4 yrs or 6yrs???

[Blackstarracing]

MY recruiter told me I can either enlist for 4yrs and be a e-1 due to my college credits or I can enlist for 6 years and be a e-3 within a month or so after tech school. Anyone done this or have any words of advice I leave for basic 6 Jan 09

[biggamehit]

how many credits you got. becuase E-1 is what you get if you have no college at all or rotc... with 4 year.... if you do 6 years, you will put on A!C right upon tech school graduation.


i went with 6yrs becuase i am making a career out of this. i have only been in for 2 years 5 months and im a E-4 and will be testing for staff soon.. its your call brother..

[Blackstarracing]

I meant e-2 with the college credits.I have 20 credits. Im thinking about doing the 6 and making a career out of it. Do you know if the AF does duty station of choice like the Army and such?

[biggamehit]

well first time around.... you will be put where you are needed.. they do the dream sheet thing in basic to get you use to selecting a base ( 8 Stateside 8 Overseas ).. if the manning is correct and everything lines up. you could get what you want... but in any branch you will be put where you are needed. it took me 2 years to get to japan which is quick and kinda unheard of coming from Andrews AFB. normally you stay at your first duty station for about 2 1/2 to 3 years at least before you can go anywhere..

i belive to get E-2/E-3 ( at basic graduation ) based on college credits, you have like 30-40 college credits to get those ranks based on that with a 4 year contract. im am not sure... i had 3 years of college before going in, however, my transcript was locked out due to money i owed the school.

when you go to basic, Everyone no matter what status is an E-1 until you graduate basic.

[Blackstarracing]

Im really hoping to keep close around Va. My dad is not in the best health so im hoping Pope, Andrews (dad was sationed there when he was in), Langley idk about any others that are good places to be stationed.

[4g63]

Sorry to hear that your dad isn't in the best of condition. I think the AF has a special assignment that allows you to be close to home, however documentation is needed and i think you have 1 year to make sure things are squared away. Good luck !

[Blackstarracing]

Hey I appreciate it. Thanks alot. Yeah hes had a heart attack and hes a diabetic and hes not really taking care of himself. Im just hoping he gets to see me graduate from basic. Im going to have to talk to my recruiter about that on monday when i do my weekly call in.

[4g63]

No prob at all. Just remember that once you sign the dotted lines, the AF needs come first, but as i mentioned before, there is the hardship assignment that you can file and choose your station, although it is not 100% sure. If the AF thinks it's not as critical they'll probably wouldn't let you choose your base. Also you can always switch assignments with your classmates before you graduate tech school. Good luck and keep us posted.

Have fun in basic. When are you supposed to ship out?

Are you signing up for 4 or 6?

When i signed up, i was going to come in as E-3 anyways so it didn't make sense for me to sign up for 6 as i wasnt sure if i was going to make a career out of it. Now that i got my commission, i m almost 100% sure i'll stay in :D

[Blackstarracing]

I ship 6th Jan 09. I still havent decided my recruiter advised me to have it listed as 4 first because we can change it if i want to to 6 rather than have it at 6 and have to lower it to 4 which prolly wouldnt happen. I have to call my recruiter today for my weekly check in and i will bring up what you mentioned. Thanks alot you guys you have been a big help

[l3it3r]

Recruiters should be able to get you E3 out of the gate. I took E1 because I didn't want to be put in a grade that I didn't know... in hindsight of course, it's all the same. Take what you can get while it's there to be taken. After Basic and School you're subject to time in service and grade.

[thestereogod]

Stay with 4 that way if you decide you dont like it you don't have to stick around all 6.

[4g63]

Stay with 4 that way if you decide you dont like it you don't have to stick around all 6.

Amen to that.

[Blackstarracing]

I really appreciate all the info and opinions from you guys. Thanks alot. Best forum I have been a member of.

[thestereogod]

well make sure you spread the word about us ;)

[Blackstarracing]

oh def. I have sent links to alot of my friends in the military

[mtnbkrpnk]

I went in the AF in 1999 with a 6 year enlistment. I was an E-3 immediately after tech school. If your career field has a good re-enlistment bonus, you should enlist for 4 years and then you get that bonus every 4 years as long as they still have it. Just an idea if you decide you want to make it a career.

[4g63]

Do you have a job yet or know what you would be interested in?

[Blackstarracing]

Im going in under the mechanical career field. Im going to do Tactical Aircraft Maintenance. So how was basic?? What all did you guys do other than run and exercise. From what some people have told me you are in the classroom aspect of it alot.

[4g63]

I went through basic almost 7 years ago so i m not sure if things have changed. All i know is that they've added more TRS (training squadrons). The first few days the TI will yell at you a lot and you'll have to learn how to march and give reporting statement.

At the end of zero week you'll get your BDUs and won't be called rainbows anymore.

Most of the time it'll be PT, classroom and learn how to fold your undies, shirts,etc to their exact specs.

Here is a tip: if you've folded t-shirt or anything else to the perfect spec, don't ever touch it again or wear it again until you leave basic. Use that perfect clothes for inspection.

For me in order to get through basic, i just look forward to chow time it'll make the day go by faster. Usually after 3 weeks, the TI wont yell at you so much unless you are always the last one.

When they assign you detail (duties) volunteer for "fire monitor" unlike the name suggests, fire monitors takes out the trash. That was my duty while in basic, you get to walk outside to take out the trash and talk to other trainees.

5th week is Warrior week which is basically field training. You'll be eating a lot of MREs and pass gas like crazy. I think 5th and 6th week are the best weeks cos you are close to graduation. There was some talk of making basic 8 weeks so i m not sure if it is already implemented. 6th week pretty much you'll be in your blues and get a lot of liberty, eat chocolates,etc.

Whatever you do, try to stay invisible. That's what i did. You don't want the TI to notice you.

Hopefully this helps. This is just the surface if you want to know more just ask, i m sure the other guys here will chip in as well if i miss out any details

During warrior week you'll be given a dummy M16 so you better not lose it, or else its latrine duty.

[Blackstarracing]

yeah they have already implemented the 8.5 week basic starting 1nov08. Thanks ill have to keep that in mind

[4g63]

when are you due to ship out?

[Blackstarracing]

6th Jan 09 is when I will be arriving in Tx. I have to leave from the recruiting office on the 5th to go to MEPS in Richmond Va to stay the night and then on the 6th i will finalize all of my stuff and head on to good ol' Lackland AFB for 8.5 wks. I actually dont mind the 8.5 wks because I will be m16 and m9 cert. plus they are doing alot more combat oriented stuff so It will be pretty interesting.

[4g63]

i didnt know enlisted (besides SPs) are allowed to qualify with the M-9. i guess things have changed

[Blackstarracing]

Thats what I have been told by my recruiters flight chief. After looking on the site there is alot more combat oriented stuff (i.e: first aid, anti terrorism stuff). I like it better because I will have more time to do better in basic and graduate possibly with honors. Also to the crew chiefs how long was your tech school and where was it???

[4g63]

We had first aid and anti terrorism as well, its all during the Warrior Week.

I m not a crew chief but their tech sch is in sheppard for (F16s), about 8-10 hrs from Lackland and i think their tech sch is about 4 months.

To get honors from basic, you have to score excellent in your PT test, score above 90 in the written test.

[Blackstarracing]

Right on so ill be back around mid summer or somewhere around there. Im not sure of all the new stuff they have added to basic but Im sure its gonna be a blast 4g im gonna take your advice on the whole clothes folding deal.

[4g63]

i was in basic on jan 15 2002, it gets cold sometimes but you'll get a jacket and gloves, you'll be in sheppard around feb.

[Blackstarracing]

dont you mean around march??? since its 8wks now.

[4g63]

yes, i m still counting 6. my bad :D

[l3it3r]

it's so 'cute' to hear other services talk about Basic training.. Hell, it's amusing for me to hear about non-combat basic in general :)

[Blackstarracing]

hahaha. l3it3r where are you stationed I live in va and ive never heard or lorton? What ft is it?

[thestereogod]

L3it3r is in the reserves. Lorton is a few exits down 95 off 495.

[Blackstarracing]

ahh right on. Yeah not many people have heard of martinsville (where I live) unless they are NASCAR fans

[Bluedragon436]

There is something to do with NASCAR in Martinsville??? HA.. .JK!!!

[Blackstarracing]

haha. I swear the population here doubles when the race comes in. I hardly ever leave my house when the race comes to town or I go to the track and party with some of my friends that are staying in the camp grounds.

[Bluedragon436]

That is how it was when I lived right next door to DOVER Downs... I didn't leave my house other than to go to work, because I had too!!!

[Blackstarracing]

yeah same here. I go to the races but traffic sucks the whole week before.

[l3it3r]

Lorton is where the Amtrac Auto train is. Ft. Belvoir is adjacent to Lorton.

[Blackstarracing]

Any af guys in here Crew Chiefs? I would like more info on that job or jet engine mech. Those are my top 2 jobs thanks for any input.

[4g63]

Any af guys in here Crew Chiefs? I would like more info on that job or jet engine mech. Those are my top 2 jobs thanks for any input.


My best friend is a crew chief. All i know is that they work longggggggggg hours so be prepared. But you can go on the air show crew once you get the chance, which means you go to airshows and take care of the planes. I think being a crew chief is rewarding as you get your name "stickered" on the side of the plane and you get to go to lots of TDYs

[Blackstarracing]

Awesome. A friend of a friend is a cc on a c130 at pope afb and I have been talking to him alot about it. Any morer information would be great. Thanks 4g for the info.

[Bluedragon436]

I am a CC on C-5's, C-17's, and at one time the C-141's!!! Yes being a CC can mean quite a few long, hard worked days... but to me it is all rewarding when you watch your baby lift off and bank around that first corner after take off!!! You have to figure out if you want to be a CC on heavies or fighters first off!! I wanted to be an engine mech. when I joined up, and I got the 2A career field instead, and I was upset at first... but once I actually got to start working I loved every minute of it. I love aircraft so getting to work on the whole thing was just that much more awesome for me. I am 26, and have been a CC for a little over 7 years, and have loved every minute of it.. How many 26yo's you know can say they get to work on multi billion dollar equipment by themselves, without being watched like a baby??? I know quite a few jet engine mech's... and I enjoy helping them, but in the end I am ulitmately glad that I ended up with my job instead!!! Feel free to send me a PM if you have any other questions about being a CC or even a jet mech. and if I can't help you out with the answer I can ask the over 100 other people I work with, that are jet mechs, CC's, and other career fields that can answer it... Or I am sure you could get in touch with Sir Charles, as he is a CC on F-15's, and he has more time in and experience than I do... I am sure he would be more than glad to help you out with any info or questions you might have!!!

[Blackstarracing]

I would really like to do the fighters thats my number1 choice. I appreciate it man ill think up some question and shoot them to you when they pop into my head

[Bluedragon436]

Hey nothing wrong with fighters.. Everyone has their own preferences!! But either way the basic info is the same, like I said just feel free to ask either myself of Sir Charles, he might be your best bet, as he is a fighter CC!!

[Blackstarracing]

Whats up sorry I havent been on in while been busy working out and training. How has everyone been?

[AcezHigh]

Been chillin mang.... Makin babies and such....

[Blackstarracing]

Right on sounds like fun. Ive just been working out and doin a lil MMA training

[roflmywaffle]

good info in here. i just got my job last week. 2A333 tac aircraft. I was told thats a fighter jet crew chief, correct? I'm looking forward to my jan 13th ship date

[Blackstarracing]

Haha bro Im gonna be hittin TX 7days before ya. Yeah I cant believe my first ever thread on here had this much of a response but its awesome the guys on here helped alot with information if you need any thing just ask them