Thinking about joining the air force...

all the crew chiefs I knew worked 10-14 hour days and weekends

but they do get their name on the side of the jet and get to "launch" the jet. wave the jet out and salute the pilot before he taxis out to the runway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rborUvrmJSA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOISlJ-dEgM&feature=related

 

He may not be a crew chief. Lol He probably just said he wants to be one. I know he's on aircraft mechanic stuff.

 

try to be an aerial gunner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytj3vrALg-A&feature=related

 

Holy Hell! That is the most bad ass thing I've ever seen

 

.

Smart thinking to join the USAF, and picking a good MOS (prior to signing up) is important too.

Two years from now, you will looking back at these moments and smiling that you did it.

.

 

I think its pretty rare to be an aerial gunner, better chances with the reserves. Honestly, I would post a you tube video, but apparently they don't have access out here in Turkey! Just search of Boom Operator. I went to school side by side with them and by far, they have the best view in the flying world. Crazy cool, and get to travel a lot of the same places I get to.

I'm not trying to brag, but the flying community is a very small world and pretty well treated in the Air Force world. People see the wings and automatically assume you know things and have seen things! Traveling is awesome, the comradeship built is awesome, and of course, the $$$$$ is awesome!

 

im in the same boat as you man...

im 19, currently in college at Valdosta State Universtiy, i love the school, im in the AFROTC program but i dont know if i acually want to take the plunge and get out of school and go into the airforce. i want to fly for Delta (my dream job)...

it just makes me so nervous/axious at the same time.

i want it so bad but its so far away.

on top of all that my mom hates the fact of me joining the AF

 

The armed services can be a great and honorable thing.

However, you need to ask yourself some ethical questions or you may find yourself intensely unhappy.

The recruiters hounded me for flight, just want I wanted. ASVAB scores in the mid to high 90s all the way across the board. Marines wanted me fly back seat navigator in F-14s. I'd get my wings, fly the whole deal. The Airforce offered me many choices for flight.

But it came down to my not being able to kill because someone else ordered it.

I'd have to agree for my own reasons.

Am I willing to be used in a sacrificial feint?

I'm not confident enough in our civilian leadership to be used in only honorable proper ways.

So for me, the answer was no. And that was the best answer for the military too. I'm not what they need and deserve.

You might not be old enough to remember about 20 years back at the start of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. There were a number of enlistees who once it came down to actually having to do the job for the price of someone elses life weren't up the task. I don't think those members should have been there in the first place. They should have know it could come down to that fact before they enlisted.

This is part of why I vastly believe in the volunteer military over the draft.

 

I'm in the army and if I could go back and change it I def would have joined the AF. At the very least their bases are nicer and a good chunk of the jobs the army has the AF does as well. And correct me if I'm wrong but it also seems like the AF is a little more selective in who they take and promote (which is a good thing trust me). Anyways if you want my advice just try to get a shorter contract (3-4yrs) that way if its not your thing you arent stuck there for a long time.

 

Ive got a buddy who is a Boom operator. and he for sure has the best view in the house! Ive seen some pretty sweet pics hes sent. and you get a better pay being flight crew

 

I didnt listen to the audio but its a decent vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMU4PpHjS6Q&feature=related

 

i want that

 

If its what you want man, DO IT. I have been in the Navy for 8 yrs now, and it has taught me many things. Also, like others have said, DO NOT get suckered in to any job! I knew what I wanted when I went to talk to the classifier and if he didnt have one of those 4, I was gonna walk. They will tell you whatever you want to hear. Believe me on that one, I am a recruiter in the Navy now, I dont play that game but I know far too many that do, and it sickens me because they are playing with peoples lives, and its all branches of the military not just one.
When it comes down to it, you are in control!! remember that!!

any questions, pm me and I will help you out.

 

boomer vid??? i dont understand why i can't see YOUTUBE!!! ERRR

 

thanks man. this thread has opened alot of doors for questions for me.... thanks guys

 

yea, its a boomer vid. we can see youtube vids now. there was a patch that went through a few days ago that messed it up for me but I had my admin guy fix it. I just said my computer isnt running active x anymore for some reason, the sheppard home page uses it, and they fixed it for me

 

X10000000000 to the 10th power. I spent 12 years as a Loadmaster on the -130's and the job was money! I loved the travel, the airplane, the mission...it was a great deal and one that, at times, I miss. A few years back, I joined the reserves as a Aerial Gunner on HH60G Pave Hawks. It is without a doubt, the most fun I have ever had flying in a military aircraft. It is also the most uncomfortable I have ever been in an aircraft. Its hot, cold, dusty, dry, wet, dark..at times just plain old miserable.

The job is not all shooting...lots of working with PJ's, or just going out and doing terminal area work...operations in landing zones. But when the gun lines come...it can be either a shit ton of fun, or a ball busting day, depending on how the gun operates. If the gun sings, it is a lot of fun. If the gun jams...it blows!

Last week I flew two gun lines over two days. The first day was filled with jams (gunner induced) on the mini-gun..I had sweat pouring in my eyes from my helmet liner...the temps were over 100 degrees. I was beat when we landed. The following day, the gun never even hiccuped and I had a ton of fun throwing 2700 rounds of 7.62 down range..in less than 15 minutes!

The mission is awesome..saving lives. None better. It is also dangerous as was shown a few weeks back when the community lost a Pave Hawk to ground fire in Afghanistan. The people are as dedicated as you will find. It is extremely rewarding.

Enlisted flying is a great way to serve...and just plain serving is a great thing to do. You will not be disappointed.

http://vimeo.com/7956357

http://vimeo.com/7724423

 

Do it, Ive been in the AF for 6 years now.

 

it is a good life everyone worries about health insurance, not this guy i dont pay for any thing for me or my family. But be ready to deploy hope your girl is ready for you to be gone often

 

Woo hoo AF