RyanJ

Anyone here an AF Officer? I am thinking about trying to join as an officer since I just graduated college.

Thoughts? Experiences?

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Better promotion opportunity in the Army, too much red tape in the air force in promotions. Definitely a good job to be a AF officer though.

Have you taken the AFOQT yet?

RyanJ

No, not yet. Haven't even take the ASVAB short of some sample the Army wanted me to take a long time ago. I should have any trouble with any test, I'm more worried about the selection.

brad8266

iTrader: (23)

Yeah selection is the rough part, although the AFOQT is not an easy test by any means.

Malicious

iTrader: (1)

Take the AFOQT and see how you do, then if you do well and are set on the AF apply for OTS....

98LS-WON

I went OTS, but hindsight being 20/20 I should have done ROTC to help pay for school. They wouldn't guarantee a flying spot though, so I guess paying for school is worth getting paid for flying. Shoot me a PM if you have any questions. BTW, what career field are you looking into?

Malicious

iTrader: (1)

If life changes and I decide to stay in a lot longer than I plan to at this point I'm definitely gonna try to do the commissioning thing... can retire at 20 as an O3 and make pretty good money but I really doubt I'll stay in that long

RyanJ

It depends on the testing, but if I cannot get flight, then I am looking at communications or space and missle ops, maybe airfield operations.

andrew1182

iTrader: (5)

my brother graduated from the airforce academy in 2001 and he just finished his 5 years this month. he's 26 and made captain a few months ago. he decided to get out of the military all together. he moved in with my while he finds a house, but i'm sure he wouldn't mind answering some questions for you.

pm me if you want his email addy.

GETSOMZ28

iTrader: (1)

I have been in AF officer for the past 10 years (commissioned through ROTC). It has its ups and downs just like any other job. I started off as an Air Weapons Officer on the E-3 (AWACS), but have been working in financial mgt for the last 7 years. I am separating this summer for personal reasons but I am trying to transfer to the AF Reserves. If you have any specific questions, shoot me a pm.

StoleIt

iTrader: (3)

I'm in ROTC right now.

AF is chopping down hard right now so you have to make yourself look really good to get an OTS slot. (Force shapeing)

Airfield Ops is one of the hardest AFSC's to get into. I know from ROTC they take 3 people a year.

Then would be your rated Pilot/Nav/ABM slot with about 1500 slots open (500-600 ROTC, I believe OTS gets about 400 slots, rest go to Academy)

Space and Missiles shouldn't be a problem, plus Vandenburg is a sweet base.

Check out baseops.net if your more interested in a rated slot. Good luck.

StoleIt

iTrader: (3)

Wah? How old are you? It takes 4 years to get O-3. Most people commission when they are between 21-23.

Malicious

iTrader: (1)

I'm almost 25, if I stayed in I'd do the OTS thing if I could, but just saying you could retire as an O3 at 20 years of service and make really good retirement. I meant 20 as in 20 years not 20 years old

StoleIt

iTrader: (3)

Oooo...but how the hell would you stay a Captain for 20 years? Yes at 20 years you would get paid retirement (which is pimp btw) be about 45 years old. But you should be O-5/O-6 at 20 years.

Just your O-3 comment is confusing me. Maybe if you were prior-E for 10 years then went OTS?

Malicious

iTrader: (1)

Yeah that's mostly what I mean.... I probably wouldn't have LESS than 10 years before I finished my bachelors and applied for OTS...I'm at like 3 years enlisted atm and might be close to an associates... This is all a speculation at this point because I'm really not sure I'm staying in at all Now if I were E for 10 years and stayed beyond 20 total I'd hope I could make O5 or O6 but that's all speculation. Father in law told my wife this weekend that when we move back to our hometown that if I have trouble finding a job he'd get me on where he's at and make sure I get a good salary....

GETSOMZ28

iTrader: (1)

If you do decide to try for OTS, I hope you have a high GPA. It is pretty competitive and will require high AFOQT scores . Also, it will help if you can get a letter of recommendation from a General officer if at all possible (the more stars the better).

StoleIt

iTrader: (3)

Yea thats why I love ROTC. I did pretty shitty on general AFOQT math and all that. Nothing special like 50-60's.

But damn did I rock the Pilot/Nav slot like a huricane.

And if your going future rated, the TBAS (used to be BAT) test is a bit of a bitch. Have fun.

Malicious

iTrader: (1)

Talked with my father about the letter of recommendations from General officers and I know of a 1 star and a 2 star that would both write something for me... Who knows honestly, it'd be a long time from now before I'd even be applying anyways

RyanJ

I went and talked to a guy today. VERY hard to get into non-technical jobs right now with my degree and GPA. There is a chance to go into rated jobs (flight jobs) and that's what I wanted anyway so I'm gonna test/board on 7/1/07. I'm really looking at Air Battle Mgmt. Anyone know anyone in ABM?

BADFNZ

iTrader: (19)

Go to airforceots.com or baseops.net.

My OTS packet was just sent last week for the upcoming board. Those two sites helped out alot. When I took the AFOQT, I knew they had taken off 5 sections of the test and the other guys I took the test with had no idea. I did pretty good on the AFOQT and my PCSM score is good, but my GPA is very borderline. If you have any questions about the process, let me know. Did you go see Sgt. Keyes?