Enlisted Jobs

[Guest fighterguy]

I don't think going into a career field with lots of "face time" with pilots is necessary, nor would I recommend it. While face time is nice, the respect of pilots and your peers is, in my opinion, a lot more important. If you work hard, dedicate yourself to the mission of the unit, and work to become the best you can be in your profession, the right people WILL notice!

I've seen lots of guys enlist only to get that "face time" and to fill the prior-service square on an application. You can pick these guys out from a mile away: they don't know their jobs, they spend more time at Ops kissing ass rather than in their shop learning their jobs, and put school over their Guard commitment (i.e. never volunteer for TDY's, come in only when it's mandatory, wear SRA for four years, etc).

My advice: treat your enlisted time not as a stepping stone or passing time till you get that pilot slot. Approach it responsibly and aggressively: bang out those CDC's ASAP, get your 5- and 7-levels in minimum time, volunteer for every TDY that comes along, and above all else treat your Guard commitment as your #1 priority. Remember, you're an officer first, pilot second, and coming up through the ranks will help you develop into a very good officer IF you remember all those lessons you learned and apply them in the future.

Just my opinion.

BTW, I'd go for Crew Chief or Weapons in a fighter unit.

[ 06. December 2006, 17:05: Message edited by: fighterguy ]

[Guest CrewDawg1]

I was a prior crew chief and getting face time on the flightline and the club, was a big help. It was also a great job, I worked with some great people. That being said, I would look a life support before crew chief. They get paid the same to sit inside :D

Things to remember, being in the unit can also work against you. Don't be a sh*t bag. Show up to drill on time. Work hard in your job. Don't just treat it like a stepping stone, they will see right through you. Your flight/section chief might have more power than you think about whether you get a pilot slot. I had my Chief, flight sup. and my trainer tell me that someone on the board had talked to them about me. Something to keep in mind.

Whatever you do, have fun. I had a blast during my time a crew chief. I was able to party all over the U.S. and the world.

Goodluck, feel free to PM with any questions.

[Guest Ghost-Pilot]

Fighter guy is right,

The way i got my slot is by working real hard with in my guard unit and always ALWAYS going out to the flight line....and i got my 5 level ASAP thanks to a great avionics shop...

to quote someone i know,

If you work real hard it will all work out in the end...

So just remember where ever you go dont be lazy and work hard in tech school and your duty station...

[Guest wakebrdr142]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I am taking it all into consideration.

Is a weapons loader the same as armament?

What is command post?

What is TDY? Temporary duty?

[Guest fighterguy]

Armament should be the same as weapons loader -- ask the recruiter to clarify (we've just always called them "Weapons"). Armament is not to be confused with Ammo, which is the group of guys on that remote part of base who build up the munitions but don't actually load them on the jets.

TDY is temporary duty/deployment. It's usually used to refer to stateside deployments. TDY = Fun.

[PlanePhlyer]

fighterguy wrote: "My advice: treat your enlisted time not as a stepping stone or passing time till you get that pilot slot. Approach it responsibly and aggressively: bang out those CDC's ASAP, get your 5- and 7-levels in minimum time, volunteer for every TDY that comes along, and above all else treat your Guard commitment as your #1 priority. Remember, you're an officer first, pilot second, and coming up through the ranks will help you develop into a very good officer IF you remember all those lessons you learned and apply them in the future"

That is awesome advice. The A-10's that are going to FtSmith (I believe thats the 188th) are the ones from the Mass ANG (my old unit).

My advice: Don't pick a job because you think it'll give you face time or closer to pilots, pick a job that you're going to enjoy. I did weapons (actual career is called Armament Systems Specialist) because it sounded exciting. I was right.

Crewdawg1 wrote: "Things to remember, being in the unit can also work against you. Don't be a sh*t bag. Show up to drill on time. Work hard in your job. Don't just treat it like a stepping stone, they will see right through you. Your flight/section chief might have more power than you think about whether you get a pilot slot. I had my Chief, flight sup. and my trainer tell me that someone on the board had talked to them about me. Something to keep in mind"

That is some more really good advice. Work hard...Play hard and don't be $h!tbag.

[Fast_N_Low135]

I'm a crew chief on heavies and i get lots of face time with the pilots working on the line and going TDY, but if you could be aircrew(ie load master or boom, go for it). But in my opinion, crew chief is the Air FOrces best kept secret.

[Guest stusakss]

Unless that "certain" ANG unit plays favorites, it should not matter what job you have first while you are finishing school. Just being in the ANG should be enough if you follow the other advise on here...Work hard, don't be a sh*tbag, etc... That is really the most important.

I was a Law Enforcement troop for 8 years...the only aircrew contact I had was when I was apprehending them...still got pilot slot. Kinda funny actually, I have ran into some old heads that told me I look familiar...truned out I busted them long ago when they are new Lts....lol

[Guest Crisco Kid]

I was a crewchief (plane captain) on hornets, and a KC135 boom. Both were great jobs. All advice above is good. Be a good airman and the rest will take care of itself. Good ANG/AFRC units will hire their brightest before a chump off the street, be that guy.

[Guest wakebrdr142]

Here is a little update if you're interested. After going back and forth on jobs, talking with recruiters and other people at the bases, I chose life support (at a different unit). I had my physical today, will follow up tomorrow, then raise my hand soon after. I can't wait for the experience.

EDIT

If I were to raise my hand now to secure a technical school date in Sept. and hypothetically speaking got picked up for UPT by another unit or AD, what would be my options? Would I be able to get out of my commitment for UPT? I know it would probably piss some people off but I just need to know?

Edited March 1, 2007 by wakebrdr142

[Guest wilco]

You are not obligated at all for the enlisted slot. The only oath you are taking is to the Country and the State.

I just reenlisted for a 6 year term in a different state than I will be serving w/ as a pilot. On top of that, I plan on leaving this unit in a 3 month time frame.

If you serve for at least six months as enlisted, you can keep any of the bonus money paid thus far. For example, with a 15k bonus, if I raise my right hand in Knoxville, TN at six months and 1 day, I can keep my $7,500 minus taxes. I don't know if that means 6 months in my career field, or 6 months of my enlistment.

Go for it.

[ 17. January 2007, 15:16: Message edited by: wilco ]

[Guest WILLIO]

Hey bro... this question is loaded! JK... Everyone has their reason as to why you should do what they did... including myself. I was Intel... which at my unit(blk 50 Viper unit) are around pilots probably more than anyone. When you arent flying, youre either mission planning or in academics. We mission plan and teach and attend academics... so again AT MY UNIT, we are around pilots more than anyone.

Heres the bottom line... choose a job that you could enjoy INCASE you dont get a slot and something that will benefit you best. Do a great job and kick arse, get to know everyone on base, make it known that you want to fly including to the pilots and your chances are great. Dont get caught up hanging around the bar only buttsniffing the flyers... people will see it... the flyers def. will.

Edited March 15, 2007 by WILLIO

[Guest wakebrdr142]

Thanks to all that replied. I finally enlisted. I have been to drill twice and was able to hang out with life support for a day. I can't wait to get back from training so that I can apply myself. I leave for basic on July 24. Age is getting to be a factor for me so a 22 week Intel school would have required to much critical time but sounded like a cool job. One thing to mention is that I did tell the head guy in life support that I wanted to be up front with him about applying for a pilot slot in the future and he was cool with that and appreciated me telling him so that there were no surprises.

In the end I received recruit of the month and get to serve my country!

Edited March 16, 2007 by wakebrdr142

[Insubordinate & Churlish]

How long is the life support tech school? What's its AFSC?

[Guest wakebrdr142]

Course Title: Aircrew Life Support Apprentice (MRT)

CSD: 9/24/2007

CGD: 11/7/2007

about 6 weeks

[Guest MadMagnus]

I'm thinking of enlisting soon as an Operations Resource Management guy. The idea of getting familiar with all the flight plans and scheduling and whatnot appeals to me.

[Guest WILLIO]

Yo bro. Good deal. Life support is a great way to go for the same reason youre doing so. Youre in the Ops group so youll have plenty of exposure... and like you said... the tech school is MUCH shorter. My whole pipeline was well over a year...

On a different note, two of my good buds were selected to fly Vipers out of our life support shop... thats in the last 4 yrs!

[Guest Mach2]

Hey MadMagnus,

I am in Operations Resource Management at my base. Let me tell ya, it is the best keep secret in the Guard. No, just keeding. But it is a cool job. It provides you with a lot of opportunities to get that face time with the pilots. And is not just buttsniffing face time but they will see you in your work environment. You step the crews when they go fly and you do one on one records review with each pilots (pilots don't like record review much, but hey its your chance to make an impression). You will know all there is to know about the training the pilots go through and how it is accomplished which will come in handy once you are on the road to becoming a pilot.

Until I started doing the job I had never even heard of it but if your goal is to eventually become a pilot, this is an awesome opportunity to get to know all the bros. and let 'em see you shine.

[Guest LittleMan]

I found a really good resource on enlisted jobs.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforceenl...bs/a/afjobs.htm

Operations Resource Management: 1C0X2

Life Support: 1T1X1

I do have one question. If you are not selected by the UPT board, is there any way to use your degree and commission in an officer position with the goal of jumping to a pilot position (at the next year's board)? As with the main question in this thread, what officer positions would give you the most interaction with the flight crew and potential UPT board members?

[Guest wakebrdr142]

I do have one question. If you are not selected by the UPT board, is there any way to use your degree and commission in an officer position with the goal of jumping to a pilot position (at the next year's board)? As with the main question in this thread, what officer positions would give you the most interaction with the flight crew and potential UPT board members?

Here is what I have been told about becoming an officer. You have to serve two years after becoming an officer before you can move to another area (pilot slot).

Update: Life Support and Survival have combined and the tech school is now 16 weeks. Looks like I got in at the right time. Now I have to learn all survival stuff through OJT.

Update: I have already been to one upt board and will be going to another in a few months so I think my decision has paid off. I just wish I would have done it years ago. Just have to make the most of it now!

[Guest FlyinRuckinBuck]

What do you guys think about loadmaster? Would that be a decent selection if the final goal is getting selected for UPT?

[165LM]

What do you guys think about loadmaster? Would that be a decent selection if the final goal is getting selected for UPT?

Absolutely, as long as you are the best damn load in the shop and don't get yourself in trouble like many young loads tend to do. You interact with flyers every day because you are a flyer! You'll get to go on trips all over the world with some of the best people you've ever worked with and have a blast doing it. I've been a load now for 4 years and just had my first UPT board yesterday...still waiting for the results. In my opinion, being a guard loadmaster is the best kept secret in the Air force.

[Guest AltazanSW]

Was in the process of enlisting as a loadmaster in the AF Reserve, until I hurt my back at work. I'm stuck waiting to heal so I can finish my IFC3 and hopefully get a waiver. I was orignally planning on joining the 53rd Weather Reconnaisance Squadron, but now since I've had time to sit back and think about it, the tactical airlift side is more and more appealing to me. Is there anyone on here from the 815th Airlift Squadron at Keesler that can tell me what life is like on that side of the house and what to expect as a rookie loadmaster? A little background: I'm 31 with 10 years of PS Army Nat'l Guard service.

Thanks

[Guest maggie]

Hi, I am looking into enlisting in the ANG once I finish college. My fiance just got a C130 job and I was considering being a loadmaster, anyone have any suggestions why to/ not to choose load? I love the idea of being apart of the flight mission, and all the job entails. I am hoping to make a decision. I was also referred to the comissioned side but do not know if there is a job that gives the satisfaction as a loadmaster does. From everyone I've talked to they said they would take a load job over any thing comissioned other than flying. I do not want to be a pilot, but love the idea of being apart of the flight mission. I have not met any females that have become a load, but I think I'm up for the challenge, any ideas? If not load than what?

[165LM]

Hi, I am looking into enlisting in the ANG once I finish college. My fiance just got a C130 job and I was considering being a loadmaster, anyone have any suggestions why to/ not to choose load? I love the idea of being apart of the flight mission, and all the job entails. I am hoping to make a decision. I was also referred to the comissioned side but do not know if there is a job that gives the satisfaction as a loadmaster does. From everyone I've talked to they said they would take a load job over any thing comissioned other than flying. I do not want to be a pilot, but love the idea of being apart of the flight mission. I have not met any females that have become a load, but I think I'm up for the challenge, any ideas? If not load than what?

Hey Maggie,

My unit has several female loads who love the job. There is no reason in the world why a female couldn't hack it as a loadmaster. It is a great job, very rewarding, and fun as hell. I am sure there are plenty of officer positions that are extremely rewarding that you might want to look into. It is hard to beat being flight crew though. What about being a Nav if you don't want to be a pilot?