WT Forums

Anyone here want to Give a BTDT A day in the Life of a USAF Maintainer.

If interested email me at mrmudd@digitalvalhalla.com and i will forward you His contact info. He is a bonafide Kiwi wrench bender.

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hey,
i was told that your the man to talk to to chase down some gen on the USAF. Im presently serving in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, and im looking at the viability of jumping ship to the US forces. As yet i havent talked to any recruiters, just had a yarn with a couple of the guys on here about the army, im trying to get a feel for what its like over there as opposed to hearing the standard issue sales pitch that recruiters inevitably hand out.

Can you tell me what the work is like there, (level of responsibility, the way the lower ranks get treated, pay levels, living conditions etc etc) and just generally anything you can think of that you feel is relevant. Also, can you tell me about the training the mech's and tech's get. The way it works here is we're pretty much trained to work on anything that flies, and then we do a bunch of specialist courses on specific aircraft when we get posted into our squadrons. just curious on how our training compares with yours, and what i'd have to do (if anything) to get up to speed with your guys.
Not sure on what trade you are, but if you know of someone that'd be better suited to help me out, feel free to forward this on and get them onto me.

Cheers in advance,

{name and email addy removed}

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"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

Hey Mudd you can email me. Since I am putting in for a recruiters position maybe it will be a bit of practice.

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

_________________
YGBSM !

Hey Mudd, I am currently a Aircraft Section Chief with about 58 crewchiefs assinged. I could give the guy some perspective on what it is like for F-16 crewdogs on a day to day basis. Give him my e-mail off of this site. Fenderstrat72@hotmail.com

Hawg are you sure you want to be a recruiter? Don't get me wrong because someone has to do it but I have never met a former recruiter that didn't have a 3 or 4 EPR. They truly eat their own and then spit them out. It will hold up your career at least 2 to three years and possibly more. Why do you think they have such a hard time filling the recruiter slots? Just something to think about.

Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields

Thanks guys, I forwarded your email Addy with a CC so that you guys can all coordinate with Him with the straight no Bullshit Facts of the Blue Side of the force.



"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

Ya know I have thought long and hard about it. And to be honest I really dont want to be a recruiter. It would be a nice change of pace, I love doing stuff like that but is it what I aspire to ? No not whole heartedly. But I am a civillian technician and the pay disparity between a Tsgt over 18 years in AGR status, and a WG-12 is pretty darn big. I am not one to chase money or a stripe, but we are lowest paid state in the nation. Actually we rank 50 out of 51 and the cost of living here in Western Mass is almost beyond pathetic. So do I really want to be a recruiter....................no but financially and militarily it is the only way sometimes that we have to put on a stripe and actually make a wage that we can pay our bills with.

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

_________________
YGBSM !

Hawg, now I understand why you are doing it. I was under the impression you were Active Duty. I am sure you will excel at being a recruiter. Good luck.

Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields

Just don't tell them about the pay!

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Sorry, cheap shot but it had to be done! <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

Best of luck with recruiting, despite the above I think it is a tough career field to be in, in light of the extended commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan...and as you've probably already heard, some congressman wants to reinstate the draft! Sure, great idea, if the volunteers aren't happy to go, I am sure the draftees won't mind! <img src=newicons/tard.gif border=0 align=middle>

Cheers! M2

Major, no need for the draft. All services are exceeding quotas for re-enlistments.

Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields