Married with 1 child wanting to join the AF

[airforcemommy]

So, as the title says, I'm married and have 1 child. I am 25 years old. I have always wanted to join on of the services but never followed through with it. I feel like it's better late than never, but I am wondering if there are too many things stacked against me. Such as having a child, being married, being 25. My husband is being really supportive and understands that this will be a huge lifestyle change, but will this totally ruin our lives? Will I always be gone and never get to see my son? Just want to get some answers before I take the plunge. Thanks.

[mel44]

So, as the title says, I'm married and have 1 child. I am 25 years old. I have always wanted to join on of the services but never followed through with it. I feel like it's better late than never, but I am wondering if there are too many things stacked against me. Such as having a child, being married, being 25. My husband is being really supportive and understands that this will be a huge lifestyle change, but will this totally ruin our lives? Will I always be gone and never get to see my son? Just want to get some answers before I take the plunge. Thanks.

I have a daughter that in the Army. Yes there are sacrafices. Your husband will have custody of your child and will have to take care of him alone during deployment. I dont see anything any harder than any other soldier. Your family will have to deal with moves.

If your hubby is supportive and willing to make the sacrafices go for it.

[VFFSSGT]

Married, child, and 25 are not a problem... I believe the age limit for enlisted active duty is 28, so you might have a little time to play with but would definitely start talking to a recruiter soon. http://www.airforce.com/ You can find their information on that website.

It will not ruin your lives. Their will be challenges on occasions - nothing you all wouldn't be able to reasonably handle or work through. How much you may or may not be away from your son depends on what career field you end up serving in and what unit you are in... There are people who deploy quite often, routine basis, and rarely...

The best thing to remember is, read everything a recruiter gives you, especially before you sign it. If a recruiter promises you anything, make sure it is in writing, otherwise it is meaningless. If you are unsure about something, simply ask the recruiter - he should not have a problem answering ANY question you ask. I personally recommend going in with specific job guarantee or field specific - not open general.

If you have general ideas of what you would like to do for a job, I can give you advice, suggestions, and pointers... Other than that, your best bet is to speak to a recruiter...

[mlm]

So, as the title says, I'm married and have 1 child. I am 25 years old. I have always wanted to join on of the services but never followed through with it. I feel like it's better late than never, but I am wondering if there are too many things stacked against me. Such as having a child, being married, being 25. My husband is being really supportive and understands that this will be a huge lifestyle change, but will this totally ruin our lives? Will I always be gone and never get to see my son? Just want to get some answers before I take the plunge. Thanks.

All of this will depend on which branch of the service you decide to join. Every branch has different quality of life standards and different deployment rates. Not saying that one is better because all of this can be broken down into which career field you decide to join into. If you go into a career field that is critically manned chances are that you will be deploying more frequently than another career field that is stacked. I did not enlist with a child but since enlisting I have had two and hope to add too it. I am in the Air Force so my home vs deployed ratio is less than other services. It is never easy being away from your children but it is not unbareable especially when you have a good support system at home. The Air Force takes good care of it's members and affords them every opportunity for advancement. They are a very family driven force but at all costs you must always remember mission first. The military is not a job it is a way of life. It is a lifestyle decision that you and your husband are going to need to discus in depth. In this current day and age with the economy going down the drains, it is, in my opinion the best option for me.

[airforcemommy]

I have heard that the air force is more family oriented and deploys less than other branches. If this is true I don't know. I agree that with the economy the way that it is, it is one of the best options we have. I am just worried that I will end up with a job that requires me to be gone all of the time. ???

[mlm]

There is no guarantee on anything. If I were you I would try for a desk type job in personnel or something. Mon-Fri day time hours... I have a shift work job and we are open 365/24/7...

[VFFSSGT]

I have heard that the air force is more family oriented and deploys less than other branches. If this is true I don't know. I agree that with the economy the way that it is, it is one of the best options we have. I am just worried that I will end up with a job that requires me to be gone all of the time. ???

What kind of things or jobs do you like or have interest in?

[airforcemommy]

I am currently working in the medical field - not as a nurse - but as a medical asst. I wouldn't mind doing something in that same field. I also like photography, really good at computer work, really good and enjoy writing. I don't know if any of this even applies when it comes to jobs.

[VFFSSGT]

There are medical job options; they deploy on a fairly routine and stable basis from what I know of them... I believe that would be a good option for you...the options would be near endless. There are many areas to choose from within the medical field.

There are a couple options for computer work, if you mean actually working on the hardware and/or software, programming. If you mean something along the lines of data processing, there are many more options like a personnelist or something similar. Computer technicians deploy fairly regularly but not extremely often. Personnelist type are pretty stable and routine too.

Photography and/or writing could land you in public affairs. Basically you might find yourself in photographer or reporter type positions.... I am not too sure about their deployment tempo... I am not sure it would be your best option though... Paralegal might be though... Obviously, there would be research along with the writing.

Remember, all of this is just in my opinion and based on experience I have came across...everything is subject to be different based on exactly what you do and where you are at. But the way the Air Force is set-up for deployments, you typically have plenty of planning and preparation time for a deployment. They are rarely sprung on you blindly or at the last minute...remember though, there is an exception to everything... The typical deployment goal is around 4-6 months deployed every 16 months or so..but it does not necessarily mean you will deploy every 16 months, but at the same time you could possibly deploy more often - it all depends.

It is not bad at all though or anything to stress about...

Here is a commercial link (not DOD or government) that has a pretty decent breakdown of jobs and job information.... Medical ones are toward the bottom... "4XXX'

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforceenlistedjobs/Air_Force_Enlisted_Jobs_and_Qualification_Factors. htm

[Smeghead]

Photography and/or writing could land you in public affairs. Basically you might find yourself in photographer or reporter type positions.... I am not too sure about their deployment tempo... I am not sure it would be your best option though...

Our deployment tempo is going nuts. On paper it's 6 months every 2 years. However, we have so many cripples and waiver queens that the same people keep going year after year.

I've been in PA for 12 years, obviously it's not that bad.

[fufu]

Sign up but only with a GUARANTEED medical job...in writing. Cops, Maintenance, CE and services would probably be your highest deploying AFSCs. I'm sure that medical is much more stable. I'll do some asking from a few medical folks I know.

[VFFSSGT]

Sign up but only with a GUARANTEED medical job...in writing. Cops, Maintenance, CE and services would probably be your highest deploying AFSCs. I'm sure that medical is much more stable. I'll do some asking from a few medical folks I know.

..."Aircraft" Maintenance... and I think "Vehicle" Maintenance...

Wanted to clarify that because not all maintenance (like certain communications) is high tempo - I haven't deployed in nearly 4 years; but they did contract my job out over there... :rolleyes:

[mlm]

It all depends on which portion of the med field you enlist into. Some medical assistants, which complete technical school with their CNA, and CDC's on the job training with LPN, can deploy quite often into combat type locations. Not neccesarrily in the middle of the action, but seeing a lot of the trauma caused by war. Try to get a job in the pharmacy, they hardly go anywhere!

[Combat correspondent]

It all depends on which portion of the med field you enlist into. Some medical assistants, which complete technical school with their CNA, and CDC's on the job training with LPN, can deploy quite often into combat type locations. Not neccesarrily in the middle of the action, but seeing a lot of the trauma caused by war. Try to get a job in the pharmacy, they hardly go anywhere!

If you don't want to see action - don't enlist. If you enlist - be prepared to see some sh!t go down - it's that easy...if you're not prepared, you'll end up like these fake a$$ PTSD dudes. Prepare yourself for the inevitable now...that's my 2 cents.

[Capt Alfredo]

If you don't want to see action - don't enlist. If you enlist - be prepared to see some sh!t go down - it's that easy...if you're not prepared, you'll end up like these fake a$$ PTSD dudes. Prepare yourself for the inevitable now...that's my 2 cents.

You dispute that PTSD exists? I'm reminded of the old saw, "better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it up and remove all doubt"

[VFFSSGT]

You dispute that PTSD exists? I'm reminded of the old saw, "better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it up and remove all doubt"

Let's not start this debate here...we are trying to help a young lady enlist... Let’s carry the nonsense of ours elsewhere please and have this debate somewhere else.

[goldbadge]

Sign up but only with a GUARANTEED medical job...in writing. Cops, Maintenance, CE and services would probably be your highest deploying AFSCs. I'm sure that medical is much more stable. I'll do some asking from a few medical folks I know.

First of all if you list all medical jobs good chance you will get the General aptitude area and will not know what job you get till you pick it in basic. You can list all medical jobs if you qualify for them. Before I send my people up to MEPS I let them know they may not be able to list X job if they dont qualify for it but they still have to want to join the AF no matter what they are quald to do. If thats a problem with them I tell them best of luck with the Army/Marines/Navy or the civilian job market.

Walk into a hospital without a degree and tell them you want a "GUARANTEED" job. They will get a good laugh out of it as I would if somebody came into my office asking for a guaranteed medical job. I have booked 3 med jobs out of about 40 lately and thats a pretty high % 2 of those were people who got them by going to basic under the general aptitude area(all med jobs fall under general).

What we do guarentee is that we will only pick you in one of your choices that you are eligible. You have to pick 4 and one area. If they are all four medical very good chance you will get the area but you still may get a med job from the area as well...