Who's in United States Air Force

[MR 325]

This thread is 8.5 years old!

[slaterd]

Sorry didn't want to get "repost, use the search tool"

[SpeicherBimmer]

Well the AF is definitely always looking for anyone with n engineering background. In fact, aside from lawyers or doctors, that is one of the only ways to become an officer now. I'm actually about to separate from AD to go back to school full-time for Mechanical Engineering. Almost all the enlisted officer programs have been cancelled due to budget cuts. Right now the AF is kicking out officers left and right, so it is difficult to even get a slot for OTS.Becoming a pilot isn't easy, but doable. How old are you now? They have strict age limits, and I am assuming that you have perfect vision and can run for days on end ( when I went through boot camp an 11:45 1.5 mile run was minimum passing time, I'm sure it's faster for OTS). They love it when pilot candidates have prior flying experience; having your private pilot's license or even a sport license is a big help. Be studying the AFOQT and the pilot candidates test as you will need stellar scores on that to even be considered. Also know that taller guys ( anything above about 5"8" I'd say) don't usually get fighter slots. All except for 1 of the F-16 pilot's I've met are well below 6 ft tall. I can try and help you with any other Qs you might have, but I'm not a pilot so I don't know everything...
So you've done engineering? Can you give me any tips to help prepare myself for that program of study?

EDIT: I just noticed you said you only have 80 credits; did you finish your degree? If not this conversation is moot as you don't qualify for any type of officer slot without a degree.

[Xat1cZ]

OP haven't been online in 8 years :shock:

[Nairb]

OP's dropped bombs on Afghanistan and has 4 kids by now.

[Xat1cZ]

lol nice to know.

[FLYNAVY]

Also know that taller guys ( anything above about 5"8" I'd say) don't usually get fighter slots. All except for 1 of the F-16 pilot's I've met are well below 6 ft tall.

This is a pretty common misconception, with a bit of truth driving it. I know plenty of guys over 6' that fly fighters in all the different service branches. One of my good friends from when I was in advanced jet school is 6'5" and flies Super Hornets. We have 2 guys in my squadron alone that are over 6' had no problem getting here. One of our old dept head's, who is also over 6', is now on an exchange tour flying F-22's. Same goes for the various tall guys I met flying out at Nellis a few months back, all were Eagle, Viper, or Raptor pilots. That all being said, the issue is not specifically being tall, but it is in your exact dimensions. Particularly sitting height (will you be too tall for the seat and risk punching your head through the canopy during ejection?), and knee-to-butt length (will your legs get chopped off by the instrument panel if you eject?). Those are the main things that I DID see people get blocked from fighters for. Just wanted to clear that up a little bit, because I get this question a lot from people during airshows/tours/casual conversation.

[SGT4677]

Thanks for your service FLYNAVY! and all you other guys too!

I'm a former USN AT,I worked on the big bad Tomcats back in the day and now I am an Avionics Lead with over 25 years of experience.For those of you looking for a career in aviation I highly recommend the Navy Or Marine Corps to get started.I hire a lot of former service members and I have found that these guys get out with a better skill set than the USAF guys,the USA helo guys who can make the switch to fixed wing thinking also do well. In my experience The USAF maintainers have good experience in specific systems,but have a hard time expanding that to the entire aircraft. I am sad to say that I just let a former AWACS guy go,he was all about Comm,but couldnt grasp wiring systems or even lighting in a 757. Get that A&P before you get out if you want to work for the airlines.

This is a tough business,the rewards are great and the consequences for failure are greater.PM me if you are an A&P Avionics Tech,We are hiring.

[SpeicherBimmer]

I would highly recommend the Air Force; after all, the AFs primary mission is air power. No offense SGT4677, but I'd rather have a bunch of guys who know everything about their specific system ( ie engines) working on my planes than a couple guys who know a little bit of all the aircrafts systems. To each his own I suppose.

[FLYNAVY]

I would highly recommend the Air Force; after all, the AFs primary mission is air power. No offense SGT4677, but I'd rather have a bunch of guys who know everything about their specific system ( ie engines) working on my planes than a couple guys who know a little bit of all the aircrafts systems. To each his own I suppose.

This is exactly the same in the USN. We still start folks off small, with specific systems and specific shops/rates, but the intent is that eventually they progress to the point of understanding the whole maintenance program and being in a supervisory role by the E-6/E-7 level. Typically the most experienced folks will hit the QA dept, where they oversee everything. FWIW, Naval Aviation's primary mission is air power as well, though we don't use those words as a motto like the AF does :) (shudders at the memory of AFROTC cadets yelling this shit around campus)

[SGT4677]

I mean no offense to anyone in the USAF. I very much apreciate what you guys do!What I am saying is that in the civil industry you will need to have a wider skill set.
I will change a tire/wheel on a 767,fix a window heat system on a 737 at 3:00 am or change a lightbulb in a passenger reading light on a MD-80 to make a flight schedule. I dont presume to know everything about the CF6 ,but I fixed one yesterday with a young man who grew up working on Hornets in the corps.

[slaterd]

Wow thanks for the tips guys. I was expecting to get flamed for the old thread. Well being a pilot has always been a dream of mine. As I mentioned, though, aeronautics and spacecraft have also always been a passion of mine. I don't have a degree, however. I'm 22, with what one of you mentioned, pilot isn't looking too good. We did have the airforce and navy come by my highschool, not that this really is important now, were given the asvab and I scored high enough to be considered for cryptologic linquist, nuclear weapons specialist, and aerospace something [98]. ( I don't remember what area of aerospace it was)

[cale]

I would highly recommend the Air Force; after all, the AFs primary mission is air power. No offense SGT4677, but I'd rather have a bunch of guys who know everything about their specific system ( ie engines) working on my planes than a couple guys who know a little bit of all the aircrafts systems. To each his own I suppose.

It's great if you have the manpower, but what he was getting at is that you're not very marketable if you spend your entire career specializing in landing gear or jet engines....you need to have a broad skill set, and apart from government work it's essential to finding a job.

In Canada we amalgamated all the main air force tech trades into 3. We may not be as specialized in a particular field, but we're confident and capable in all of them. This is I think one of the main reasons we keep aircraft in the sky so long that the USAF wouldn't even think about flying. There's a reason Lockheed proposed buying back one of our C130's to figure how exactly we had managed to keep them serviceable for so long.

[slaterd]

Also, is the Air Force seeing any front line infantry? I've heard of the in-lou-of program. Any more enlightenment would be great.

[JA1991]

I think getting into any branch right now is difficult. I'm currently awaiting to go to boot camp for the Coast Guard and have been doing so for the last 8 months or so