Posted on 02/14/2009 4:07:18 PM PST by Little Pig
So I've been weighing things in my mind for a little while now, and I have decided to seriously look into re-joining the Military. I was in the Army for four years from 1990-1994. I now have a Master's degree and lots of real-world experience under my belt. I am looking at joining the Air Force, specifically the newly-forming 24th (possible) Air Force, which will be the new Cyber Warfare command. My Master's is in Information Assurance (computer security). I have been having a hard time recently finding new jobs (who hasn't). I have been doing contracting, but the economy is particularly dry right now, and I don't seem to fit into the corporate world as well as I'd like.
However, there are a few things I need to consider, and which I'd like the opinion of the FreeRepublic intelligentsia on: First, although Gates has stayed on as SecDef, that won't be a perfect shield for the military from this administration. The Cyber command is likely to be less affected than the weapon-heavy jobs, but there is still the possibility that the Zero's administration will negatively affect the military. I'd like the forum's opinion on this. Second, I am a bit older than the "cutoff" age, particularly for the Air Force, and I'd like the advice of the forum on how I can best address this with recruiting. I plan to go in as an officer, so the age limit is higher, and a former AF pilot friend of mine tells me that there are still waivers and whatnot for special skills such as mine. I still want to maximize my chances should I decide this is what I want to do. I know I can handle the physical demands, and my life experience will make the mental demands much easier to keep in perspective, but I have to convince the AF of this.
I know there are those among my fellow Freepers that can help. Thanks.
I’m not sure what I would do in your situation, but I sure would like see someone with your experience and education serving on our side and watching our back. Even with Obama as leader...
Don’t do it.
Hey, me too!
The normal age cutoff for USAF Officer Training School (OTS) is 35, but I think that your prior service time will save you because they make allowance for prior service time. You will need to contact an OTS recruiter.
I wouldn't worry about the Obama thing, especially in the new Cyber Command. There wil be steady work there. Heck, I commissioned under Clinton, and I'm still around.
Hey, it works. Thanks!
PS: Don’t do it.
Take orders from that Kenyan pretender? No, thanks!
I’m planning to talk to the OTS recruiter on Monday. What do you do in the AF?
Also, have you heard anything on the new Cyber command? I know that they dropped the idea of making it a MAJCOM back in October, and now they are considering making it a NAF, the 24th Air Force.
It has the right MOS’s for the field you are qualified for!!! More pay and “less” Officer crap:-()
see old pay scales:http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/pay/bl05warrantsalary.htm
I was enlisted Army and had a chance for Warrant Officer but only MOS then was “153A - Rotary Wing Aviator
I haven’t heard anything about the proposed Cyber Command since I heard that they were setting it up.
At 37, you’d only need a one year waiver.
I can offer some advice on the age issue.
Make an appointment with your Congressional Representative and U.S. Senator’s office. Take with you your DD214, your education transcripts, and get at least 3 (5 is better) personal recommendations from community leaders, in business and/or public servants. Bring also any and all documents, such as awards, commendations, Community Service Recognitions, etc. you may have.
Make your case for a very strongly worded recommendation for any waiver that’s needed, and the Representative/Senator’s personal recommendation for appointment by Congress.
Chances are the reps’ staff have worked with Military recruiters before, and may even know one or two that they prefer to work with, maybe even make some calls on your behalf.
Remember, you add the number of years of active duty, 4, to the current maximum age allowed. i.e. 32+4=36. (depends on Military specialty applying for).
2: The Air Force will be heavily involved and highly at risk in the Obama wars. He will "fight" like Clinton. You're way too old for reeducation.
While I agree that Marxist Obama (and BFF Ayers) will do their dirtiest to undermine our wonderful military and personnel, I'm hoping that those fantastic troops who would have stayed in in a GOP admin will do so in an Obama admin.
My reason is that we need them, and that the replacements who Obama might have in mind may not have a true sense of what's right.
I'm also hopeful that well qualified and properly motivated folks enlist or receive commissions (including you, sir) for the same reason...we need you.
Here's my take on should or shouldn't.
Did you "resonate" with the military experience? If so, then it might be a "go". If you hated it, then...nah.
I spent 4 yrs in the USAF back in the viet nam days. It was a (mostly) good organization, with some great people, punctuated by some true sphincters.
Keep in mind that I'm currently a Blue Star Dad, with 2 daughters, a son-in-law, and a nephew in uniform, and I spend a bit of time watching the military channel. Thus, I may be viewing your decision through camo-colored glasses.
.
You aren’t going into healthcare so it’s time to look at plan B and forget the USAF.
I’ll look into your suggestion. Unfortunately, I don’t have that many acquaintances that are community leaders or public servants. I do know a couple of business leaders, and I will try to get in touch with them. Since I’m in Texas, hopefully my representatives, being (R), will favor the military, and their offices will be more amenable to helping.
No, everything is NOT waiverable.
And with all waivers, it is the candidate’s responsibility to prove that it is in the service’s best interest to grant a waiver.
Seven years of active military recruiting and I never saw or heard of anything close to an age waiver.
I had much the same experience as you did, personnel-wise. My time in the Army was, for the most part, pretty positive, punctuated by some real sphincters. I may have run into slightly more than the normal number, as I was a musician, and the musician temperament (for the most part) didn’t lend itself to real gung-ho military. On reflection after getting out, I think I would have enjoyed my time in service better in a unit that was more military-oriented rather than ceremonial.
You should check this yourself but the last I heard was that the cyber command was shot down (an Air Force turn of phrase there for you).
I have checked. According to the Cybercommand website, the idea has not been dropped, they have just decided to organize it differently. Now, instead of being its own MAJCOM (major command), it will be a Numbered Air Force under Space Command. The details are still being worked out, but they plan to have it up within the next 18 months. The Air Force knows this is needed, but they decided to do it differently than previously described. As such, now will be a good time to get in on it, as I can be a part of setting it up, and that is always exciting.
Call a recruiter and ask.
I'm waaayyyy over any and all limits for a return to service, and my MOS probably doesn't exist anymore (05c20 .. radio teletype).
Our military is going to need freeper/patriots ... If your wife and family are good with it ... just go in.
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