Air Force Contract

MikeOH58 · March 25th, 2007, 19:47

Does the Air Force gurantee jobs? Can one be guranteed Air Traffic Control for example? (and when I say guranteed, I mean guranteed the spot for school)

Mike Lewis · March 25th, 2007, 20:01

Well, that's one of the things. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the Air Force, and they can play the "We aren't trying to screw you over, but the needs of the Air Force to provide our national defense come first!" card to break any promises or guarantees. Trust me, I had a LOT of those broken promises.

One big one was when I signed a contract in ROTC that said in return for my scholarship and in addition to the four years of active duty service commitment, I would be placed on active duty within one year of graduation. No problem; I signed it.

But then in 1991 (a year before my graduation), they had a drawdown, and the Air Force decided to change their policy. Now, they decided, they wanted to bring people on to active duty with an up to TWO year delay. So, my senior year, I get called in to sign a new contract.

I asked, what if I didn't sign? I owe back all the money and would likely still incur a period of enlisted active service. So, they explained, not signing wasn't really an option.

In that case, I had a signed contract, but I still had to sign a new one. However, the fact that they could change the terms at any whim made me realize that nothing would ever be guaranteed, even if you had a signed contract.

I've heard a lot of things where people had guaranteed slots before entering and other people who had guaranteed slots only to lose them. And they can promise you a certain slot, but if they get overmanned in that career field, they can always change their minds and put you somewhere else.

thestaton · March 26th, 2007, 10:13

I know for enlisted, YES you can get a guaranteed job. You have to tell your recruiter what you want, and you have to tell MEPS what you want. Odds are when you go to in-process at MEPS they won't have your job. Get put on hold for the job, then in a few months it will come open.

Once the job is guaranteed its only you who can break it. If for any reason the Air Force breaks your guaranteed job, you can walk way with clean hands.

If you wash out, or don't complete training then you are at there mercy. and have no say.

best of luck.

March 25th, 2007, 19:47	#1
MikeOH58 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CT Posts: 1,068	Air Force Contract Does the Air Force gurantee jobs? Can one be guranteed Air Traffic Control for example? (and when I say guranteed, I mean guranteed the spot for school)

March 25th, 2007, 20:01	#2
Mike Lewis Shadow Administrator Join Date: Jul 1998 Location: Between KFCM and KMSP Posts: 6,227	Re: Air Force Contract Well, that's one of the things. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the Air Force, and they can play the "We aren't trying to screw you over, but the needs of the Air Force to provide our national defense come first!" card to break any promises or guarantees. Trust me, I had a LOT of those broken promises. One big one was when I signed a contract in ROTC that said in return for my scholarship and in addition to the four years of active duty service commitment, I would be placed on active duty within one year of graduation. No problem; I signed it. But then in 1991 (a year before my graduation), they had a drawdown, and the Air Force decided to change their policy. Now, they decided, they wanted to bring people on to active duty with an up to TWO year delay. So, my senior year, I get called in to sign a new contract. I asked, what if I didn't sign? I owe back all the money and would likely still incur a period of enlisted active service. So, they explained, not signing wasn't really an option. In that case, I had a signed contract, but I still had to sign a new one. However, the fact that they could change the terms at any whim made me realize that nothing would ever be guaranteed, even if you had a signed contract. I've heard a lot of things where people had guaranteed slots before entering and other people who had guaranteed slots only to lose them. And they can promise you a certain slot, but if they get overmanned in that career field, they can always change their minds and put you somewhere else. __________________ uggc://jjj.enagfvalbhecnagf.pbz HSNYEEXXFSUSMQFKVSLTUIMQDVGVPHCXAKS Mr. Pibb + Red Vines = Crazy Delicious Understanding is a three-edged sword.

March 26th, 2007, 10:13	#3
thestaton Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 70	Re: Air Force Contract I know for enlisted, YES you can get a guaranteed job. You have to tell your recruiter what you want, and you have to tell MEPS what you want. Odds are when you go to in-process at MEPS they won't have your job. Get put on hold for the job, then in a few months it will come open. Once the job is guaranteed its only you who can break it. If for any reason the Air Force breaks your guaranteed job, you can walk way with clean hands. If you wash out, or don't complete training then you are at there mercy. and have no say. best of luck.

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