AF SP Questions

[Spike511]

Hello,

I would like to join the Air Force after college ROTC and be either a pilot or a Security Forces officer. If you don't mind however, I have a few questions regarding SP.

-Since I would have completed ROTC in my hopes of a pilot slot...I guess I would be a CO at the time. That does stand for Commisioned Officer, right? I know their is a Security Forces career field for CO's, but I've also heard (no offense to any) that you sit at a desk 24/7 and do admin duties, and that there is no actual SP work at all. Is this true?

More to come..

Thanks,
Eric

[CivEng]

I'm neither a pilot nor an SP, but I may be able to help a little....

First off - as an officer, you are going to have some significant "desk time" in virtally any career field. Even pilots spend significant time behind a desk. It is just an inherent part of being an officer and a manager. If you look at official bios of senior pilots, most are in the realm of 5k hours of flying. Over a 20year career, that's about 5 hrs of flying a week. Pilots don't just fly - they have a job when they are on the ground as well. My point is that being a pilot does not make you immune to the office environment.

I work with cops more often than pilots since I'm also in a "support" career field (civil engineering). Like CE and unlike pilots, SPs have a high officer to enlisted ratio (maybe 1 officer to 50 enlisted). This can provide leadership/supervisory opportunities early on. But as an officer, you'd will still spend significant time behind a desk or managing in an office environment.

Also, cops deploy a LOT. This is either good or bad depending on your viewpoint. Currently, they are on 6 months deployed and 6 months home. It doesn't necessarily work out that way, but expect to be gone on a regular basis. The amount of time pilots spend away from home varies a lot depending on the airframe; I can't really speak to that.

Something you may/may not be concerned with is the "glass ceiling" you'll face as a SP (ie a non-rated "support" officer). We don't see the same senior officer promotion opportunities as those with wings. This doesn't really affect you until the O-6 level, but something you should be aware of if you have lofty goals.

[Spike511]

Thanks, that makes sense...should have thought about that. As for deployment, I WANT to be deployed. I appreciate the help.

--
Eric

[Austin]

I’m not a Commissioned Officer but an NCO in SF. If you do decide to come in Security Forces most likely you will be sent to the Frontier (Nukes) until you go through Tech school if I remember correctly. While in the missile field you will be either fill in flight commander or asst. flight commander shadowing. This is where most Lt’s go to gain experience. Officers in our career field are “gods” sort of speak. Our career field in my “personal opinion” has more discipline then others. (please don’t bash me here, I stated my personal opinion). However, with that being said if you expected to be an Officer not a friend. Young troops will pick you apart if you show weakness.

Once you PCS from the Frontier to another SQ you will still be a Flight Commander if they have slots for that or go back office working an 8-5 job. If you go to flight usually the MSgt does guard mount if you don’t wish to and you will do post checks and be there to charge officers if need be but you won’t really be responding to anything unless you wish to. You will still have your police vehicle if you want to pull people over but most don’t. Flights usually operate on their own and you won’t have to micro manage. While on flight you should be feared from the young enlisted. However you should be listening to your NCO’s and SNCO’s and listening to what they have to say as a young Lt. Especially the SNCO’s because they will be helping you develop. You won’t really be on the 6 and 6 rotation. More like 2yrs home 6 month deployed.

I hope to go commissioned once I finish up school and would love to be an SF officer. Good luck and let us know!

[Steveo16220]

If you become an Security Forces officer, expect to sit at a desk....Enlisted ebar the brunt of doing work. The O's get hit with "busy" work.