US Air Force

[Foxtrot]

Has anyone been in the Air Force? I am considering going into it after high school as I have no way to pay for college. I just want to know what it is like, and most importantly, is boot as easy as I hear it is?

 

[Gray Fox]

Will joining the airforce help you pay for college?
Just curious.

 

[Razor]

I think it depends on what you want to do, if you want to be a pilot, the selection process is very tough. I wanted to join the raf, but i couldn't due to my height, but out of every 100 applicants, i think only around 3 get through.

 

[Steve]

Will joining the airforce help you pay for college?
Just curious.

Yeah...we have programs here...they pay for your college, and you have a mandatory term of service after you graduate. I think it's 2 years, but I'm not sure.

 

[Foxtrot]

I don't want to be a pilot, I have bad vision anyways.

 

[KoreBolteR]

college is free here, unless your college is equivelant to what we call "university" in uk..
it costs LOADS to go to university

 

[Steve]

Yeah, our college is your University. I believe your "college" is our "high school".

 

[Death.Trap]

I want to be a pilot, thinking about joining up myself.

 

[johnshafft]

If you want to want to be a pilot you better have excellent grades, and be in some military program (ROTC, Military school, Military acadamey, Civil Air Patrol, etc). All the services have a big back log on pilots, and people in programs to be pilots. So you have to do things that make yourself a better candidate IE grades and experience.

thier isnt anough of an attrition rate to bring on a lot of new flyers. plus you have to sign longer deals as a pilot.

Air Force is the way to go to learn any technology, and not get stuck being a ground pounder or desk monkey

 

[Alientank]

Good luck being a pilot. Most of those guys start at it before they even hit legal age of consent. Get great marks, go to military schools, spend all their time on school, get 90's and go from there.

Not to mention if you don't have perfect vision, you are gone period. Sucks but that's how it is.

 

[Thread]

what if you previously get a laser surgery?

 

[Steve]

what if you previously get a laser surgery?

That would fall under the category of "corrected vision", I do believe.

...so no.

 

[GhostValkyrie]

I'm in the Navy. Been home on leave for almost 4 weeks, fly out to Bahrain the 15th. I'd suggest looking into the Navy, very much so. Of course I am biased, but give it a shot. We have the best benefits if a few months ago. Being a free spirit was the hardest thing, but what I'm getting in return for surrendering some of these freedoms fora few years is worth it. Also, if you can work it out with your command, you can get out of your contract a year early to go to college. So, rather than four years, or however long you sign for, it's three years. Being that you enroll in a college.

AlienTank; Just so you know, being in the Air Force doesn't make you a pilot. You have to be an officer, and go to flight after graduating from the Officer Academy. Being an officer isn't easy to get, either. And being a pilot sure as hell isn't.

 

[VegetaMight]

I have a friend that is in the AirForce; since he lives on base, they pay for almost everyone. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

 

[Foxtrot]

I'm in the Navy. Been home on leave for almost 4 weeks, fly out to Bahrain the 15th. I'd suggest looking into the Navy, very much so. Of course I am biased, but give it a shot. We have the best benefits if a few months ago. Being a free spirit was the hardest thing, but what I'm getting in return for surrendering some of these freedoms fora few years is worth it. Also, if you can work it out with your command, you can get out of your contract a year early to go to college. So, rather than four years, or however long you sign for, it's three years. Being that you enroll in a college.

AlienTank; Just so you know, being in the Air Force doesn't make you a pilot. You have to be an officer, and go to flight after graduating from the Officer Academy. Being an officer isn't easy to get, either. And being a pilot sure as hell isn't.

Where in Bahrain? My Dad was stationed their on shore duty for 4 years when he was in then navy. Also, how hard was boot camp for the Navy?

 

[Dalamari]

My cousin told me boot camp is easy for the Navy if you work out a lot prior, it is running, weapon familiarization, basic cardio stuff and swim test.

 

[Gunner]

Good luck being a pilot. Most of those guys start at it before they even hit legal age of consent. Get great marks, go to military schools, spend all their time on school, get 90's and go from there.

Not to mention if you don't have perfect vision, you are gone period. Sucks but that's how it is.

That's true, they're usually the kids who collect airplane models, books and know everything by heart. A friend of mine failed the entry exam for the french airforce because he didn't know what kind of air-to-air missile they were currently using. That and another question about air-to-ground missile... The interviewer told him he wasn't "motivated" enough.

 

[GhostValkyrie]

Where in Bahrain? My Dad was stationed their on shore duty for 4 years when he was in then navy. Also, how hard was boot camp for the Navy?

They aren't telling me. They're simply sticking me on a flight out of Norfolk to Bahrain, the flying me by heli to the Ship. At least, that's what my orders were when I left. My Ombudsman said that the ship just left Oman. Which means that likely my ship was in Bahrain in early November (Or they're flying me there simply because of the base there), went to Oman, and is either going to another country in the gulf or *hopefully* heading back to Japan soon.

 

[FoB_Ed]

That's true, they're usually the kids who collect airplane models, books and know everything by heart. A friend of mine failed the entry exam for the french airforce because he didn't know what kind of air-to-air missile they were currently using. That and another question about air-to-ground missile... The interviewer told him he wasn't "motivated" enough.

France has an airforce?

 

[Alientank]

I'm in the Navy. Been home on leave for almost 4 weeks, fly out to Bahrain the 15th. I'd suggest looking into the Navy, very much so. Of course I am biased, but give it a shot. We have the best benefits if a few months ago. Being a free spirit was the hardest thing, but what I'm getting in return for surrendering some of these freedoms fora few years is worth it. Also, if you can work it out with your command, you can get out of your contract a year early to go to college. So, rather than four years, or however long you sign for, it's three years. Being that you enroll in a college.

AlienTank; Just so you know, being in the Air Force doesn't make you a pilot. You have to be an officer, and go to flight after graduating from the Officer Academy. Being an officer isn't easy to get, either. And being a pilot sure as hell isn't.

Where did I ever say that being in the air force you're a pilot? I never said that. I said that being a pilot is hard.

 

[Adrien C]

France has an airforce?

Yep, a smaller one, but better pilots, they once had the Americans form top gun, against our best, you lost. And in Arfganistan, we got more hits than you did

 

[Kommie]

Yep, a smaller one, but better pilots, they once had the Americans form top gun, against our best, you lost. And in Arfganistan, we got more hits than you did

Not surprising, the french have quite skilled soldiers these days.

You should look up the ROTC program, they pay a load of tuition here at UK (University of Kentucky)

 

[Foxtrot]

We also fly jets that are 30 years old.

 

[slicktick]

We also fly jets that are 30 years old.

The basis for our planes are old, but the new models of the f-18's are quite advanced. We have kept the basic design because it is proven and seems to work the best.

But besides that, the Airforce is definately something to look into. They have the nicest living quarters and bases. And if you join an ROTC program, you will come into the airforce an officer. But even the benefit of them just paying for school is very good. Oh, and boot camp is the easiest out all the military branches. But I really wouldnt worry too much about Boot camp, the main reason people cant do it is because they are very overwieght and if you dont lose it you are kicked out, and from the emotional stress. I have know very wimpy kids who have made it through Army boot camp. You should have no problem really.