Air Force
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
go to a recruiter. They tell you all the good stuff. Then go online and find out the bad stuff.
Find out where they're stationed..etc.
My buddy is gonna be at travis I believe. He's learning how to fly the big birds right now.
One of my buddies did the short term and jumped ship. He was stationed in idaho I think. It was good for him...but he was happy he only did the active short term.
If you want to fly you should do the coast guard. Fly helicopters. More money in it. And you can become a heliski pilot and hook me up with a lift..haaa.
Find out where they're stationed..etc.
My buddy is gonna be at travis I believe. He's learning how to fly the big birds right now.
One of my buddies did the short term and jumped ship. He was stationed in idaho I think. It was good for him...but he was happy he only did the active short term.
If you want to fly you should do the coast guard. Fly helicopters. More money in it. And you can become a heliski pilot and hook me up with a lift..haaa.
Hurray, it's Ian!!
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,612
From: on an airplane
Car Info: 2002 MBP WRX Sedan
my buddy in the marines say air force gets all the special treatment. in terms of living quarters, food etc. i dunno if he's just jealous or what the real deal is. but he said if i ever go military, go air force for easiness. haha
you gotta take a look at the function of the USAF vs the other branches of the military.
who goes in first, on the ground?
the USAF usually goes in by air... duh... so their function is diff than that of the ... say the marines.
there was a joke that went something like this:
life as a marine grunt: stuck in the swamp, up to the belly in goo while avoiding enemy fire. "this is the life..."
life as an AF grunt: stuck in an office with a broken a/c, "hey this sucks!"
although, take a USAF para-jumper any day and see how they work.
also, look who's the first to fight for the USAF? officers... flying the planes. the grunts are manning the airfields, etc...
who goes in first, on the ground?
the USAF usually goes in by air... duh... so their function is diff than that of the ... say the marines.
there was a joke that went something like this:
life as a marine grunt: stuck in the swamp, up to the belly in goo while avoiding enemy fire. "this is the life..."
life as an AF grunt: stuck in an office with a broken a/c, "hey this sucks!"
although, take a USAF para-jumper any day and see how they work.
also, look who's the first to fight for the USAF? officers... flying the planes. the grunts are manning the airfields, etc...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 171
From: Salinas, ca
Car Info: 07 Silver Mazdaspeed 3
I am a former marine. I spent 7 years both active and reserve. I can tell you that the air force seems to get special treatment because they have the biggest budget and because in the scheme of things what they do is just as dangerous as combat. No way would I want to be responcible for hooking a bomb to an airplane. Marines are a little bitter because they have the smallest budget and are asked to fight without much food or real shelter for weeks, sometimes months, at a time. If you are reasonably smart you can get the equivilant to a college degree in the USAF and never actually see a combat zone.
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,504
From: Leg Humper
Car Info: '03 WRX wagon, faster than walkin'
I was in the AF for a while - dropped out of college due to personal reasons and ran for the AF. During that time, I was in an AF combat squadron for 2 years which worked with both the Army and the Marines.
The living conditions in the AF are much better than the Army or the Marines, but not if you get a combat assignment. If you do, then you live with them, they are security so you can do your job.
I didn't hate the AF, there are some really good things:
You will have a LOT of close friends. Better than high school.
You will be a pretty good housekeeper.
You will learn how to manage money - this wasn't a big deal with me, but there were a lot of newbies that had problems.
You will learn what a "pickle" and a "canned pickle" are you will also learn what "whooop whooop ping" means - this is a sound you want to be making not recieving.
There are lots of bad things too - truly get your job classification BEFORE you sign the enlistment paperwork. The AF really is just a job, so if you have a good challenging carreer then the AF can be great, but if you are security or CBPO, then the AF can become a drag.
If you want life to be a little easier, hit me up, basic training isn't that hard, just do what they say, this is REALLY tough for some people.
Start running before you go in, and keep it up while you're in - just being able to run 2-3 miles 3 times a week will make life easier. They don't have PT like the Army or Marines, but there are annual physical tests and you'll want to keep your weight under control.
If you can study, I mean read and retain knowledge, it will take you a long way in both basic training and technical school.
If you are single, it is much easier to start that way because you won't have any money for a while.
If you like wearing hats and people calling you by your last name then it's a good place to be
If you like talking about cars that you will never be able to afford, then it's a nice place to be.
If you want college money, then it really is a good place to go, the new GI bill is excellent.
It is also an excellent chance to get a very expensive top secret security clearance, this can greatly aid in job searches when you get out if you are willing to live near DC.
Good Luck.
The living conditions in the AF are much better than the Army or the Marines, but not if you get a combat assignment. If you do, then you live with them, they are security so you can do your job.
I didn't hate the AF, there are some really good things:
You will have a LOT of close friends. Better than high school.
You will be a pretty good housekeeper.
You will learn how to manage money - this wasn't a big deal with me, but there were a lot of newbies that had problems.
You will learn what a "pickle" and a "canned pickle" are you will also learn what "whooop whooop ping" means - this is a sound you want to be making not recieving.
There are lots of bad things too - truly get your job classification BEFORE you sign the enlistment paperwork. The AF really is just a job, so if you have a good challenging carreer then the AF can be great, but if you are security or CBPO, then the AF can become a drag.
If you want life to be a little easier, hit me up, basic training isn't that hard, just do what they say, this is REALLY tough for some people.
Start running before you go in, and keep it up while you're in - just being able to run 2-3 miles 3 times a week will make life easier. They don't have PT like the Army or Marines, but there are annual physical tests and you'll want to keep your weight under control.
If you can study, I mean read and retain knowledge, it will take you a long way in both basic training and technical school.
If you are single, it is much easier to start that way because you won't have any money for a while.
If you like wearing hats and people calling you by your last name then it's a good place to be
If you like talking about cars that you will never be able to afford, then it's a nice place to be.
If you want college money, then it really is a good place to go, the new GI bill is excellent.
It is also an excellent chance to get a very expensive top secret security clearance, this can greatly aid in job searches when you get out if you are willing to live near DC.
Good Luck.
Last edited by AntiochCali; Jun 27, 2005 at 10:48 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,004
From: Northern Bay Area: Larkspur
Car Info: 02 Silver WRX sedan. Eibach springs, Blitz NUR cat back, Rota 17" Attacks, Cobb AccessPort/DP
So my buddy sitting next to me is telling me that the AF is kind of like college. He's ranting on about how he worked a 12hr day. He was an SP. So basically he worked security (says he hated it) then went and partied all night with all his buddies (loved it). Said it was an easy gig. Also said that perhaps the medical field was the next best thing to being a pilot (tons of chicks). Onother positive thing was that the AF really took care of you, 5 star hotels, good pay, great food....basically the good life compaired to everything else.
What I got from that was you're probably going to be a REMF unless you're out bombing something or a PJ. I'd say go for PJ's if you want to be hard core. Those guys rock.
I spent some time with some AF guys and yea, they live high on the hog. Really kick back.
What I got from that was you're probably going to be a REMF unless you're out bombing something or a PJ. I'd say go for PJ's if you want to be hard core. Those guys rock.
I spent some time with some AF guys and yea, they live high on the hog. Really kick back.