[ghostknyght]

Ive noticed up in the pin exchange area, there's a bunch of people (myself included) leaving for various branches of service soon. That being said, if you're leaving soon come drop a line here. If you're prior or current service I'd love some advice, or just say hi as well. That being said, 4 years or 6 years...I'm having a hard time deciding.




And as I dont want to clutter up the board, anyone gone to the Vans Warped Tour in their area? How was it?

[Username5300]

Prior USCG but it was along time ago.

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[DravenX]

Which service will you be going into?

[Kronk]

Best of luck to you.

[cap10mark]

Good luck, and THANK YOU for serving our country!

[carnadi88]

I got out of the Navy last year after 10 years. If you need any advice just hit me up. I managed to do pretty good for myself once I got out.

[Kronk]

I know it's been asked already, but what branch and do you have a job assignment yet?

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[SimeonAS89]

I leave for Air Force basic training on August 12th @ Lackland AF Base in San Antonio, TX.

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[BB_Curve00]

I am still undecided if i want to try for the navy or US coast guard. help me out lol anyways the thoses are, thank you for keeping this country safe

[SimeonAS89]

Before I decided on the Air Force, I went to the Navy office.

From my understanding of the Coast Guard you just protect the waters of the US and do rescue missions of stranded people in water.

I learned that if you wanna go places and see the world the Navy is the way to go. There's a variety of places you'll be able to go, but its just really a matter of preference/want and what you score on the ASVAB, that's definitely key.

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[Kronk]

The navy does do some of the best travelling, if that's what you're enlisting for, which some people do.

As far as quality of life issues, the Air Force has all others beat hands down.

[Heresy]

Hats off to all military people. I'm a military brat (Air Force), hence being in Dover. My old man was a loadmaster, he went everywhere and loved it.

[BerryLatina]

Active duty for 17 years (and counting). Whichever route you take - good luck to you!

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[SimeonAS89]

What's everyones Job?
Mine personally is going to be Security Forces, when I go in, on August 12th

[oakie]

1A771 Retired.

[exelant]

Hi Simeon,

There's some things the recruiter doesn't talk about too much concerning Air Force basic training. Probably just as well, lol. Now take what I say with a grain of salt because I went through it in the early seventies, but some things don't change.

The Air Force isn't as physically demanding as the other services, but they strive to place you under a tremendous amount of mental pressure. They hammer you from the beginning with being Set Back -- that means if you don't meet expectations you'll have to leave your flight and go back to repeat training with another flight. If you fail one of the book tests two times, you'll be set back. If don't meet PT expectations, you'll be set back. There are a number of things that'll cause you to be set back.

Just remember that it doesn't happen too much, they just threaten you with it to keep you worried. Keep your cool and you'll be fine. I think the biggest thing is keep your mouth shut and follow instructions. When you first get there, you'll be a rainbow -- colorful civilian clothes, lol.

Another thing to remember is to always go to church on Sunday. That will be about the only time no one will be yelling at you. If you stay at the dorm, you'll be doing clean-up, so go to church for peace and quiet -- even if you're not religious. Get used to saying Sir, Yes Sir! The first day you're there they will keep you up late and get you tired. You will be disoriented your first few days, so rest when you can.

One thing most here don't know is that Security Police is the combat arm of the Air Force in addition to protecting secure facilities. You'll get combat training as well as the security stuff. I'm proud of you because you have not chosen an easy field. When I was in, your tech school was at Lackland. It is hot and humid there so drink a lot.


Good Luck, Airman!

PS if you think you're going to make it a career, do the Six Year.

PPS There are a number of Coast Guard ships in the Persian Gulf right now.

Mike

[SLVR6]

Hats off to those serving, going to serve and who have served! We owe our freedom to you. My brother is currently at Fort Sam Houston in Sat Antonio, TX studying to be a Army medic. My cousin did 14 years with the Navy as an air traffic controller, he has seen many places with the Navy, then many when out (he has done 2 summers in Antartica!). I wanted to try a fly in the Air Force, but my ears kept me out all together. Good luck!

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[SimeonAS89]

Hi Simeon,

There's some things the recruiter doesn't talk about too much concerning Air Force basic training. Probably just as well, lol. Now take what I say with a grain of salt because I went through it in the early seventies, but some things don't change.

The Air Force isn't as physically demanding as the other services, but they strive to place you under a tremendous amount of mental pressure. They hammer you from the beginning with being Set Back -- that means if you don't meet expectations you'll have to leave your flight and go back to repeat training with another flight. If you fail one of the book tests two times, you'll be set back. If don't meet PT expectations, you'll be set back. There are a number of things that'll cause you to be set back.

Just remember that it doesn't happen too much, they just threaten you with it to keep you worried. Keep your cool and you'll be fine. I think the biggest thing is keep your mouth shut and follow instructions. When you first get there, you'll be a rainbow -- colorful civilian clothes, lol.

Another thing to remember is to always go to church on Sunday. That will be about the only time no one will be yelling at you. If you stay at the dorm, you'll be doing clean-up, so go to church for peace and quiet -- even if you're not religious. Get used to saying Sir, Yes Sir! The first day you're there they will keep you up late and get you tired. You will be disoriented your first few days, so rest when you can.

One thing most here don't know is that Security Police is the combat arm of the Air Force in addition to protecting secure facilities. You'll get combat training as well as the security stuff. I'm proud of you because you have not chosen an easy field. When I was in, your tech school was at Lackland. It is hot and humid there so drink a lot.

Good Luck, Airman!

PS if you think you're going to make it a career, do the Six Year.

PPS There are a number of Coast Guard ships in the Persian Gulf right now.

Mike

Mike,

Thank you for the admiration and excellent advice on basic training. I have various friends in the Air Force as well as my girlfriends brother in-law in the Army, They've been giving me great advice as well, so I have full support, (excluding my family). I'd like to get insight from anyone with prior service or someone who knows what goes on in the Air Force.

I don't expect Basic Training to be easy, but what I do expect is to take something and use it in the world if I decide not to do it after my 4 years.

I've thought about doing 6 years and making it a career because either way I have to do 8 years (4 Active, 4 Reserve), doing 6 active/2 reserve and would also come with a Bonus, but say I don't end up liking it then what?

In the beginning I was very hesitant on accepting the fact that I was going to be doing Security Forces (Original job was Information Management) so I talked to numerous people (including the Guard recruiters) and I talked to someone and he said, "If you go in with a negative attituide, then the next 4 years of your life are going to be horrible. But, if your positive about it, then it'll be a breeze. Go in and do the job the best way you know how, and do what you need to do to know that you did your very best at what you did."

But as my leave date is fastly approaching I'm preparing myself mentally and physically in the best ways I know how to, so thats where I'm at, at this point in time.

-Simeon

P.S. Tech School is still at Lackland

[BenXP]

I pray God give you strength and grace as you enter the Air Force and serve.

Living here in San Antonio as long as I have, a lot of my buddies I grew up with are now abroad serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait among other places. My dad's a Lt. Col in the Marines and is about to retire after 22 yrs.

My thanks goes out to him and all our other men and women serving (and those who have served) in the armed forces, Godspeed.

[ksechrest]

Congrats on your decision to voluntarily enlist in the US military. Former marine here, oorah!

Only sign up for 4 yrs to begin with because nothing be worse than you sign up for 6 years and then decide that you want to explore other things in life and you can't because you are stuck an extra 2 years.

The inactive reserve for the 4 yrs afterward is nothing. You meet once a year and keep the military aware of your home address and marital status, etc. You do not do any training like your traditional reserve units.

Nice job being a man and stepping it up for your country and yourself. Enjoy it as it will be life changing.

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[exelant]

You'll be fine Simeon. I was an environmental specialist when I was in - I ran wastewater plants and I cleaned hazardous materials - I had several afsc's during my four years. I'm most proud of my time as a Red Horse. I still work in the environmental field as a treatment plant operations manager, so I got my start in the Air Force.

Like I said, some things never change. The pressure they put on you at first seems unbearable, just remember they're teaching you to react under stress. As you go along it'll seem the pressure is letting up, but the truth is you're adapting and learning to deal with it.

I guess I was lucky to have my family behind me - my Dad and Step-Dad retired from the military - I grew up on bases all over the country. Your's will come around, I'm sure of it. The only reason I said do the 6 year was for rank and pay - I did the 4 myself and got out after it was up, but they were cutting back in '76 and encouraged many of us to get out. It's up to you - the Marine is right, though. If you do the six and don't want to stay in, you're stuck.. Back then we did have the option of adding 2 years after basic I don't know about now.

One thing you can do is to practice running in shorts and boots, lol. I think a mile and a half in under 10 minutes is good enough.

One other thing, My wife works as a Dept. of Defense safety contractor and spends a lot of time at Air Force bases in Iraq, Kuwait and Bosnia. It seems a lot of SP's are being sent to Bosnia. Wouldn't that be something, you'd be expecting to roast in the desert and end up freezing in the Balkans? Just goes to show you need to keep an open mind. England and Germany are a blast, too. You are going to have a great adventure and I am jealous. Lol!
Mike

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[SimeonAS89]

Bosnia sounds pretty cool. But that's one thing I'm looking forward to is the traveling. I heard that Security Forces deploy a lot tho. So that's gonna take some time adjusting.

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[exelant]

The AF does do a lot TDY, so you might end up anywhere for a while. There's an AF base in Kyrgikistan that has a lot of SP's, I don't know if I spelled that right, but it supports the troops in Afganistan. There are 20 thousand foot mountains - a beautiful place. Who knows where you'll end up.

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[inkwell]

Good luck, and THANK YOU for serving our country!

I pray God give you strength and grace as you enter the Air Force and serve...

...My thanks goes out to him and all our other men and women serving (and those who have served) in the armed forces, Godspeed.

I share the sentiments of my fellow board members. I have family and my best friend who deployed, it means a lot to have people who serve or going to serve for our great country!

[SimeonAS89]

Yeah I too have lots of friends who have been deployed. One of my friends just got back as a matter of fact from Iraq and another is still there.

Not too many people are willing to step up and do the work. I'm glad I can say that I'm willing to take on the challenge for those who don't.

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