I'm interested in joining the air force but.....?

[Sharpie211]

That website is what I like to call good ol' fashion hog wash. First of all, I'll speak from experience. I work in networking. I received a bunch of experience, and now the AF is requiring me to get 2 different certifications for my career field, (A+ and Network+ certifications..) Yes, there are civilians that work for the military but I have only ever seen 2 entire shops get contracted out and that is because it was cheaper for the gov't to contract out those shops at our base then pay for people to be sent up here...ironically these 2 shops have 15 total civilians and 3 of them used to be in the shops at our base as military and another 4 of them are ex-military.

HVAC guys get great training, and everytime we've ever put in a work order to get something fixed its always been military guys come out to fix our building (I'm sure it varies from base to base)..

One more thing, I went to college for 3 years before joining the AF, and I was pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. I got to choose my job in networking..... so no, the military will not stick you in the medical career field because that is where you've had education in. And the only time the AF really sticks you into a career field is when you go open in any of the areas and they assign you a job at basic. I strongly recommend getting your guaranteed job written into your contract. If that means having to waiting a few extras mths in DEP to get that job then so be it. I was in DEP for 10mths waiting for my job to become available. Atleast that way you know youre getting the job you want.

[nick o]

I'd like to learn a trade like fixing/working on heating/cooling systems while i'm there. i recently read an article that said recruiters may promise an education in the military but that most people don't really recieve it. for instance the article read that the military mostly hires civilian contractors for work requiring any education or only gives that sort of work to people already familiar with the field either through previous experience or training.

this is the website i read the article on - scroll down to the JOB TRAINING section. http://www.centeronconscience.org/girights/enlist.shtml

I was in nursing school for a while and hated nursing- according to this article that's maybe where the military would stick me though since that's where my previous education was.

I'd like solid unbiased answers from people that have been in the military and that would know please. Is education and job training in the military for real? or is the whole thing a ridiculous joke?

[ssgt_hafey]

HVAC troops are the best guys to be friends with when you're deployed!!! I always hook those guys up so that when my AC or Heating go out, they'll come to me first! So, having known many of them, I can say without reservation, they are very educated...as is just about everyone else in Air Force. The Air Force only contracts jobs out when it saves money (or so they claim). It has nothing to do with the education level of the people doing the job.

The Air Force and the Navy probably have the best education programs in the military. The Army likes to boast lots of education programs, however, since you're always deployed for 12-15 months, you never have time to do any of it until your enlistment is up and you get out.

Go talk to an Air Force recruiter. Only enlist if you get them to give you a guaranteed job. Some recruiters suck and try to tell you that they won't do it...but having had worked with recruiters before, most are good and will help you out....HOWEVER...it is based on current manning (AF needs). If HVAC isn't available, then you won't be able to get it. There are plenty of other CE jobs available though, and HVAC might be one of them. You just have to ask. Email me at ssgt_hafey@yahoo.com if you have any other questions!

[Lt Col USAFR]

Here is my take. I am an officer, so my experience is indirect, based on what I've seen around me.

It can be a crap shoot. The main thing to remember is that the Air Force will look at the Air Force's needs first. That means it is more likely they will take your prior education in to account and leverage that.

The education that the military gives you will help you do your job. Unfortuantely, your job will be assigned to you. That does not mean that every one gets the shaft. I believe that most people get into career feilds that they want and show interest and aprtitude in. You just don't hear about the happy ones as much as the complaints.

But the article you read has a really good point - the recruiter's job is to sell you on the service. So you should have someone you trust go with you.

I would suggest going to http://www.airforce.com and chat with an advisor (recruiter). Have someone you trust looking over your shoulder.

You could also consider finishing school and getting a degeree so you can go in as anofficer.

[Lt Col USAFR]

Here is my take. I am an officer, so my experience is indirect, based on what I've seen around me.

It can be a crap shoot. The main thing to remember is that the Air Force will look at the Air Force's needs first. That means it is more likely they will take your prior education in to account and leverage that.

The education that the military gives you will help you do your job. Unfortuantely, your job will be assigned to you. That does not mean that every one gets the shaft. I believe that most people get into career feilds that they want and show interest and aprtitude in. You just don't hear about the happy ones as much as the complaints.

But the article you read has a really good point - the recruiter's job is to sell you on the service. So you should have someone you trust go with you.

I would suggest going to http://www.airforce.com and chat with an advisor (recruiter). Have someone you trust looking over your shoulder.

You could also consider finishing school and getting a degeree so you can go in as anofficer.