Air Force Academy Graduates Call It Quits Before Their Careers Begin

AMAC Newsline ^ | 30 May, 2024 | Scott Sturman

[laplata]

Thanks. I stand corrected.

[ETCM]

Most I know just leave to go to graduate school and join the work force.

I suspect many are disappointed they didn't make the cut for pilot. I know the Naval Academy selects only a fraction of those graduates that want to be pilots.

[T.B. Yoits]

So, what are the most popular 5 and dive AF jobs?

Any "career" field that doesn't require more than a 5 year commitment if you couldn't get a pilot slot, and that has better opportunities as a civilian. I knew a few who picked career fields that allowed them to get their master's degree at a decent school before separating (no deployments, no crazy ops tempo, no remote locations).

Going into a career field that's being outsourced, if it was what you wanted to do, would be an incredible learning experience to prepare you for your civilian career.

[T.B. Yoits]

They despised him [John Boyd] the first time.

Absolutely. It's eye-opening to see what he was subjected to while trying to actually improve things dramatically.

[Night Hides Not]

I was sure I would be assigned to Finance Corp, as my degree was in Public Accounting. Silly me, I ended up in Air Defense Artillery.

Worked out great, I was assigned to a battalion whose primary mission was air base defense. My last year, I was the Battalion S-4, the perfect job for me.

[proud_dad_of_two]

Unless you’re a pilot or other flight crew member, I don’t think it would a lot of fun to be an Air Force officer. I guess a few math wizards might enjoy communications, but most other AF officers are just administrators.

I've worked with some IT and Intel types that were pretty sharp.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Yes and ironic the marines built a statue to Boyd!

[T.B. Yoits]

Unless you’re a pilot or other flight crew member, I don’t think it would a lot of fun to be an Air Force officer. I guess a few math wizards might enjoy communications, but most other AF officers are just administrators.

As they outsource more and more functions to civilians, the administrator positions that remain don't translate well to civilian life. For example, a munitions officer, like an Army artillery officer, has almost zero carry-over to a civilian job.

[daniel1212]

But the second choice is astonishing for cadets

Which is exactly what? What is its name?

[MtnClimber]

The author did not elaborate on the “second choice” in the article. I don’t know.

[higgmeister]

What is that second AFSC that the cadets call do me five and drop.?   Probably a personnel admin billet.

My enlisted AFSC has long since been abolished and replaced two or three times.   At least some still call it Tech Control.

[higgmeister]

The military just saved over a million dollars. They are not sad.,/i>

It was probably a force reduction early out with full retirement at the 20 year mark.

That's what my younger brother did in the 1990s.

[napscoordinator]

Good point. I recall those early outs. I hope that’s what it was.

[lepton]

Bump

[RetiredArmy]

Yup. Same way when I was in the 2/11th ACR in Bad Kissingen way, way back in 71-72. From Daley Kaserne to Camp Wolbach and back. Then either to Hoenfels for a month or so and back then to Graf for tank gunnery. We had the old M551 Sheridan's back then. Our married guys lived in housing or the economy. The rest of us in those nice three-story apartment buildings that Germany was so famous for as barracks!!

I have been retired for 32 years now, and to be honest, I don't keep up with the day-to-day activities of the Army any longer. We do have the Alabama National Guard out here at part of what used to be Fort McClellan, Alabama. The Guard took over the part that used to be the Chemical School and areas behind that. Homeland Security took over parts of the Chem School and the old hospital and also build a huge complex on the back side part of the old fort. Still known as McClellan as they gave it to the city and the city is still after over 20+ years trying to redevelop the lands.

Knowing what I do about the US government, politics, the running of the military now, when approached by any teens about entering the military, I tell them to have a PLAN. Why are you going in? What is your objective? Maybe enlisting for a job specialty so you can get training in a particular field? Serve the Republic? Adventure? WHAT? But I also tell them to know what you are getting into. Do you know what is going on in the military now? Can you live with what is being pushed on you in there? All this you have to love the WXYZKLMNOP+++---!!/%$# mob wants you crammed down your throat? Etc, etc. I do not recommend it as a career any longer UNLESS you are absolutely sure, absolutely 100% sure you want to proceed after a first hitch. That's about the way I see it from this part of the planet! Have a good one.