Air Force vs Army

go ARMY get airborne and ranger RIP in your contract you will be happy you did

 

I serve enlisted in the Army, but if you think that being an officer and a paper pusher are one and the same, you've got A LOT to learn...

 

I did that, and like being an Engineer, it is not for everybody.


Do I regret it, not one bit, but there were MANY times were I second guess myself...


BTW, just Airborne here. Didn't do Ranger as I got injured while in service.

 

That's what I love about the Army, they think they rule the roost but always call on the USAF to un-f#k their situation.

I'm in a joint assignment now and realize that the Army can be the laziest folks around and the good 'ol boy system is alive and well there. The Navy has great medical training, probably the best medical training for enlisted of the services but they are definitely a different breed.

The USAF? We're just awesome! LOL Folks always call on us when they need help, like to go somewhere, to come home, to get supplies (via air or convoys) and to bail them out when they have found themselves in a tight spot.

No matter which branch you pick, there will be a level of suck. Be prepared for it. But as it has been said, we are all on the same team. We just talk a bit different and dress a bit different. If you want USAF EOD, make your recruiter put you there. They are hurting for folks now. They even have a bonus so you might get a bit of extra cash, you never know! But most importantly, make sure it is in writing! Also, do you have any college? You can come in with a few extra stripes if you have some college credits. If you do, make sure the recruiter is aware of that. Every little bit helps.

 

That's what I love about the Army, they think they rule the roost but always call on the USAF to un-f#k their situation.


DAMN Dude WTF??? You must not have deployed with Army Rangers then!

 

i respect all the services and they all have different jobs and functions! i respect anyone who serves there country the 1% of america! i will never down another service or service member. there is shit bags and retards in every profesion so its not fair to genralize like that

 

and you are a senior nco like myself very classy

 

Air Force for over six years, came in guaranteed career field, and also E3 just for signing up for six years. You also get E3 if you have a degree. Whatever you decide, never go open, and cross training is never easy.

Good luck with your decision, I hope it works out for you!

 

Simmer down, Sparky. Get a sense of humor or don't participate. And no, typically USAF personnel don't deploy w/Rangers.

Next time read the post in the entirety and understand the message before attempting to blast someone. If you need someone to break down and explain the message maybe you shouldn't respond. Also, I can tell you're new. If you don't have a sense of humor around here, you'll hate it. Find one ASAP.

 

new i have 15 years in the army

 

OP, let us know which route you take and how things turn out (Bonus, rank, etc).

 

Haha, rabble rabble rabble.
OP, good luck to you in whatever direction you pick, AF EOD will have you taken care of if you pick it, but so will Army EOD, love all them folks. They saved our ass so much all over Iraq from going boom driving convoys and gun trucks. In any case get the most out of what you can and get it in your contract...heard that enough yet?

 

Fact: the Army is the most individually focused branch out of them all. Meaning you will quite literally get counseled if your shit is weak, and you are doing nothing to better yourself. Every. Single. Day a leader will tell you to enroll in college, start correspondence, go get certifications, attend boards, put in for schools (airborne, air assault, etc). Unfortunately this thread turned into a dick measuring contest, but hope this helps.

Go Ordnance!

And for what it's worth, the air force is always the first to point out that every branch has their amount of suck because they don't want to be left out of real talk of real experiences that they'll never get because when they are "saving our asses" or "doing a bunch of stuff" it always involves them sitting in a chair, while they look in a mirror to check and make sure their hair isn't messed up. Even Pararescue is a joke. ​

 

OP, I am going to address most if not all of your concerns, I hope. First, a little background. I am former Army EOD, 5 years on the job. The man sitting next to me in my office is former Air Force EOD, 7+ years. We served in two different times, I discharged in 2000, he got out three years ago. I'm going to assume this gives me a decent knowledge base to work from.

Don't worry too much about the age cutoff, it's when you sign up, not report to basic.

DO NOT GO OPEN CONTRACT!

In reality people can make all of the comparisons they want, who cares? An Infantry guy talking shit to an Airframe Maintainer has no bearing on this discussion. EOD as a whole is different, almost like it's own branch. In my experience, during a pissing contest, EOD guys stick up for each other first, branch of service next.

Army EOD peacetime: twiddle thumbs, "hey let's go play volleyball/ultimate frisbee/basketball!", assure local deputy that the "bomb" he just found is an old water heater, use robot to execute practical jokes.

Army EOD wartime: route clearance, off base response to IED hit convoys, post-attack cleanup of enemy mortar and rocket UXO.

Air Force EOD peacetime: twiddle thumbs, "hey let's go play volleyball/ultimate frisbee/basketball!", assure local deputy that the "bomb" he just found is an old water heater, use robot to execute practical jokes.

Air Force EOD wartime: route clearance, off base response to IED hit convoys, post-attack cleanup of enemy mortar and rocket UXO.

Anymore, there's not much difference between Army and Airforce EOD.

The only difference I know from my time was the Army required you to have a previous MOS. But they took care of that and sent you to ammo school after basic, then to EOD school. So on paper you were a BB stacker while going to EOD school. It also made it easier for them to reclassify the washouts. From first day basic to first day EOD school you would only be 6-8 weeks later, but after you roll in EOD school (and you will) the time difference doesn't matter.

 

When I talked to the Air Force recruiter yesterday he did mention there was a bonus for EOD...like $4000 or so. I'll go in as an E3 thanks to that college degree up on the wall.

Great info! I figured both services did some of the same things down range but that answers a lot of my questions. I talked to a Navy Officer a few months ago that talked to me about Navy vs Air Force. He mentioned that in comparison with the Navy, that the Air Force was a lot more "by-the-book" when it came to their job. Where-as the Navy would given more latitue to think outside the box. Would you say the Army is more "by-the-book" than the Air Force?

 

That sounds like it would get old. But then again I suppose when you join the military you're always going to have someone on your @ss.

 

My patients in the matter of it "getting old" has paid off. It goes a long way in ANY military career. The point the leaders and the Army are trying to get across is that they WANT you to better yourself, and not be stagnant to become a leader yourself so you can train soldiers.

I can safely say that the Army is by the book BUT once you prove that your competent, can follow orders, and solve problems then you will be allowed to handle anything, anyway you want to in the means of regulations. On that note, as a mechanic, 90% of the time the book is right as long as steps are followed to the "T".

You will have a fulfilling career in either branch, but there are more corps values in the Army that make us who we are and what we do. (And to add to the smack talk a little bit) The Army got rid of the AF in 1947 because they realized that side of the Army wanted fresh manicures, and perfect hair

 

Was this officer EOD? If he meant "by-the-book" as in follow the EOD pubs, then being "by-the-book" is a good idea, if you enjoy being alive.That being said, a good part of the school is teaching you to take the books outside the box. If he meant in general operation, then yeah he's right. Navy EOD is closer to special operations than the other services, and they are revered similarly to the way SEALs are, so I have been told. Army and AF still real similar. Sometimes it depends on who your CO is.

 

Gotcha. I can understand that. Improving one's self should be something that never stops.

No, he wasn't EOD.....pretty sure he meant in general. 10-4.

 

ok. you and i need to have a talk.