Changing services

[Keyboard Ninja]

Due to the fantastic advice I got in my other thread I decided to make this one

Not sure how to start, but here goes. I'm enlisted AF, and I haven't even been in for a year. My initial goal was to do my 20 and retire, but as we all know goals and expectations change.

I'm buying my first bike from a Navy Lieutenant Commander (O-4) and we got to talking about what the military looks for in an officer. As the conversation went on I kept thinking to myself that I eventually wanted to commission, but since the AF is cutting back that might be a hard thing to do. The Navy Lieutenant Commander suggested I keep my options open and see if the other branches of the military would be easier to go from enlisted to the officer ranks. Coming into the Navy through an ROTC program he had no clue on what needed to be done, but he did refer me to a buddy of his.....a Marine Captain (apparently a Major select).

Had a short phone conversation with the captain (about 45 minutes long) and he got me to thinking why I wanted to become an officer. Obvious reasons would be the pay and retirement benefits. I have a few other reasons listed now as well.

To those who have went from the enlisted ranks to the officer ranks..was it worth it? Do any of you know of anyone that has switched services? Right now in the back of my mind I am telling myself I am crazy to consider going from the enlisted ranks of the Air Force to the officer ranks of the Marines...and go through 9 months of officer training. I didn't even enjoy the 6.5 weeks of AF BMT and it wasn't that hard. Right now I'm pretty comfortable where I'm at, but I know I can't settle for just being comfortable. The military obviously changes all the time, and if I plan on surviving then I have to at least have an understanding of what my options are.

Sorry about the long winded thread, but I had to ask. Any advice would be great.

[ResqFE]

Look at what you do in the AF????? I started out in the Air Force as a Crew Chief on A-10's and then KC-135R's. I loved it but wanted something different. I retrained after 8 years to being a Flight Engineer on MH/HH-60G helicopters. I flew on a Tactical aircraft for rescue and AFSOC. That satisfied everything for me. 3100+hours and multiple deployments. I loved that job and just retired 1 April 07. Do what you want and what thrills you. If you go to the officer side, find a satisfying job. I do know guys who've gone from enlisted to officers in the AF. Even with all the deployments and flying, I was able to finish a Bachelors degree and 2 CCAF degrees. I was happy with my job and wanted to stay enlisted. Just don't be a knucklehead and do 20 years in the military hating your job. Get something out of it. Good luck.

[Keyboard Ninja]

Originally Posted by ResqFE

Look at what you do in the AF????? I started out in the Air Force as a Crew Chief on A-10's and then KC-135R's.

I'm in Intel, and apparently there is a need for Intel officers in the Marines.

Offtopic: Is it true that the A-10 can fly on 1 engine and 1 and 1/2 wings? My supervisor was telling me how he loved that jet while I was picking up trash my first week here. Good times

[Akheloce]

Well, I went from Army to AF, but stayed enlisted (although I did do 2 years of AFROTC before I joined the army). As far as switching services, the policies change all the time. The year before I tried, the AF wasn't taking any prior service Army, then, they were. For me, I was lucky in that all I needed was a few signatures from my chain of command on a DD Form 368 Request for Conditional Release. You need one of those before anyone from another branch will talk to you (recruiters or ROTC). This is assuming you plan to change before your enlistment is up.

As far as the officer thing goes, you must do 4 years +1 day to get the extra O-1E pay, not just the even 4 years. I would call up an ROTC liaison officer for your desired branch of service to find out what their requirements are now. Generally, if you are letting your AF enlistment run out, then going to ROTC, you would be treated like anyone else (as far as being accepted to the program) except you may be eligible for an age waiver if needed.

Here's a link from NROTC which gives the requirements for entrance into NROTC
https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/eligibility.cfm

And here's a link to the DD 368
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/i...rms/dd0368.pdf

[ResqFE]

Originally Posted by Keyboard Ninja

Offtopic: Is it true that the A-10 can fly on 1 engine and 1 and 1/2 wings? My supervisor was telling me how he loved that jet while I was picking up trash my first week here. Good times

I'm not sure about the missing wing part, but it could fly on 1 engine. Even our helicopter could do that depending on our weight, altitude and temperature.

[rekab_tx]

I have been a fan of the Warthog since I was a kid... I wish the Air Force would give some to the Army (which they seem reluctant to do for some reason). The sound of that 30mm cannon firing 50 rounds a second is music to the ears. Perfect plane for what it was designed to do. Not the sexiest thing out there, but awesome none the less. I remember seeing a video after the Gulf War of an A-10 that had taken a ton of damage and managed to make it back home. Basically half of the leading edge of a wing was blown off and the pilot nursed it home on one engine. They can pretty much take the kind of damage that would ruin the day of an F-16 or AH-64 pilot. Examples


I will see if I can find the clip (I am thinking I saw it on the Discovery channel "Wings" series).

Ok /end thread hijack, could not resist

[Akheloce]

Originally Posted by rekab_tx

I wish the Air Force would give some to the Army (which they seem reluctant to do for some reason).

To continue the hijack... it's because of the 1947 Key West agreement (part of the accords that started the AF) that says that the Army will not have any fixed wing armed assets, or strategic lift. I heard rumors that a long time ago, the Army was going to take over the A-10 mission, but it fell through.

Coming from a former Army aviator who has flown MANY missions with A-10's (Combat Search and Rescue) that the Army would ruin the A-10 program if they got their hands on it. That's one thing the AF really knows how to do. My Company was part of a test program demonstrating the Army having their own CSAR helicopters. We were following the Air Force model, using A-10's as rescort, and another unit was using Apaches and Kiowas for rescort. The army, in it's infinite wisdom decided that it wanted to stay with an "all army" package, and adopted the Apache/Kiowa/Blackhawk model. Big mistake IMO (for many reasons).

[fordfreek]

With the multiple times I got in and out of the military, I have considered switching services each time. I never have.

The main reason is: Promotions and jobs.
I have met many people from every service that were in the Army because of the faster promotions.
I myself like the fact that I can switch my MOS almost at whim(unless you want a unique one). I am getting ready to switch to my 3rd MOS in the Army.

The Green to Gold program for enlisted was pretty easy in the Army. I had quite a few friends go and become Officers.I never considered it because I like training and being with the soldiers. Officers are in a way different world.

You will still never get treated as well as you do in the AF though.
Man...I like to ramble on! LOL

[dolomoto]

Originally Posted by Keyboard Ninja

SNIPPED...
Not sure how to start, but here goes. I'm enlisted AF, and I haven't even been in for a year. My initial goal was to do my 20 and retire, but as we all know goals and expectations change. SNIPPED....
... but since the AF is cutting back that might be a hard thing to do. ..

It really depends on what you want to do for a living. No question, the $$ benefits of officers smoke the enlisted categories. Looking back, I probably should've made the jump sometime as quite a few friends did.

You have plenty o time to decide, the most important thing is to get your butt enrolled and start taking classes. You don't have to decide what to do right this minute, regardless of the branch (and with a few exceptions) you'll need that four year degree.

If you're young enough, you can't beat the AF Academy Prep School. Ask around for a zoomie grad and talk with them. With good EPR's and support of your CC, you have a good chance of getting into the program.

Don't wait. Get your ass enrolled and get that degree!

[Keyboard Ninja]

Originally Posted by dolomoto

Don't wait. Get your ass enrolled and get that degree!

Have to wait until my CDC's are done in September

[sigmanugary]

Don't rule out OTS(AF) or OCS(everyone else) either dude. I'm an AF OTS guy and I've known lots of prior E OTS dudes. If your good at your job, have good EPRs, and have a degree why not stay AF. The only thing I've heard from prior E guys that they don't like about being an O is the politics...I'm just an Lt but I can already see how much of my career will be based on politics that doesn't seem to be the case with you enlisted guys. Take it for what its worth but with your intel background I can bet once you get a degree you could get into my career field( I'm an ABM on the AWACS). We have tons of prior E's in my career...I would say probably at least 35% or so are prior E. Good luck on whatever you decide if you have any questions just fire away!

[Keyboard Ninja]

Sweet thanks! I actually know someone who just went to Tinker AFB (if thats where you are at). Not sure what squadron though.

Are they actually looking for a technical degree? I'm closer to a business degree than I am in a Foriegn asian studies degree and I'd like to finish asap.

[sigmanugary]

Dude the AF is always looking for tech degrees however from what I've been told by prior E guys is that most of ya'll are busy doing school and work at the same time not like traditional college kids so in certain jobs that don't require a tech degree having a non tech degree is taking into account(like a buddy of mine who is a prior NCO maintaineer and now he is an F-15 backseater). If you want more info about AF OTS or other service OCS just go to www.airforceots.com or www.navyocs.com, www.armyocs.com...etc. They have forurms specfically for enlisted guys trying to get their commission (the application process was different for me when I was getting in being a civilian and all). Also, take to the education office about commsioning opportunites. Also, if your REALLY crazy(jk) and you want to go to the "ZOO" i.e. The AF Academy they are always looking for young qualified Airmen to make the cross. This is like a "back door" into a free top teir college, one of my friends was prior E who wouldn't have had a shot in hell going staight from HS to the AFA but was enlisted for a few years applied and was picked up. I saw an email from my last squadron's shirt that the AF never has enough people that apply to get their commission thru this route...meaning if you qualify and you are a sharp troop its alot easier for you to get in than you think. If you have an questions just fire away.

[Keyboard Ninja]

I wonder if i should just finish the business degree first and see how that goes?

[ridetoobs]

Originally Posted by Keyboard Ninja

Have to wait until my CDC's are done in September

Ahh CDC's...I was a weather dude from 93-03. Did my five volumes and WAPS tested with 14 good times!