Air Force-Enlisted

A Day in the Life of a Air Force-Enlisted

There are dozens of completely different jobs available to a high-school graduate in the Air Force. The apprentice system puts one under the command of an officer in a variety of jobs. For example, in the Administrative field are such positions as Operations Resource Management Apprentice, who keeps tracks missions and flight personnel, and Radio Communications Systems Apprentice, who helps to run radio and satellite communications. The Operations/Support field includes personnel such as Helicopter Maintenance Apprentices and Fuels Apprentices, who are responsible for storage and maintenance of fuel operations. There are also numerous jobs available in Operations, including intelligence and surveillance. Systems careerists will work with machines that chart the weather, launch missiles, and detect threats to the country. In short, those who expect to fly a plane as an enlistee should be prepared for disappointment, as all of the flying jobs go to officers.

Paying Your Dues

In order to join the Air Force, enlistees have to sign an enlistment contract, which in most cases involves a commitment to 8 years of service. Depending on the terms of the contract, 2 to 6 years are spent on active duty and the rest spent in the Air Force Reserves. The enlistment contract obligates the Air Force to provide the agreed-upon job, rank, pay, cash bonuses for enlistment in certain occupations, medical and other benefits, occupational training, and continuing education. In exchange, enlisted personnel must serve satisfactorily for the specified period of time.

Present and Future

The advent of the United States Air Force came in World War One, when planes were used in Europe to strafe ground targets and for reconnaissance. In World War Two, air superiority served America well in both European and the Pacific theaters. Bombings helped to limit Axis production, and fighters were generally used as support for their operations. The Gulf War of 1991 is seen as the first war fought almost entirely with air power. The United States continues to utilize air support to enforce resolutions passed by the United Nations to preserve security in areas such as Iraq.

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Quality of Life

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