Trying to find out the facts about son joining Air Force(m)

[Mom29]

My son is considering joining the air force. After meeting with his recruiter he is telling us, that if he gets into Logistics, which he wants, that he will basically just work a 9 to 5 job and nothing much more is expected other than one 90 day deployment per year.

It all sounds to rosey, and I think there is much much more to this.

Also if they are obtaining a college degree in Logistics are the classes he attends during the 9-5.

Can somebody point me in the direction of where I can get real information on what his life will be like day to day. I want to be sure he fully understands what he is getting into.

He is very bright and has always done well in school, but dislikes his freshman year at university and seems to just be looking for any way to get a degree outside of the normal 4 years at an institution. He seems to think this is the answer to making money and living expense free.

If his motivation was to serve country, I'd be all for this, but it's just not what we are hearing or believing.

[Jumper5]

The military is not a 9-5 job.

School is typically done after duty hours.

[sweetvanity]

My son is considering joining the air force. After meeting with his recruiter he is telling us, that if he gets into Logistics, which he wants, that he will basically just work a 9 to 5 job and nothing much more is expected other than one 90 day deployment per year.

It all sounds to rosey, and I think there is much much more to this.

Also if they are obtaining a college degree in Logistics are the classes he attends during the 9-5.

Can somebody point me in the direction of where I can get real information on what his life will be like day to day. I want to be sure he fully understands what he is getting into.

He is very bright and has always done well in school, but dislikes his freshman year at university and seems to just be looking for any way to get a degree outside of the normal 4 years at an institution. He seems to think this is the answer to making money and living expense free.

If his motivation was to serve country, I'd be all for this, but it's just not what we are hearing or believing.

I'm sorry I'm not going to be able to help you with all the details of your question, but what is it specifically that he is not liking about university life? and also, would he consider joining an ROTC unit while in college and then going AD AirForce upon graduation? there's a chance that if he got an ROTC scholarship, they would pay for him to continue in school. my husband did Navy ROTC and had both is undergraduate and medical school degrees paid for by the USN.

If ROTC isn't a favorable or feasible option for him, i would suggest you not take the recruiter solely at his word. I have a few friends who are logisticians for the Army, so i can email them if you like and find out what their enlisted men's work hours are like. Also, and i could totally be wrong here, but in my experience i've seen people come out with a military issued degree equivalent to that of a 4 yr degree in a given speciality, but honestly-- it is not a "4 yr degree" in the same sense of the one that he's pursuing now.

i'd also caution him against thinking that the life of an enlisted service member is anything remotely resembling "making money and living expense free". they really don't make alot the first couple years and a lot of guys get into mucho financial trouble early on because they blow everything they have and then some. the good news is that if you think he needs to "grow up" a little... military life will make him do that-- and quick.

best of luck to you!

[CVal]

Hi mom29, welcome.

[Bunch]

My son is considering joining the air force. After meeting with his recruiter he is telling us, that if he gets into Logistics, which he wants, that he will basically just work a 9 to 5 job and nothing much more is expected other than one 90 day deployment per year.

I dont know much about Logistics but as I recruiter I will never say such a thing to an applicant unless I have first hand knowledge that thats the case, so maybe he did the job or know someone that did the job...ask him! About deployments many career fields are deploying now for 6 months not 80 days again this career field might be different so just ask..not only to the recruiter but try to get some information for some other source.


It all sounds to rosey, and I think there is much much more to this.

Thats why your son has to do his own research


Also if they are obtaining a college degree in Logistics are the classes he attends during the 9-5.

College classes need to be taken during off duty time, he will be getting a Associate's from the Community College of the Air Force in the area of his specialty, after that he can enrolled in the college of his choice and pursue a BA of his liking, it doesnt have to be related to his Air Force specialty.


Can somebody point me in the direction of where I can get real information on what his life will be like day to day. I want to be sure he fully understands what he is getting into.
Sometimes I have my applicant talk to someone on a base that is actualling doing the job so they can get an idea of what the job entails, also there is tons of informatio about AF life and jobs online.


He is very bright and has always done well in school, but dislikes his freshman year at university and seems to just be looking for any way to get a degree outside of the normal 4 years at an institution. He seems to think this is the answer to making money and living expense free.

In a perfect world everybody should go to college and get a degree and get a nice high earning paycheck but unfortunately thats not reality, your son for what I sense just think that college is not for him for some reason, there are many reasons why people dont like the college environment, I see it in my office from time to time, kids score 90+ in the ASVAB but just feel that college is just not for them. There is a lot of smart people serving in the Air Force and they all have their own reason as to why they decide to join.

[QUOTEIf his motivation was to serve country, I'd be all for this, but it's just not what we are hearing or believing.[/QUOTE]

Like I said earlier people join for many reasons, I haven't had an applicant in recruiting that has told me straight up that they want to join because they want to "serve the country", is either money, travel, education, being independent, new experiences, learning a good job, do not judge your sons reasons about joining, they might be miniscule to you but they might be huge for him.

Just try to be with him every step of the way during the process so you make sure he is getting good information instead of BS....most of us recruiters are dedicated to our applicants and will go the extra mile to see them go happy...but you still got to double check to make sure.

[ringjamesa]

My son is considering joining the air force. After meeting with his recruiter he is telling us, that if he gets into Logistics, which he wants, that he will basically just work a 9 to 5 job and nothing much more is expected other than one 90 day deployment per year.
It all sounds to rosey, and I think there is much much more to this.
Also if they are obtaining a college degree in Logistics are the classes he attends during the 9-5.
Can somebody point me in the direction of where I can get real information on what his life will be like day to day. I want to be sure he fully understands what he is getting into.
He is very bright and has always done well in school, but dislikes his freshman year at university and seems to just be looking for any way to get a degree outside of the normal 4 years at an institution. He seems to think this is the answer to making money and living expense free.
If his motivation was to serve country, I'd be all for this, but it's just not what we are hearing or believing.

First off, you aren't being specific enough. Logistics is a pretty broad characterization. It covers supply, vehicle maint, vehicle operations, Air Transportation, TMO....you have to be more specific.
Even AFSCs that do have pretty set hours don't work 9-5 as a general rule. You would be looking at 0730-1630 or something along those lines. Most shops also have someone on call so it can vary. Exercises will also lengthen the duty day.
He will not be getting a degree while on duty. For Basic Training and Tech School, he will earn college credits but not a Degree (even a CCAF requires additional credits).

[air1986]

9-5 whats that? Haha that just applies to finance and MPF.


Anyways the recruiters most not all will not lie. I did RAP and thats just being a recruiters bitch for 12 days and i was taught some sales tricks briefly. My recruiter did not once lie to an applicant but having the expierience and basic knowledge of bens and entitlements . She just sugarcoated it to what the applicant wanted to hear to keep him intrested. I sat there amazed and said that you did not lie one bit but you told them exactly what they wanted to here.

[ChiefB]

My son is considering joining the air force. After meeting with his recruiter he is telling us, that if he gets into Logistics, which he wants, that he will basically just work a 9 to 5 job and nothing much more is expected other than one 90 day deployment per year.

It all sounds to rosey, and I think there is much much more to this.

Also if they are obtaining a college degree in Logistics are the classes he attends during the 9-5.

Can somebody point me in the direction of where I can get real information on what his life will be like day to day. I want to be sure he fully understands what he is getting into.

He is very bright and has always done well in school, but dislikes his freshman year at university and seems to just be looking for any way to get a degree outside of the normal 4 years at an institution. He seems to think this is the answer to making money and living expense free.

If his motivation was to serve country, I'd be all for this, but it's just not what we are hearing or believing.

If you want to get a real flavor for the good, bad and ugly of the "Real" AF" read the following threads from front to back: http://www.militarytimes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1581834

http://www.militarytimes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1564958&highlight=Minot+2008

It's mostly about a failed unit, but it brings out the grief that a young man must be up for if he is to survive a "support" job, like "Logistics" which is a code-word for Supply.

His days will consist of many duties AND "additional duties" that may be from barracks duties, first Sgt. duties, temporary duties, training duties, exercise duties, deployment duties, In Lieu of (ILO) duties, Inspection duties, On the job training duties, day-off duties, etc. It will be a much harder row to hoe that ANY college curriculum.

It will take him considerably more than four years to get his degree while working a full load in the AF while living hand to mouth. Bin there, done that.

His best bet is to join ROTC, complete his college (paid for by USAF) and come in with a commission, his life will be a lot more comfortable in the long run.

Take it from an old war horse....

If you would like me to talk to him, you may contact me by PM. (BTW, I have a 17yr old son looking at his options also for when he enters college.)

Good luck to you and your son.

ChiefB

[ChiefB]

???? Was it something I said ????

ChiefB