My daughter is seriously considering the Air Force so I was just curious. I'd mentioned before that my Dad was Naval Air Corp during WW2 and Korea and he always said no matter which branch you joined the Air Corps lived the best. So of course I joined Army Field Arty. But Dad was right based on my observations. So when she started talking military service to get some travel and college money I guided her towards the AF.

An excellent choice. I was in the Air Force for 21 years and never regretted a moment.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

I was in from 1956 to 1960. I was in aircraft mechanics. I would have liked to work on some of the today's new stuff.

I was in 68-72. I have wished a million times over that I would have stayed the 20 years instead of only 4. Oh well....youth!

No first hand experience but it has done well for my son. He retired after 22 years a few months ago. He has started a new job for the private sector in Warner Robins. The 'ole man has to crow a little.

Rhein Mein AB , Germany (1970-1973)

usaf security service. 1963 - 1968…...got a top secret security clearance and copied Russian and Chinese radio transmissions. After basic training went to RAF chicksands England and had a ball!!. Traveled to Germany , France, Spain, Austria and all over England. Met my wife there in 1966 and this morning we went out to breakfast for valentines day. she is the best thing that ever happened to me !!!

Ditto here, 20 years.........

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Tim, USAF Ret.

'54 - '66, Drill/Academic instructor, A3A/MD-9?ASG-21 B-52 Gunnery systems mech, then OSI till I separated in '66.
Lackland AFB, Lowrey AFB, Columbus AFB, Wurtsmith AFB, Wash. DC, then finally Wright-Patterson AFB.
Great life and fantastic experiences.

I was a genuine AFD [Air Force Dependent, for those who don't know] and spent time overseas in Europe with my spouse and children. I'm the niece of an Air Army B17 pilot, sister-in-law of an AF enlisted man, and the mother of a potential flight surgeon [she's not sure of her posting yet]. Although I was never officially "active duty", I did learn a lot about the Air Force.

If your daughter understands authority and can follow directions without arguing, she may fit well with the Air Force. If she is a totally independent thinker, it may not be such a good fit. She also has to be able to put up with some foolishness too--any large structural organization has its crazy moments.

Do get everything in writing as far as the type of job she is looking at--or she may end up doing almost anything north of the arctic circle.

One nice thing about the Air Force is that you don't have to coordinate your clothing for work everyday--the choices were made for you.

Retired Air Force. 22 years 2 months 22 days.

1955-1977

It was a great life. I did two tours with B-52's in SAC. A 3 years hitch in a bomb dump in France. Five years in the Pentagon in Air Force Intelligence Collection. Ten years in the Air Force Satellite Control Facility in Sunnyvale, CA.........

Then moved directly into a job with a local contractor for another 20 years.

It was a fun career!!!!!!!!!

Remember, if something goes wrong, you can swim further than you can fly!

Well done to all my Air Force brothers.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

My oldest son has been in 10 years. He has gotten to see the world, and has seen a lot of sand, five deployments. He likes it though, except the being away so much part.

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Recycled Bricklayer

USAF is more akin to a civilian profession / job. Good choice.

ps- Never, ever did the 1st push-up during my tenure. There was no such animal.

59-63. Saw a couple bases in Texas, 2 years in England at RAF Sculthorpe, and 1 year in France at Chaumont AFB. A little TDY to Wheelus AFB in Tripoli Libya. Spent 6 months in school learning how to be a Jet engine mechanic, then 3 years playing with Jet Bombers & Fighters. It's a rush when you start up a jet fighter and taxi it down the perimeter track doing brake checks. Wouldn't trade my experience for anything.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Twenty-two years (1966-1988)................everyone great, ten years as Office of Special Investigations Special Agent. Had the beejesus scared out of me a couple of times but would do it all over again................and we never walked to work. Keep shootin'

USAF Retired. 1976-1996! No Regrets! Been around the world three times (Germany, Germany, Germany), East Coast (Langley), North West Coast (McChord) and Central (Lowry & Little Rock)! All expense Paid Trips every one of them!!! Learned a lot! Saw things I'd never seen! Did things I'd never done! Even Did stuff we wasn't supposed!!! All a part of the life!

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Rick
American Blacksmith

24 years to include Korea and Vietnam. Also spent 6 years in Germany, Tdy to North Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Alaska, Spain, Italy along with most of the islands of the pacific and atlantic. Was in the Office of Special Investigations and never had a dull day.

Although it pains me to say this (being a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer), if my kid was intent on enlisting, I would tell her to go Chair Force. Much more corporate than the other services and most of the jobs translate better to the civilian world.

21 yrs, 2 mos, & 15 days. been retired 21 yrs, 8 mos and & 14 days. was fortunate to have been in some jobs that requied traveling to new and exciting/not so exciting places. 37 countries on six continents. good pay nowdays i hear. great living conditions and chow. great schools that for the most part will transfer over to the civilian sector if she chooses to not stay. i highly encourage her to sign up now. lee

Jun 63 to Jun 67. Lackland AFB, TX, Clark AB, Phillippines, TDY to Bien Hoa, Viet Nam, and then the rest at Webb AFB, TX. Was in Air Police. Hardest part was trying to give tickets to speeding planes.

I'll have to agree with the statement made in an earlier reply by "pineappleshooter", if you are looking to learn something for your after the military career, this is the place. Some folks are not cut out to stay in the military, some are, if you are not suited then choose a technical career and your training is paid for and you earn while you learn. Some AF jobs require that you are not stationed in the "Garden Spots" all the time but your accommodations are always comfortable and the food is good. Most youngsters learn more about life in the military and I recommend that, good luck to your daughter!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

I keep telling ya Bill, you can't catch the fighter jocks with a Slant Six powered crew cab!

1970-1997 Security Police
2 SEA tours 1971-1973
SP Academy Instructor
IG's Office Investigator

No regrets...ever

I salute my Air Force brothers here.

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Take your time..quickly.

Daughter spent 26 years in Air Force. 8 as Ballistic Missile Tech on the Titan 2's and 18 as a Load Master on the C130. Made 5 trips into Kosovo and been all around the world.

Lead Instructor on a Simulator now.

22 years, three months, and 18 days - loved every day! I now still wear the uniform as I teach AFJROTC (I never worked this hard on active duty!).

USAF Retired, 1990 - 2011. It's a great life. I'm still learning how to be a civilian. It's not easy at times

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"... shall not be infringed."

Retired 1974 after 25 pus years USAF. Five years in SEA, 17 years overseas total. Very little time in the ZI. I was in Munitions Maintenance which boils down to the care and feeding of all things that go BANG ! Lotsa fun !!

I was in 1966 - 1970 as a nuclear weapons technician. I went to college on the GI Bill and seriously thought of going back in as an officer. I regret not having done so.

I was in the Army, but was stationed in the U.S. Canal Zone where all of the military bases were pretty much next door to each other, so I got to scope out all of the plus and minuses of all the branches of service. Air Force, hands down. They had the bigest budget and the best of everything from the first run movies first to steaks in their mess halls. Also, about the worst job in the Air Force was driving a truck. I know G.I.'s that would have killed for a job like that, after the infantry. Seriously, most of the jobs were tech jobs and required good schooling and could lead to great civilian jobs. Not always true of some of the other branches.

I joined the Air Force a year after graduating high school. Originally, I had planned on joining the Navy. During the year before joining, I had conversations with many friends who joined other branches immediately after graduation. Every one of them advised me to join the Air Force.

So, from 5 May 68 to 30 November 79 (that's 11 years, 6 months and 28 days). I was a member of the United States Air Force. Was fortunate to have qualified for electronics (avionics) training and spent almost a year in tech school.

After graduation, I was assigned to Japan, Korea, England, Germany, Panama and sundry other places. I went in as a somewhat immature eighteen year old and left as a thirty year old with a wife and very small son.

I always had fairly decent living quarters, staying mostly in two man rooms. Even TDY, I had a decent room to live in. The quality of the food in the show hall was pretty decent also. As an avionics technician in the USAF I was treated better than many officers in other branches. I always felt fortunate for my life as an airman. I learned a lot, saw many things and experienced things that some others have only dreamed of.

One time, while TDY to Panama, I had hitched a ride in an Army Huey. The cargo doors were open and we had a great view of the canal and the associated jungle area. At one point, we flew through a cloud. Just for grins, I extended my arm and "grabbed" a piece. When I returned home, I told my son that I had touched a cloud. He was so impressed, that, even as an adult he would mention that experience. Definitely unique.

I was in 1956-1960 and was only stationed at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, after boot camp at Parks AFB, Calif. Never got to go anywhere. I did get a good job because of my AF training after my release from active duty. Went and pulled a year in the Air Guard in 1977 to see if getting out at age 21 was foolish. It proved to me that if I had spent 20 years on active duty I would have been dead or in jail.....

When I went to town to join, the Army and Navy recruiters were at lunch. The AF recruiter was reading the paper. I told him I wanted to see the world. He said "most every base in the world has three things. cops, cooks and a supply man". Twenty one years and 29 days later, I retired and had a rewarding second career in supply/logistics. It was not always a bed of roses, but I could not have made a better choice. Would do it again in a heartbeat .. Best of luck to her no matter what her decision. Regards

Well she is scheduled to take the ASFAB so we will see what is offered to her after that. I’m not too worried about that as she is a pre-nursing student with a 3.98 GPA.

Enlisted in 1980 as an Aircraft Security Specialist. Two years of walking around airplanes in the snow with a rifle on my shoulder convinced me that I would rather fly them than guard them; commissioned in 1982, flight training in 1983, first operational unit in 1984. Flew every model of KC-135 built, EC-135C, B-52H, and RF-4C. Spent lots of time overseas including Saudi Arabia (Desert Shield) and Iraq (OIF); retired in 2008.

...............

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I flunk out of college in 1970 and knew I was going to get drafted, so I asked my Dad what should I do. His answer was the Air Force 3 square a day and a warm bed. I never regretted going Air Force 1970 to 1976

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Al
Have Gun Will Travel

Of all the different branches of the military the Air Force is closest to civilian life. After basic training and any tech schools there WAS very little marching, camping out and all that silly stuff the normal military folks do. You show up on time do your job and go home at the end of the day an enjoy life. All of the aforementioned was based on my State Side experiences in the late 60's - early 70's.

Yes. When I was in, we addressed everyone in our shop by their first names. I would show up, take off my fatigue shirt and spend the next eight hours with my t-shirt on. I considered that my work uniform.

Occasionally, we had to do military stuff, but most of the time was spent keeping the airplanes flying. In other branches I'm told, people would be chastised for having their hands in their pockets. We were told to keep our hands in our pockets, particularly when working on live circuits. It helped prevent electrical shocks.

At my level, politics were minimal. If a person worked hard, used initiative and their imagination to get difficult problems corrected, they were generally left alone.

Air Force 1956-1986.

I'd sign up again if I could fly at 80.

You'd have to fly faster than 80 to get of the ground.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

True in most cases but what about choppers?

Air Force! Retired in 1973 witrh 22.5 years as a B-29 and B-52 gunner. Wife missed active duty more then me

May 1984 thru 1990 ..only regret is leaving to early to get a retirement.

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John 3:16

Been there done that. Didn't hurt me none. New blue ID card as of last Sunday, 24yrs, 3mo, 20 days. My story. Went in the Mont. Air Guard, 1966 to 1974. Had a ten year lapse. About a year in the Mont. Army Guard. Out of that, back to Air Guard, until the end of 2001. England and Korea were some of the stops. Including a monthly 450mile road trip to serve.

I'm x Air Force. Did 8 years and it put me on a good path to a recession proof career. Great experience overall.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

USAF from 1973 to 1977. Lackland, Keesler, Robins then Wheeler in Hawaii. I was having the time of my life and like many young men just didn't fully realize it.

Initially, I had planned to make the military a career. After 4 years though I decided to come back to civilian life and have wished that I had stayed at times. I have wondered about what else I might have seen and experienced. Life after the Airforce has been good so I don't dwell on it.

I think the Airforce is a great oppurtunity for a young person. Just be sure you have a job locked in and have it in writing if they still do that. There's something for everyone in the military and there are jobs that don't require advanced training that aren't especially appealing. When I was in SAC I used to feel so sorry for the security police that stood around the up-loaded birds on the alert pad.

Of all the branchs the Air Force and the Navy would be my picks if I could do it again. The best training in my opinion.

Aim High. Good to see some SP and OSI brethren on here.

'71-'74. Went to McChord then to Langley. I probably had one of the best jobs you could in the AF, worked in the gym and didn't even have to wear a uniform, but knit shirt and athletic pants instead. But it just wasn't for me. I met some of the best people I ever knew there and have a great deal of respect for all you "lifers".

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

I'm another ex-flyboy as was my Dad (33 years)and my son.

I always said I did 22 years, my dad was a lifer (23 years) and I did 4 as an 81150A, Security Police Patrol Dog Handler from '73-'77. Not the best time to be in the military, the country was fed up with the Vietnam War and there wasn't much love for military members. I'm to independent to be a lifer, I ask why to much I guess, but don't begrudge my time at all. Went to college and finished my B.S. after my hitch, so I always figured it was a fair trade, 4 for 4.

It's probably the least martial of all the services, and a good place to learn a trade and get some travel. I saw lots of places in my 22 years affiliated with Air Force, and most of it was sure interesting, besides I've always been an airplane junkie, so loved being around the hardware.

Take care...