[SAMWolf]

It'll depend on what your interested in.

Jobs are pretty different between the Army and Air Force. See which service has use of the skills you want to get. They may train you in a job but if the units have those slots filled you'll end up doing something else.

Rule Number one is: the recruiters will tell you what you want to hear so take it with a grain of salt.

[vavavah]

Forget the Army and Air Force....Go Coast Guard..best 20 plus years of my life....
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/reserve/reshmpg.html

[Dale 1]

I am really surprised that you were accepted at 31. If you review your discussions with your recruiter, you’ll probably find that you were accepted to fill a specialist need the recruiter had. Based on the limited information available, I suspect they want you as a teacher. In this case, either Army or Air Force, or any other Service will be about the same for you. Military Service is a good profession. If nothing else, you should know that every serviceman knows the value of freedom and democracy. This alone is a good reason to join. Best of luck to you.

[ReaganCowboy]

Since we're talking about joining a reserve unit, do something radical and insightful: attend a weekend drill of the unit you want to join, spend a half-day minimum with them, meet the commanding officer and first sergeant, and go to lunch with the troops. Call some of them in a week or two with follow-up questions.

All of this BEFORE you sign an enlistment contract.

I did 10 years active, three years in a drilling reserve unit, and am now on Active Guard and Reserve status. That's the approach I took before joining my reserve unit, and it worked very well for me. Gave me some good insights. By the time the slot opened up for me to join, it was nearly six months between my initial contact, the subsequent visit and my first real 'paid' drill. I got to know quite abit about standards and expectations before I ever joined the unit.

[Future Snake Eater]

Despite being in the Army myself, or possibly because of it, I'd recommend the Air Force. They have much better opportunities for women than the Army (unless you're looking to go the officer route to become a pilot). Also, the quality of life and the pay are much, much better in the Air Force.

[Dale 1]

As I tussle over referring to you as Miss Liberty or Doctor Thug, I think you need to call your recruiter and ask the question you are asking us. He/she will answer it correctly and to the best of his/her ability. I know others on this website will advise otherwise. They will tell you to watch out for the evil deception of the recruiter (otherwise know as a used car salesmen).

Recruiters are simply filling quotas. They are looking for people to fill jobs that are needed to be filled. And if you decide to fill one of these jobs, you will not be sorry.

I say - - Go for it.

[LibWhacker]

This might help. It does seem to have a fairly comprehensive list of MOS's by branch. When I went in, the recruiter told me, "You have four choices: Infantry, artillery, armor and supply." He lied.

Much later in my job as a company clerk, I got to see the real deal huge Army manual listing all Army MOS's. It was unbelievable. I think there might be a thousand or more MOS's. At least there was during the Viet Nam War.

Did you know there is (or there was) an MOS called "recreation specialist?" Their job is to teach tennis, swimming, bowling, etc., to soldiers and their families at military resorts. Boy, was I ever steamed when I found out about that one! LOL.

Your recruiter won't tell you these things because the Army doesn't want everyone applying to be a recreation specialist. They'll try to guide you jobs where the Army has a need for people. But . . . be aware . . . there ARE alternatives . . .

Also, of course, you're aware . . . it's generally much more interesting and rewarding to be an officer than an enlisted person. Good luck!

[Jim Ralls]

I spent a career in the active Air Force and Air National Guard so I am probably biased in their favor; but, I offer the following advise for you to consider:

1. Take your time making up your mind. Do not let any recruiter pressure you with the "this opportunity will not remain open long" spiel. What they mean is that they have a quota to meet.

2. The Air and Army Guard are great places to serve in your local area. You can meet some wonderful people and network those contacts in your civilian career. Just never forget that you can get called to active duty and deployed anywhere Uncle Sam needs you. In my last fifteen years in the Air Guard, I went overseas 6 times. Once as a volunteer; the rest of the time Uncle Sam needed me.

3. If you could let me know where you live, I will let you know the local Air Guard unit[s] and give you a person to call if I know anyone there. I am sure that others here will be willing to do that also.

Good luck in your desire to serve.