I'm thinking about joining the Air Force.

J. DeShazer

J. DeShazer

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J.DeShazer
I'd like to hear (read) some advice on this.
What's the Air Force like? How is it any different from, say, the Navy or the Coast Guard?
How does flight training work in a military environment?

I'll have more questions later. Can you help me come to a decision?
 
No single person can differentiate the services unless they've experienced the other ones which is unlikely. Having said that, the Air Force is the way to go but I'm biased, having retired from same after 24 years. You'll need a bachelors degree, preferably one of the Air Force's needs and/or choosing in order to be a pilot. However, I've heard that the Air Force has lost so many pilots to the airlines that you could probably have an underwater basket weaving degree and be accepted into the pilot program.
 
It may be helpful to provide more info on what you're after. Are you looking to be a pilot? already a pilot? Want to fly fighters/cargo/helicopters?
 
Perhaps some more details would help...

Enlisted? officer?, you want to be pilot?
Each branch has their own pluses and minuses, queep is real its not all go fast jets and drinking at the O club afterwards . Some guys get that tactical jet some might only ever fly the C130(and a whole boatload of qualified guys never even get that invitation to UPT. An element of timing plays a huge role in your career too.

Your already behind the ball if your wanting to be a pilot just judging from the questions asked. I'd lean airforce just cause family tradition but any branch is good I've rarely seen anyone say they regretted flying or serving in one vs the other. Your with other similar 22+ year olds all going through the same thing so even when its bad at least you have your "bros" and the worst thing that happens is you come out in your early 30s with a ton of experience and a leg up in government jobs or the flying exp to go airlines
 
Better food and accommodations. Velocity's photo was funny. If you're interested in military pilot training, civilian training would be a nice feather towards than goal, but other factors will come into play, including education, aptitude scores, health and especially vision.
 
I can speak a little bit to the difference between USAF and Navy pilot training (USCG trains with the Navy). Air Force pilot training isn't just to teach you to fly a plane. It's to be sure you are fit to become one of the Master Race. For that reason they have a more boot camp like atmosphere, with a fair amount of ritual.

To the Navy, you're just there to learn to fly a plane. Their pilot training is just another tech school.

Both services have very high standards, but the physiological atmosphere is more intense in the Air Force, so be prepared for that.

Also, if you want to consistently win short field landing contests join the Navy. If you want to win wars, join the Air Force! :p
 
I have done a stint in the Air Force, and the Army, albeit there was 39 years between the two.
The Army was easier, because no one was shooting at me (I was a Chaplain). Scarier, because the Army has lost their understanding of what wings are for.
The Air Force was more fun, because everyone was shooting at me. Scarier, because everyone was shooting at me.
While I was in the Army,we had a bunch of Navy aviators assigned to us, and we talked, a lot.

Basic training is very similar, but you will get a lot more wet in the Navy.
As JimNTexas mentioned, flight training is a totally different head.
The Air Force wants to figure out who can fly and obey orders.
I don't know what's going on now, but back in my day, the AF fighters could carry tactical nukes. If they said "Push the button, Frank." would you do it? That's a huge decision.
I don't think the Navy fighters were authorized for Nukes.
The Navy wants to figure out who can fly and survive to do a second mission.
I don't know anything harder than a carrier landing. Doing that, day after day is a remarkable achievement.
Air Force: Get shot to pieces, and you have a 10,000 + ft runway waiting for you somewhere.
Navy: Get shot to pieces, and the worst part of your day has yet to happen.
 
So how do you feel about flying drones?

"The U.S. Air Force now has more jobs for MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones than any other type of pilot position, the head of Air Education and Training Command said last week."​

http://www.military.com/daily-news/...e-more-rpa-jobs-any-other-pilot-position.html

I expect this trend to continue into the future. As the cost of buying and maintaining manned aircraft keeps going up and up, more and more roles will be performed by drones.

Quite a few guys flying drones today would prefer to be flying manned aircraft. It wouldn't be too surprising if new recruits were put on drones to give others a rotation into manned planes.

Something to consider.
 
Thanks for the comparisons. Based on your replies, it seems my first step is basic training.
My bachelor's is on hold as of now, but I've heard that you can do armed forces training instead of college, as well. is this true? Like, does it count as a degree, or something different?
 
J. DeShazer said:
I'd like to hear (read) some advice on this.
What's the Air Force like? How is it any different from, say, the Navy or the Coast Guard?
How does flight training work in a military environment?

I'll have more questions later. Can you help me come to a decision?
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I'll give you the retired Coasst Guard viewpoint: The USAF goes out it way to accommodate its members. When I was on active duty we often occupied the same geographic area. On Okinawa I had a crew of 26 and I was a lieutenant (two striper) and our station was at the far end of the island; our recreation was a pool table and a tennis court. At Kadena AFB they had golf courses, bowling alleys, easy access to the many joys of the Koza neighborhood...but their biggest advantage (shared with the Army and Navy) was family housing. My family stayed in Seattle. So did Marine families.

Probably not what you are looking for, but I learned to fly in Juneau while on active duty...out of my own pocket. Did it in my spare (off-duty) time.

Given the choice you present I would opt for the USAF in a heartbeat, OTOH I am very proud of my twenty years in the USCG and my family is stronger because of the need to "make do" when I was away at sea or on some island.

Bob
 
J. DeShazer said:
....
My bachelor's is on hold as of now, but I've heard that you can do armed forces train...
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You might want to look at Army Warrant Officer Flight Training if you don't have a bachelor's degree.
 
TCABM said:
You might want to look at Army Warrant Officer Flight Training if you don't have a bachelor's degree.
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He didn't even mention Army in his OP so he probably already ruled them out. Probably too close to the ground action for him. Notice he left out the Marines as well.
 
J. DeShazer said:
Thanks for the comparisons. Based on your replies, it seems my first step is basic training.
My bachelor's is on hold as of now, but I've heard that you can do armed forces training instead of college, as well. is this true? Like, does it count as a degree, or something different?
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I think you're referring to getting college credit for military experience??? Yes, you can do that. Especially if it's an aviation school. ATC experience granted me a 3 credit hour weather class...not that I really knew much about weather though.

Without a degree, I'd say right now your best bet is go enlisted with an easy MOS that allows a lot of off time. Get some college experience through tuition assistance, or be cheap like me and use GI Bill for college while you're in. That way you'll develope a feel for military life and see if it's something you want to continue with as an officer.
 
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I might be able to help a bit - ex-USAF, worked for the Coast Guard as a civilian, and a close family member is a Marine pilot (no help on the Army, though):

It can be easier to get a pilot slot for someone off the street, versus if you're already in as an enlisted guy. Not impossible, not at all, but if you are enlisted first, you'll need to be stellar, outshine the other in-house enlisted applicants for commission.

If you intend to finish a BS/BA on Active Duty, it might be easier to do so if you can stay put for a while - the Coast Guard is good for stability of station; also, the Marines commission a larger percentage of their enlisted folks. Understand pilot slots are "managed", and an enlisted Marine, for example, is competing for the slots left after the USNA grads and ROTC folks have their shots. All this is fluid, and the process can and does change.
 
J. DeShazer said:
My bachelor's is on hold as of now, but ....
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My recommendation, just based on life experience, is to take it off hold and knock out your degree. You will have many more options once you have the degree, both in and out of the military, and you will then be a proven quantity in several areas: your ability to learn, your commitment to achieving a goal, your seriousness about a career, self discipline,...

Get the degree. You'll be in a stronger position for anything else you want from there.
 
I get jealous when I read young people with this option. I was draft eligible at the height of the Viet Nam war and at that time, enlisting was only for people with low draft numbers. I had actually planned to enlist every since I can remember, but when the time came, I just couldn't volunteer to go to Viet Nam. I had enough friends killed, or come back with horror stories, that I just couldn't do it. I still regret that decision today.

So... my recommendation is to enlist. The Air Force is as good as any and depending on your own goals and personality, may be the best choice. My older brother was in the Air Force and deployed as a bomb loader in Thailand at a time when we officially had no personnel in Thailand. He often refers to the Air Force as "civilians in uniform".

I think military service is the best thing you can do. I truly regret that I allowed the political climate at the time deter me.

But the picture showing the differences between the services left out one thing: The Picture describing the Air Force should have included a picture of a well manicured golf course. ;)
 
All services have golf courses...Kadena does have a nice one though Bob.;)
 
Half Fast said:
My recommendation, just based on life experience, is to take it off hold and knock out your degree. You will have many more options once you have the degree, both in and out of the military, and you will then be a proven quantity in several areas: your ability to learn, your commitment to achieving a goal, your seriousness about a career, self discipline,...

Get the degree. You'll be in a stronger position for anything else you want from there.
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Agreed. Its also super hard to go back especially once you get rolling in a career. When your making that big E4/5 money(not really but its enough) will you really want to go back to college and walk into that english 1010, Calc, history of ancient civilizations, spanish etc. If your really wanting to serve in the military go to college, do ROTC, research branches (the marines had a fixed wing "guarantee" program a while back) study hard, play the rotc game and 4 years from now your pinning on bars with a better chance at pilot. You walk into a solid job and your hitting 6 figures before your 30.
 
Velocity173 said:
All services have golf courses...Kadena does have a nice one though Bob.;)
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I beg to differ. During my twenty years I served on both coast, on the Gulf, on Okinawa, and on one of the Pribilof Islands. I never saw a golf course except on the DOD bases. When Congress passes out the money, the DOD gets the lion's share. In the Trump budget the USCG will take a 34% cut. My point was not about golf courses so much as it was creature comforts....the USAF just treats its folks better because it can afford to.

Bob
 
bobmrg said:
I beg to differ. During my twenty years I served on both coast, on the Gulf, on Okinawa, and on one of the Pribilof Islands. I never saw a golf course except on the DOD bases. When Congress passes out the money, the DOD gets the lion's share. In the Trump budget the USCG will take a 34% cut. My point was not about golf courses so much as it was creature comforts....the USAF just treats its folks better because it can afford to.

Bob
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Yeah, like you said "DOD bases." I've played golf on NAS Mayport, NAS Cecil Field, MCAS Miramar, Hunter AAF, Ft Rucker, Parris Island MCRD and many times on Kadena. Now the AF might have better manicured courses but that varies on the course.
 
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If you are going to enlist, I'd say the AF is 100% the nicer option. I think it would be entertaining to put a junior Airman in the shoes of a junior Sailor on the boat, and see how long it took for them to try and jump overboard. Our cultures are very different when it comes to quality of life for our enlistees.
 
Velocity173 said:
Yeah, like you said "DOD bases." I've played golf on NAS Mayport, NAS Cecil Field, MCAS Miramar, Hunter AAF, Ft Rucker, Parris Island MCRD and many times on Kadena. Now the AF might have better manicured courses but that varies on the course.
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Ever go up the island past Camp Schwab (end of the paved road when I was there) toward the USMC Northern Training Area? That 625' antenna at Gesashi belonged to me.

Bob
 
bobmrg said:
Ever go up the island past Camp Schwab (end of the paved road when I was there) toward the USMC Northern Training Area? That 625' antenna at Gesashi belonged to me.

Bob
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Oh yeah. We did rifle range up there in the Marines. What was the antenna for?
 
So for those who've played golf on Kadena, how 'bout the #10 tee? ;)

For those who don't know, your drive is blind and between two volcanic mountains. There is a bell in the landing area that you ring after you hit your second shot to signal those behind you that it is okay to tee off. I loved that golf course.
 
Timbeck2 said:
So for those who've played golf on Kadena, how 'bout the #10 tee? ;)

For those who don't know, your drive is blind and between two volcanic mountains. There is a bell in the landing area that you ring after you hit your second shot to signal those behind you that it is okay to tee off. I loved that golf course.
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Vaguely remember that hole. I know the first hole was a par 4 straight away with a bunker guarding the front. I could reach it on a good day. Another hole paralleled the airfield fence. Remember seeing F-15s taking off not far away. 20 years ago so hard to remember details. Good times on Okinawa.
 
IMG_2694.JPG One thing about the AF, they spare no expense on ATC facilities. Their tower made ours look like a mole hill.
 
Yeah and there was always a crowd watching on the #1 tee since everyone had to enter the clubhouse right by it.

If you could pan the camera right past that tree, you'd see the parking area for the aero club. This is where I learned to fly.
 
If you enlist in the Air Force, make sure you get a specialty that transitions to a civilian career that pays enough to live on. Do some research before committing.
 
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Timbeck2 said:
Yeah and there was always a crowd watching on the #1 tee since everyone had to enter the clubhouse right by it.

If you could pan the camera right past that tree, you'd see the parking area for the aero club. This is where I learned to fly.
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You mean this parking area? Hmm, what type of aircraft are just forward of the vert stab??? ;)
 
Velocity173 said:
Oh yeah. We did rifle range up there in the Marines. What was the antenna for?
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Loran-C. We lived with the 3rd Marine Ampib folks at Schwab while the station was under construction.

I built/commanded a combination Loran A/C station in the Pribilof Islands back when Loran A was a thing.

Bob
 
bobmrg said:
Loran-C. We lived with the 3rd Marine Ampib folks at Schwab while the station was under construction.

I built/commanded a combination Loran A/C station in the Pribilof Islands back when Loran A was a thing.

Bob
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Cool. My uncle worked at Torii Station antenna farm back during Vietnam. Intel gathering stuff. Kind of a ghost town at Torii when I was there though.
 
OP: here's the deal. There's a ton of good folks here that will give you some advice. Mostly good and based on their experience in the military. Of the posters in this thread alone there's probably 100+ years of military experience before I add my 20+ in.

Honorable military service is one of the few things left in this great country where you learn some discipline, learn some responsibility, and have great faith and trust placed in you as a young person. The rewards are priceless and can result in an unlimited future.

It would be nice to know why you want to be a part of the military and what you want to do with your life in general. What's important to you?
 
IMG_2697.JPG
35 AoA said:
F-4 Phantoms......can't tell what variant, though apparently some sort of firefighting outfit :)
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That's it! An old Navy F-4 firefighting unit. :D
 
As a couple of my former Navy pilot friends like to say, "no one takes the fun outta flying like the USAF." Me, I'm a retired Army officer ground pounder.

Now, if you're looking for quality of life, definitely go Air Force. In USAF/Navy/USMC/USCG, if you want to fly, you're going to need your Bachelor degree. You can be an Army aviator without a degree as a Warrant Officer. If you want a Commission as a Lieutenant, you still need a degree.
 
bobmrg said:
Loran-C. We lived with the 3rd Marine Ampib folks at Schwab while the station was under construction.

I built/commanded a combination Loran A/C station in the Pribilof Islands back when Loran A was a thing.

Bob
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I remember the old LORAN C station on Kodiak. Was doing a TEMPEST survey for the USCG in the late 1970s and that damned thing just about lifted the cans off my ears when I tuned through it if I wasn't fast enough on the IF gain or RF attenuator. Plenty of power in that transmitter.
 
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