Forum: Careers & Assignments

Hi, I'm in the DEP at the moment and am shipping out to BMT in about 2 months. My 'guaranteed' job is 2A3X1, A-10/F-15/U-2 Avionic Systems. It was my first choice, and I'm pretty happy about an opportunity to work with F-15s, but does the Air Force still use U-2s? A-10s? What I really want is to be able to work with F-22s (you know, the newest, best toys). Will I be able to train to work on F-22s in this job? If not, is there an AFSC I can change to to give me that opportunity?

Any other tips or advice you guys can give me is appreciated. I'll take what I can get!

Thanks.

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The F-22 is in the 2A3X2 career field, the same as the F-16!!!!!!

Welcome to the world of pointy heads!! Yes the AF still has U-2s and A-10s. As far as the F-22 thing goes, it is open to F-15 and F-16 guys. I am an F-16 avionics dude and just got an assignment to work F-22s. The only way to change your AFSC is to do it before you leave or wait until your first enlistment is up. If you don't get 22s out of the gate, when you get to your first duty station start volunteering for F-22 assignments. That's how I got mine. Good luck, PM me if you got any more ?'s.

See if you can change your AFSC to 2A3X3B OR K. Then you will be a mighty Crew Chief. Way better then pointy heads. Unless you like sitting inside all day watching videos on e-mail and talking about the commentary on the latest star trek dvd you own. Just messin...to a point. Yes we still do use U-2s and A-10s but try your best to work 16s or 22s. Great planes (at least on the Crew Chief side) and if you didn't already sign up for four years instead of six. Reason why I'm saying this is because you probably didn't get a bonus, four year guys usually put on their second strip six months after tech school, if you don't like your job you can cross train earlier, or if you don't like the Air Force then you can get out sooner. But that just how I figured it. I'm not going to lie. When I was at Nellis working 16s at the weapons school for the first two years I loved it but then by the third year being there and my fourth year on Active Duty I was literally counting the days till I was getting out. Now I'm a Reservist working 22s in Alaska going to school as a full time student and I love it. If I was a six year guy I would still have little over a year left and it would probably be spent at craptaculary Nellis. And thats the rest of the story.

So to clarify, I CAN work on F-22s with 2A3X1 right? If not, I could probably change to 2A3X2.

Do you get to choose what plane you want to work with during BMT or Tech School, or is it just assigned to you?

Does my choice of permanent duty station have any bearing on what plane I work on? Also what are some good perm. duty stations? I'm looking at Langley, Eglin, Elmendorf and Tyndall because they apparently have both F-15s and F-22s.

Quote:

See if you can change your AFSC to 2A3X3B OR K. Then you will be a mighty Crew Chief. Way better then pointy heads. Unless you like sitting inside all day watching videos on e-mail and talking about the commentary on the latest star trek dvd you own. Just [Link pending approval] a point. Yes we still do use U-2s and A-10s but try your best to work 16s or 22s. Great planes (at least on the Crew Chief side) and if you didn't already sign up for four years instead of six. Reason why I'm saying this is because you probably didn't get a bonus, four year guys usually put on their second strip six months after tech school, if you don't like your job you can cross train earlier, or if you don't like the Air Force then you can get out sooner. But that just how I figured it. I'm not going to lie. When I was at Nellis working 16s at the weapons school for the first two years I loved it but then by the third year being there and my fourth year on Active Duty I was literally counting the days till I was getting out. Now I'm a Reservist working 22s in Alaska going to school as a full time student and I love it. If I was a six year guy I would still have little over a year left and it would probably be spent at craptaculary Nellis. And thats the rest of the story.

I have to wait until I go back to MEPS before I can do a 6 year contract, but I think I will anyway. I'm going to community college right now and it is such a drag! It's really miserable and anticlimactic. College = High School with ashtrays. So basically the only thing on my mind right now is getting away from all that and having a completely different lifestyle.

Thanks again.

Yes you can work 22s in the F-15 avionics career field. Or you could change to the 2A3X2 field which is bettet anyway because the viper kicks the eagles a$$ hands down. You do not get to choose the airframe you wanna work. You will be assigned based on the air force's needs. You may list your base of preferrence but again the air force will place you where they need you. You probably will not get the base you want right away. Then again, you may very well get that base. It all depends on where the AF needs you. If you wanna work 22s, current bases include Tydall, Elmendorf, Langley, Edwards, and soon Holloman and Hickam. I was in your same situation dude. Going to college, couldn't figure out what I wanted to do as a career, saw a thunderbirds show and told my old man that I was going to work on F-16s and here I am a spark chaser on the viper and soon the raptor. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world. Best thing I ever did. Good luck man and let us know what you decide.

Subterfug--Whatever you do in the USAF, you'd much rather be Avionics than a Crew Chief. The reason I say that is because electronics is the future of world technology, and mechanics is the past. You also get plenty of mechanical training and experience as an Avionics technician (aka "pointyhead"). I'm not casting aspersions on CCs, just pointing out the facts. I was Avionics for 36 years from 1969 to 2005, so I've been there, done that. An added benefit is that Avionics is a lot cleaner than being a Crew Chief.

As an example, the electronic "breakthroughs" on new cars were no surprise to me because I'd already seen them on USAF jets back in the '70s and '80s. The A-7 had a moving map back in the '60s, to mention one "breakthrough".

The 2A3X2 AFSC is the one you want if you ever went to get to F-22s. While the 2A3X1 AFSC is as good (electronically speaking) as the 2A3X2, why cross-train if you don't have to? That way, you can walk into an F-22 shop with your 2A352 AFSC and all they have to do is train you on F-22-peculiar systems, and not the whole shooting match like they would were you a 2A351. Besides, the Viper's avionics are FAR superior to the Eagles, and more reliable, to boot.

Sixer, you can get an F-22 assignment in the 2A3X1 AFSC am I wrong? It is open to both career fields and once you have an avionics foundation, it's not that hard to swap airframes. You already know how things are supposed to work and theory of electronics so it's pretty easy, just have to learn new acronyms. All the bases that have converted to 22s so far are 15 bases and I'm sure they keep a few of those guys around to help stand up the unit. But I do agree with you to go 2A3X2 anyway, the viper is much better than the eagle and more reliable from what I've heard.

I think I can shed some light on the subject. During the 2006 Utizilation & Training Workshop (U&TW) It was decided that the F-22 airframe will merge into the F-16, F-117, CV-22, RQ-1/4 avionics systems carrer field (2A3X2). It was determined that since the F-22 is digital/integrated avionics the 2A3X2 field would be better suited to transition easily to the F-22. The F-15, A-10, U-2 avionics guys will eventually discontinue being shredded out (A,B,C shop)(if they have not already) and will stay with-in those communities. The U&TW determined that since those airframes are still considered analog/conventional avionics they will stay with those airframes until they ultimalty retire those planes.

Yes the F-15 guys work the 22's but only by default because those bases that have converted to them are F-15 bases. But the bedown for them at Holloman is ramping up which is manned by the 2A3X2 guys (F-117). In the future those 3X1 guys will eventually change thier AFSC over to 3X2. The long term Air Force goal is to have one avionics carrer field for fighters. Right now its a free-for-all on who works what since the Air Force is going through the transistion phase from 4th to 5th gen fighters.

Subterfug, it would be a good idea to change your AFSC over to 2A3X2 now while you can or you could get stuck on U-2, A-10, F-15 and may never get to work the 22 or F-35 which will also be part of the 2A3X2 community. Also, 3X2 is a shredless carrer field (only avionics AFSC in the AF) which will allow you to learn everything from the begining and give a better understanding of how the whole jet works (longer tech school, but worth it in the long run). Hope this info helps.

[Link pending approval] I just gave my recruiter a call and it looks like I'm stuck with 2A3X1. I'll only be able to change it to 2A3X2 if it's a last minute type deal, like if I change it at BMT or something. I'll put down bases that have F-22s on them on my dreamsheet at BMT and hope for the best.

That's total BS what your recruiter is telling you. You have the option to do anything you want till the day you leave. You can even scrub the whole enlistment if you want. You are not obligated until you get to basic. If he says you cannot change your AFSC tell him that he will either change your AFSC or you will talk to someone else. Don't let him bully you into something you don't want. You may have to wait a little longer to leave, but better wait and get what you want than get screwed by your recruiter and get something you don't. Recruiters are some of the slimiest people in the AF and will tell anything you wanna hear or anything that will make their job easier. Just be firm and tell him that you will not join in the 3X1 career field and he must change it to 3X2. If he won't help you tell him where to stick it and go talk to another recruiter. It is possible to change your AFSC dude, DO NOT LET HIM BULLY YOU!!!!

Well actually he said he can change it if a spot opens up, but I might have to leave earlier date than my current EAD Date of Dec 11, but can't put the date later. I've got a contract that 'guarantees' 2A3X1. Does that mean I am bound to it? 2A3X2 happened to be my second choice, I should have put it first.

Like I said, you are not bound to anything until you leave. You can back out of the whole enlistment if you want. Tell him you won't accept anything less than 2A3X2 career. Spot are open for this job with the F-22 coming online and I don't know if it is anymore but the 3X2 career field was critically manned when I came in meaning that they were short of people in this particular career field. Just hold your ground dude, tell him 2A3X2 or bust!

Raptor_DCTR is right...you really don't have any obligation until the day you ship off to basic. Your recruiter will tell you otherwise, and pull out "you've already signed all these contracts..." but the Air Force doesn't own you yet. If you hold your ground, odds are he'll get your AFSC switched. If he doesn't, or gives you $hit about it, tell him you want to talk to his supervisor and press the issue with him.
The big thing to remember -- if you're going to try this route, be nice about it. Don't threaten, don't act angry, or any of that. Be civil about it. Another BIG thing to remember -- he may try and give you an "open general" or "maintenance general" AFSC, with a "promise" that you'll be able to get 3X2 in basic or something. DON'T TAKE THAT DEAL!!! "Open general" will most often get you selected to be a cop or a cook; "maintenance general" and you'll probably be stuck changing oil and rotating tires on the Air Force's cars and trucks.
As far as picking your bases: in your fifth week of basic, you'll get to sit down and fill out your "dream sheet", of where you want to go. If you have an AFSC already then you'll be limited to bases with that AFSC (note: you mentioned Eglin for F-15's and F-22's; the F-15's will be going away within the next 5 years because of the F-35, and there aren't any F-22's here. There are F-16's however.).
And, finally, to piss off alot of people: You will have better long term luck as an avionics (aka. Pointy Head) guy than a crew chief. Especially if you decide to get out after your enlistment. I spent six years as a crew chief, and LOVED it. But, now that I'm out and having to try and find a "real job", that avionics background would have me hired onto four or five different jobs on any given week, where my crew chief background hasn't helped much at all. Starting pay for an avionics specialist is often several dollars an hour higher than that for a regular mechanic as well. So, don't listen to naysayers who pull the "my job (or old job) is better than yours" thing. Everyone thinks that.

I think I'm just going to play along with my recruiter and stick with 2A3X1 and possibly change it in BMT. Another recruiter (another forum, doesn't know me) basically confirmed what my recruiter said: That I can only change the job if it isn't filled by someone else. All in all it's not so bad. 332 was my 2nd choice, and if I put it as 1st, then 331 would have been my second. So I got a good deal either way. So on my dreamsheet, I'll pick [url=[Link pending approval]#Active_USAF_Wings]bases that have F-22s[/url] high up on the list.

VPRGUY - So I should leave Eglin off the dreamsheet since it does NOT have F-22s?

Forum: Careers & Assignments

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