My 19 yr. old was firstconsidering the Coast Guard and found out the acceptance rate was 1 in 100. Now he's considering the Air Force, so yesterdayI went with him and he talked to an Air Force Recruiter. We went and picked up a copy of the ASVAB study book and he'swanting to take the test later next week.

Mom is in turmoil worrying about her only child.

If they will take him then Congratulations!!!!!​......It's definitely the Cushiest of the services with Higher education goals in mind - Wish I'd have chosen the Air Force instead of the Army......I spent some time at Langley AFB VA and it was like living in a dorm, The food was absolutely Awesome!!!

Haven't you heard, Diez? This is the 21st century, even Marines don't have to shine their boots anymore. Where was all this progress when I was issued the all-leather self-cleaning sole in Parris??? I gotta hand it to these new kids though, they definitely have their poop in a poke! I just hate the new deal with Dress Blues, I had to earn mine by recruiting three back in the day. I still hate the damn things, way too itchy and, after inspection you had to dump the gloves and the belt for new. I loved being a Marine/Gyrene/Leathe​rneck, I just hated being put on display sweating like a horse in front of the Elmer's Glue factory. Thank God it didn't happen very often!

Good luck to your son.Hope he does well on his tests and gets the schooling he wants. We had the lovely co-ed bootcamp in the Navy.Interesting times.

I wish your son a great career 2K!

I'm glad to know that he wants to serve.

Recoil

He took his ASVAB test today. He was told he scored high enough to take anydirection he desired. Whatever that means.

Means everything from nukes to rifle pukes, 2K! You should be proud, of course, basically your pride and joy can do anything in the military he wants to. My congrats, I scored high enough for electronics when I took mine, to throw it into perspective. Times change, I can't hate on the youngbloods, they've got what it takes. It's a shame, though, wish I had another good ten or hundred years left in me! Tell that young man good luck from me, hope it gives him as much as I got out of it! Ooh-rah!

Thanks C_Jackson.... I'll tell him

That is what the recruiter told him yesterday.He stayed on the A, B honor roll in Elementary and Middle School and started slacking off in High School. Which is when it's most important! But hey, I did the same thing only I started slacking off around the 5th grade.Like I told my wife, once you get that first wiff of a female,and the smell of burn't rubber from your rear tires,your done.

Here's how he did:
AFQT Percentile - 61
Standard​ score of 215
Mechanic​al- 75
Administ​ration- 55
General-​ 68
Electric​al- 77

So it appears his stronger points are in Electrical and Mechanical just like his Dad (unless I don't understand the scoring process). If he can get in the electrical and mechanical fields he could be setting himself up for a good job with my employer of 25 years if he decides he doesn't want to make a career in the AF. I supervise a team in Nuclear Generation Maintenance-Electric​al for a local utility. I think the MISSILE AND SPACE SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE CAREER FIELD would be a good choice learning about cutting edge technology.

2k,

He may want to check out Avionics Technician for a more cutting edge tech field. A lot of missile defense system isbased on really old tech. Tac missiles may be better, but with aircraft like the F-22 and F-35 emerging along with UAV's out the ying yang, avionics is a top tech career path.

Thanks for all of the information. Avionics sounds good. I want him to prepare himself for his future be it in the AF or as a civilian. One thing I really liked about the AF is the learning opportunities.

Agreed, there's a plethora of computer people out of a job right now due to market saturation.

He left December 1 (my birthday) so has completed week 0 and week one and in week 2 now. We haven't heard from him other than the quick call to give us his mailing address, no time for chit chat just give the address and get off of the phone. I understand it may be several more weeks before he can send a letter and maybe longer before he can call home. He decided to go for 6yrs. although I tried to get him to test the water first, but it was his decision. He choose aircraft engine mechanics or avionics but have no clue which way he is going.

Funny thing is Mom seems to be taking him being gone easier than I am.

His girlfriend left about 7 weeks ahead of him and she graduated the Friday the same week he arrived. She is now in tech school at Keesler AFB in MS training to be an air traffic controller.

His best buddy who signed up with him got delayed a few weeks due to getting a past injury approved. He's being sworn in tomorrow and heads out tomorrow night.

Outstand​ing! I'm glad to see he's going off to serve. Great career choice, he'll never be without a job when he gets out, that's for sure. If he goes powerplant mechanic, he can always pick up his Powerplant license from the FAA, get out and work on aircraft in the civilian world. They make pretty good $ for spinning a wrench. If he goes avionics, he can also get his FAA cert. there too and make good bucks. It's a win-win for him. Who knows, maybe he'll like it so much, he'll do the minimum 20 and draw retirement for the rest of his life.

I know you're proud, I wish him the best.

We're very proud of him. He plans to do the 20... But I had many aspirations at his age that I never followed through with. He grew up an only child but has many life long friends. He stayed out of trouble and we really had nothing to complain about with what some parents go through. Or when I think about what things I was into at his age. Of coarse being a single kid he was always spoiled a little more and got more than I did with 4 kids my the family. I think with the way kids are treated and raised now the military will teach him self discipline,structure​ and responsibility. He made the decision to join all on his own and we're behind him 100%.

Can't wait to hear from him to hear how he's doing!

I love reading these types of stories. I know you are proud of your son, but know we are all proud of him as well.

BTW, my best man in upcoming wedding is a retired AF aircraft mechanic. He's worked for Lockheed, Delta Airlines, General Dynamics, and now Embraer Aircraft since getting out. The jobs are plentiful and very good paying with heavy aircraft/turbine experience.

As for his girlfriend, she will have a great career when she gets out as well. If she heads to one of the big ten TRACON or tower facilities, she will be one of the best paid aviation specialist in the US.

Good luck to both of them!

We finally got to hear from our new recruit briefly tonight. We've not heard from him since he left 01Dec09 so it was great just to hear his voice. He only got about 5 mins. to talk but he did manage to tell us he was having the both the best and worst days of his life. Saying the best days in the same sentence as the worst days kind of balances it out a bit so I'm taking it he is making it alright. His Aunt sent him some candy which is a big no no, (she didn't know) so he had to do 50 push ups dropping his face into an empty candy box each repetition. He also said he got a good scolding for making an unfavorable comment about one of his TI's in his first letter, so needless to say it never was sent out. Several other recruits made the same comments in their letters and were recycled. So I guess he got off easy. I'm not sure what that means but I think it's like they have to do something over. He said he's made a lot of friends and I guess he's learning the ropes.

Just hearing from him made my Christmas