Mistakes to Avoid When Joining the Air Force · 2016. 9. 10. · In this ebook, you’ll find 10...

Mistakes to Avoid

When Joining the Air Force

BONUS: 6 Mistakes to Avoid After You’ve ALREADY Joined!

Start your Air Force career off right.

Learn from us who’ve walked the path!

http://www.foreverwingman.com/


10 Mistakes to Avoid When Joining the Air Force

AND

6 Mistakes to Avoid After You’ve Already Joined

FIRST EDITION

By Josh Snow

Creator of ForeverWingman.com

© 2016 Forever Wingman

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

DISCLAIMER: The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD

endorsement. The content in this ebook don’t necessarily represent the Air Force/DoD positions, strategies, or opinions.

Hey there!

I’m Josh Snow and I am the creator of Forever Wingman. Thanks for downloading

this ebook!

If you haven’t guessed it yet, I am an Air Force Veteran and I have over 9 years of

service, both Active Duty and Reserves. When I first joined, it was by complete

chance that I ended up in a great job and that my career was so successful,

because I didn’t do an ounce of research.

You are already LIGHT YEARS ahead of me by taking initiative to read this ebook!!

If this resource was available to me when I first joined, it would have saved a lot of

heart ache while on my Air Force journey.

With that, always keep these points in mind along in YOUR journey. I hope to get

an email from you someday saying that they saved you some pain.

Take care and if you have questions along the way, reach out to me!

An Introduction

10 Mistakes to Avoid While Joining the Air Force

Forever Wingman

www.ForeverWingman.com

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/foreverwingman

http://www.facebook.com/foreverwingman

http://www.twitter.com/lifedevoted

http://www.twitter.com/lifedevoted

In this ebook, you’ll find 10 mistakes to avoid when joining the Air Force. These 10

things came from my own experiences, as well as conversations with people

thinking of, or who were in the process of enlisting. Learn from our mistakes!

These 10 mistakes will save you some major heartache in the future, but at the

very least they will minimize your learning curve while you are on the path of

enlisting in the Air Force. I’ve included an action step for each of the mistakes

listed. I encourage you take these action steps to heart, and if it is needed, take

the time to reflect on what is being presented. You don’t need to do exactly what is

being asked of you, but instead take the action step and make it your own.

These action steps are just one way that you are taking your career into your own

hands!

Also, I’ve added a BONUS at the end called “6 Mistakes to Avoid After You’ve

Already Joined.” The recruitment process is only one step, though a major one, in

your Air Force career. These 6 things will set you on the path for success. They

have come directly from my experiences while in and from many conversations

with other veterans and Air Force leaders.

Enjoy!

Overview


Forever Wingman


I am an American Airman.

I am a Warrior.

I have answered my Nation’s call.


My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win.

I am faithful to a Proud Heritage,

A Tradition of Honor,

And a Legacy of Valor.


Guardian of Freedom and Justice,

My Nation’s Sword and Shield,

Its Sentry and Avenger.

I defend my Country with my Life.


Wingman, Leader, Warrior.

I will never leave an Airman behind,

I will never falter,

And I will not fail.

Airman’s Creed

Photo by Tsgt Manuel J. Martinez

http://www.af.mil/News/Photos.aspx?igphoto=2001622216


This is extremely important. I’ve come in contact with more young people that talk

about how “disappointed” or “upset” their parents were when they told them about

their decision to enlist. What is even more upsetting to me is when I hear about

someone not joining because they don’t want to be separated from a boyfriend or

girlfriend.

Enlisting is a massive decision that you are making. The key word is “YOU.” The

decision to join is yours! Don’t be influenced in a direction that doesn’t seem right

to you. You are in control here.

Lastly, don’t let friends diminish the fact that you decided to join the Air Force and

not another branch. I’ve heard of people getting shamed saying they were only

joining the Air Force because they couldn’t hack the Marines. Believe me, many

Marines/Soldiers will tell you after they separate that they wish they would have

joined the Air Force instead! I’ve heard it more than once…

ACTION: Take time to consider all of your goals and write them down. By writing

them down, you are making them more concrete. Set realistic timelines then put

your head down and take one step at a time.

Not making decisions based on YOUR goals


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#1

“We have all been placed on this earth to

discover our own path, and we will never be

happy if we live someone else’s idea of life.”

James Van Praagh

Photo by SrA Stormy Archer



No matter what path you choose in life, you’ll find people who walked it before you

who loved it and some who hated it.

If you do your research, you are eventually going to find someone, usually a

veteran, who will tell you to run the other way. Listen to their story and read

between the lines. Every veteran has horror stories even if they loved it. Here’s a

fact…no matter where you go in life, bad things are going to happen to you. But

you already know that…it’s life right?!

Don’t let someone else’s bad experiences dissuade you…make your own

decisions!

ACTION: Remember, the Air Force isn’t for everyone! Spend some time to

determine if the Air Force or the military in general, is for you. Line the decision to

join up with your goals.

Not joining because of someone’s “horror stories”


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#2

“No one can give you better advice than

yourself.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Photo by SrA Joshua King



That’s right…this is a mistake. You need to know that the Air Force is the branch of

military service for you.

Every branch is different. If you want “combat action” then you should consider the

Marines or Army – not the Air Force. If the idea of living near the water or being on

a ship, then the Navy or Coast Guard is where you want to be. The Air Force, by

far, has the best quality of life, and in my biased opinion, some of the best jobs to

choose from.

ACTION: Take time to consider ALL of your options. Research each military

branch then list the pros and cons of each.

Here’s a good article with overviews of each of the service branches.

• What to Consider When Joining the Military

Not researching all of the military services as options


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#3

https://www.thebalance.com/joining-a-military-service-3353993

“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women

in the service of our country can never be repaid.

They have earned our undying gratitude.

America will never forget their sacrifices.”

President Harry S. Truman

Photo by A1C Kevin Tanenbaum



Just like every military branch offers different benefits, every component within the

Air Force offers benefits.

You’ll need to do research on all three components and bump the benefits against

your goals.

For example, if you’ve thought of joining but think going to college is the best

option, then you might consider the Reserve or Air National Guard to help pay for

it.

ACTION: Check out the following websites and just like you did above, list all of

the pros and cons of each.

• Active Duty Recruiting Site

• Air National Guard Recruiting Site

• Reserve Recruiting Site

Not considering Active Duty, Reserves, or National Guard as options


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#4

https://www.airforce.com/

https://www.goang.com/

https://afreserve.com/

“A man who will not die for something is not fit

to live.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo by SSgt Lealan Buehrer



The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test is the one major

way you have control over what job you get in the Air Force…so why would you

NOT study before you take it?

The higher your score, the more jobs that you are eligible for!

The minimum score to enlist in the Air Force is 36, but the recruit average is

upwards of 50. The highest of all the services.

ACTION: Check out these websites and lay out a plan for studying. Also, if you

don’t have a calendar yet, get one and schedule dedicated study time away from

distractions.

• Official ASVAB Site

• Mometrix Academy ASVAB Study Videos

Not studying for the ASVAB test


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#5

http://officialasvab.com/index.htm

https://www.youtube.com/user/MometrixAcademy

“There is no elevator to success. You have to

take the stairs.”

Photo by A1C Kevin Tanenbaum



Learn this one quickly! Then when you have it down, pass it along to the next

person walking in the door at the recruiter’s office. Unfortunately too many people

just sign on the dotted line…don’t be that person. You have options…

Here’s the basics of Air Force contracts.

• You will sign 2 contracts, one for Delayed Enlistment Program and one for

your enlistment. The enlistment contract is what you need to make sure all

of your “promised” incentives are on.

• Everyone signs an 8 year contract. Whatever you don’t fulfill in your

service you will fulfill in the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve, this means you

are a reservist but do not drill).

• 4 vs 6 year enlistments. 6 year enlistees are eligible for sewing on E-3 60

days or following tech school, whichever occurs first.

• Open vs guaranteed job. Open means that you agree to enlist without

being guaranteed a specific AFSC (job). You will be guaranteed a category

of possible jobs, but you won’t find out what it is until the end of Basic

Training. Guaranteed jobs are just that. You will receive you AFSC prior to

leaving for Basic Training.

Not researching enlistment contracts


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#6

• Enlistment Incentives. These range from enlistment bonuses (usually

special tactics or hard to man AFSCs), College Loan Repayment Program

(CLRP), advanced rank, or buddy program.

ACTION: Check out these sources to get you moving. Don’t stop here though…it’s

in your best interest to keep going.

• Video on 4 vs 6 year contracts (Wild Blue Yonder has some other great

videos as well…check them out)

• Reddit thread about open contracts (the /r/AirForce page is great, but can

be a bit negative at times)


Forever Wingman


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBlR7hFrzxs

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/1wepr1/open_general_meps_questions/

“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would

not be called research, would it?”

Albert Einstein

Photo by SrA Joshua Smoot



There are over a 130 possible career choices in the Air Force. That is a lot!

Most of these jobs are going to be foreign to you which means you don’t

necessarily know if it could be a possible option. This is why you need to research

them ALL at least on the surface level.

Start the research PRIOR to you taking the ASVAB that way you have an idea of

what you need to make on it to open up job options.

ACTION: Start making a list of jobs (AFSCs) that interest you now! Write them

down and have a candid discussion with your recruiter. Some of them may not be

available if you are working on a short timeline to Basic Training.

Go the following page on the Forever Wingman website. Each AFSC has a

dedicated page with descriptions, ASVAB requirements, videos, articles, CCAF

Degree, and much more.

• Forever Wingman AFSC descriptions

Not researching all of the possible jobs in the Air Force


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#7

http://www.foreverwingman.com/afsc

“Choose a job you love and you will never have

to work a day in your life.”

Confucius

Photo by SrA Allyson Manners



This mistake is probably the most common. About 2 minutes after you walk into

the recruiter’s door, they’ll have you fill out a “prescreening”

form. It will end the enlistment journey of many because of things like legal issues,

they have kids, or too many/offensive tattoos.

Don’t let one night of craziness and bad decisions disqualify you from serving your

country. You’ll be treated like an adult from day one in the recruiter's office…might

as well start making the responsible decision now.

ACTION: Do some serious self reflection. Is one night of fun worth a lifetime of

regret?

Making yourself ineligible to join because of a momentary lack of judgment


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#8

“Integrity First,

Service Before Self,

Excellence in all we do.”

Air Force Core Values

Photo by TSgt Jason Robertson



In the Air Force you must be an officer to fly (exception is the new enlisted UAV

pilot program).

Generally speaking, the Air Force selects its pilots from the following officer

commissioning

programs:

1. Air Force Academy

2. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)

3. Officer Training School (OTS)

This list is in order from the highest to lowest chance of being selected with the

most pilot slots going to the Academy and AFROTC. If the Air Force doesn’t have

as many pilot slots, then they will cut them from OTS first, then AFROTC.

ACTION: Determine if you truly want to be a pilot. If the answer is yes then start

planning how you are going to become an officer. Enlisting in the Air Force is not

recommended.

Thinking you’re going to enlist to become a pilot


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#9

“Be hopeful, but not naïve.”

Photo by SrA Victor J. Caputo



This mistake is probably the most important because it could have life and death

consequences…yours or someone else’s.

Though most of the Air Force’s jobs are support oriented, the fact remains that by

enlisting in the Air Force you are joining a fighting force whose mission is to kill

people and break things…and the Air Force is the best in the world at doing it.

If you think for a moment that you won’t be deployed to a combat zone or when

there you’ll be “behind the wire,” think again. Though chances are less in the Air

Force compared to other branches, Airman are leading convoys in combat zones,

they are pulling triggers, and sadly…they are dying.

ACTION: Think long and hard about what this means…don’t take it lightly.

Not understanding you are joining a military fighting force


Forever Wingman


Mis

take

#1

0

“Let ever nation know, whether it wishes us well

or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any

burden, meet any hardship, support any friend,

oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the

success of liberty.”

President John F. Kennedy

Photo by Yasuo Osakabe



Let’s Review


Forever Wingman


Not making decision based on YOUR Goals

Not joining because of someone’s “horror stories”

Not researching all of the military services as options

Not considering Active Duty, Reserves, or National Guard as options

Not studying for the ASVAB test

Not researching enlistment contracts

Not researching all of the possible jobs in the Air Force

Making yourself ineligible to join because of a momentary lack of

judgment

Thinking you’re going to enlist then become a pilot

Not understanding you are joining a military fighting force

Mistakes to Avoid

After You’ve Already Joined




1. Having the Wrong attitude

Attitude is everything! If you go into something thinking it is going to be

miserable, then you guessed it…it’ll be miserable. Fight to stay positive! It

is a daily battle.

2. Not protecting your reputation

Protect your reputation at all costs, and remember that the answer to most

situations is to keep quiet, or at least think long and hard before you

answer.

Also, humble yourself and realize that you are not the center of the

universe. Learn from your mistakes and do everything you can to not

repeat them. Be Teachable!

Lastly, always remember the image you project. Remember grooming, pay

attention to your uniform, and remember your customs and courtesies.

Mistake

s #1-2


Forever Wingman


“You may not be able to control every situation and its

outcome, but you can control your attitude and how you deal

with it.”

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin

it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

Warren Buffett

Photo by Michael Peterson



3. Not networking

Never burn a bridge because you don’t know if you’ll need to walk on it in

the future. Every job that I got after getting out was because I knew

someone. Some of those jobs came from people I knew directly in the Air

Force!

Your future self will thank you for spending a little time getting to know and

keeping up with people…your reputation will do the rest.

4. Losing sight of your goals and why you joined

If you joined to get your education then don’t forget that. School is tough

when you have a fulltime job, but it’s doable and others before you have

done it.

If you enlisted with the future goal of becoming an officer, then make sure

you are taking steps in that direction.

No matter your goals, always keep them in mind. The good thing about

goals is that they can change with time. If you need to reassess then do it,

but remember to be deliberate in moving forward.

Mistake

s #3-4


Forever Wingman


Photo by A1C Lane Plummer

“If you want to go fast, go alone.

If you want to go far, go with others.”

African Proverb

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

Japanese Proverb



5. Not taking your career into your own hands

No one cares about your career more than you do! If you are depending on

a supervisor to get you from point A to point B, then you are doing it all

wrong. YOU are in control!

Lean on your leadership and mentors, that’s what they are there for, but

take control of your own career. If you don’t know something then search

for the answer in the regulations or make a phone call to the source!

6. Not documenting your medical conditions/history

The old timers told me when I was a young Airman, but I brushed it off

thinking I was being a team player. If you have an injury/sickness, then go

to the clinic and have it looked at and documented. In your annual

physicals (PHA) be sure to mention all aches and pains, and be sure to

have it written in your medical records.

When you separate from the Air Force, then there is a possibility of

obtaining a disability rating which comes with many more benefits. You

may not feel that ache in your back is a big deal, but in 10 years, that ache

could be a much bigger problem. Document, document, document.

Mistake

s #5-6


Forever Wingman


Photo by TSgt Justin D. Pyle

“You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that

golden dream, you’ve got to get out there and make it happen

for yourself.”

Diana Ross

“Opportunities do not come with their values stamped upon

them.”

Maltbie Babcock



Let’s Review

Having the wrong attitude

Not protecting your reputation

Not networking

Losing sight of your goals and why you joined

Not documenting your medical conditions/history


Forever Wingman


• Interviews with Airmen who have experience in the

career fields you want!

• Answers to questions from future Airmen just like

you!

• Content to help you along your Air Force career!

Want More??

Subscribe to the Forever Wingman

Podcast!

http://www.foreverwingman.com/subscribe

Mistakes to Avoid When Joining the Air Force · 2016. 9. 10. · In this ebook, you’ll find 10...

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