Posted on 02/14/2009 4:07:18 PM PST by Little Pig
So I've been weighing things in my mind for a little while now, and I have decided to seriously look into re-joining the Military. I was in the Army for four years from 1990-1994. I now have a Master's degree and lots of real-world experience under my belt. I am looking at joining the Air Force, specifically the newly-forming 24th (possible) Air Force, which will be the new Cyber Warfare command. My Master's is in Information Assurance (computer security). I have been having a hard time recently finding new jobs (who hasn't). I have been doing contracting, but the economy is particularly dry right now, and I don't seem to fit into the corporate world as well as I'd like.
However, there are a few things I need to consider, and which I'd like the opinion of the FreeRepublic intelligentsia on: First, although Gates has stayed on as SecDef, that won't be a perfect shield for the military from this administration. The Cyber command is likely to be less affected than the weapon-heavy jobs, but there is still the possibility that the Zero's administration will negatively affect the military. I'd like the forum's opinion on this. Second, I am a bit older than the "cutoff" age, particularly for the Air Force, and I'd like the advice of the forum on how I can best address this with recruiting. I plan to go in as an officer, so the age limit is higher, and a former AF pilot friend of mine tells me that there are still waivers and whatnot for special skills such as mine. I still want to maximize my chances should I decide this is what I want to do. I know I can handle the physical demands, and my life experience will make the mental demands much easier to keep in perspective, but I have to convince the AF of this.
I know there are those among my fellow Freepers that can help. Thanks.
If you like Texas and want to keep your house, you may also want to speak with a Texas Air National Guard recruiter, too.
It is nice for all these Freepers to be supportive and if you just wanted strokes for good intentions then I guess you’ve got them.
But as a former military recruiter (and the processes and requirements are more common than different) I can tell you that yours is an EXTREMELY uphill battle at best.
Hey, EVERYONE wants to be an office, right? Well you have to be very competitive. Being over age isn’t competitive.
OCS and OTS age limits are not as flexible as some seem to think. The services make the rules and stick to them and even among the fully qualified only the most competitive candidates are selected.
IMO, don’t count on OCS/OTS. Check it out but don’t count on it.
And if the recruiter encourages your application, then feel fee to ping me with a ‘neener neener’.
Obama’s the commander in chief. I don’t think I would want to join HIS military. I don’t trust him to lead in a positive direction.
I would look into civil service. When I retired from the USAF it was full of deployments. If you are single it’s ok. If you are married prepare to be divorced.
You were in from 1990 to 1994. That was Desert Shield/Storm time frame. If you are a vet that gives priority hiring preference for any GS job.
I did part of my time in HR. Part of it at HQ ACC at Langley. Based on your previous service you would technically be 33 or so. However, the services don’t like making exceptions unless it is an extreme case. Other folks are right, everything is waiverable, but you would need some serious horse power from a sponsor. Like a General who is a friend of yours who has connections or maybe a congresscrttter willing to put in a good word.
I’m not trying to discourage you, but being a GS is a hole lot better than trying to sleep in a ten man tent, crapping in a 55 gallon barrel and eating MRE’s on the side of some God-forsaken mountain ridge. Unless you like that sort of thing?
Are you willing to risk Obama controlling your life, and as Commander-in-Chief he does. Any military decisions he makes, and he has made some hasty and unbelievable ones already financially, his plans can impact your life once you take that oath. If this is just about a job, then why not consider an agency and move for the right opportunity, since the AF will move you anyway. If children are involved, then think twice before leaving them for Afghanistan or worse.
1) Are you within the height/weight limits? If not, get that done BEFORE you even try. That is an automatic “No Go” right now, and may be a note in your records even if you don’t sign up at first and come back later once you do qualify -— hate to have that follow you around your whole career.
2) The military is a “delayed gratification” job; i.e., you will make more $’s on the outside now, but the retirement benefits are good if you hang in there for 20. That said, remember that ALL military benefits are considered “entitlements” by the government, and are NOT guaranteed.
3) If you were in the Army, then the Air Force will be a “cakewalk” -— no offense meant to the Air Force types on the list!!! And you might get to play with some really cool new toys, too, like those drones in Afghanistan that they pilot from over here.
4) There is always the personal perk of serving your country, which still means a lot to at least 50% of our citizens. Besides, we need FReeper talent and mindset in the service!!!
Go for it.
Get in before being a homo is mandatory.
Hey! I know we didn’t eat snakes and such but I can tell you when we loose cable there was usually hell to pay ;)
FWIW : The Cyber Warfare Center is still at Barksdale,AFB
in Bossier City,Louisiana,,,
The Cyber Innovation Center should be finished sometime
this summer,,,
It’s at Bossier Parrish Community College on “Old” 80
just east of Bossier just off base,,,
They will employ the hacker/cracker folks there,,,
(10,000 so they say)
All this stuff will be hard-wired together with a bore
under I-20 (deep) (super-computer/etc.),,,
The CIC folks will brain-storm and write codes(?) and
hand them off to the CWC to wage “cyber-war”(?),,,
I’m working on the height/weight thing right now. I am a little over for my height, but most of it is muscle. I am well aware of the “delayed gratification” aspect of the military, and am ok with that.
That’s very helpful. That is indeed what I am looking to do, so it is good to know. Bossier City is even closer to my current home (3-4 hours driving).
I thought about it, but I want full-time.
Amazingly enough, the Air National Guard has a LOT of full-time, active duty positions. (Just ask my husband ... he’s been full-time, active duty for YEARS!) Seriously ... check it out!
If you PM me, my husband said he’d be willing to talk to you.
If you're joining the AF, there are no "physical demands." :-)
My brother-in-law just went back in at age 51 (after being out for 25 years), but he went in as a Navy Chaplain. Chaplains are sorely needed - at any age.
Glad to help,,,
This would let you “get in the game” without getting in
O’Bammy’s Military,,,
A friend’s kid goes to skroool there and mite go to work there...
God Bless you and go for it! If I was a decade and change younger I’d be there too. Obamateur will not last forever and we are going to need our brave military more than ever long before he finishes. Best of luck and know that you are honored and supported 24x7 by your fellow FReepers.
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