Traffic-Sense And Road Awareness

Hello,

I’m currently in the process of enlisting in the USAF and I had a few questions that I am hoping someone with previous experience/knowledge can assist with.

1. I am going in as enlisted but I hope to become an officer one day. I’ve heard that it is possible to become an officer this way, but any thing is possible. Is it rare or a farely easy transition? I understand I would to submit my application to the board and go through OTS, but is this a frequent practice? What about the success rate?

My recruiter pointed out that any healthcare/medical job would almost be automatic.

If selected for a healthcare job, I would purse a degree in that area. Otherwise, I would pursue an electronics or computer engineering degree.

-Jobs currently thinking about (I’m already qualified)-
-Air Traffic Controller
– Pharmacy Apprentice
– Diagnostic Imaging Apprentice
– Opthalmic Apprentice
– Visual Imagery and Detection Systems
– Computer Systems Control

2. My recruiter also stated healthcare jobs are pretty hard to come by. Does anyone have any insight to the recruiting of these jobs? I know it all depends but I wanted a second opinion.

3. I will be working on my degree while working and I’m looking for a job with pretty stable hours, if possible. Does anyone have any knowledge about these jobs?

Thanks for any assistance

OTS is very competitive. You would have a better chance with a SOAR (Scholarship for Outstanding Airmen to ROTC) scholarship. They would pay you at E-5 level while you went to college full time. There are some restrictions though. Of the jobs you have above, ATC and Computer Systems Control would be the ones with the most need.
ATC’s can earn $75000 plus working at a medium sized airport or for the FAA. There is a low retention rate for this career field so there is always a need for new junior enlisted in this career field. Computer Systems Control, or for that matter any computer, networking, or communications job is also bound to be high. With the arrival of USAF Cyber Command, there will be a lot of empty seats for the first few years as they develop the infrastructure for those jobs. However there is always a need for deployable medical personnel. The program with the most openings as of right now is the PA program. You would need no more than two years of college left and they would send you to school to become a Physician’s Assistant. These are rapidly taking the place of actual doctors in stateside military hospitals without emergency rooms. They are responsible for general healthare and report to a practicing doctor. They allow for more doctors to go downrange and attend to the medical needs of deployed troops.

The other medical jobs you have listed are pretty rare to come by but every now and then there is an opening. But you shouldnt hold your breath.