Considering joining Air National Guard or enlisting in the Air Force. Info please!

[Jer]

So, I'm 33 years old and have been job searching for quite some time now. I've even posted here, facebook, other forums and reached out to people I know. I was quite successful out of high school and had a great decade or so run which was both a blessing and a curse. It was a curse because I never attained secondary education and as such it's made my job search now quite difficult as many doors are closed to me. I considered ROTC a couple years ago but found out that I would just miss the age cutoff of when I had to be commissioned. I back burnered that and went back to the job hunt. Needless to say that has got me nowhere and I'm once again considering but with the ROTC no longer an option I'm considering other possible options. I'm married with no kids and my wife has stated that she is okay with moving if we have to. I've traveled a fair amount around the nation and some international and I LOVE Colorado as well as our house so I would prefer not moving. This is why I was thinking Air National Guard (henceforth referred to as: ANG) as opposed to enlisting because I could do that and it sounds like there are even full time positions that come available in the ANG. I'm ridiculously overweight by the standards I'm sure and have been working out already lately and would obviously ramp that up even more.

I'm looking for some information and opinion on the subject. If you've done one, the other or both please enlighten me. No, I will not post nudes of myself so you'll just have to offer to help out of the goodness of your heart. [Tooth]

Thanks for the help!

[brokenscout]

My Dad told me not to join the Army(atleast as the MOS I chose),he was retired Army. He told me to join the Air Force. Should have listened. Good Luck.[Beer]

[Jer]

My Dad told me not to join the Army(atleast as the MOS I chose),he was retired Army. He told me to join the Air Force. Should have listened. Good Luck.[Beer]

I've actually heard this from more than one person who was in another branch or several other branches who said that if they had to do over again they wold have either chose Air Force or just gone right to it first for those who started elsewhere then went there afterward. So, I'm relatively sure that if I go military that I'm going to go ANG or Air Force.

[brokenscout]

I've actually heard this from more than one person who was in another branch or several other branches who said that if they had to do over again they wold have either chose Air Force or just gone right to it first for those who started elsewhere then went there afterward. So, I'm relatively sure that if I go military that I'm going to go ANG or Air Force.
Don't go Nasty Girl, active is the way to go.

[ghettodub]

Good luck, and I commend your choice. I did the same thing at 31, but with the Navy Reserve. Reserve isn't a bad option either; you're gonna deploy, but it's still a bit lighter of a load, and then you can enlist full time after a couple of years.

Just make sure you're in awesome shape, that's my only advice. I'd say go full AF. That way you can start the ball rolling to your retirement, and even at 33, you could retire at 53 with pay.

[Mazin]

I work (contracted for) the USDA / NFC and out of all the employees here with all branches of service they all agree join the AF. Expecially if you want to get or stay into IT and eat well, hands down join the AF.

[Bailey Guns]

Well, being prior service AF for 10 years, I'll tell you it was some of the best years of my life. Working for the military can be a PITA because, like everyone else, political correctness is a way of life.

After my 10 years active I did 2 years in the Guard and 2 years in the Reserves. Just started missing too much paying work so I didn't stay for 20. I wish I would've but that's water under the bridge now.

If you like the thought of being part of something larger than you are, go for it. It's a great opportunity, you'll get some great experience and training, you can get an education (my wife got 2 AA degrees and a BA and didn't pay a dime) and nobody says you have to stay in forever...though if you do 20 you most likely won't regret it.

PM me if you want more info. Also, my son is an active duty Air Force guy (Sharpienads) on his 6th deployment right now. He might be able to offer you some more recent info than I can...I got off active duty in 89 and did my last few years with the reserves in 98.

Good luck with your decision.

[Ronin13]

Okay, coming from a recently separated veteran (army) I will say from my experience with both NG guys and AD guys- you are not guaranteed a job after you get out (active) or complete training (NG)... remember this. If you go active there are considerations- you'll get paid once you head out, and it's pretty much a pay check every month as long as you're in. Make sure to talk things over and move elsewhere if you get a bad recruiter. Find one that will help you, not one that is concerned with another number on his roster. I can give you all the advice I know of from my experience (both good and bad).

[Jer]

Well, being prior service AF for 10 years, I'll tell you it was some of the best years of my life. Working for the military can be a PITA because, like everyone else, political correctness is a way of life.

After my 10 years active I did 2 years in the Guard and 2 years in the Reserves. Just started missing too much paying work so I didn't stay for 20. I wish I would've but that's water under the bridge now.

If you like the thought of being part of something larger than you are, go for it. It's a great opportunity, you'll get some great experience and training, you can get an education (my wife got 2 AA degrees and a BA and didn't pay a dime) and nobody says you have to stay in forever...though if you do 20 you most likely won't regret it.

PM me if you want more info. Also, my son is an active duty Air Force guy (Sharpienads) on his 6th deployment right now. He might be able to offer you some more recent info than I can...I got off active duty in 89 and did my last few years with the reserves in 98.

Good luck with your decision.

I actually talked a lot of joining the Air Force when I was younger but lost focus due to my chase of the almighty dollar. Now I very much want to be part of something larger than myself. We don't have children and it's not looking like we ever will. I'm getting to the point in life where I'm taking stock on what it is I've done or accomplished and the list of real meaningful things is much shorter than I thought it would be at this point in my life. I love this country and would love to do my part to give back to society. It's just a large commitment at this point in my life and it could end up being the best thing ever but still... commitment.

Was your wife in the military too or was she able to get education benefits from you be enlisted? Did your 2yrs guard and 2yrs reserves count towards that 20yrs or no? I think I read it does not. Why did you only do 2yrs each in the guard and reserve? What were the downsides to those and the reason you didn't stick with either one?

[Tweety Bird]

USAF was a great start for me. I knew aviation was going to be my life so that narrowed it down to Navy or AF. Navy offered me a scholarship but my eyesight would have kept me out of flight training. So I enlisted in the USAF instead. I was in from 1975 to 1979 so my experience is very dated but after boot camp (6 weeks of taking orders, nothing too physically strenuous although throwing hay bales all summer put me in pretty good shape for it), I went to Keesler AFB for tech school (Inertial and Radar Navigation). From there, they sent me to Homestead AFB for the rest of my hitch to fix F-4 Phantoms.

It was a great way to learn a trade and get some experience. Like others have said, they have very good tuition benefits, as well, not to mention the VA loan program if you want to buy a home when you get out.

4 years in the service has paid off in spades for me. Although I don't have any degrees, I'm now teaching airplane maintenance for the largest airline in the world. And I couldn't have done it without a good foundation. Matter of fact, we have a lot of USAF and Navy vets in our ranks.

The ANG will still require you to go through boot camp and tech school; depending on your school, you could be away from home for up to a year anyway, so don't rule out going the way of the Regular USAF. If you're considering making it a career, check into a longer enlistment benefits if they still do it (when I went in, a 6-year enlistment took you straight to E-3 right out of tech school).

[Inconel710]

Yeah, you better get in and stay in great shape. Active duty AF is overmanned and getting rid of people any way they can. That'll make them even more selective at enlistment. Good luck.

[Inconel710]

Did your 2yrs guard and 2yrs reserves count towards that 20yrs or no? I think I read it does not. Why did you only do 2yrs each in the guard and reserve? What were the downsides to those and the reason you didn't stick with either one?

First, there's different kinds of retirements. The typical active duty retirement consists of finishing at least 20 years of service and recieving 50% of the average of your last three year base pay for the rest of your life (plus Cost Of Living Adjustments every year). You can get up to 75% of base pay if you stay in for 30 years.

A Navy reserve retirement (I'm assuming Army, USAF, and NG are similar) consists of completing at least 20 "good years" of Reserve service. A "good year" is defined as getting at least 50 points by completing drill weekends, two week annual training, etc. You then get paid once you are 60 years old and the amount is based on how many reserve points you earn in your career, and your final pay grade. It's complicated. A reservist getting the bare minimum of points (highly unlikely) would get a fraction of an active duty retirement AND have to wait until 60 to get their first check.

Active duty time counts towards Reserve retirement (year for year) and you get a Reserve point for each day of active duty served. For example, 10 years of active duty plus ten years of just "good years" would get you close to 30% of base pay at 60 (guesstimate).

Bottom line - active duty retirement is the best deal by far.

[Elhuero]

well about 99 I seriously considered it, and chose not to enlist.

it was a big decision, had I enlisted my life would be utterly different now.

probably for the better, as by now I'd have a security clearance and a good job.

turning 35 real soon and right now I'd go in a heartbeat if I could.

so, do it! and good luck in all you do.

[Jer]

First, there's different kinds of retirements. The typical active duty retirement consists of finishing at least 20 years of service and recieving 50% of the average of your last three year base pay for the rest of your life (plus Cost Of Living Adjustments every year). You can get up to 75% of base pay if you stay in for 30 years.

A Navy reserve retirement (I'm assuming Army, USAF, and NG are similar) consists of completing at least 20 "good years" of Reserve service. A "good year" is defined as getting at least 50 points by completing drill weekends, two week annual training, etc. You then get paid once you are 60 years old and the amount is based on how many reserve points you earn in your career, and your final pay grade. It's complicated. A reservist getting the bare minimum of points (highly unlikely) would get a fraction of an active duty retirement AND have to wait until 60 to get their first check.

Active duty time counts towards Reserve retirement (year for year) and you get a Reserve point for each day of active duty served. For example, 10 years of active duty plus ten years of just "good years" would get you close to 30% of base pay at 60 (guesstimate).

Bottom line - active duty retirement is the best deal by far.

Thanks for the information. [Beer]

[sniper7]

go big or go home.

walk in to the recruiting office and tell them that you ARE going to fly this thing:
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-22_2.jpg

[Jer]

go big or go home.

walk in to the recruiting office and tell them that you ARE going to fly this thing:
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-22_2.jpg

I knew there was something I liked about you. [Beer]

[Bailey Guns]

I actually talked a lot of joining the Air Force when I was younger but lost focus due to my chase of the almighty dollar. Now I very much want to be part of something larger than myself. We don't have children and it's not looking like we ever will. I'm getting to the point in life where I'm taking stock on what it is I've done or accomplished and the list of real meaningful things is much shorter than I thought it would be at this point in my life. I love this country and would love to do my part to give back to society. It's just a large commitment at this point in my life and it could end up being the best thing ever but still... commitment.

That's one of the biggest things I miss about the AF and about being a cop...just "belonging" to something. There's a lot to be said for that.


Was your wife in the military too or was she able to get education benefits from you be enlisted?

Yes...we met when we were stationed in Omaha and got married right after my active duty period ended. She had a year left. I moved out here in 89 and went to work for a sheriff's department. She came out a year later.


Did your 2yrs guard and 2yrs reserves count towards that 20yrs or no? I think I read it does not.

As far as I know, it all counts. But if you don't get your 20 years, you get a handshake and a wave if you separate.


Why did you only do 2yrs each in the guard and reserve? What were the downsides to those and the reason you didn't stick with either one?

When I went in the Guard my intention was to go over to Desert Storm. Of course, I was promised as soon as I enlisted I'd be sent over. That was before the 100 hour ground war. It was all over by the time I got in. After a few years I transferred over to the Reserves as they were standing up a new tactical unit. After two years it never got funded and all I was doing on drill weekends was twiddling my thumbs. I just got tired of it so I got out when my 4 years were up.

[Danimal]

I just got out in 2009, from the USN. I literally had like 5 job offers for good jobs when I got out and it was just a matter of where I wanted to end up.

My younger brother is joining the AF today as a matter of fact, I just dropped him off at MEPS. I went with him through the whole process and I have to tell you that it is very competitive right now. The ASVAB is about a 1000 times harder than when I went in and they really get to pick and choose who they want because there are so many people trying to join. Also at your age I would get right on making a decision because they are like 6 months out already for enlisting and correct me if I am wrong but you have to be in boot camp before your 35 birthday (for the branches that you have chosen). If you go into the army I think that you have until age 42.

Don't let that discourage you though, if there is one thing that I learned from the military it's the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Keep going in there and give it hell and they will get you in one way or another. I would recommend doing all the studying that you can for the ASVAB because it is not the same old test that it used to be. Also work out like hell no matter what branch you are going into. They were really putting a lot of emphasis on PFA's before I got out and the recruiter for my brother also talked about how strict they are getting.

There are a ton of benefits to joining any of the forces, and when you get out there are a ton of benefits. The post 9/11 GI Bill is sweet. I am almost done with my electrical engineering degree from CU and I have not paid anything out of pocket for it. They pay me to do it, Sweet deal.

[Eggysrun]

AF Enlisted has an age cutoff of 26 years old the last time I checked.

[BushMasterBoy]

I almost died in basic training, hyper-ventilated during laps(running). Get fit first. I was fit, but somebody fed me some bad pancakes. Lots of bad crap can and will happen to you in military service. No way I would enlist again. Some people like it, some don't. If you don't go in with a warrior type mentality, you will not succeed. San Antonio is hot as HELL in August! Try to enter basic in the winter. Get a guaranteed Air Force Specialty Code enlistment contract, otherwise you could end up in some really unsuitable job.

Here is a link of what your schedule will be like in basic:


http://images.military.com/recruting/8.5_week_USAF_BMT_schedule.pdf


More info:

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/airforcejoin/a/afbmt1.htm



After basic, you will train for your specific AFSC, the more you know before you enter training the better, so study now!

Oh yeah...good luck Airman!

[ChadAmberg]

AF Enlisted has an age cutoff of 26 years old the last time I checked.

Found this:

What is the cut-off age for joining the Air Force?

Non-prior service applicants must be in Basic Military Training before their 28th birthday. Officer Training School applicants must be commissioned prior to their 35th birthday. Physician, Nurse and Allied Health applicants must be in Commissioned Officer Training before their 40th birthday. Prior service applicant age limitations may differ from what is stated above. Prior service applicants should contact their local recruiter for age cut-offs.

[MrPrena]

Cut off age is probably higher if you are MD or RN trying to get into military,.

[Jer]

Crap! I read that the cap was 35 but now it looks like that is for AF Reserves. So, looks like w/o waivers I'm pretty far from the age cap and waivers are going to be tough to get based on them not hurting for bodies right now. So looks like that idea is out. I could have sworn that a few years ago the age was increased to 34.5 or something like that?

[Elhuero]

Crap! I read that the cap was 35 but now it looks like that is for AF Reserves. So, looks like w/o waivers I'm pretty far from the age cap and waivers are going to be tough to get based on them not hurting for bodies right now. So looks like that idea is out. I could have sworn that a few years ago the age was increased to 34.5 or something like that?


probably for the army.

[Jer]

That's a let down. [Shake]

[Byte Stryke]

opinions being like assholes, everyone has one... Myself included.

I Agree, go big or go home.
get into EXACTLY what you want to do. DO NOT SETTLE
Go AD... your benefits are better and the pay is steady. 3 hots and a cot...
and since you are going AF, you get AC and a solid roof.

while you are in, get the secondary education, get a GI Bill, start a savings program on top of that.
enroll in classes while you are in... Document every nut you turn and what it was on.


DO NOT expect anything from the VA Afterwards, Be a hero, don't be a stupid hero.

That's all I've got
Best wishes

[Eggysrun]

probably for the army.

Cut off for the Army is around 42/43, forgot which.

[Jer]

opinions being like assholes, everyone has one... Myself included.

I Agree, go big or go home.
get into EXACTLY what you want to do. DO NOT SETTLE
Go AD... your benefits are better and the pay is steady. 3 hots and a cot...
and since you are going AF, you get AC and a solid roof.

while you are in, get the secondary education, get a GI Bill, start a savings program on top of that.
enroll in classes while you are in... Document every nut you turn and what it was on.


DO NOT expect anything from the VA Afterwards, Be a hero, don't be a stupid hero.

That's all I've got
Best wishes

AD?

[Bailey Guns]

Active Duty

[Jer]

Active Duty

Durr

[ghettodub]

Could always go reserve for two years, and then go AD

[Jer]

Could always go reserve for two years, and then go AD

I was actually just discussion this option with a buddy and my father-in-law in fact. Either that or full time Air National Guard so I'm going to have to examine the possibilities. Figures though, I was warming up to the idea of enlisting and then I find it's not an option. I think if I get creative I can make something work but it's just examining the possibilities and what is best for my wife and I at this juncture in our life.

[Hoosier]

You can make a hell of a contribution without being enlisted. Companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop, and thousands of other companies all need high caliber people who can pass background checks to design and build the systems these guys use and rely on.

I have a friend who is a Senior Network admin at Lockheed, she loves it. Another friend use to work at Harris as a junior computer tech, and he didn't have clearance. When he had to go into a "vault" to fix something, they'd have to flip on redlights on the ceiling and all the computer screens had green backgrounds to indicate no classified material was capable of being displayed.

If you do enlist, try for the drone program. Those guys live in the US and can have a normal life, but are getting actual trigger time on real bad guys half a world away. The trigger may be attached to a Hellfire coming of a Reaper, but the boom probably looks nice in both real color and infrared.

H.

[patrick0685]

I was actually just discussion this option with a buddy and my father-in-law in fact. Either that or full time Air National Guard so I'm going to have to examine the possibilities. Figures though, I was warming up to the idea of enlisting and then I find it's not an option. I think if I get creative I can make something work but it's just examining the possibilities and what is best for my wife and I at this juncture in our life.

I think someone said that if you go in as an officer you can go in at 35, and pilots are officers

[Jer]

You can make a hell of a contribution without being enlisted. Companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop, and thousands of other companies all need high caliber people who can pass background checks to design and build the systems these guys use and rely on.

I have a friend who is a Senior Network admin at Lockheed, she loves it. Another friend use to work at Harris as a junior computer tech, and he didn't have clearance. When he had to go into a "vault" to fix something, they'd have to flip on redlights on the ceiling and all the computer screens had green backgrounds to indicate no classified material was capable of being displayed.

If you do enlist, try for the drone program. Those guys live in the US and can have a normal life, but are getting actual trigger time on real bad guys half a world away. The trigger may be attached to a Hellfire coming of a Reaper, but the boom probably looks nice in both real color and infrared.

H.

I wouldn't mind doing my part from the private sector but I can't seem to get a job flipping burgers let alone doing something meaningful to benefit the nation. I'm fairly intelligent but I don't have a degree so I've found that w/o that I can't get a fair chance at anything right now. Seems I'm either horribly over qualified based on my experience or not even qualified without a degree. There appears to be nothing in the mid-range where I can earn a decent living and prove my worth at the moment. Employers are getting swamped with applications so to make life easier they require a degree which cuts their candidates that they have to wade through considerably. If you have any insider info that could be beneficial to me I would be happy to act on it.

I would absolutely LOVE getting into the drone program if that's even an option.


I think someone said that if you go in as an officer you can go in at 35, and pilots are officers

But it's not that easy or wouldn't everyone say 'Yeah, I want to be an officer' when the signed up? I assume this would mean either having a degree already (which I don't) or testing at a very high level (which I may) on the ASVAB. What are the other options though in case I'm not half as smart as I like to think I am?

[rocktot]

You can get officers testing books online, there are also some free testing sites on the web, just look up the specific test. You will need to know your math, algebra, English, writing, its like a college test.

[Sharpienads]

To be an officer in the AF you have to have a bachelors degree.

Even if you're over the age limit, they might still let you enlist depending on what you wanna do. The AF is cutting down on people, but there are still critically manned career fields like Pararescue, CCT, TACP, linguists, and maybe a few others. If you try to enlist into one of those, they might still let you in.

I'm a JTAC, have been for 8 years, live, work, train with Army. I can tell you first hand that if you want to be treated like a human being, do not join the Army. Unless you want a 20 yo E4 in the army smoking your balls for an hour for something that is meaningless (like having your uniform wrong in some miniscule way) after pulling a 4 hour guardshift after working a 12 hour day. If that sounds like fun to you, then join the Army. If you'd rather tell SGM that he's not in your chain of command and therefore cannot tell you how to live your life, and if he has a problem with it he can go talk to your boss, then join the AF.

But for the most part, the critically manned career field are the most physically demanding. PJ and CCT fall under AF Special Ops Command, and as a TACP you can either be conventional or SOF. None of them are easy to get into. But being motivated and half way smart is 99% of the battle.

Just be cautious of anything the recruiter tells you. If it's not in writing, it's a lie.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Good luck brother.

[Hoosier]

I wouldn't mind doing my part from the private sector but I can't seem to get a job flipping burgers let alone doing something meaningful to benefit the nation. I'm fairly intelligent but I don't have a degree so I've found that w/o that I can't get a fair chance at anything right now. Seems I'm either horribly over qualified based on my experience or not even qualified without a degree. There appears to be nothing in the mid-range where I can earn a decent living and prove my worth at the moment. Employers are getting swamped with applications so to make life easier they require a degree which cuts their candidates that they have to wade through considerably. If you have any insider info that could be beneficial to me I would be happy to act on it.

You said you made money and were successful in another industry? And you're sick of it and want to change, or it basically evaporated? In computer programming it seems experience is equivalent to college, at least if you have a skill set that's in demand.

There are plenty of places online where you can school yourself up to the point that you could re-enter college. For example, http://www.khanacademy.org you can learn math/science subjects. There are hundreds of videos, so you can go back and pick up again with basic algebra or algebra II depending on what you remember.

That won't get you an actual degree or into a paying job though. Sorry I can't be of more help... let me know what your skill set is, I know Silicon Valley is growing again, and taking telecommuters when the price is right.

H.

[Jer]

To be an officer in the AF you have to have a bachelors degree.

Even if you're over the age limit, they might still let you enlist depending on what you wanna do. The AF is cutting down on people, but there are still critically manned career fields like Pararescue, CCT, TACP, linguists, and maybe a few others. If you try to enlist into one of those, they might still let you in.

I'm a JTAC, have been for 8 years, live, work, train with Army. I can tell you first hand that if you want to be treated like a human being, do not join the Army. Unless you want a 20 yo E4 in the army smoking your balls for an hour for something that is meaningless (like having your uniform wrong in some miniscule way) after pulling a 4 hour guardshift after working a 12 hour day. If that sounds like fun to you, then join the Army. If you'd rather tell SGM that he's not in your chain of command and therefore cannot tell you how to live your life, and if he has a problem with it he can go talk to your boss, then join the AF.

But for the most part, the critically manned career field are the most physically demanding. PJ and CCT fall under AF Special Ops Command, and as a TACP you can either be conventional or SOF. None of them are easy to get into. But being motivated and half way smart is 99% of the battle.

Just be cautious of anything the recruiter tells you. If it's not in writing, it's a lie.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Good luck brother.

Thanks for taking the time to post up all the information. I tried to keep up with what you were telling me but all the acronyms made it pretty difficult as I'm not sure what most of them mean. CCT? TACP? I'm interested in ways that I could enlist so knowing what these are is important to knowing if I'm capable of doing them or if it's something I would want to do. I'm for sure leaning towards the AF for lots of the reasons you listed.

[rocktot]

CCT? TACP?

Close to Special Forces training. You would have to be pretty special to get in. Same with 'ParaRescue'. You don't want that unless your 20 something and worked on the farm you whole life.

You know if it gets bad, you could paint houses in the Spring/Summer/Fall. I did that for a while, it was OK, and worked for myself. Just saying that because, your a bit over the hill, what are the chances your gonna loose the weight? You might need to figure out a trade. I love tech, its gonna be 2 years, but Im already asking around about jobs, making contacts. Back to school at middle age sucks, but so would living in Somalia, and this ain't that.

[ghettodub]

CCT? TACP?.

TACP: Tactical Air Control Party. Guys who call in airstrikes/support, sometimes on the ground with army, etc

CCT: combat controllers. Don't know tons about what they do, but I'm sure someone else on here can fill that in.

[ghettodub]

Close to Special Forces training. You would have to be pretty special to get in. Same with 'ParaRescue'. You don't want that unless your 20 something and worked on the farm you whole life.

Those PJs are no joke. Their training is tough business too

[Jer]

You said you made money and were successful in another industry? And you're sick of it and want to change, or it basically evaporated? In computer programming it seems experience is equivalent to college, at least if you have a skill set that's in demand.

There are plenty of places online where you can school yourself up to the point that you could re-enter college. For example, http://www.khanacademy.org you can learn math/science subjects. There are hundreds of videos, so you can go back and pick up again with basic algebra or algebra II depending on what you remember.

That won't get you an actual degree or into a paying job though. Sorry I can't be of more help... let me know what your skill set is, I know Silicon Valley is growing again, and taking telecommuters when the price is right.

H.

What I meant was that I was able to use my intelligence and drive to do well right out of high school. Well, I was making more than my mom before I even graduated high school but that's neither here nor there. I've done lots of things over the years from banking to sales several things in between. Starting in the late 90's I was a Power Seller on eBay. I was able to build some capital within a couple years and, predicting that everyone and their dog was about to take advantage of eBay thereby shrinking profit I decided it was time to use that capital to get into real estate investment which was something I always wanted to do. I bought a few residential properties to start and grew it into something pretty substantial. As things dipped I got in even heavier and leveraged myself even heavier thinking the rebound was just around the corner based on my research of the history of residential real estate in Colorado going back to the 40's. Then the bottom fell out in the form of food prices, gas prices, the value of the US dollar and lots of other things. The writing was on the wall and I was in pretty heavy. I was able to unload all but a few properties which didn't end well at all. I often joke that everyone has a 'plan' to make a million dollars by the time they're 30 years old but nobody makes a plan to keep it. I put myself through real estate school & mortgage broker school during this time (got a diploma from both) strictly for knowledge on what it was I was doing even though I had a realtor and a broker already I just liked to have all the knowledge I could since it was such large sums of money. Neither of those is much good to me right now though so they aren't of much use with the types of things I wan to be doing. I like technology and do some work here and there for computer related repairs and service as well as security cameras & home A/V systems. I'm kind of clever and can figure out how to do things that lots of people can't so I'm able to do work here and there to help with an income. I'm a jack of all trades but master of none basically.

So, here I sit. A self made man who took a few risks to try to make a better life and it backfired. It may have been the best possible thing though because I value those around me and the things I have more than the money and the things I don't have. I enjoy life a lot more and now I want to do something more important than what I've done to this point. My grandfather climbed poles for the power dist and was a volunteer fireman... both are very commendable in my opinion. My closest cousin (slightly younger) joined the Marines in 2001 and has since done 8 combat tours in the special forces. He's barely 30 and has already lived an amazing live and done a lot for his country. I just feel as though I'm meant to do much more than I have to this point in life and that I've wasted a lot of youth on pointless money-driven ventures. I would like to get into law enforcement, military or some sort of higher calling where I can earn an honest living and be a contributing part of something bigger than myself. The problem is that I'm not the only once that wishes to do something more and there are LOOOONG lines for these types of positions/careers and most have degrees or prior experience that puts them well ahead of me in line. More and more law enforcement departments are going to requiring a 4yr degree just to help weed out some of the applicants. I don't have the money to go to college right now and my biggest fear is coming out with massive debt and no job to pay it off as I know lots of people in that situation. I was hoping to find something working in IT that had some sort of tuition reimbursement but those types of jobs that are willing to hire a high school graduate are few and far between. My buddy was trying to get me a job as a field engineer for a medical company which would have paid well and would have helped me towards getting a degree but that fell through and I'm back to square one. Ultimately I'm not sure it's the 'bigger than myself' type of thing I really want but at last it would be a job.

So, for the first time in my life I don't have it all figured out. I don't know what I'm going to do and I don't know how to get to that point.

[TennVol]

I retired from the USAF in 2009 after 25 years on active duty. The USAF was very good for me and it is very nice to get that retired paycheck every month.

If you decide to join, I would recommend the active USAF vs the Guard/Reserve option.

I would look real hard at the Contracting career field. All of the guys I used to work with retired on a Friday and were back in the office the next Monday as GS-11 civilians. Not bad work if you can get it! Also, the SRBs for that career field used to be quite nice. If you reenlisted while you were in the AOR, at least 1/2 of your bonus was tax free.

YMMV....

[adamking84]

Those PJs are no joke. Their training is tough business too

My cousin is a PJ, nicest guy you'll ever meet but tough as nails. When he joined he was skinny - in shape but with a slim "runners" build. I saw him 2 or 3 years after he joined and barely recognized him. He was awarded Pararescue Airman of the Year in 2002, one of the youngest to do so as I understood.

He loves it, and plans on staying in as long as they let him.

[frozenmud]

If AD is out and you are thinking about the ANG there is a lot in this area.

I would personal stay away from the WYANG. I know several people that have or currently work with them and I have not heard good things. They have C-130s and a care taker mission that you should stay away from.

COANG has a unit in Greeley that has Satellite Communications maintenance, HVAC and assorted maintenance, Space Operations, Security Forces and Adminis-trivia Jobs. Most of those jobs will require a Top Secret clearance, something that goes a long way on the Lockheed/Northrup side.

The COANG also has f-16s at Buckley and c-21s in the springs. If you are thinking the Air Reserves the is a lot of secret squirrel space stuff at Buckley and the Springs.

Either way all of them are going to have part time and full time jobs. The full time jobs are going to be AGR (Active Guard and Reserves), WG (Wage Grade) or GS (General Schedule). Also there is Guard Bumming...

Either way if you have any questions or need any help let me know. Philip

[Jer]

If AD is out and you are thinking about the ANG there is a lot in this area.

I would personal stay away from the WYANG. I know several people that have or currently work with them and I have not heard good things. They have C-130s and a care taker mission that you should stay away from.

COANG has a unit in Greeley that has Satellite Communications maintenance, HVAC and assorted maintenance, Space Operations, Security Forces and Adminis-trivia Jobs. Most of those jobs will require a Top Secret clearance, something that goes a long way on the Lockheed/Northrup side.

The COANG also has f-16s at Buckley and c-21s in the springs. If you are thinking the Air Reserves the is a lot of secret squirrel space stuff at Buckley and the Springs.

Either way all of them are going to have part time and full time jobs. The full time jobs are going to be AGR (Active Guard and Reserves), WG (Wage Grade) or GS (General Schedule). Also there is Guard Bumming...

Either way if you have any questions or need any help let me know. Philip

Thanks for the information. Some of it towards the end went over my head but sounds like if I want to do ANG stear clear of WY. Greeley would be closer to where we live anyway so if I do the Guard I would want to remain as close to home as possible unless there was a real good reason to do otherwise.

[OneGuy67]

Your chances of enlisting and going straight to AGR (Active Guard Reserve) are pretty slim to none. Most of those positions are held by members of rank, time and experience. Occasionally, they have tech and temp A-DOS jobs (mechanics, recruiters, assistants, etc.), but they are fiscal budget dependent.

Your best best as already entailed here is to go active duty. Rent your place out here and enjoy the military life. You can always request to come back to Colorado after training, but no guarantee you will get it.

The active duty military family, the support networks, the bases, have all changed and upgraded to better assist the family member. Gone are the days of crappy barracks, living 4-6 to a room with a common bathroom down the hall, 5 AM-6 PM work days x5-6 days a week. Now they are about the family (and better taking care of the members).

[Troublco]

Lots of good info here. I just retired last December from the Colorado ANG (COANG) with 24 years in, most of that time as a full time technician. Before I walked out the door, I had three job offers in front of me. Two were really good, one was not bad. I can tell you a lot about the COANG, less about the Greeley unit but I can answer a lot of questions for you if you're really interested. Look for my PM.

[waxthis]

Lots of good info here. I just retired last December from the Colorado ANG (COANG) with 24 years in, most of that time as a full time technician. Before I walked out the door, I had three job offers in front of me. Two were really good, one was not bad. I can tell you a lot about the COANG, less about the Greeley unit but I can answer a lot of questions for you if you're really interested. Look for my PM.

I am constantly amazed how members on this site are always willing to help someone out. You guys are class act!! This is exactly why this country kicks ass. [Beer]

[frozenmud]

Something to keep in mind. They will pay for your hotel for one night on drill weekends if you are beyond 50 miles (I don't know the exact number) and for two nights if you are beyond 75-80ish. Also if you are a good person/worker you have a very good shot of full time employment with in a year.

[Jer]

Thanks for the info and keep it coming. I'm still trying to narrow down all of my options and see what is going to be my best course of action to narrow my field of view.

Troublco: Got your PM and will likely call. I'm just trying to gather as much information as I can so have a better idea which will focus my questions so I'm not wasting too much of your time with questions that are all over the place.

[Troublco]

No worries, most folks have a bunch of questions and rightfully so. I'm happy to help however I can.

[BushMasterBoy]

Plus you got this shit to deal with... I opposed it!

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123267830

[Jer]

Plus you got this shit to deal with... I opposed it!

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123267830

That's really the least of my concerns right now.

[Sharpienads]

Plus you got this shit to deal with... I opposed it!

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123267830

Or maybe that's why he waited until now to try to join...

Just kidding brother. [ROFL1]