Air Force EOD

Bouncing the question of "If you had it to do over would you enlist as a 1C5" off of AD and Guard Airmen.

AD: Nope, Nope, Nope, and nope: ETS, ETS, OTS, and Palace Chase to the Guard.
Guard: Nope, Meh, and yes. ETS, ETS, and OTS.
 
Freefalling said:
Bouncing the question of "If you had it to do over would you enlist as a 1C5" off of AD and Guard Airmen.

AD: Nope, Nope, Nope, and nope: ETS, ETS, OTS, and Palace Chase to the Guard.
Guard: Nope, Meh, and yes. ETS, ETS, and OTS.
Click to expand...

Well hell, no wonder they need contractors!
 
lindy said:
Well hell, no wonder they need contractors!
Click to expand...

Ha! No, we're maintenance only. Organic maintainers are off doing other things and the system isn't a system of record.

Even the 1C5 field shreds out to different jobs. Generally speaking you can switch if you so choose and the slots exist (they almost always do). We have some who never controlled aircraft and other who upgraded or switched at the first available opportunity. It just happens to be one of those necessary jobs which sounds cooler on paper.
 
MichaelC said:
I'm in no physical shape for SOWT. I have spent the last year training for a life without dive school.
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No physical shape for the swimming or the standards? There's a big difference obviously because of the swimming, but if you are having trouble meeting standards then I would bust ass to get there.

In the beginning of 2014 the SOWT pipeline had just basic swimming and watercon. Nothing too crazy. And they introduce both slow and efficiently enough for someone to ALMOST jump into it with no prior experience. I say almost because you need to know how to lap swim proficiently prior to even getting a contract.

Either way dive school, last I heard, is not a requirement for SOWT. I have a friend who just got his beret as a SOWT and is living the life in Hurlburt. If you did go to dive, I believe it would still be over a year before you would even get there, so you would have plenty of time to train.

Not trying to push anything on you or be aggressive. Just my .02

WL
 
Don't go SOWT if your heart and mind are not into it, I'd go Aircrew of some sort and enjoy my time.
I am retired SOWT, with a son who went Aircrew.
 
At the time I started this evolution there was only 2 jobs on the table. Now that big Air Force is screaming for prior service there is more to choose from.

I had a long talk over good bourbon with the wife last night regarding my options. Her words:

"You have been miserable ever since you got put in an office. You were happiest when you were in the shipyards welding and pipe fitting. Do you really want to go back in the military and be behind a desk again or do you want to be out there getting gritty, dirty and doing what you love with the people that you love. You love getting involved and being with the boys, you love the mechanical aspect of things. You are just that guy. I say of all the jobs... EOD. Just don't blow off your junk."

We laughed, got drunk and passed out.

I guess when I think she is not listening she is and she is right. Listen to the woman.
 
WhatLightning said:
No physical shape for the swimming or the standards? There's a big difference obviously because of the swimming, but if you are having trouble meeting standards then I would bust ass to get there.

In the beginning of 2014 the SOWT pipeline had just basic swimming and watercon. Nothing too crazy. And they introduce both slow and efficiently enough for someone to ALMOST jump into it with no prior experience. I say almost because you need to know how to lap swim proficiently prior to even getting a contract.

Either way dive school, last I heard, is not a requirement for SOWT. I have a friend who just got his beret as a SOWT and is living the life in Hurlburt. If you did go to dive, I believe it would still be over a year before you would even get there, so you would have plenty of time to train.

Not trying to push anything on you or be aggressive. Just my .02

WL
Click to expand...
Eh selection we went swimming and did watercon everyday and it was where we lost most guys, Kessler they introduce ten ups and that always scares a few ppl. If swimming isn't your thing then SOWT won't be to enjoyable. Also dive is in talks to be implemented or added to your core skills training after the pipeline.
 
MichaelC said:
At the time I started this evolution there was only 2 jobs on the table. Now that big Air Force is screaming for prior service there is more to choose from.

I had a long talk over good bourbon with the wife last night regarding my options. Her words:

"You have been miserable ever since you got put in an office. You were happiest when you were in the shipyards welding and pipe fitting. Do you really want to go back in the military and be behind a desk again or do you want to be out there getting gritty, dirty and doing what you love with the people that you love. You love getting involved and being with the boys, you love the mechanical aspect of things. You are just that guy. I say of all the jobs... EOD. Just don't blow off your junk."

We laughed, got drunk and passed out.

I guess when I think she is not listening she is and she is right. Listen to the woman.
Click to expand...
Talk again when you are sober.
Seriously, it's a huge decision and failure is an option (especially at EOD/SOWT pipelines ).
 
The drunkenness kicked in after the deep part of the discussion.

Thank you all for your thoughts on this. I have some time to make a well educated decision as nothing in this process has been fast.

Please keep the advice coming in. Not many get a second chance at something like this and i damn sure want to get it right this time.
 
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MichaelC said:
Looks like I am going Intel...
Mods, should I move the discussion to the intelligence and support section?
Click to expand...

Intel threads would be a good place to go. Make sure you read through threads that are already there; saves you the shame of asking that which has already been asked.

We'll leave this thread open for others to learn from.

I wish you luck with the intel move.
 
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MichaelC said:
Thanks.

Little pissed that prior service cannot select a job like everyone off the street.
Not sure if I will be able to cross train later on. I'll just continue to train and if the opportunity presents itself I will give it a shot.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't hate on Intel. Even the AF Intel types can do some pretty interesting gigs.
 
Those guys are in high demand. You can't keep a healthy 35G (the Army equivalent of that AFSC/MOS) in a unit below tier 1 for the demand for those guys for WIAS and RFFs. Doing PED, and especially PED as part of the kill chain, is those guys' bread and butter. Be on your game, people will live or die based on the analysis you do through your screens.
 

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