US Air Force

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I'm looking at the Air Force as a possible career move. I now have a BA in Business Administration, but despite more interviews that I can remember I have yet to find a good job. I am become discouraged and disappointed. Eventually I will have some big student loans to pay off, and for this I will need a very good job.

I had never intended to go into the military but this is looking like a viable (albeit unpleasant) option. I need that signing bonus! Plus, if I do join the military, I will continue to purse an MBA degree.

The point of this post is not really all of the above. I just want to hear from any aspies that have been in the Air Force specifically (not other branches). And more specifically, those who went straight into officer training due to having an education.

How tough is officer basic? Is there hazing? Do you get enough food to eat and time to sleep? Is it 12 weeks non-stop or are there any weekends? How are the living arrangements?

There are a few posts on the board about people with AS in the military. Generally the military will not accept autistics, so you'd have to keep your diagnosis to yourself.

Hi lowfreq. I will be breaking my 6 year point in the military in less than a week. I am currently an E-5, and may be putting on E-6 soon. I am not horribly familiar with the officer world, but I do know that it is far more politics than even my NCO world, and that is bad enough. Now, there is a caveat to that: In the Air Force many of the technical jobs are done by officers, whereas in the Navy (my branch) that is NCO territory. That is important, because being a technical expert can help you immensly in coping with the military and it's social structure, if you are in a technical job.

I noticed that you posted a similar thread in the work section. I wonder, did you look down further on the page to find this thread?

http://www.wrongplanet.net/modules.php? ... ic&t=13964

This is a specific thread dealing with this topic. I have posted in there, as well as talked to another user who is currently in Air Force Officer School. I hope he gets in contact with you, as he will know much more about the service/officer specific side of things.

As for myself, I have adapted well. I am no more eccentric than anyone else I work with on a day-to-day basis, simply because I've learned to adapt. I am accepted as eccentric simply because I am by far the best analog/digital theory and electronics analysis guy we have. I may not be up to speed at my current job, having less than a year experience, but for electronics themselves I am several cuts above all but one tech we had (and he left). In the NCO (E-4 and E-5) world, and even the SNCO (E-7 to E-9) world, that is enough to go by. I honestly think that for an officer it would not be. With 6 years behind me, and the MANY different roles I've had to play, I think I could do well as an officer now, but when I first came in I almost fell apart even in the structured enlisted world. The officer world requires much more independance and assertiveness from step 1.

As an officer you would unquestionably be in charge of someone, some time, and have to willing and able to command them to do things they may not want to do. This isn't easy, not like most civilians think it is. Being in charge of them in the military is not like being their boss in the civilian world. As someone's senior, you are effectively accountable for them 24/7, on duty and off. Also, you are responsible for their safety, and putting them into harms way if need be. Freezing up, or wanting to throw away the responsibility, is NOT an option at any time. This may sound a little dramatic, but it's true. You never know when you may be in a dangerous situation that you have to take charge of to get everyone out safely, if that is even possible. I, thank god, have never had to be in charge of a situation like that. The only times I've been involved, I was either 1 of 2 people on the scene, or part of a party of workers containing the emergency. However, looking at my actions and my training, I know that I could do what was neccesary if the time came.

I ask only that you ask yourself, honestly, if you could do the same. Could you order people into a fire to save others, and step in there with them if neccesary? Joining the military for money is a common thing, but most people never ask anyone besides a recruiter what it means to join.

I hope my rambling has helped you a little.

Yeah, what he said about being a leader. The first thing you are told is not to get friendly on a personal level. You keep your distance kind of thing. Even more so with an officer. You'll have to pull them on the carpet more then a few times, never fun, but it's your job to let them know, what you say is the law. It's rank and it's what makes people charge cannon fire. Think hard on this, you're up and doing things long before the rest under your command are, it is and can be exhausting on the mental and physical side. And god help you if you get into combat. In this day and age, there is no such thing as the "front" lines. There is only one purpose for the military, only one, never forget it. My cousin has already done 2 tours in Iraq, and one in the old Soviet Union, since the current mess, Air Force and that's only the reserves.

These are some good replies.

Of course, at this point I have no idea what they would have me do as far as specialization is concerned. I know that for myself structure and routine are what keep me productive. I am an institutional security officer right now for the state and we use a para-military structure. I'm a sargent. We have rules and regulations for literally everything (no chewing of gum while on duty except during break) and this keeps me effective as a security officer.

About ordering others: I think I could do this as long as I was confident in my understanding of the rules and my judgment. I definitely understand why I would need to avoid making personal friendships.... this wouldn't be hard to avoid anyway. I don't make friends even when I try.

Apatura...
I have no diagnosis. I am "self-diagnosed" which counts for nothing. It simply allows me to do research on something that seems relevant to myself.

I will go ahead and take the AFQT in July which would indicate what the AF would need me for... munitions, personnel, logistics, etc.

My husband and I loved his time in the Air Force. But if you see it as an unpleasant option, I'm wondering if you really want to enlist. Once you are enlisted, they own you. If you say no to anything you are told to do, you get court-martialed.