Would my chances be better since I have more job experiences?

I would like to hear personal experiences of those that were or are in the Air Force? Good or bad experiences?

• To be open w/ everybody, I am 21, a junior in college, but the path I'm on though promising, I dont feel it is me. I have a couiple buddies who are in the military and because of them all I want to do is join the Air Force now. Now with that said Im no dummy nor am I the type to just sign up for something out the blue because Im in the middle of some crisis. Im a smart guy and I've done research on the good, the bad, and even the ugly of the Air Force for MONTHS and i still add up everything that I know about the Air Force and it still equals out to "Dude join the Air Force!" Im a marketing major and I dont want to spend my my life doing this at least not my younger years when I could have the chance to go out and explore the world and serve my country while having great benefits at the same time. But any way...Im hoping and praying that I can get into the intelligence field or loadmaster or fire protection because these interest me. And also I im hoping and praying again to be stationed overseas in Germany or the UK or Japan. (I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S A GREAT CHANCE THAT I MAY NOT GO EXACTLY WHERE I WANT) And to increase my chances of doing so, when the opportunity arrises I will volunteer for an extended long tour over to these places. And now finaly if you made it to the bottom of this novel I wrote LOL, could you describe your experiences in the Air Force. It can be stories, descriptions of your job, your friend's job, I dont care what I just want to hear about personal experieces to get an OVERALL idea of a life as an airman..I ESPECIALLY want to hear from you guys/girls thats stationed overseas

• Answer:

  Hey buddy, Joining the Air Force is a great way to serve your country, se the world, and be all you can be. As of what you wrote in your "story" I will try and give you some other information as well as tell you mine. First off, it is a requirement that all airmen after their advanced individual training be stationed in the United States unless your are a pararescuemen as myself. This lasts for two and a half years. Then the Air Force will send you out somewhere else, it can be anywhere. After 9 months of beng deployed, you return to either your starting base or one closest to you in which you will serve the remainder of your active duty time. The typical enlistment is four years active, four in the reserve. If you want to make this a career, year three in your active duty you need to extend. If you wait until the reserves, your done. The Air Force is extremely picking about calling up the reserve elements of its force. You are given what is called a dream sheet. On this, you write down six bases you would like to be stationed. The Air Force, seeing you put overseas, will be happy to send you out as most airmen choose state side. Another thing I recomend is finishing college and then applying to Officer Training School. It is a competetive process, but you sound like you are a good kid. After completition of this, you will be a comissioned second Lieutenant and by the time you reach twenty years, will be a major or colonel. Now this is my story/experience. Freshmen year of college I knew I wanted to enlist into the Air Force. I wanted to go to Officer Training School and become a pararescuemen. I was dying to do so. So, I looked up how to be competitive on my application and began the process. First, I changed my major the Mathmatical Engineering with a minor in physics. My final GPA overall was a 3.8. I then joined several clubs and gained leadership roles in them. I was accepted into my colleges honor society, as well as the honors society for engeneers and physics. I became president of the university programmers and other clubs. I also did 50 hours of community service. In the summers, I did a internship for a consulting firm that was contracted by the defense department. I was granted a top secret clearance and was allowed to at one point enter the pentagon. Also, during the summers I went ahead and got my self into excellent shape. (By the time I enlisted I had 8 percent body fat). I also got certified as a first responder, became certified as a skydiver, a certified scuba diving, and a certified rescue swimmer. By doing all of that and having great grades, every branch wanted to have me. I mean they even offered me nuclear weapons jobs, intelligence, etc. I chose Air Force because it has the best quality life. So, I enlisted as an E-3 and went to basic. During basic I passed the PAST test to get into pararescue, then went to officer training school. After completition of that, I was a 2nd Lieut. I then joined the rest of the guys and completed my pipeline although we always constantly trained. After the pipeline, I made the rank of Major in the air force. At this time, three years of active duty was up. I decided to make it a career but left pararescue after year four. I went ahead and became a fighter pilot flying missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Affter being a pilot for ten years, I changed my job again to a nuclear physist for the Air Force. All of the school work helped me a lot for this. After four years of that, I was granted the rank of Colonel. I didn't want to leave working for the government, so after the age of 40 and my twenty years up, I joined the FBI and became a consultant. While in the FBI, I went back to school and achieve my P.H.D in Engineering as well as in Physics. In the FBI, I worked as a nuclear physist again. Once I finished my p.h.d at the age of 47, I decided I wanted to enter the private sector. I now work for a military weapons company as a designer and an operator. I have also been contracted several times by the military. In all, I repayed all of my debts to the colleges while getting a very nice pension. I also make 125,000 a year as well as make additional revenue by being contracted and working in the pentagon. Although my life was great, I did miss out on a lot of family time. Its the one thing I regret but am making up for it with my kids now. I am now 52 years old. I loved everything about it but it was easy for me because I prepared myself for four years. Good luck in your decision.