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Nerds in the Air Force?
Renraku asks: "I know that I am considering joining the U.S. Air Force and going with their networking course. I saw in a story the other day how several people answered with comments about their own life in the Air Force, in the line of work I would be doing. Does anyone have any stories, or tips for surviving basic / tech school / Air Force life in general?"
Wecome to the deep south. Well, maybe not. If you go into the Communications Computer Systems Operator career field, you could end up anywhere - Guam, Turkey, even California. Operators go everywhere. Programmers - the enlisted programmer career track at least - usually end up in Nebraska, Boston, or Montgomery, Alabama.
It aint bad. I had a worthwhile time in the Air Force, and a wonderful pay raise when I got out. The experience was valuable. Just be sure that if you enlist, your enlistment contract guarantees that you'll get the career field you want.
Recruiters lie. Lots.
--Former Senior Airman J Pitts, Standard Systems Group, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Proud TIB 95/97 Prior.
meh.
Sure it was. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. It was an honest opinion, not like a troll or anything, and some people found it inflamatory. Come to think of it, I think /. allows you to turn off the -1 for flamebait -- I should probably do that.
In the "real world" people don't normally get shot at while at work. Yes, military training is intended to turn solders into drones, but that's based on the principle that in high-stress situations (such as combat), solders should carry out orders without question, because the time they would take to think about those orders may well get them or other members of their group killed. This principle is based on a couple hundred years of battlefield experience, so I'd put some stock in it, but that's just my opinion.
The two points are not mutually exclusive. I won't argue with the negative points you make, but that doesn't negate the existance of positive points to the job.
As for your negative comments, I'll echo a comment I heard someone else say, "Shouldn't we be asking ourselves why so many groups around the world hate the United States and want to bring harm to us?" Let's face it, if no one disliked us, a military job would probably be about as safe as they come (that goes back to the "8 times as long to learn the same thing" point - most of that is red tape for safety reasons, among others).
Personally, I think for someone interested in military service that ROTC is the way to go, as you'll get a standard university education out of it and go on to serve as an officer, where you'd be able to demonstrate more initative, have a greater potential to shape military policy, and have a greater chance to get introduced to beltway politics, should you want to go that way after serving your time (which would allow you to address most of the negative points presearch makes).
-"Zow"
All other disadvantages of enlisting with the Air Force aside, keep in mind that the true purpose of the Air Force is to serve as a military force. This means that you will have to make yourself comfortable with the possibility that you will, either indirectly or directly, be responsible for the deaths of other people.
There are many ways to learn networking. Going through the Air Force may be free (and will no doubt use the latest and greatest technology), but in my opinion it is much more costly.
Karma: Chevy Kavalierma.
I work at the Air Force Recruiting Center in the database shop. It is a pretty nice place to work. I was never in the military (I'm a contractor), but about half of the people I work with are, and a good chunk of the contractors are ex-military.
The Air Force offers a great opportunity in IT that few companies will offer, because they expect to fill entry level positions and they understand that they need to offer training. There are all varieties of systems at the Air Force, so there is no shortage of interesting technical problems to solve. One nice thing is that they do take computer security seriously, although that can also be a pain in the ass sometimes.
How well you deal with basic military training (BMT) depends on you. There is a certain level of physical fitness and humility that you need to have. They simply will not put up with your crap, so don't try to pull anything. BMT doesn't last all that long in the big picutre, so I wouldn't worry too much about that -- the big question is what comes after that, where will you work, and what will you do.
I was very surprised to learn what now seems obvious: the people in the military are just people. Some are very cool and a few are jerks. Contrary to Hollywood images, they don't shout orders at each other all day. I'm most impressed with the senior NCO's. There really are some outstanding people in the enlisted leadership positions. I work with a couple E-9's who I am very impressed with.
Don't take anything to basic besides a change or two of clothes that you don't care about. (The storage facilities at Lackland have been known to leak - mildew city!). ;) ;) ;) Tossing a spare flashlight in it doesn't hurt either (again, there's a reason).
Make sure nothing you wear or have on your body stands out. If you have long hair cut it, but don't get a crewcut or any other military cut. (If you have a military cut now let it grow out). If you have tattoos wear clothing which will conceal them. Remove any and all jewelry (studs, ear-rings, watches, chains etc. etc.). Shave.
A trick for making your t-shirts neat - stack with the largest on the bottom, graduated to the smallest on top (you'll see what I mean). Then, iron the SIDES of the stack. Voila', perfect t-shirt stack. If you get the choice of a bunk, take the top one. It's easier to make and TI's won't hassle you as much at night (they like to be looming over you when you wake up). Reach under the frame between the wires to pull the sheets extra tight...
You'll probably be shown all sorts of tricks for getting your boots shinier (using a lighter, alcohol, heel-and-sole dressing etc.) None of them help and some will actually damage your boots (esp. the alcohol). The trick is to put only a little bit of polish on them, then let them sit for awhile and dry before you wipe and buff. And Nev'r'dull does wonders for belt-buckles (steal a teeny-tiny bit while you're on a cleaning detail).
If you can paint and keep your clothes clean doing it, then volunteer for the painting detail, everybody else'll be doing calisthenics in the sun.
Also, DO volunteer for KP (Kitchen Patrol), especially if your TI is a hard-ass. The first couple of weeks you don't get much time to eat. The kitchen crew will let you have extra food.
Make sure your M-16 is set to single-shot when you go to the firing range. The instructor there may be a dick and switch it to full-auto as he's handing it to you. You do NOT get another clip.
You'll get MRE's to eat that day. Chicken and turkey are good, some of the others are downright evil.
Wanna mess with the newbies minds when you get dorm-guard duty for another dorm? The caps on the bed posts are sometimes loose. Pull two of them off and click them together, sounds just like a TI's taps. (No, I didn't do that, it's cruel, and hell to pay if you're caught.)
When you get out of Basic, force yourself not to eat as
much. You'll be in the same eating mode, but your exercise level will have dropped to about one twentieth. I put on 25 pounds in about two weeks when I got out, then looked in a mirror and said "Damn!". Took me
over a month at the gym to get rid of it.
Also, buy the Samsonite briefcase at the BX. They're the toughest, and that may come in handy (you'll
find out why...
Other than that military life is nothing like civilian life but some people love it. I thought it sucked, and not in a good way! But I survived and got a good job offer when I got out to go with my GI bill. For a young person with few skills/education and/or lack of discipline (I was all of the above) it's probably the best choice you could make.
Enjoy!
I am a Airforce brat. I am now 26, the first 22 of those years was spent with my father, a retired enlisted man who retired here in the great state of Alabama (I love it here). He was in space command in Colorado and the Senior NCO Academy in Montgomery. He helped put up the GPS system, and wrote the training system in the late 70s for the enlisted space ops. We were stationed in Alabama and Falcon AFB in Colorado for most of my life. I lived on base in Colorado, South Dakota, Maine. Born in Rimini Italy.
I got a %100 on the ASVAB. The navy called constantly.
My dad retired as a Master Sgt. with a skill level 9 and gave me these words of wisdom....
Don't go in unless you go in as an officer.
Needless to say, I didn't join. I do NOT have a college education, only SOME vocational school in programming, and I now make about 3 times what a starting commissioned officer makes...even in this market.
It is worth it if you truly want to serve your country. When Sept 11th happened, I was ready to be drafted if necessary. I have still been thinking about joining the reserves.
It is worth enlisting if you want to just get training and only want one tour. I have worked with some guys straight outta the Air Force, and they do excellent work. (a lot of ADA, some Java, and I have even met a fellow Delphi developer).
It is worth it if you plan on putting in the 20 years. My father, now 40, is fully retired, and draws half his pay for the rest of his life, along with medical benefits. -- not bad once you add it all up -- and I don't care what they say Military medical care is vastly SUPERIOR to civilian care, based on personal experience.
For those that are passifists, I respect your right. I also respect the laws of nature.
I hope my ramblings help somewhat. Basically. All I am saying is that if you decide to go in, do it with a goal, keep any and all stereo types out of your head, keep an open mind, and learn.
~Sweet home Alabama...where the skies are so blue...~
Wow. Great advice. I'd add a few bits...
Do bring a large set of nail-clippers with you (not scissors, not a pocketknife - these will be considered dangerous and locked away). When you make it to your new bunk, you'll be faced with a lock still sealed in its stiff plastic packaging. You'll be tasked to open that puppy up quick while the TI paces around looking for someone having trouble with the task. Take your nail-clippers and clip a cut in to the side of the packaging. It'll make ripping open the package quick and easy.
Later on, those nail-clippers will come in handy while you're out and about and you notice a loose string you missed on your new BDUs. Strings seem to GROW on the things. And you don't want anybody to find one dangling off'a you. Take those nail-clippers everywhere with you except when you're out for PC.
KP is great. You loose some sleep to do it, but the work is stress-free. Plus you get to have meals unrushed or supervised by your TI. That usually means access to luxury foods like a cheeseburger, icecream, and soda. While it doesn't sounds like a big deal right now, consider that life is very different once you're there. You will come to consider a "patio break" (4 mins to spend your own money on a vending machine and wolf down some junkfood or possibly manage a call from a payphone) a great luxury.
If you do get KP, apply a thick layer of unbuffed shoe polish over your boots. It'll help protect the shine you've labored to create from MOST of the abuse your boots will get doing KP grunt work. A simple buffing will return your boots to most of their previous glory. A mirror-like shine can be accomplished with regular Kiwi, cottonballs, and a tiny bit of water (creme polish can add a nice touch but you want a good base first). Alchohol strips the polish - don't do that unless you've got a good reason to.
If you are required to fill out security background check paperwork, do not rush it. This paperwork tends to go in to considerable detail and you aren't expected to have all the required information available right away. Furthermore, only a few of your flight will need to do this and it'll come at a time in your training where you're trusted enough to go out on your own without TI supervision. This provides a couple of luxuries. You'll have plenty of quiet time to fill out paperwork and write letters to home. You will have unrestricted time at a payphone to call family, friends, etc. And when it is lunch time, you'll be taken to the nearest caffeteria - which if you're lucky, means another meal without your own TI to speed you along or restrict your diet (more cheeseburgers and soda). Security paperwork turned in to 3 days of relaxation for me without a comment from my TI.
At the foot of your bed will be a laundry bag. "Laundry" will consist of a set of dirty clothes and a set of clean clothes you will wear the following day. You will always refer to the contents as "laundry" and if pressed, claim that it is all dirty clothes. In reality, you will have several sets of clothes in your drawer that you have taken paintakingly carefull time to fold in to absolutely perfect squares (yes, underwear too). You will not wear these clothes (and will launder them once when you first get them), although you will keep them dusted so they don't actually appear to not ever be worn. When you leave Basic... you'll feel kinda funny about unfolding and wearing them the first time.
I completely agree on the briefcase - especially if your techschool is of any real length. My briefcase is actually in my closet somewhere. I've had it for 10+ years. The spare flashlight can be a lifesaver... though I never had one, myself.
Military life is indeed very different. You won't understand just how different until you experience it first-hand. You'll end up with an entire language and cultural identity that'll have your friends scratching their head in confusion when you go home on leave. Its not for everyone. But it was one of the best things I did (and a considerably tough decission to leave).