Joining the Military

[ToeMissile]

Originally Posted by James

I was given 6 weeks, I think? One test a week seems about right. I had finished the CDC part of my 5-level training very, very early relative to my 626's (is that their name? I forget).

you're thinking 623 maybe? It's a document to record training info. I actually have mine in a binder in my closet, if I get some time and don't forget I'll take a few pics.

I think you have 1 year from the time you're issued your CDC's to finish, might be AFSC specific though... We had 2 volumes of 5-level CDC's and had 6 months to finish/test out of each. Only had one little book for 7 lvl, but the same 1 year time frame in which to finish.

[Vatoreus]

Originally Posted by Astaire

That'd be a 3.5 hour drive but Lackland isn't bad once you're out of training I hear. Be a cop and bust underage drinkers in tech school <3.

I'm prior service and fuck being a cop. I'm going command post because it's easy as shit.

[ToeMissile]

Originally Posted by Vatoreus

I'm prior service and fuck being a cop. I'm going command post because it's easy as shit.

which afsc?

[dFiend]

Just started reading this thread...

I'm a grad student right now in national security studies, and I've been looking pretty seriously at Army OCS. I've taken the ASVAB already, maxed out the pt test (which is kind of a joke compared to the Marines), and started filling out the massive loads of paper work associated with ocs. Ideally, I want to work in the intelligence field. Anyone have experience with intel and the Army? Am I heading in the right direction?

[Vatoreus]

Originally Posted by ToeMissile

which afsc?

I was in training to be a 1N3x5 but got out after scoring 2 points low on my DLPT and graduating my class. Active Duty won't take me because I "technically don't have an AFSC" since I never completed training, but I'm also prior service, so they can't take me back. Reserves will take me, but I'll fill another AFSC slot, and the base I'm looking at has a 1C3, 2T2, and 2A7x1 slots open. I don't want to be a baggage handler, so 2T2 is out and I don't want to weld shit, so 2A7x1 is out too. Leaves me with 1C3, Command Post. I'll be an officer's bitch 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year.

Though before I sign anything I'm going to see if he can specially request a position for me, either 1N1, 2E2, or 3C0 (Imagery Analysis, Software Server Tech, or Hardware Server Tech respectively)

[Vatoreus]

Originally Posted by dFiend

Just started reading this thread...

I'm a grad student right now in national security studies, and I've been looking pretty seriously at Army OCS. I've taken the ASVAB already, maxed out the pt test (which is kind of a joke compared to the Marines), and started filling out the massive loads of paper work associated with ocs. Ideally, I want to work in the intelligence field. Anyone have experience with intel and the Army? Am I heading in the right direction?

Do Air Force OTS to be completely honest with you. You'll have a much better quality of life.

[lost]

Damn, so if you fly you cant make babies for 5 years? whats the info behind that, damn.

[ToeMissile]

Originally Posted by lost

Damn, so if you fly you cant make babies for 5 years? whats the info behind that, damn.

wtf are you talking about?

[ChewieTobbacca]

Originally Posted by ToeMissile

wtf are you talking about?

It's some urban legend that pilots have a hard time generating sperm due to the altitude (or some kind of sperm, like you can only have daughters) but I don't think there's ever been any actual evidence on that

I suppose whats possible is that since pilots aren't consistently at home, they don't get to plan pregnancies as easily. IIRC the idea is that it's male sperm swims faster but doesn't live as long so if you decide to impregnate your girl, but the timing isn't right, you're more likely to have a daughter since it can stay in there for a longer time

[try]

Originally Posted by dFiend

Just started reading this thread...

I'm a grad student right now in national security studies, and I've been looking pretty seriously at Army OCS. I've taken the ASVAB already, maxed out the pt test (which is kind of a joke compared to the Marines), and started filling out the massive loads of paper work associated with ocs. Ideally, I want to work in the intelligence field. Anyone have experience with intel and the Army? Am I heading in the right direction?

Unless you have a medical, theological or law degree the Army won't guarantee you branch placement. There are certain things that you can do to help getting placed within a branch, but outside of flight I couldn't tell you what those things are. My understanding (I am not a commissioned officer) is that you make a branch "wishlist" and they try to place you into one of those branches. I had a friend who wanted to be either infantry, armor or ordnance and was placed in the quartermaster corps as a logistics butter bar.

Are you interested at all in flying? If so, talk to your recruiter about the WOFT program and get an AFAST study guide. If anyone reading this is interested in being an Army aviator shoot me a PM.

[ChewieTobbacca]

Originally Posted by try

Unless you have a medical, theological or law degree the Army won't guarantee you branch placement. There are certain things that you can do to help getting placed within a branch, but outside of flight I couldn't tell you what those things are. My understanding (I am not a commissioned officer) is that you make a branch "wishlist" and they try to place you into one of those branches. I had a friend who wanted to be either infantry, armor or ordnance and was placed in the quartermaster corps as a logistics butter bar.

Are you interested at all in flying? If so, talk to your recruiter about the WOFT program and get an AFAST study guide. If anyone reading this is interested in being an Army aviator shoot me a PM.

IIRC all the branches with a medical, theological, or law side have their own direct appointment/commission system and its a guaranteed contract assuming you get through their training (which will be a joke, especially since doctors are so valuable).

From what I understand, Marines work in a similar way. Basically unless you go flight (which you will get a guaranteed contract and will go to flight school after OCS and TBS), you get a ground contract and then go into your fields.

Coast Guard you go to OCS first and then select what you want (and that includes flight where they take you straight out of OCS).

Navy and AF you apply for your actual fields and assuming you pass the physicals and OCS and all that, you will go into your field. Of course, "needs of the xxxx" as always

[Elurin]

Just a tip for the Army (officers only):

There's a program where you serve in a combat arms branch (Infantry, Armor, etc), and then once you're ready for the advanced course you can change to another non-combat arms branch. It has to do with there not being enough O-3's an above in the soft skill officer branches, and too few junior officers in combat arms.

[Brikker]

Can anyone break down the AF Intelligence fields for me and explain what each actually does?

[Frax]

Originally Posted by Brikker

Can anyone break down the AF Intelligence fields for me and explain what each actually does?

google took all of 2 seconds man

INTELLIGENCE CAREER FIELD

[ToeMissile]

Originally Posted by Frax

google took all of 2 seconds man

INTELLIGENCE CAREER FIELD

To be fair, for pretty much anyone who hasn't been in the military isn't going to be able to make of the descriptions you're going to find there. I'm not sure about the others, but 1n1's can do a pretty wide range of stuff. My cousin is a 1N1 and is currently a sensor operator for Predator UAV's. Before that, he looked at satellite imagery/photos and analyzed them for everything from troop/vehicle movement, which way enemy satellite dishes are pointed to figure out what they're trying to figure out. Those are two very different jobs lumped into one AFSC.