Air Force Academy

If you don't want to be a pilot, do you really want the military life?

If you go to Duke and start working, that experience will serve you better than Air Force experience. Private industry sees military experience to be too specialized to transfer over. There are exceptions like medical training.

My wife has been an HR (Human Resources) VP for two fortune 500 companies at world headquarters. They did not recruit military. The aerospace field that has lots of gov't contacts is probably different, I don't know.

Everything in the Air Force is geared to support the pilots. they are numero uno, on the fast track, etc.

If you have an idea about what industry you are interested in working in, I would talk to them and see if they think the AFA is the way to go.

You have to decide what YOU want to do. Some people love the military and some hate it. Not right or wrong, just what you like.

 

Just so you know, getting into the Air Force Academy takes a little more than a recommendation from a state senator. The senator or congress-person has to "nominate" you for the academy. That's the EASY part. After that, you have to get in based on your academic record, athletic achievements, and community service. If any of those are even minimally lacking there's a good chance you will not be accepted. I know this from first hand experience. Also, it sounds like you're confused about what you really want to do with you life...figure that out first. If you go the Air Force Academy route, you better want to become a pilot. Everything that happens in the Air Force happens for the pilots. Also, having an engineering degree from the Air Force Academy isn't the best calling card in the corporate world (it's not the worst either). I was a senior vice president for a multi-billion dollar technology company and I can tell you that I was never swayed by an academy graduate. They were generally good people with top-notch schooling but that didn't make them the best candidate for the job.

 

To be perfectly honest from what you have written I very seriously doubt if you have what it takes to be in the air force, you say you do not want to be in a combatitive enviroment well I suggest you get your degree and go to boeing etc wanting to join the air force and not be combatitive is like joining the cops and not wanting to aprehend criminals not only that with an attitude like yours you will be found out before even entering the academy.

 

my 3 cents:

If you think of the future, do you want to serve 20 years, get out, have a monthly retirement check, and then go work a 'real' job on top of it ?

I ran into so many guys at my high school 20 year reunion that had just retired (at 38) it made me sick. They golf 3 times a week, and work part-time jobs.
Also, if you were a computer engineer, even if you got out in 5 years, you would have the COVETED top-secret security clearence, so then you could go work for Northrup-Grumman, Sterling Software, etc. very easily - *IF* you know your stuff.

Or, skip it all, go to Duke, get a Construction Engineering Degree, and make a ton also....

It just depends on where you want to be in 5 or 20 years. If I had to do it all over again, I would have gone into the USAF, no question.

MAT - some guys in the service want to shoot at stuff and have NO interest in working with computers, cooking, being a mechanic, etc., it sounds like Chris wants to contribute to his country in some way, the military is not just about everybody using weapons. Besides, by the time he gets out of HS, we won't be in Iraq so much, depending on who gets elected or what happens in Iran.

 

Whisky, I fully understand that but my point is simply that everyone that joins the military in whatever capacity is expected to be a Soldier first and a specialist second that is the fundemental ethos of military life and service if He indeed joined and was then sent to an area of conflict in which he did not ever want/expect to be in then surely that would lead to one very unhappy officer, there are many ways to serve your country other than getting yourself in a stuation that you would not feel comfortable, I do not intend any criticism just pointing out a rather large potential problem.

 

One good thing about the air force, is that most bases are usually away from the front lines. But you could get bombed or strafed by the enemy. Shot or blown to pieces by some terrorist while off the base.

If your big desire is to 'avoid' combat and get an education, do the country some good and go to Duke. There are many qualified applicants willing to 'go in harms way', and that is what the military needs right now. Don't take someones spot. The AF academy is NOT a free ride to a degree, that's why you have to serve afterwards.

As far as 'Maybe be put in as an engineer for Boeing, Lockheed-Martin', my guess would be you would have to be at the top of your class, and/or serve some time at the bottom of the heap. I would think thats a plum assignment, especially since you would have connections after serving.

Going to Duke would probably also give you a shot at these companies, I know several engineers in the defense industry, L-M, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and they never served. Or get a federal job. But the defense dept s*cks on payscale and promotion. My sister works for the FAA as a technician in a regional control center. Started as a secretary, now 6 figures, unionized, every holiday off (or triple(!) time if scheduled to work), 5-6 weeks vacation, accumulated 9 months of sick leave. And they spend a lot of their time watching tv in their break room waiting for something to break. I'm not too jealous........

Whisky's right about the 20 years. If I could turn back time I would have gone this route. Oh well. Also, I think we will be in Iran sooner or later.

IMHO, don't, unless you decide you are willing to die for this country.

The military don't need men like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehren_Watada

 

I left USAFA after 2 semesters so I can't say first hand about the post-grad life, although at least until the current war the AF life was considered to be VERY good compared to the other branches...even if you weren't a pilot.

As Steve said, it takes A LOT of work to get in...and even more work and determination once you get there.

First question, do you have any idea what the academy life is like? Are you a military brat, a cadet at a military school or a serious athlete. These are all experiences that can help you understand the mindset and dedication it takes to stick w/the academy experience.

Second question, why do you want to go there? For me, at first it was because as a 10 year old I wanted to fly F16s. Later it was because it was 'the best,' (an image, which, unfortunately has been tarnished many times over in the past few years). The reality you have to accept is that once you get there, the PRIMARY goal is making you a SOLDIER. It may not mean hand-to-hand combat but the MILITARY is the purpose for such a school. If you can accept that, are willing to work your a$$ off physically and academically, and can play the USAFA 'game,' (especially during the 1st year-which I couldn't!) then you'll do fine!

 

Why do you want to attend the USAFA? It sounds like you want to be an engineer and don't have any interest in a military career. If you're aiming for prestige, there are a lot better places to get an engineering degree from than the USAFA, IMHO. Duke is a great school, but getting in there won't be a cake walk either. If I was in your position, I'd figure out what kind of career path I wanted to follow and then apply to the schools that would best help me to meet those goals. Good luck!

 

You are not military material.

 

I call BS on this. I know for a fact that corporate America recruits heavily among former academy grads. Most of those Academy grads have degrees in engineering and as lieutenants and ensigns have had to make more command decisions than their civilian counterparts. Companies like Exxon-Mobil put these guys on the corporate fast track.

 

my brother was an army officer and he works for boeing now...not an engineer but hes doing good...Oil companies like engineers and military people btw....at least the ones in houston do any how..Texaco used to make it a point to hire military people...

but to the original poster dont go in the military. The point someone else made about not taking a spot is very true. Let someone who wants that life have it, theyll do a better job.

 

stupid ignorant company...i wish i knew who you were talking about cause if i own their stock ill sell it and write em a nice long letter letting em know how f'n stupid they are...

 

The Air Force is about as close to civilian life while still serving in the military you can get.

Don't go to a service academy unless you are 100% on graduating.
Don't go to a service academy if you are against going to war.
Don't go if you are a weak individual. The services don't need weak leaders.

You can always do ROTC at a regular university that offers it. There is nothing wrong with that. It doesn't affect your military career by not going to a service academy.

The intangibles you learn while serving in the military change your life. I strongly encourage everybody to serve if they can.

Service academies have outstanding networking after you get out. Most good companies like to hire former military officers, especially if they desire candidates with strong leadership skills.

I suggest you spend a day at USAFA and see if its something you would like. You can contact the admissions office for info on candidate visits.

Good luck.

 

Point taken, and understood. Military means 'last man standing', you have to be able to count on EVERY PERSON in the military to put their life on the line when called upon.

Overall, if I was him and I could go to college 'anywhere', I'd do that, because if you land in the right 'position' at the right company, you can do very well, but in order to do that, you DO need to make command decisions - and the right decisions - and not screw up - and you will do very well in life. However, if you are not a DIRECT person overflowing with smarts and self-confidence, you will be just another 8-5 worker.

 

I'm not an Academy guy but I work with a few of them () so here are a few observations......

When asked how the experience was several of them have told me along the lines of "it's a great place to be from", interpret the rest for yourself.

I could go on but probably shouldn't...... In a nutshell I would say skip it unless you are really devoted to the Mil life. Go to a regular school and if you are interested then try out ROTC, it's a much easier route and the AF always needs engineers. After you finish college there is also Officer Training School which fills specific needs of the AF, it's fairly competitive to get in but (at least when I joined) you will know what field you will be going into when you join.

As for the combat issue, it can be debated a few ways but the fact is that the AF is very tech oriented and engineers are important to keeping us on top. I went to O school with some great guys who went straight into engineering fields who's biggest danger is probably the commute to work...... but that doesn't mean they aren't doing important work. I dunno what their daily ?grind? is like but I'm guessing it's a pretty decent life. In the off chance you change your mind and become a flyer.... well it's a tough job but somebody has got to do it

You won't really make new F car money but (much like any other job) a used Ferrari is very possible depending on your lifestyle...... biggest thing to avoid is having kids right away. The biggest thing keeping me back right now is that I don't need another car to put in storage during the regularly scheduled deployments.

If you have any questions feel free to PM