My brother and I both decided to go to an AirForce recruiter today (I was surprised they had ground vehicle mechanics) to get on the job work experience.

I'm torn between a two or four year contract, maybe two years i just enough to get the experience needed to get myself in the door. I'm ready to just get on with it at this point.


Then again four years will give me a bigger financial cushion for all the tons of tools I need and will provide a much more solid foundation of experience.


Decisions, decisions.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

What is the rest of the story? Longer/better training usually comes with a longer service obligation. What do you get for signing up for four years versus two?

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Cue the beginning of the movie " Stripes " ( Really, watch the first part )

Can you re up after 2 years? Even if there is less financial benefit of 2 / 2 year terms, it does give you more flexibility.

Be aware you can be deployed over seas and possibly in a hot zone. I'd also get a detailed description of what ground vehicle mechanics is. I'm betting it includes all ground support equipment such as tugs , air start , ground power and so on.

I'd contact someone currently in the Air Force to see what things are like.

Remember, the AF is going to make a pretty strong pitch to get people in and it might not match reality. This isn't a job you can walk away from if it turns out not for you.


Just be sure to live thin and save your $$$ during that time.

Another thought, have you looked into any technical training in your area? Some industries are short of people in the trades and offer paid apprenticeships.

Some industries are so desperate for workers, sometimes they pay ( or use govt $ ) for worker training. ( With a commitment that the worker will stay for X amount of time. )

Have you looked at the ship yards for apprentice opportunities? Gaining a good mechanical footing will apply to the automotive field with some tweaking.

https://ingalls.huntingtoningalls.com/careers/ingalls-apprentice-school/

https://www.as.edu/


Also, read some of this

This seems to be a clearing house for technical training and employers.
News

https://www.tradeandindustrydev.com/industry/manufacturing/manufacturing-skills-gap-problem-and-solution-13365

The Growing Skills Gap and Virginia

I dont know about the Air Force, but keep in mind that Army or USMC training will be geared towards a military vehicles and a particular type of vehicle. You're boot camp in the Army is around 8 weeks and USMC is around 13. After that, you go to schooling. That school is around 2 to 3 months. After that, you will be assigned to a unit for the remainder of your time. A 2 year contract, assuming the Air Force has the same general timefraes, will equal to maybe 1 year turning the wrench IF you are lucky The last 60 days is devoted to seperating you if you don't re-enlist. Same general theory but add 3 years and a PCS maybe for the 4 year contract. Overall, I really don't know how much time you will get wrenching or real training. I say this being in for a long time but I was combat arms and the combat arms has about zero application to the civilian sector. Yeah, all that discpline and training and organization skills equals about nothing in the private sector.

If you want to get a job with CACI, or something like that, totally different ballgame. You might have the ticket. If so, make it incumbent upon your recruiter to get a TS clearance along with your contract. A mechanic trained in the Air Force with a TS clearance will be worth something to CACI, et cet.

I applaud you for enlisting and serving your country. There are some trap doors along they way though. While your recruiter may paint the picture of what you desire and I assume some good vehicle engine skills, that MOS is broad and Uncle Sam is only going to promise you work within that MOS header of ground maintenance. This could be working on engines on vehicles or it could be laying antenna wire or working on munitions systems. If you are wanting a specific MOS try and get that specific MOS like 2T370 Vehicle Maintenance, don't get caught in a big group where they fit you in.

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Plus, are you talking about ground vehicles or winged? Jet? As noted above, a lot of folks get quickly disillustioned with the military because they are not doing the job they signed up for. You could be assigned to a Maitenence section but end up doing inventory, et cet which has nothing to do with wrenching.

Also, keep this in mind too. I was thinking of taking the ASME tests this November as I am nearing retirement. The folks at the local Firestone know me and pretty sure I could get an entry level job there. Even with a number of ASME certs, the max rate is around $28 an hour. Dealers, e.g., MB, are paying more but not a great deal more. So, making $30-ish or even $40-ish an hour assuming you set yourself apart as the guru of a wrench is a big jump and risk to join the service. Unless you target a niche market such as CACI, et cet and you have something marketable such as a TS clearance. This of course assumes you're headed into government service.

I appreciate it everyone, I might end up going army if the recruiter doesn't satisfy my needs. I'll be extremely specific on which sector I want in on. Hopefully all goes to plan.

I am aware of the apprenticeship in my area, they came to my school multiple times, it's a stellar program.

Figured out what I wanted to do, 2T3X1 sounds about right.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Services don't seem to take care of their people. Guy at the gym tore up his leg and waits in line to have it worked on.

Go talk to people doing the job you want and ask how they started. Better yet, go talk to the owner and find out how you can make him money. All will hire you if they can keep some of what you generate.

This is a major problem with getting hurt in the military. You can go from a hero to a zero pretty fast and there's not much you can do about it.

Yes, many folks outside of the military don't realize the oath of service includes "voluntary surrender of life". It's a major commitment but has many rewards, including lifetime healthcare. Many employers, who served themselves, recognize this commitment and will give you special consideration.

As one who spent 4 years in Marine aviation, I would recommend at least 4 years minimum. The military is like anyone else, you invest the extra time, you get the better schools. In fact, I sometimes think 6 years would have been better. You are given more consideration for their top schools. In fact, most of them require 6 years enlistment as you will spend at least 2-3 years in school. Better schools give a better transition to civilian specialties later.

Enlistment obligation is 6 years, regardless. It's your choice of whether you want 2 active-4inactive, 4 active-2 inactive, or 6 active. And if circumstances dictate, they have the right to make your entire 6 years active.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

This strategy has some good things to recommend it.
If you get a clearance and a job with someone like CACI or better yet-- Battelle-- you are more in the driver's seat.


You need at least 2 yrs of real experience though, so a 4 year hitch is better.

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Strelnik
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3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Why don't you just make it a career Fatha?

I'm presently in the Navy Reserve with 14 years of service. The first 2 were active, the rest has been reserve time. I tell everyone who is eligible and even remotely interested to join the Air Force.

Get the job you want guaranteed in writing. If it's not in writing, it may as well not exist. Enlist for the term that gets you the job you want. You will probably have some input on what duty station you get after training, but don't be surprised if you don't get your first choice. Unless it's changed recently, the Air Force sends its ground vehicle mechanics to the same school I went to. It's on a Navy base in Port Hueneme, CA, and lasts about 4 months. The training is mostly pretty general. Air Force guys get a few weeks of specific training for some equipment they have. Then you go to your unit for the rest of the time. Pay starts out at "not great" but goes up from there. If you live in the dorm and eat in the chow hall (or the fancy name the Air Force calls it, I forget), you will have very few expenses.

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83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
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From what I understand, even after the in service and inactive expires, you can be called back outside any contract.

The lifetime healthcare may or may not be so good, wasn't there a VA scandal a few years ago?