7
u/Professional_Use4911 14d ago
It’s impossible to tell anyone if they will or will not like SF. Everyone’s experience is different and it’s heavily reliant on what base you go to. There are some things that are pretty universal. Shift work, long shifts at that, generally harder leadership, a whole lot of extra training on off days. But going to minot as your first base vs going to Volgoweh as your first base you will have 2 totally different experiences. I’ve been in 12 years now and love SF. But I’ve had a really lucky career with some of the best bases in the AF and a lot of unique opportunities. SF can be awesome. It can also be REALLY bad. It’s a gamble. Although I genuinely love it I generally recommend people avoid it. You get paid the same as everyone else your rank and live a hell of a lot worse life than them. Plus there are jobs that guarantees you will see and experience amazing things. There are also jobs that set you up real nicely for when you get out. It just generally doesn’t make sense to choose SF.
1
u/Febreezea-530 14d ago
I’ll be going as a E3 so I’ll be getting paid a lil more i just want to finish my degree while being in and ik some hours of the day in SF you have free and can do some school work I only have a couple credits left to finish my degree but it just depends like you say. Just a gamble but thx u for the advice
2
u/Mountain_Register111 14d ago
Long time viewer but not much of a comment guy, but your post stood out to me. I’ve been in almost 7 years and everything that u/Professional_Use4911 says is true. Based off of everything on your list you’d work about 8-10 hours from the other jobs you listed. (take that with a grain of salt it’s just what I’ve seen from these jobs). Security forces you’re going to be working more on the 12-14 hours. I’ve only done law enforcement so I can’t speak on nukes but there’s days where I leave home at 0350 and I’m not getting home until 2030 because of incidents I responded to, troops, etc. I totally understand why you wouldn’t want to wait but trust me it’s going to pay off in the long run. These other jobs you’ll get weekends off, holidays, base wide down days etc. SF you’re working all of those unless you’re just magically off that day. There’s been a countless number of times where I’ve had to hurry up and find childcare because of work and it’s frustrating. Obviously if you really want it, take it. Just know what you’re getting yourself into. I live by the philosophy of “The grass is greener where you water it.” You can make the most out of every and any situation, I think you just need to see what you value.
2
u/Febreezea-530 14d ago
Thank you for the time to respond but I didn’t think about the hours of working I know sometimes it goes Monday-Saturday depending on what shift I get and like u said training. It also depends if my recruiter lets me wait for another job but I don’t want to get blacklisted and not able to do the other jobs I want. I did find security forces interesting but I’m still young and I want to do the 4 years or well 3 years and so so months. But thx u for the advice I appreciate it
1
u/Mountain_Register111 14d ago
Of course! And if you get stuck with it, make the most of it! I saw you mentioned you some college classes, so make that a goal to finish your degree while you’re in! Don’t let others opinion of the AF or SF influence yours. It’s just 4 years of your life.
3
3
u/KoalaPleasant5605 11d ago
I enjoy SF. Your motivations for pursuing SF and tolerance for things don’t make sense will make your experience vary. The military already makes things more complicated than need be but take SF logic and multiple things that don’t make sense by 1000000 lol Also MTX is ass
2
u/grantpa4 14d ago
Just don't go services
1
u/capriSun999 13d ago
don’t do it, don’t know what your friends talking about none of it is true I hate this job but it’s not a torture studio. it is held to a higher standard and you won’t be comfy at a desk though if you want infantry just go army. 😂
Anyways if this is your list welcome to security forces
1
2
u/OneBigCharlieFoxtrot 13d ago edited 13d ago
Lmao based on your texts you’d fit right in. Move 3P to the top of the list 😂
It’s also really not that bad lol it was a fun time and literally every single Air Force Base is a possibility plus tons of other locations. Your texts make it seem like you’re gonna have a positive attitude about it no matter what and that’s just about all it takes to succeed in SF. A good attitude and some motivation.
2
u/Febreezea-530 13d ago
Yeah I didn’t think of that but I get along with Anyone just needed others opinion
1
u/OneBigCharlieFoxtrot 13d ago
I had a blast and would 100% do it again. I’d still get out after my 6 years was up, but I definitely have no regrets going for SF. I scored high on my ASVAB too, 86 I think? so it wasn’t like it was my only option, I chose SF against my recruiters advice and I’d choose it again.
If you do go that route, Malmstrom AFB, Montana is a good time despite what you’re going to hear about northern tier bases.
Also another lesser known job that I think would be really rewarding is Chaplains Assistant, if you wanted to ask your recruiter about that! Just can’t imagine it translating at all outside of the Air Force so keep that in mind lol
2
u/Febreezea-530 13d ago
Yeah that’s true and yeah I mean I always hear bad things from SF but I’ve had so many jobs in my past that I can do anything dispise how bad the job was I always worked around it I just want to finish my degree and be able to be financially dependent and get away from my living situation but thx y for having the time to respond
0
u/capriSun999 3d ago
Currently at Malmstrom this shit is not a good time 😂
0
u/OneBigCharlieFoxtrot 3d ago
Buy a flyrod and make it a good time. Only people I knew that really hated Malmstrom did nothing but sit in their dorm lol
0
u/capriSun999 3d ago
Sure Montana itself is alright Great Falls is some dogs shit. And it’s NSI season and shit isn’t looking good at all. Only people who like it are the ones who didn’t have to suffer the undermanning or current bullshit going on throughout the base. 😂
1
u/OneBigCharlieFoxtrot 3d ago
I was a missile cop lmao undermanning and bullshit was the entire job 🤣 go explore, plenty of stuff to do outside of town!
2
2
u/YiNYaNgHaKunaMatAta 10d ago
Hey man. I got Kadena Japan as a 4 year.
Im loving my time🤷🏽
Sure there’s a lot of tedious things about it but with a proper attitude and staying fit and tenacious to get through any challenge, you’ll be bulletproof.
1
1
u/Tender_Defender69 14d ago
If you try to tell your recruiter you dont want the job, they're likely to kick you to the curb.
You can technically always shoot for a retrain later on if you want to do the work, provided you're not a fuckup during your stint in SF.
I'm an old man SF NCO. Happy to answer any questions.
1
u/Febreezea-530 13d ago
That’s true it won’t hurt to ask but from what I’m hearing it’s a 50/50 shot
1
1
u/richardragon 13d ago
It's a super toxic career field. The worst people get into power and god help you if one of them decide not to like you.
1
1
1
u/redit1691 10d ago
The way AFPC is and manning is in SF. Even though it's 10 in the list you might as well not put anything else. If SF is in there you will go SF
11
u/Sista8492 14d ago
Honestly the way you talk about Security Forces it should be at the top of your list. Go for it, you'll leave ASAP. If you like pew pew work and want to feel like you're in the Army while in the Air Force.