FAQ

Content thanks to Technical Sergeant William Barnett!

• Can I start the process or assist on behalf of my child?

  No - If your child is 18 years of age or older, the Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits us from divulging personal information to persons not strictly listed by that individual as parties authorized to perform legal decisions on their behalf.

• I want to see where my child is in the process. What can you tell me?

  The Privacy Act of 1974 prohibits us from divulging personal information to persons not strictly listed by that individual as parties authorized to perform legal decisions on their behalf.

•  If an Air Force Recruiter says I am disqualified, can I go to another recruiter and try again?

  No - The United States Air Force uses a networked database where all recruiters share information and notes. If one recruiter disqualified you, you will be disqualified by all.

•  If I failed the ASVAB with one branch, will that score show up on my Air Force application?

  Yes - ASVAB scores are shared across all branches of the Armed Forces. If you fail to meet a minimum score, you will be required to retest after the allotted time.

•  Are there practice ASVABs I can use?

  Yes - We have TWO options you can use. I would recommend that you take some tests online first, google Practice ASVAB, even if you have to pay for the test. Think about this as an investment for your future.

•  Do I need to take the ASVAB before applying for the Air Force?

  No - While it's not required, you take the ASVAB before talking to a recruiter. If you do not already have an ASVAB score, we will request you take either an in-office or an online predictor test to attempt better to tailor your job selection availability expectations.

•  How is my "Local Recruiter" assigned?

If you are still in High School, your recruiter is assigned by your school location and zip code. You MUST use that recruiting office unless there is an agreement otherwise. If you are a graduate, the initial recruiter search on AirForce.com will be based on your zip code, but you are not required to use that recruiter.

•  Can I get a guaranteed career?

  Yes, and No, there are many factors in an applicant's application that determine career eligibility. First is the aptitude; your ASVAB test results will thoroughly assess the availability of career choices. Secondly, some career fields require levels of college classes or advanced HS courses; for instance, many medical career fields require additional credits or courses beyond High School. The third is your medical history and limitations... some career fields require color vision as an example. Fourth and possibly the most important, although the Air Force has more than 140 different careers, we only have availability in those fields in demand of positions. Being open to a variety of career choices will greatly increase your acceptance in the Air Force.

•  What is the tattoo policy for the Air Force?

  Air Force Instruction 36-2903 defines strict policy on tattoos. Anything above the collar or below the wrist is prohibited. The same goes for any tattoo that offensive in nature.

•  Can I enlist as a Single Parent?

  Yes - However, we will need court records allowing you to leave Missouri with your children if you are the custodial parent. You will also need a DETAILED family care plan for looking after your child while you are in Basic Military Training and Technical Training School.

•  What if I'm not 18?

  If you choose to start your career now, you will need BOTH parent's consent before being 18.

•  What if I already started the process with another branch of the military?

  It depends on how far you are in the process of another service. If you are already in another branch's DEP, the options might be limited; however, it will be up to YOU to inform the other office you have decided to go a different path.

•  Prior Service, am I eligible?

  Give us a call (636) 220-6459 . Branch, AFSC, MOS, TIS, RE Code are all factors that influence your eligibility. ALSO, the prior service window goes by fiscal year, and historically, the Air Force typically accepts roughly 280 prior service members annually.

•  Can I try the Guard or Reserves to see if the Air Force is right for me then transfer to Active Duty?

Yes and No, as an Air Force Reserve or Guard member, you will be considered Prior Service. This will significantly limit your chances of transferring to Active Duty.

• What is the "Buddy System"

  I'm going to be straight with you... It is a program that all branches use... It is, however, a sales tactic to get a 2 for 1 deal on quota. I promise you that if you bring a friend, and you both enlist, you will never lose that friendship. The Air Force is a small branch, and although I can not guarantee you will be stationed together, I can guarantee if your relationship is solid, you will stay in touch.

•  Can I join the Air Force with a criminal record?

  The answer is Yes and No. The Air Force is a conglomerate of the most intellectual, integrity sound and a trustworthy pick of the United States population. Whereas we would prefer applicants to have a clean history of law violations, we understand that history is history. Even if it has been expunged, dismissed, or sealed, it MUST be disclosed to your recruiter. You will undergo an intense background investigation where EVERYTHING, to include juvenile violations, will need to be justified. Habitual law violators will be disqualified from enlistment, and others might require a waiver approval from Command. 

•  What are the contract lengths?

  4 and 6 years.

• Does the Air Force offer Sign-on Bonuses like other branches if I enlist?

  Yes and No - Ask yourself if a branch is willing to give you thousands of dollars simply to enlist without bringing a special skill to the table, why is that so? It's possible because the position you are applying for is HIGHLY technical and challenging to fill, or it's a position that nobody wants to take and hard to fill.

• Does the Air Force provide a better quality of life?

  Very much yes!

• How does the Air Force prevent sexual assault?

  The Air Force takes sexual assault VERY seriously. Airmen have routine training on prevention and intervention of reports. The Air Force also has trusted advocates that are confidential reporters who advise victims of their rights and avenues for help or reporting. https://www.resilience.af.mil/SAPR/. Keep in mind, the U.S. Military, no matter what branch, is an extraordinary target for mainstream media to use as a headline. Please do your do-diligence and research statistics compared to the civilian sector; you might find that the Air Force is a much safer place to work free from sexual assault.

• Can I get a specific job?  We can only offer you jobs the Air Force is currently hiring for. We cannot make a particular job become available based on what you want or are qualified for. We require you to list 10 specific jobs that the Air Force is hiring for. Once matched to a job, that is your job. We don't just guarantee training, but the job itself.

• How hard is it to get a medical job?  Honestly, pretty difficult. In 2019 the Department of Defense began to decrease the military's medical forces by 25%. That was over 18,000 Air Force medical jobs. That being said, hope is not lost! You can go to school for free on active duty and earn credits towards the degree of your choice! You do not have to have enlisted in the medical field to get a medical degree. You can take the traditional route of part-time work, go into debt for college, or join our team and get that college free, with good pay and benefits, and specific career training. Remember, your dream job may not be as great as you thought, or the pay may not be what you hoped. The average American changes career 5-7 times in a lifetime. The jobs the Air Force primarily hires to set you up for a successful future.

• What is the best job?  That depends entirely on you! Everyone has different hobbies and interests. Some people would hate being stuck in a cubicle; others don't want to work outside. During the process, we will get to know you so we can help guide you on listing jobs that are the right fit for you.

• What if I sign up and don't like it? It happens. The Air Force is not the right fit for everyone, but most people who join are having a great time, and many are looking forward to making it a career. Even if it ends up not being your dream job, it's a secure job for the next 4 years. You will also receive pay raises every January, plus at your enlistment anniversary, and each time you get promoted, in addition to numerous other benefits. If the reason you don't like it is strictly job-related, there are opportunities to cross-train into other careers at different points in your enlistment. There are also options for switching from active duty to the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard halfway into your enlistment if you'd rather go part-time. Remember, even going to college is a commitment..." You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear." -Sammy Davis, Jr.

• Do I have to fly a plane?  No. Less than 4% of Air Force members are pilots. Most of us stay on the ground supporting the flying, space, or cyber missions.

• Would I have to jump out of a plane?  Very few career fields have this option, and those that do are volunteer only slots.

• What is the main thing you look for in someone wanting to join?  Attitude! Have a good attitude and an open mind. Example: A young girl came in curious about photojournalism; at the time, there were no openings for that job. She was open-minded and qualified for many mechanical jobs, so she put those on her job list. Today she is an F-16 Crew Chief (fighter jet mechanic). After getting a chance to fly on F-16 during an incentive flight, she now wants to fly one herself. She's currently working on commissioning to become a pilot and continues to have a great attitude.

• Is it possible to speed up the process? Yes! Once you process through MEPS, you can be put on our Quick Ship list to take a job leaving sooner if one becomes available. Sometimes people joining become temporarily disqualified and we have to find a fill for their job last minute. For example, this could be because of several reasons: they may have broken their arm playing football a week or two before they were scheduled to leave for BMT... so in that case, we have to find a replacement right away. Ask your recruiter for more details on this process.

• Can I go Guard or Reserve first then switch to active duty later if I like it?  This is highly unlikely. From 2018 to 2020, the prior service program for the Air Force was decreased by 90%. In 2018 all prior service spots were sent to recruiters to fill on October 1st, and were all spoken for by November. It's easy to go part-time later, but there is very limited availability to go active from part-time.

• Why is it so hard to go active Air Force from the Guard, Reserve, or other branches?  Air Force retention rates are up significantly. This means more people are choosing to stay in longer. To retain those people and not exceed our congressional manning authorization, we have to decrease how many new people we bring. So if you are wondering for yourself if you'll like it, consider the fact that so many people are choosing to stay in

• What about my marriage or relationship?

Being apart

If you're married, you will be separated from your family during BMT (8.5 weeks) and possibly during tech school. If your tech school is over 20 weeks long, you will PCS (permanent change of station), which means that your spouse can move to the area, and the Air Force will pay for it. If the tech school is shorter than that, the AF will not pay for your spouse to move, and you'll have to live in the dormitories. You can pay for your spouse to move to the area at your own expense, but you'll still have to live in the dorms and will only be able to see your spouse when you are of the appropriate phase to leave the base.

Girl/boyfriends

If you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, they are not recognized by the military and will not receive any benefits whatsoever. You will still have to live in the dormitories at tech school and your first base, they won't be allowed on base without you sponsoring them on each time, and they will receive no medical coverage or any other benefit. They can move to your first base at their own expense, of course, but everything said above still applies.

Should I get married?

If you are in a relationship and already planning on getting married, bumping up the date to be married before BMT is pretty standard, and it'll simplify the paperwork. You'll also receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), a monthly tax-free amount based on where your spouse is living during BMT and tech school. If married, you'll also receive $250 per month that you're separated from your spouse.

I do not recommend marrying someone that you weren't already planning to marry just for convenience or the extra money or to not live in the dorms. It won't save you any money, and it won't make you a happy person in most cases. Don't marry an asshole.

Spouse support

If you're considering joining the Air Force, make sure your spouse is 100% on-board. Military life can be tough for spouses and families, as well as you. If joining the military is a passion of yours, but your spouse isn't interested, think long and hard before joining. If your spouse is miserable, you will probably be unhappy as well.

That said, educating your spouse on facts about military Service will usually calm any fears they have, as the military is a great deal for most people.