Debating about the Air Guard

Since I was in high school I've been thinking about joining the Air Force. Now I'm unemployed and school is on hold due to my parents recently going into retirement, and the fact that I'm unemployed. I personally feel that it's a good decision, but I still have some things to think about before joining my local Air Guard.

So anyway, those who are in the military do you enjoy it? What things should I know that a recruiter would not tell me?

 

I am in the Army National Guard, but the Air Force and Army NG's work hand in hand on an upper command level. Just my opinion, but I would advise you to check into ROTC if you have not finished your bachelor's degree. You can get a scholarship and monthly stipend (free money) while you are in school. I like the Army, but my sister is active Air Force and they generally get better overall treatment than the Army as far as facilities, etc. Just realize that you will be deployed at some point. Definitely worth it to get your school paid for and the NG is a great way to serve. If you have the ability, do what you can to become an officer if going into the military.

 

Definitely the best thing I've ever done-- I only wish I had gone active duty...

 

I have over 100 I think. I only have a year or so left before I get my bachelors.

 

Thanks a bunch for the info. I really appreciate any input

 

I have heard of that. I want to work on a transport like a C-130, so I will need to go to OCS I'm pretty sure. Except if I wanted to be a loadmaster.

 

my advice would be to get a job in a field you could do outside the guard-- for instance, im a biomed (work on hospital equipment) so theres plenty of civilian jobs-- loadmaster, not so much....

(on a side note 100th post!!!)

 

I have thought about going something the medical rout since I seem to have a natural aptitude for it

 

OCS (or OTS in the Air Force) is a good option if you want to go through basic first. I went through OCS and it is a good program, but a lot of unnecessary BS, kind of like some of the stuff you find in Basic. That is why I suggested ROTC, but if you only have a year left that probably wouldn't work. If it is the same in the AF, you need 60 credit hours to start OCS and 90 to commission. You only have to finish your bachelor's to make Captain. At least that's the way it is on the Army side. As far as recruiters, most I have dealt with are mostly honest, but the biggest thing is to have everything on a signed document somewhere. I initially lost out on a GI Bill kicker due to not having the paperwork.

 

Yes I know

 

there are plenty of medical jobs out there-- they just moved all the af/army medical schools to ft sam in san antonio-- when i was in school it was in wichita falls so at least in san antonio you'll actually have cool places to go when youre not in class!!

 

I've never heard of an EC-130, just the regular transports and the spookies

 

San Antonio is also near where basic is, right?

 

Looks very interesting!

 

yup-- good old lackland-- hopefully you dont stay there for seven months like i did!!

 

Were you stationed there?

 

no-- broke my leg during basic-- had to have a rod implanted-- VERY long story short, they let me go back to training and i graduated