What advice do you have for a 25 year old female with a degree looking to join the Armed Forces?

I am mostly considering the Air Force. I am trying to do some research and see if it will be the right decision for me. What is the likelihood I would be deployed to Iraq or Afganistan?What advice do you have for a 25 year old female with a degree looking to join the Armed Forces?
Hello Katherin





As a college graduate, you should consider Air Force OTS, which is a three month commissioning program in Alabama. You would develop the unmatchable leadership skills combined with experiences that most civilians only dream about. The chances of a female Air Force officer entering combat are near zero, so I suggest that you consider other factors than that before deciding. Most future employers would place former military officers at the very front of any recruitment lines for obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. If you are healthy and physically fit with 20/20 vision, pilot training would be quite extraordinary. Otherwise, electronics, security and even meteorology would be viable AF careers.





Good luck, and let the nay-sayers have their short-sighted careers.





Look at the OTS web site....





http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/i鈥?/a>





Aim high was more than just a clever phrase.What advice do you have for a 25 year old female with a degree looking to join the Armed Forces?
A deployment will be based on two things, the first being PERSTEMPO (Personnel Tempo) and unit assignment. It is unlikely that you will be deployed to Iraq since more troops are being pulled out and more responsibility is being handed to the Iraqis.


But there is a good chance that you may be deployed to Afghanistan.





Keep in mind that the Air Force does not just have deployments to Afghanistan. You may find yourself at CJTF-HOA in Africa, Japan or even in a remote location in the arctic.





Decide what kind of job you would like. Also know that because you have a degree you may be able to become a commissioned officer instead of an enlisted airman.





I am a reserve officer with Army JAG, and my advice would be if you don't want to be deployed and still serve your country. Then consider becoming a reserve officer. At the moment, all military branches can be very picky since there has been a surge in both recruits and in retention.





Good luck.
The Air Force doesn't deploy people in the same way overseas as either the Army or Marines do. Some people I've talked with are moving a lot. Overseas, back again. Set up an airfield, or run a mission, deliver some stuff, whatever. There are also AF people who do get deployed for a long period. I don't know what types of jobs are available to you with your education, you'd have to talk to a recruiter. They can give you a list of what you qualify for, and maybe tell you who's most likely to get deployed etc. But then remember their job is to get you to sign some paperwork. You'll probably be pushed to do stuff before they give you any much information, that's just how recruiters tend to work.





I was in the Army and rather liked it. A lot of people wouldn't I guess. It's nice for some things. Horrible for others. Benefits are good. Pay is not so great unless you're deployed, in which case you get all sorts of bonuses, and tax free as well depending on theater. I think one day in a month in theater is enough to get tax free for the whole month, if I remember correctly. But things may have changed in the last few years.
It really depends on what you want to do and what your interests are.





My first question to you is do you have any student loans? If you do, then almost every branch will pay for them. The Army and Navy will pay up to $65,000 for college loans while the Air Force will pay up to $10,000. To get your loans repayed, you have to come in enlisted. You can use your degree to go officer but you'll still have to pay them on your own.





My second question is what kind of job are you looking for? Each branch has several jobs that can relate to the civilian sector. The Army, for example, has mechanical jobs, medical jobs, intelligence jobs, and several others available for females. The Air Force has several of the same jobs as well, although you may have a harder time trying to get the job you want.





The possibility of deploying is there no matter what branch you pick. The Air Force does have the advantage of having shorter deployments than the other branches. However, if you are planning to spend more than a few years in the military you may spend more time trying to gain rank going through the Air Force than any other branch.





My recommendation is to make an appointment with a recruiter from each branch. There is no obligation for making an appointment and you can get up to date information that way while comparing your options.
If you're considering Air Force and have a degree I assume you're thinking about becoming an officer- what is your degree in? The Air Force is a HIGHLY COMPETITIVE branch.





If your degree isn't in a math, science, or technical field (such as finance, accounting, economics, etc..) look into another branch.


Our AF recruiter wasn't well informed about Air Force needs-





Another thing to consider is your GPA-if you studied a liberal art you'll need a 3.5+ to be considered competitive. If you have a degree in something technical maybe a little less. My husband has a B.S. in Sound Engineering with a 3.5 GPA he went through two commissioning boards for the Air Force - he's now an officer in Navy. Our actual recruiter was even applying for a commission- he has been in the AF for 6 years, earned a B.S. degree- he was rejected. Like I said, competitive.





Lastly, if you're afraid of getting deployed or just don't want to- DO NOT JOIN THE MILITARY. Your MOS will determine whether or not you're deployed in the AF. There's no way to know, but it is likely.





And I read someone told you that the AF and other branches would cover college loans...





That's an ENLISTED incentive. Officer candidates are not eligible to receive CLRP (college loan Repayment)








If you want to enlist, disregard everything I've told you (except about deployment). The AF is a great branch for women, I know several enlisted AF personnel and they are very happy.
officer school. especially if you are looking at the air force. if you enlist you will be deployed. if you are in the air force you will probably be in a surrounding country with a base more than likely in a secure location. if the thought of being deployed and fighting turns you off do yourself a favor and seriously consider why you want to join the military. the job of the military is to fight wars and provide security for the united states. its not called the ';department of defense'; for nothing, lol. i wish you luck in your path if you decide to join. i am a 23 year old female who recently joined the army, i am glad i did and look forward to serving my country.
If it's not Iraq or Afghanistan it may be some place else during your career. It deployment to areas of conflict is troubling you should think about this very hard. That's the reason the military exists.





Here are a couple of links that may help.
It is fairly certain that you will be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan! I suggest waiting a few years until we are all pulled out and then joining.. Find something else to do in the meantime. maybe volunteer work or the peace corps. I highly suggest looking into the peace corps.. you seem like a good candidate. Best of luck! :)
MO is RANTING AGAIN!!! mama punta, anyways, when I experienced almost gettign raped in the military it was by a civilain so the civilian world while serving my country so don;t listen to MO!
what sort of degree do you have ,start from there
Before you do, please read these articles. Follow the link.





http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/america鈥?/a>


http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2008鈥?/a>


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/1鈥?/a>


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assa鈥?/a>





Get yourself a civilian career, where your rights will be better respected.