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Elite Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2945 Location: Utah

What do many of you folks consider the "best jobs" to have in the USAF and why do you feel that way about it?

Just wondering......thanks for playing!

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You actually had to ask???

Crew Chief of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very Happy

Elite Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2945 Location: Utah

I know, I was hoping somebody might think there was another out there besides ours Smile

Hmm let me think, Crew Chief. I always loved the fact that we (Maint) were always the red headed step children of the AF. I always loved going places after work smelling like JP-8 or 4 back then and have all the prim and proper AF people cringe when you walked thru the door. Face it just about all Non Maint hated us cause we all had attitudes, looked like crap most of the time, drank heavily and had the I dont care attitude. Maint is a tight bunch and will always remain that way. I think thats what seperates us from the rest. We are a proud bunch.

Veteran Joined: Jun 16, 2003 Posts: 268 Status: Offline

That's a loaded questions, as you know, each person will say the one they are in, or the one they cross trained into.
Depends on what you want to do. I really enjoyed my time in Weapons/Loader and wouldn't of wanted to ever change, guess that is why I spent 20 years doing it! Then again, I have met people that loved working in the base hospital, or control tower, ever a cook/chief. Depends on what you want to get out of your time in the service, besides we need them all!

Elite Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2945 Location: Utah

Without WEAPONS, it's just another airline!

My wife used to say that same expression all the time, she too was a "462" (loader) first female loader on F-16's (according to the old press release they (USAF) made about her back in 1979).

Did not matter to us, just more USAF hype about women in non-traditional roles back then, the USAF really tried to change the mindset in maintenance then.

She loved it too, of course with her career field and mine, we PCS'ed as a team (very lucky to do so too).

Thanks for sharing..........

Elite Joined: Apr 08, 2004 Posts: 733 Status: Offline

I'd have to put Crew Chief right up at the top as well. It's hard work and long hours, sometimes under some pretty poor conditions, but most people who have done it wouldn't trade it for anything... (Despite how we bitch...)

Just a thought, flying might be ok as an alternative... Wink

Mike

Crew chiefs are like wolves, we might eat our own every now and then, but we always defend the pack.

Elite Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2945 Location: Utah

Now THAT Is True too.......works for me brother....

AMMO! HOOAH!

The thing that I like about being an ammo officer is that I get to interface with a whole bunch of different supporting agencies. Everyone from CE, the flight line, SFS even the BATF and local law enforcement.

Did I mention Ammo Bowl of AFCOMAC?

Because of the stand alone munitions storage complexes you have added locations to PCS to if you want in Europe as well as PACAF.

Sure, it sucks at times (which careerfield in the military doesn't?), but the feeling of family is like nothing I have ever seen before, or anywhere else either.

Elite Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2945 Location: Utah

Roger that, even now at civilian Commanders call...I still hear AMMO! HOOAH! and love every minute of it...

Veteran Joined: Dec 28, 2004 Posts: 377 Status: Offline

No doubt about it, Avionics. The first time I climbed up into an F-16 cockpit and flipped the MAIN PWR switch on, and powered up the Avionics, I felt a chill run down my spine. Twenty-four years, I still get that feeling when I have the opportunity to get out in the field. For me, there is no better job in the world. I am extremely lucky to have parlayed that experience into a career after the Air Force. About the only thing I did not do while I was active duty was hang bombs, and only because I was not certified.

There are lots and lots of F-16 maintainers, but regardless of AFSC, it all boils down to two: those who have their s*** together, and those who do not. Those who have their s*** together do not argue about which specialty is the best (as is happening in another thread on this forum), they just work together to get the job done, regardless of what it takes. I have seen plenty of specs helping crew chiefs, and plenty of crew chiefs helping specs, and the same (as far as they could) with weapons. Weapons does plenty of troubleshooting in addition to hanging bombs, and I (and most other Avionics guys) enjoy working with them to fix jets. Everybody should have pride in their career field and what they do. One of the things I miss most in the civilian world (working for a huge faceless corporation) is the feeling of accomplishment all of us got when we worked together to solve a problem under the most demanding and difficult conditions. When the job needed to get done, we didn't ask questions or debate whose AFSC was better, we just did the job. It has been my privilege to work with some of the best.

Best Regards,

Elite Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2945 Location: Utah

I agree.....

Elite Joined: Jul 30, 2005 Posts: 739 Status: Offline

ding ding, ring the bell sucker...this round is over....well said

Veteran Joined: May 23, 2005 Posts: 445 Status: Offline

Avionics all the way

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Best Career Fields in the USAF