quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
I was Army on active duty originally and then went into the Air Guard so I got to experience the Air Force Way and I liked it, a lot.

The Air Force has a different, almost corporate, culture than the other services and has the best facilities and treats their members better than the other services as well.

Something to keep in mind (other members please correct me if I'm out of date with this info):

The US Army CAN guarantee you a job (MOS) in writing before you go anywhere.

The USAF will NOT guarantee you a job (AFSC) in writing, but rather a "career field" and the AFSC you end up with may NOT be the AFSC you were promised. (this may have changed)

quote:

Originally posted by LouieH:
If pushed, he digs in and won't budge.

That may be a big problem, because your son WILL be pushed.

But maybe the USAF is the push he needs to grow up.

The Air Force WILL guarantee a specialty, if you can qualify for it. Otherwise it's a general enlistment. Again I point to the ASVAB

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy: I was stationed on a remote Oregon mountain ...

Really? My brother was stationed on very probably that same mountain, circa 1965-66. (I was in about fourth grade then.)

I was at this one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157651301039532/.

flashguy

I’m currently active duty USAF, career special ops pilot. Never played golf in my life. Worked for several generals, never knew one who played golf. Most of these comments are trash. We’ve been at war for 18 years and the USAF is doing the nations business and burning terrorists alive everyday. Most of these comments are absurd. OP: feel free to PM if you have specific questions.

I would encourage him to join if he isn't willing to finish a BS. I would also encourage him to join expecially so if he finishes a BS. I can't think of a better career start for a young person on a general path to go in any service with a comission.

quote:

Originally posted by arabiancowboy:
I’m currently active duty USAF, career special ops pilot. Never played golf in my life. Worked for several generals, never knew one who played golf. Most of these comments are trash. We’ve been at war for 18 years and the USAF is doing the nations business and burning terrorists alive everyday. Most of these comments are absurd. OP: feel free to PM if you have specific questions.

Have you ever seen how nice the golf course is on the naval base in Puerto Rico???

quote:

Originally posted by arabiancowboy:
I’m currently active duty USAF, career special ops pilot. Never played golf in my life. Worked for several generals, never knew one who played golf. Most of these comments are trash. We’ve been at war for 18 years and the USAF is doing the nations business and burning terrorists alive everyday. Most of these comments are absurd. OP: feel free to PM if you have specific questions.

Thank you Cowboy for what you do. I know what you do and I salute your courage and commitment. I also want to point out that the U.S. Air Force has been at a continuous state of war since Saddam invaded Kuwait.

Let me say a few words about golf courses on airfields. Look at any major airport and you will notice large open areas surrounding the runways and taxiways. Air bases need large open areas for obvious reasons. You can leave those un-developable areas vacant and mow a lot of grass, or you can take some of it and use it for recreational purposes, like golf courses. Golf courses on military bases are Non-Appropriated Fund activities, which means they are supported by user fees and not by tax dollars. Likewise skeet fields, service clubs, campgrounds, etc.

I will debate anyone here on what the Air Force brings to the fight. Anyone who has been on the ground calling for CAS knows. Most Airmen are technicians who support the direct action warriors. Their job is different but important to the effort. You want them protected and well rested. The Special Warfare folks and aircrews who rain fire and steel on our enemies and carry troops and war materiel are warriors as much as any of their sister agencies. But their mission is different in some ways. I have great admiration and respect for all the services. Two of my children are career Air Force in Special Warfare and a third is a Marine. God love all our troops.

Pretty sure the comments about golf courses and officer quarters being built first are jokes.

Some of you guys take this too seriously.

LouieH makes an assistance request for a kid who wants to join the the Air Force and all some of you can come up with is bad jokes, join another branch, lame sea stories, and outdated recruiting advice