force won't hold it's breath if Joe Schmoe decides not to join either.