The Benefits of Enlisting for the US Air Force
About the US Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is one of the largest and technologically the most advanced air forces in the world. The USAF is the United States Armed Forces branch that is responsible for the aerial and space warfare.
The main responsibility of the US Air Force is to provide air support for land and naval forces and aid in recovering troops in the field. The USAF purpose as defined by the US Code are:
To maintain and preserve the peace and security, and to provide defense of the United States of America, Commonwealths, the Territories, possessions, and all areas occupied by the United States.
To support the national policy
To implement national objectives
To overcome any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the peace and security of the United States
Or the USAF’s mission states, “Fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace.”
Requirements and Standards
There are lot of factors that will shape your journey with the air force. These include your goals, current situation, and your unique background. You could joining the air force as an officer or an enlisted airman.
A career in the US Air Force is very admirable, full or opportunities, and very rewarding. The air force maintains high standards, and interested individuals must meet or even surpass the requirements, which are the following:
Age:
For enlistment, you must be 17 (18 for GED holders) and not older than 39 years.
To join as an officer, you must be 18 years old or older. The age limit for air force officer training school is 34 years old.
You cannot be younger than 18 or older than 48 years old if you want to join as a healthcare, law, or ministry professional.
Height and Weight:
There are strict height and weight requirements. The air force requires both male and female airmen to manage their weights according to the air force standards. Check here to know if your weight is in the acceptable limit according to your height: https://careers.airforce.com/height-weight/
Sexuality
The air force does not require applicants to reveal their orientation. Openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual applicants will be evaluated according to the same criteria and requirements asked to others who want to join the Armed Forces.
You can check www.airforce.com/how-to-join/ for the other requirements. Joining the air force is a life-changing decision. Take time to learn all about the aspects of air force life, prepare both your mind and body for rigorous training, and start your journey to fulfill important roles in the service of our country.
Training
The US Air Force Basic Military Training, or BMT, or also known as boot camp is an eight-and-a-half-week program. The boot camp is composed of physical and mental training to mold and hone all trainees to become an enlisted airman.
After basic training in the air force what happen is that those who passed are assigned to their appropriate technical training school for their Air Force Specialty Code. The technical training can last from a month to over two years.
Benefits
Airmen do not only earn paychecks while they train and serve. The air force continues to nurture the airmen to help them grow with advanced training, opportunities for advancements in their careers, and other benefits. The moment airmen put on their uniform, they are eligible to receive additional compensations based on their assignments and where they are stationed. Airmen also receive housing allowances, tuition assistance, generous retirement packages, and 30 days paid vacation annually.
I was very fortunate to have served in the USAF as an engineer. I do believe that the air force had helped in my personal development as well as my career advancements.
Do you have any questions about the air force? Are you planning to enlist? Leave a comment below or you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads. Grab a copy of From Brooklyn New York To Brookline Massachusetts now!
References:
U.S. Air Force. Accessed November 09, 2017. https://www.airforce.com/mission.
“Excellence in all we do.” U.S. Air Force – Meet requirements. Accessed November 09, 2017. https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join/prepare-for-success/meet-requirements.
“Get More Than Just A Paycheck.” U.S. Air Force – Pay & Benefits. Accessed November 09, 2017. https://www.airforce.com/careers/pay-and-benefits.
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