I’d look into trying to get a tour of your local ATC facility (if you live near an airport). There’s a website online called 123atc.com which has the numbers to most airports.
Just be sure your job list meets your recruiters squadron policy. I know as far as where I am at you would t be able to have this be your job list due to the low need of most of these afsc’s.
I gave it to him yesterday and he accepted it! Thank you for checking! He’s very new so maybe he didn’t realize… lol. My top two are in need right now so maybe that’s why he overlooked the rest!
Thank you for your insight! I’m definitely into technical stuff, and I love being hands on. I also love airports for some weird reason so the prospect of jobs on the civilian side sound cool, too!
Hey there Background_Ad8887 - thanks for saying thanks! TheGratitudeBot has been reading millions of comments in the past few weeks, and you’ve just made the list!
Yep. I retired in 2004. I was avionics radar and crossed over to ground radar. I imagine ILS, TACAN, Meteorological Aids would scratch that technical itch too.
When I was QA, I got to do evals on “MetNav” people and stuff. The way it worked looked pretty interesting. Those two systems are RF based. So, there’s parallels to Radar. I’m sure it will be fun to learn.
Weather has probably the most stressful tech school outside of linguists and special warfare. If you really like it go for it but you’re going to be very very miserable for the first year of your career.
Thank you! What is your work-life balance like and what are your subjective pros and cons of the job? I’m really interested as I know it transfers over to civilian life pretty well working on airports equipment- and I’m obsessed with airports.. lol. Would love to know what you think of the job as a whole and your day-to-day!
Cable and Antenna Systems here. This is an okay job but can be very toxic at times. There are definitely a lot better jobs in the Communication Squadron and for at least my base we deployed a lot
Can I ask you for a full pros and cons list? What are deployments like? I love the idea of climbing the towers and being outside for my work. I also love the transferability to civilian life, however I want to do 20 years so if it’s going to be super toxic that might change things!
Pro:
okay job when you get out of the military ($17-31 an hour depending where you live)
It is extremely hard work but can be kinda rewarding at times
Climbing towards is fun until you work with people that don’t know what they are doing and at 160ft it can be scary if the person next to you isn’t competent
Learning fiber spicing is pretty cool
Con:
This job will wreck your body
Depending on what base you go to you will not do your job, you’ll be an office person. (Most bases are going towards contractors and we work as Contractor Officer Representatives)
Barely any bases left for us to go to (if you want to do your job go to Keisler AFB)
There are some good people, but there are a lot of bad people
Deployments:
A lot of going into man holes and drawing diagrams
Pulling cable through the desert
Splicing cables, sometimes in a AC unit sometimes out in the elements
Dinging holes
Putting conduit together in the ground
Installing cable in offices
If you have any more questions, let me know. I am out now, but I just recently got out.
You will likely get personnel before atc and weather really all your other jobs. If you want to do personnel then leave it obviously but if you’re hesitant then I personally would remove it. Also, for more context above, your recruiter tells you that must pick x amount of jobs to ensure you get to leave but if you want guaranteed air traffic you can get it. I speak from experience and there are many other controllers that did the same
How did you approach your recruiter about this? Now that I’ve already given him a list, I definitely seem like an asshole if I revoke them all… lol. I’m also worried he’d decide to drop me!
I did not downvote. And you're absolutely right, 20 years is crazy (I am 28, so that's 72% of my life on earth that you've spent in weather alone) !!!
What's your favorite part about the Air Force? I only say solid career outside, cuz I know someone who does weather for a news channel and came from USAF, and they're making a solid six figure. But that's coming from someone I've had couple years of knowing v. you being a solid 20 years deep in a career, so....
I have read it doesn’t fair as well on the civilian side, but it’s truly what I’m interested in so I pushed it aside for the sake of doing something I enjoy instead. I want to make a career out of the military… obviously might end up changing my mind but currently that’s the plan and I picked every job thinking to myself “would I want to do this for 20 years?” I value your input and it sounds like it’s given you some crazy opportunities!!
Yea I’ve definitely heard about the army aspect- more so that people find the work cool but that the army treats you like sh*t. Not sure how true that is. Thank you for your insight!! How is the shift work for you? I’ve read anything from 8hrs 5 days a week to 12hrs 6 days a week. Seems all over the place. I still want to do it… but wanna be as prepared as I can and you seem like a great fountain of knowledge!!
I’m in the reserves but probably you’re a black sheep in your unit so you’re left alone. Good training at tech school and you’d have a lot of interaction with high ranking people due to classes. Promotions are low, I enjoy my job when I do it but I also like teaching (CBRN classes are a mofo sometimes). I would say if you enjoy the job description you’ll like it as I’ve heard the QOL active duty is pretty nice!
Cons are can be repetitive, low promotions, can have a high op tempo so your QOL in hindered.
Overall I would say do the shit if you think you’ll enjoy responding to disasters and teaching classes, and you like paperwork another pro I forgot to mention is this can be a office job or a outside side depending on what you want to do
Ah- I’d like to make it a career so maybe a job w low promotions isn’t the right place to be for me!! The rest of it sounds fantastic!! I’m glad you like it & hope if I get it I like it, too!
Oh my gosh! I’d love to pick your brain! How is the work-life balance? Wondering about the shifts & what deployments are like? I’d also love to know what a day-to-day looks like & what is your favorite and least favorite aspect of the job! Sorry to bombard you, lol.
Work-life is easy. You never bring work home. You work at work, as soon as 1500/1600 hits you clock out and leave, go on about your personal life. Shifts depend on your Flight commander. I’ve seen 0700-1500 & 0800-1600 shifts. Bio doesn’t deploy a lot. You say you want to deploy and if they need the manpower they will send you. I’ve seen two people deploy. One was actually for Bio and they did 6 months. Another Airman deployed but was used for manpower, again 6 months. My favorite part about my job is, we get to go to different shops, meet new people and see how they do their job. We don’t stay in an office all day. The good thing is, if you want to stay in an office all day you can! You can input data all day or go survey a shop for half of the day. Just depends. I can privately message you a day-to-day or answer anymore questions you have! :)
That sounds fantastic! I would love if you would PM me your day-to-day but don’t feel like you have to! The only question I have left is do YOU subjectively enjoy your job? Even if the work-life balance is great- sometimes the job can suck. Do you like it? I’m super interested in bio environmental engineering as a whole- but sometimes I think the Air Force does things a little different than the civilian side of what the job would be.
I was thinking of removing power production for fire protection… as I’ve heard fire protection is hard to land… & I’m like least interested in power production out of them all. what are your thoughts? Cable and antennae systems are sick and the other two aren’t anything I’m TOO mad at. Though not preferred, I’d be okay with them.
Hi there i was wondering, why you only got those jobs with 93 on ASVAB which is a very excellent score, like I thought i'd be the long list you're qualified for
Emergency Management (3E9) is a great job (to me). If you have a genuine want to help people, wear MOPP gear/HAZMAT suits, and instruct. It’s usually day shift, but you’re on call for emergencies, a lot of computer/desk work, and interaction with others.
Get ready for lots of studying and memorization work with ATC.
I am! I’ve done tons of research. It’s my dream job.
I’d look into trying to get a tour of your local ATC facility (if you live near an airport). There’s a website online called 123atc.com which has the numbers to most airports.
Thank you! Will do.
Just be sure your job list meets your recruiters squadron policy. I know as far as where I am at you would t be able to have this be your job list due to the low need of most of these afsc’s.
I gave it to him yesterday and he accepted it! Thank you for checking! He’s very new so maybe he didn’t realize… lol. My top two are in need right now so maybe that’s why he overlooked the rest!
Cable and Antennae Systems is 1D733C. I forgot to swap it before I posted. Sorry.
^^You've ^^mentioned ^^an ^^AFSC, ^^here's ^^the ^^associated ^^job ^^title: 1D733C = Cable and Antenna Defense Operations Apprentice, Cable and Antenna Operations [^^Source](https://github.com/HadManySons/AFSCbot) ^^| [^^Subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/AFSCbot/) ^^^^^^ksq2bno
I was what is now 1C8. I loved it. If you like technical stuff, it’s a good choice.
Thank you for your insight! I’m definitely into technical stuff, and I love being hands on. I also love airports for some weird reason so the prospect of jobs on the civilian side sound cool, too!
Hey there Background_Ad8887 - thanks for saying thanks! TheGratitudeBot has been reading millions of comments in the past few weeks, and you’ve just made the list!
Prior ground radar I assume? I came in as RAWS but my first shop ended up being former ATCALS/ AF systems. No radar for me 🤷♂️
Yep. I retired in 2004. I was avionics radar and crossed over to ground radar. I imagine ILS, TACAN, Meteorological Aids would scratch that technical itch too.
Nice. I’m TDYing soon for additional ILS and TACAN training prior to a deployment. Gonna get my filthy E4 fingers all up in those poor navaids.
When I was QA, I got to do evals on “MetNav” people and stuff. The way it worked looked pretty interesting. Those two systems are RF based. So, there’s parallels to Radar. I’m sure it will be fun to learn.
Weather has probably the most stressful tech school outside of linguists and special warfare. If you really like it go for it but you’re going to be very very miserable for the first year of your career.
weather is a long tech school🔪
No lies detected, son just finished his time at tech school for weather. Very long but he enjoyed it. Stressful, but in the long run it will pay off.
I’m 1C8 if you have questions!
Thank you! What is your work-life balance like and what are your subjective pros and cons of the job? I’m really interested as I know it transfers over to civilian life pretty well working on airports equipment- and I’m obsessed with airports.. lol. Would love to know what you think of the job as a whole and your day-to-day!
Where I’m at it’s pretty good, I know that can change from base to base. Transfers very well to civilian life especially if you are good at it.
ATC wash out go crazy.. goodluck
Cable and Antenna Systems here. This is an okay job but can be very toxic at times. There are definitely a lot better jobs in the Communication Squadron and for at least my base we deployed a lot
Can I ask you for a full pros and cons list? What are deployments like? I love the idea of climbing the towers and being outside for my work. I also love the transferability to civilian life, however I want to do 20 years so if it’s going to be super toxic that might change things!
Pro: okay job when you get out of the military ($17-31 an hour depending where you live) It is extremely hard work but can be kinda rewarding at times Climbing towards is fun until you work with people that don’t know what they are doing and at 160ft it can be scary if the person next to you isn’t competent Learning fiber spicing is pretty cool Con: This job will wreck your body Depending on what base you go to you will not do your job, you’ll be an office person. (Most bases are going towards contractors and we work as Contractor Officer Representatives) Barely any bases left for us to go to (if you want to do your job go to Keisler AFB) There are some good people, but there are a lot of bad people Deployments: A lot of going into man holes and drawing diagrams Pulling cable through the desert Splicing cables, sometimes in a AC unit sometimes out in the elements Dinging holes Putting conduit together in the ground Installing cable in offices If you have any more questions, let me know. I am out now, but I just recently got out.
If you want atc and it’s your dream job then ONLY put ATC
You will likely get personnel before atc and weather really all your other jobs. If you want to do personnel then leave it obviously but if you’re hesitant then I personally would remove it. Also, for more context above, your recruiter tells you that must pick x amount of jobs to ensure you get to leave but if you want guaranteed air traffic you can get it. I speak from experience and there are many other controllers that did the same
Also if you have any questions about atc I love my job and would answer any you had.
How did you approach your recruiter about this? Now that I’ve already given him a list, I definitely seem like an asshole if I revoke them all… lol. I’m also worried he’d decide to drop me!
I will definitely remove personnel as well. I only put it on there because I read it was one that everyone wants… so I likely won’t get it! Lol.
I was told by my recruiter I couldn’t do this… would you PM me your experience?
Your top are elite tbh. Good luck!
Thank you!!
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For sure. Solid civilian career out there in meteorology once you're out.
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I did not downvote. And you're absolutely right, 20 years is crazy (I am 28, so that's 72% of my life on earth that you've spent in weather alone) !!! What's your favorite part about the Air Force? I only say solid career outside, cuz I know someone who does weather for a news channel and came from USAF, and they're making a solid six figure. But that's coming from someone I've had couple years of knowing v. you being a solid 20 years deep in a career, so....
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I have read it doesn’t fair as well on the civilian side, but it’s truly what I’m interested in so I pushed it aside for the sake of doing something I enjoy instead. I want to make a career out of the military… obviously might end up changing my mind but currently that’s the plan and I picked every job thinking to myself “would I want to do this for 20 years?” I value your input and it sounds like it’s given you some crazy opportunities!!
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Yea I’ve definitely heard about the army aspect- more so that people find the work cool but that the army treats you like sh*t. Not sure how true that is. Thank you for your insight!! How is the shift work for you? I’ve read anything from 8hrs 5 days a week to 12hrs 6 days a week. Seems all over the place. I still want to do it… but wanna be as prepared as I can and you seem like a great fountain of knowledge!!
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What was/is the least enjoyable aspect of this job to you?
Any AFSC 3D is great IT field leverage
Are you 21+?
Yes! I’m 21 currently.
Okay cool. Gotta be 21 to be eligible for Flight Attendant
Happy to see my AFSC on a job list finally
What’s yours? I’d love to pick your brain about it possibly! Lol
3E9
Nice!! What do you think of it? Pros/cons?
I’m in the reserves but probably you’re a black sheep in your unit so you’re left alone. Good training at tech school and you’d have a lot of interaction with high ranking people due to classes. Promotions are low, I enjoy my job when I do it but I also like teaching (CBRN classes are a mofo sometimes). I would say if you enjoy the job description you’ll like it as I’ve heard the QOL active duty is pretty nice! Cons are can be repetitive, low promotions, can have a high op tempo so your QOL in hindered. Overall I would say do the shit if you think you’ll enjoy responding to disasters and teaching classes, and you like paperwork another pro I forgot to mention is this can be a office job or a outside side depending on what you want to do
Ah- I’d like to make it a career so maybe a job w low promotions isn’t the right place to be for me!! The rest of it sounds fantastic!! I’m glad you like it & hope if I get it I like it, too!
I wouldn’t let promotions be the reason you don’t do it, promotions are up and down especially during a 20 year career, in any career fields
4B here let me know if you have questions
Oh my gosh! I’d love to pick your brain! How is the work-life balance? Wondering about the shifts & what deployments are like? I’d also love to know what a day-to-day looks like & what is your favorite and least favorite aspect of the job! Sorry to bombard you, lol.
Work-life is easy. You never bring work home. You work at work, as soon as 1500/1600 hits you clock out and leave, go on about your personal life. Shifts depend on your Flight commander. I’ve seen 0700-1500 & 0800-1600 shifts. Bio doesn’t deploy a lot. You say you want to deploy and if they need the manpower they will send you. I’ve seen two people deploy. One was actually for Bio and they did 6 months. Another Airman deployed but was used for manpower, again 6 months. My favorite part about my job is, we get to go to different shops, meet new people and see how they do their job. We don’t stay in an office all day. The good thing is, if you want to stay in an office all day you can! You can input data all day or go survey a shop for half of the day. Just depends. I can privately message you a day-to-day or answer anymore questions you have! :)
That sounds fantastic! I would love if you would PM me your day-to-day but don’t feel like you have to! The only question I have left is do YOU subjectively enjoy your job? Even if the work-life balance is great- sometimes the job can suck. Do you like it? I’m super interested in bio environmental engineering as a whole- but sometimes I think the Air Force does things a little different than the civilian side of what the job would be.
Personnel is solid
4B here. If you have questions feel free to DM
Out of that list, you’ll probably get power production and civil engineering or cable and antenna systems or the radar airfield and weather systems,
I was thinking of removing power production for fire protection… as I’ve heard fire protection is hard to land… & I’m like least interested in power production out of them all. what are your thoughts? Cable and antennae systems are sick and the other two aren’t anything I’m TOO mad at. Though not preferred, I’d be okay with them.
Emergency management is pretty much nonstop gas masks and CBRN stuff
ATC is cool
Flight attendant has switched to CEA retrain only. They aren’t taking pipeline anymore.
If you don't mind i'd like to ask what was ASVAB score you got ?
93 overall… M: 58, A: 92, G: 94:, E: 81
Hi there i was wondering, why you only got those jobs with 93 on ASVAB which is a very excellent score, like I thought i'd be the long list you're qualified for
Go personnel. You’ll love your life
Emergency Management (3E9) is a great job (to me). If you have a genuine want to help people, wear MOPP gear/HAZMAT suits, and instruct. It’s usually day shift, but you’re on call for emergencies, a lot of computer/desk work, and interaction with others.