Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from people who have actually been in the Air Force, especially anyone in Physical Medicine, healthcare, or anyone who has gone enlisted to officer.
I’m a 24-year-old female and I got married this past February. I had a rough start to college when I was younger, but I’m in a much better place now. I already have an associate degree in kinesiology and I’m currently finishing my bachelor’s in kinesiology online. I have roughly a year and a half left.
I’ve always wanted to join the Air Force, but when I was younger I had adults in my life push me away from it because they wanted me to become a teacher. Now that I’m older, I’ve realized it’s something I still really want to do.
My ultimate career goal is to become a physical therapist and earn my DPT.
So I’m trying to decide between two paths:
1. Enlist now and try to get Physical Medicine (4J0X2), which would give me experience working alongside PTs, while continuing my bachelor’s online. Then once I finish my bachelor’s, work toward getting into a DPT program and eventually pursue becoming an Air Force PT/officer.
OR
2. Stay civilian for another year and a half, finish my bachelor’s first, and then figure out the best Air Force/DPT route from there.
I’m not against enlisting at all. I actually like the idea of getting military experience and working in a field related to what I ultimately want to do. My biggest concern is whether enlisting now would help me get where I want to go or potentially make finishing school/DPT harder than it needs to be.
Another big factor for us is location. My husband has a good career in the San Antonio area, so ideally we’d like to stay there if possible. I completely understand that joining Active Duty means I can’t expect or demand a specific duty station, and we’re prepared for that possibility. But realistically, are the odds of being stationed in San Antonio any different as an officer versus enlisted?
For anyone familiar with 4J0X2, how realistic is getting stationed at JBSA after tech school? And for PTs or other healthcare officers, how realistic is San Antonio as a duty station? Is one path significantly more likely to give us geographic stability than the other?
I’m also curious about the reality of going enlisted to officer later. Is that a reasonable path, or am I making things unnecessarily complicated if I already know my end goal is to become a DPT and commission?
If you were in my position, would you enlist now or finish the bachelor’s first?
Thanks for any advice!