6 answers
Shawanda
Student
Memphis, Tennessee
1
Question
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What are the best Career options available in the Air Force?
#air-force
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6 answers
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Training Officer / EMT
83
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Shawanda. Thanks for your interest in serving.
There is no single definitively "best" job in the Air Force - it all depends what you like! The military is like it's own society...if the job exists in your community (plumbers, firefighters, mechanics, etc.) then that job also likely exists in the military too.
I served 4-years as an active duty Air Force intelligence officer. I would say that the "best" job seemed to be any aircrew position (pilot, crew chief, load master, boom operator, etc. ) I only say these are "best" because they seemed to have the best job perks (travel, flight incentive pay, mandatory rest periods, comfortable uniforms, etc.) and they seem to have the best morale. But there are drawbacks too; travel means you're on the road a lot, some aircrew members have to sign longer contracts, the job is more dangerous in some ways, etc.)
It also depends what you might want to do after the military. If you plan on getting out, you probably want to avoid jobs that don't have a civilian equivalent. For example, I wouldn't get a job maintaining bombs, because it's going to be hard finding a civilian job that works with bombs. If you want to be a police officer though, then being a Security Forces Airmen would be a great way to prepare for that civilian career.
So, that's why I say it all depends on what you like to do, what your career goals are, and what lifestyle is important to you outside of work!
If you have any follow-up questions, don't hesitate to ask!
There is no single definitively "best" job in the Air Force - it all depends what you like! The military is like it's own society...if the job exists in your community (plumbers, firefighters, mechanics, etc.) then that job also likely exists in the military too.
I served 4-years as an active duty Air Force intelligence officer. I would say that the "best" job seemed to be any aircrew position (pilot, crew chief, load master, boom operator, etc. ) I only say these are "best" because they seemed to have the best job perks (travel, flight incentive pay, mandatory rest periods, comfortable uniforms, etc.) and they seem to have the best morale. But there are drawbacks too; travel means you're on the road a lot, some aircrew members have to sign longer contracts, the job is more dangerous in some ways, etc.)
It also depends what you might want to do after the military. If you plan on getting out, you probably want to avoid jobs that don't have a civilian equivalent. For example, I wouldn't get a job maintaining bombs, because it's going to be hard finding a civilian job that works with bombs. If you want to be a police officer though, then being a Security Forces Airmen would be a great way to prepare for that civilian career.
So, that's why I say it all depends on what you like to do, what your career goals are, and what lifestyle is important to you outside of work!
If you have any follow-up questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Alexandra McCoy
Site Reliability Engineer - SaaS Reliability Enablement
42
Answers
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Updated
Alexandra’s Answer
I agree with previous responders, and thank you for considering to serve our country.
There are so many career routes you could choose from in the military. Think of the world of careers now and consider the military it's own little world that needs the majority of the career roles we have today to function.
So if you want to be a doctor/nurse, you can do that in the military. My best friend's sister decided to become a nurse in the military. If you like technology, the roles are plentiful in different areas within the military. They still require HR and Business roles to run the business and manage people. A pilot perhaps?
It all boils down to what do you want to do? What are you good at? What makes you happy? Depending on the track you choose, there is possibility to join and do focus on academics first and military work after graduation. Plenty to consider with this decision.
Outside of what you want to do, make sure you want to do it in the military. Joining the military is a big commitment. So explore the roles you think you'd like to try and maybe speak with a parent/guardian about taking you to have a conversation with a recruiter.
There are so many career routes you could choose from in the military. Think of the world of careers now and consider the military it's own little world that needs the majority of the career roles we have today to function.
So if you want to be a doctor/nurse, you can do that in the military. My best friend's sister decided to become a nurse in the military. If you like technology, the roles are plentiful in different areas within the military. They still require HR and Business roles to run the business and manage people. A pilot perhaps?
It all boils down to what do you want to do? What are you good at? What makes you happy? Depending on the track you choose, there is possibility to join and do focus on academics first and military work after graduation. Plenty to consider with this decision.
Outside of what you want to do, make sure you want to do it in the military. Joining the military is a big commitment. So explore the roles you think you'd like to try and maybe speak with a parent/guardian about taking you to have a conversation with a recruiter.
Deandrea Johnson
Aircraft Maintenance
3
Answers
Mildenhall, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Deandrea’s Answer
There are many career options in the Air Force, but it depends on what YOU want to do or what you’re interested in. If you like keeping busy and using your hands to build or fix things, then aircraft or ground equipment maintenance might be your thing. If you’re interested in doing administrative work, then the varying jobs in administration might be more your cup of tea. Whenever you take the ASVAB (a test that shows what jobs you qualify for based on your score), you’ll have a better idea of what jobs you could get as well. Here are some suggestions to help narrow things down for you:
1. Figure out what you’re truly interested in. What’s your passion? What can you see yourself doing for the next couple of years?
2. Look at the lists of AFSCs that are available and see what aligns with your interests. AFSCs are job codes for specific jobs. For instance, my AFSC is 2A935X which just translates to me being an electronic maintenance person for an aircraft.
1. Figure out what you’re truly interested in. What’s your passion? What can you see yourself doing for the next couple of years?
2. Look at the lists of AFSCs that are available and see what aligns with your interests. AFSCs are job codes for specific jobs. For instance, my AFSC is 2A935X which just translates to me being an electronic maintenance person for an aircraft.
William Collier
Flight Engineer
3
Answers
Minot, North Dakota
Updated
William’s Answer
There are many career opportunities in the Air Force. I would look at a list of AFACs in the Air Force for a job that sounds like like you would like to do.
Hi William. could you please explain what AFACs are and how to find them?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Katherine Miller, PMP
Training Program Manager
2
Answers
El Dorado Hills, California
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Hi Shawanda,
Let me start my response by saying "Thank You" for your interest in serving our country! Not a whole lot of young people go this route and it takes a whole lot of courage to even consider this path.
I am not in the Air Force but my younger brother is.
He joined the US Air Force when he was 18 and is now on his last tour before he retires in a couple of years.
Like you, he started undecided. At 18, he felt like he was still a kid with no idea of what he truly wants to do.
Eventually, he ended up being an Air Force instructor (specifically HVAC) wherein he found it very fulfilling to teach.
As he became an expert on his field, he also started his own side HVAC business which he attends to during the weekend.
So when you're thinking about a career in the Air Force, think about something that interests you and can transfer when you decide to retire.
My brother is just about to turn 40 (which is young for a retiree) but he is "set" after retirement because he opted to use the skills and knowledge he learned in the Air Force to prepare for his retirement.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Katherine
Let me start my response by saying "Thank You" for your interest in serving our country! Not a whole lot of young people go this route and it takes a whole lot of courage to even consider this path.
I am not in the Air Force but my younger brother is.
He joined the US Air Force when he was 18 and is now on his last tour before he retires in a couple of years.
Like you, he started undecided. At 18, he felt like he was still a kid with no idea of what he truly wants to do.
Eventually, he ended up being an Air Force instructor (specifically HVAC) wherein he found it very fulfilling to teach.
As he became an expert on his field, he also started his own side HVAC business which he attends to during the weekend.
So when you're thinking about a career in the Air Force, think about something that interests you and can transfer when you decide to retire.
My brother is just about to turn 40 (which is young for a retiree) but he is "set" after retirement because he opted to use the skills and knowledge he learned in the Air Force to prepare for his retirement.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Katherine
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
838
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Shawanda,
Go Air Force! My father was in the Air Force. I think that like any other job, you have to know what you want to do. My dad wanted to be a pilot. That is not a job that everyone gets, but he worked hard to earn the right. You have to be competitive and willing to do the work. The USAF is a large organization with many important roles that need to be filled. I think that there are some fundamental questions that you need to consider.
- Why do you want to be in the Air Force? Is this a short term commitment or a lifelong commitment? There is no right way here. It can be very rewarding to make a career out of service.
- What natural skills and passions do you already have? Loving a job usually involves a skill or talent that you are already have and love. The armed services are often on the cutting edge of things like technology and medicine, among other things.
- How flexible are you with where you want to live? The USAF can take you a lot of places. Being excited about those moves will make the change easier. I know that my family had struggles when the moves came too fast and with small children.
I wish you luck with finding your place in the USAF.
Gloria
Review careers available: https://www.airforce.com/careers
Go Air Force! My father was in the Air Force. I think that like any other job, you have to know what you want to do. My dad wanted to be a pilot. That is not a job that everyone gets, but he worked hard to earn the right. You have to be competitive and willing to do the work. The USAF is a large organization with many important roles that need to be filled. I think that there are some fundamental questions that you need to consider.
- Why do you want to be in the Air Force? Is this a short term commitment or a lifelong commitment? There is no right way here. It can be very rewarding to make a career out of service.
- What natural skills and passions do you already have? Loving a job usually involves a skill or talent that you are already have and love. The armed services are often on the cutting edge of things like technology and medicine, among other things.
- How flexible are you with where you want to live? The USAF can take you a lot of places. Being excited about those moves will make the change easier. I know that my family had struggles when the moves came too fast and with small children.
I wish you luck with finding your place in the USAF.
Gloria
Gloria recommends the following next steps: