I'm 19 almost to turn 20 and I was wondering what the general procedures are for signing. Also, how long do you get after you sign do you get shipped to basics? Also, how does the pay work? Like if you have some debts to pay and you leave, who takes care of it? And can I even join with some minor debts? Any information would be great!

aaron

I'll assume your looking at the Air Force? First off, go speak to the recruiter. Talk to him or her and line up your questions before you see them.

Typically, once you do sign up, the recruiter will give you a report to date. Sometimes its within days, or it could be weeks. Mostly depends on the governments needs and open spaces in boot.

Pay starts from the moment you arrive in boot camp. It is direct deposited and you get paid every two weeks.

Debt? Sure you can join with debt. All you have to do is ensure that it stays current and not over due. THis is where your family could possibly step in for you and use your money earned or saved up to pay your bills while in boot camp. You have to make those arrangements.

Thanks Gunny, I'm not sure what job I want to take up in the AF, I'll most likely find that out when I talk to a recruiter. I will definetally make sure the job I sign for is something that interests me. What jobs in the AF have you heard good things or know are pretty decent potential careers? Lastly, is pay based off what you qualify for and score on the ASVAB?

Aaron,

Just about any job you can find in the civilian world you can also find in the military. What's more important for you is to find out what career field you'd like to work in and then explore available, related jobs in the AF.

As far as pay goes, you're paid based on what rank you are and how long you've been in the service. Enlistment bonuses are available for certain career fields, and are typically indicative of which fields the AF (or any branch for that matter) are having the hardest time getting people into and/or keeping people in. (ie. the job isn't all that great, or has specific requirements to qualify.)

Final piece of advice for now: Figure out what jobs interest you before you talk to the recruiter, because he/she has slots that they're trying to fill, and may try to talk you into a job that you may not want.

Use the AF recruiting website for more info and to look up jobs that interest you. It should also have information on pay and benefits, as well as what's required of you if you do join.

If you have more questions, feel free to ask.

giblackjack

Aaron

My experiece with the Air Force is limited, with the exception that my dad was career Air Force. His only advice to me when I joined the Marines was simple "never let them know you know how to type". Doesn't hold true for today's military, but you get the idea. Don't get stuck doing something you hate.

Myself, I was a Rolls Royce Jet Engine mechanic for 16 years in the Marines. Loved just about every minute of it with some exceptions. I do know that the Air Force has the best and latest technology available to work with and on. If its leading edge tech, they have it. Crap they have a good 80% of it as the Marines sure as hell don't. We just got to watch it fly by or land an refuel.

What do you like to do? What are you good at? More importantly, what do you really like to do, and where do you want to be with your life while doing it?

Thanks for the info! What should I expect from Basics? Or what are the hardest parts about Basic besides being in excellent condition before I even go?

Learning to keep your emotions and responses under control. Listen, better yet, learn to listen so that little points appear on yer ears.