Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Joining the Air Force (Vanity)
Self | 2/14/09 | Little Pig

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: military
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last
To: Little Pig

If you like Texas and want to keep your house, you may also want to speak with a Texas Air National Guard recruiter, too.


41 posted on 02/14/2009 5:29:18 PM PST by PERKY2004 (Proud Military Wife -- my DH is in his 26th year of military service! PRAY 4 OUR TROOPS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

It is nice for all these Freepers to be supportive and if you just wanted strokes for good intentions then I guess you’ve got them.

But as a former military recruiter (and the processes and requirements are more common than different) I can tell you that yours is an EXTREMELY uphill battle at best.

Hey, EVERYONE wants to be an office, right? Well you have to be very competitive. Being over age isn’t competitive.

OCS and OTS age limits are not as flexible as some seem to think. The services make the rules and stick to them and even among the fully qualified only the most competitive candidates are selected.

IMO, don’t count on OCS/OTS. Check it out but don’t count on it.

And if the recruiter encourages your application, then feel fee to ping me with a ‘neener neener’.


42 posted on 02/14/2009 5:31:45 PM PST by Eagle Eye (Libs- If you don't have to play the rules then neither do we...THINK ABOUT IT!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

Obama’s the commander in chief. I don’t think I would want to join HIS military. I don’t trust him to lead in a positive direction.


43 posted on 02/14/2009 5:32:27 PM PST by meyer (The left is flooding the ship - let's quit bailing water. We are all John Galt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

I would look into civil service. When I retired from the USAF it was full of deployments. If you are single it’s ok. If you are married prepare to be divorced.

You were in from 1990 to 1994. That was Desert Shield/Storm time frame. If you are a vet that gives priority hiring preference for any GS job.

I did part of my time in HR. Part of it at HQ ACC at Langley. Based on your previous service you would technically be 33 or so. However, the services don’t like making exceptions unless it is an extreme case. Other folks are right, everything is waiverable, but you would need some serious horse power from a sponsor. Like a General who is a friend of yours who has connections or maybe a congresscrttter willing to put in a good word.

I’m not trying to discourage you, but being a GS is a hole lot better than trying to sleep in a ten man tent, crapping in a 55 gallon barrel and eating MRE’s on the side of some God-forsaken mountain ridge. Unless you like that sort of thing?


44 posted on 02/14/2009 5:35:45 PM PST by PJammers (I can't help it... It's my idiom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: SuzyQue

Are you willing to risk Obama controlling your life, and as Commander-in-Chief he does. Any military decisions he makes, and he has made some hasty and unbelievable ones already financially, his plans can impact your life once you take that oath. If this is just about a job, then why not consider an agency and move for the right opportunity, since the AF will move you anyway. If children are involved, then think twice before leaving them for Afghanistan or worse.


45 posted on 02/14/2009 5:39:17 PM PST by Kackikat (.It's NOT over until it's over and it's NOT over yet....The Trumpet will sound....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig
Careful, you might run into these ladies .....

Photobucket

46 posted on 02/14/2009 5:39:30 PM PST by SkyDancer ("America July 4, 1776 - February 13, 2009 ")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

1) Are you within the height/weight limits? If not, get that done BEFORE you even try. That is an automatic “No Go” right now, and may be a note in your records even if you don’t sign up at first and come back later once you do qualify -— hate to have that follow you around your whole career.

2) The military is a “delayed gratification” job; i.e., you will make more $’s on the outside now, but the retirement benefits are good if you hang in there for 20. That said, remember that ALL military benefits are considered “entitlements” by the government, and are NOT guaranteed.

3) If you were in the Army, then the Air Force will be a “cakewalk” -— no offense meant to the Air Force types on the list!!! And you might get to play with some really cool new toys, too, like those drones in Afghanistan that they pilot from over here.

4) There is always the personal perk of serving your country, which still means a lot to at least 50% of our citizens. Besides, we need FReeper talent and mindset in the service!!!

Go for it.


47 posted on 02/14/2009 5:56:22 PM PST by LTC.Ret (I didn't spend 31 years in the Army to see my USA turn socialist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

Get in before being a homo is mandatory.


48 posted on 02/14/2009 6:04:35 PM PST by submarinerswife ("If I win I can't 't be stopped! If I lose I shall be dead." - George S. Patton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LTC.Ret

Hey! I know we didn’t eat snakes and such but I can tell you when we loose cable there was usually hell to pay ;)


49 posted on 02/14/2009 6:05:49 PM PST by PJammers (I can't help it... It's my idiom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

FWIW : The Cyber Warfare Center is still at Barksdale,AFB

in Bossier City,Louisiana,,,

The Cyber Innovation Center should be finished sometime

this summer,,,

It’s at Bossier Parrish Community College on “Old” 80

just east of Bossier just off base,,,

They will employ the hacker/cracker folks there,,,

(10,000 so they say)

All this stuff will be hard-wired together with a bore

under I-20 (deep) (super-computer/etc.),,,

The CIC folks will brain-storm and write codes(?) and

hand them off to the CWC to wage “cyber-war”(?),,,

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6padpdJyjMB2uxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBybnZlZnRlBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAw—/SIG=118ej1crf/EXP=1234749402/**http%3a//www.bpcc.edu/

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6rvdpdJtTIBc4ZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBybnZlZnRlBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAw—/SIG=12209dufb/EXP=1234749551/**http%3a//www.cyberinnovationcenter.org/NCRP.aspx

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6rvdpdJtTIBd4ZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByamlqaW9mBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAw—/SIG=12dp65smp/EXP=1234749551/**http%3a//www.bpcc.edu/cyberinformationtechnology/index.html


50 posted on 02/14/2009 6:06:39 PM PST by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LTC.Ret

I’m working on the height/weight thing right now. I am a little over for my height, but most of it is muscle. I am well aware of the “delayed gratification” aspect of the military, and am ok with that.


51 posted on 02/14/2009 6:14:02 PM PST by Little Pig (Is it time for "Cowboys and Islamofanatics" yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: SuzyQue
The Coast Guard will also be fairly well off. Because of the great work they did after Katrina, and because they don't appear to be fighting in Southeast Asia (although they are), they are the Democrats’ favorite service. One of the expenditures in the Porkulus bill is for a new Arctic icebreaker for the Coasties.
52 posted on 02/14/2009 6:14:22 PM PST by GAB-1955 (Kicking and Screaming into the Kingdom of Heaven!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: 1COUNTER-MORTER-68

That’s very helpful. That is indeed what I am looking to do, so it is good to know. Bossier City is even closer to my current home (3-4 hours driving).


53 posted on 02/14/2009 6:15:26 PM PST by Little Pig (Is it time for "Cowboys and Islamofanatics" yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: PERKY2004

I thought about it, but I want full-time.


54 posted on 02/14/2009 6:16:14 PM PST by Little Pig (Is it time for "Cowboys and Islamofanatics" yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

Amazingly enough, the Air National Guard has a LOT of full-time, active duty positions. (Just ask my husband ... he’s been full-time, active duty for YEARS!) Seriously ... check it out!


55 posted on 02/14/2009 6:18:48 PM PST by PERKY2004 (Proud Military Wife -- my DH is in his 26th year of military service! PRAY 4 OUR TROOPS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

If you PM me, my husband said he’d be willing to talk to you.


56 posted on 02/14/2009 6:19:28 PM PST by PERKY2004 (Proud Military Wife -- my DH is in his 26th year of military service! PRAY 4 OUR TROOPS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig
I know I can handle the physical demands,

If you're joining the AF, there are no "physical demands." :-)

57 posted on 02/14/2009 6:28:26 PM PST by rabidralph
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

My brother-in-law just went back in at age 51 (after being out for 25 years), but he went in as a Navy Chaplain. Chaplains are sorely needed - at any age.


58 posted on 02/14/2009 6:34:29 PM PST by randita (Starve the beast - earn as little as you can get by on and spend even less.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

Glad to help,,,

This would let you “get in the game” without getting in

O’Bammy’s Military,,,

A friend’s kid goes to skroool there and mite go to work there...


59 posted on 02/14/2009 6:56:57 PM PST by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Little Pig

God Bless you and go for it! If I was a decade and change younger I’d be there too. Obamateur will not last forever and we are going to need our brave military more than ever long before he finishes. Best of luck and know that you are honored and supported 24x7 by your fellow FReepers.


60 posted on 02/14/2009 7:08:18 PM PST by NonValueAdded (May God save America from its government)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson