Need career advice

[Spmrks]

So a background on me. I am 24 yrs old currently serving a 6 yr enlistment in the Air Force of which I have 3 more years. I will be a free man as of March 2014. I have an associates of applied science/aircraft maintenance. I wish I could say the direct skill I have learned in the AF could be utilized in the civilian sector...however unless ejection seats get put in to cars some day my options are limited. And seeing as I have only worked ejection systems no technical aspect of my job can be rolled over into an A&p License. Which leads me to the point I am currently at. I have the chance of getting out pursuing a degree in something. But the only thing that peaks my interest quite frankly is building stuff. I love the feeling of working the day away and having the picture that has been stored away in your mind come to fruition. Enough babbling on... the point is I want to go to school for welding. And if there is anyone on the boards that can offer some of their time to answer some questions I would greatly appreciate it.

[Stuart Adams]

Find a business that does what you are interested in and try and work for them part time or see if you can volunteer for them is they won't hire you. Before you get out of a retirement type job you may want to make sure by trying your other interests first. When you do it for a living it becomes less fun. My dad was in the air force for 25 years and still gets a check today..

Good luck.

[Spmrks]

Thank you for your response. 25 years is quite admirable. I give much respect to those that can do it for that long. Quite honestly a 20 year retirement is becoming harder day by day. There is so many bills on the hill right now aimed at taking away from veterans and less and less people to defend those rights for those veterans who have signed on the line to give everything for their country. Quite honestly the most important thing to me right now is settling down and starting a family. Military life isn't always conducive to my main goal of being the best father I can be. As for trying to volunteer before getting out... I pretty much work 12+hrs a day 6-7 days a week.. that would be kinda tough right now. For that reason and the other being I'm in Korea until 2014. And I do not yet know where I will be when I return state side. What are some good schools stateside?

[BANKO]

Thank you for serving our country and keeping us safe!

I have heard good things about Wyotech.... there are even some on this forum who have attended. However, I'm not sure of the total cost for the program.

http://www.wyotech.edu/program/automotive-technology/specialty/street-rod-and-custom-fabrication

Bryan Fuller was also a graduate:

http://www.fullerhotrods.com/pages/about.aspx

After learning to weld and honing your skills with shop tools, an apprenticeship would the best way to learn especially if custom metal work is what you'd like to do.

[67ragtp]

If theres any way the military will send you to school to obtain your Airframe and powerplant liscence get it. The private sector loves to see military people working on there gulfstream G4/G5s and Bombardiar global's(sorry spelling sucks) . They do very well monitarily if you can get in with a good fortune 500 company flight department. All my in laws two brothers and father over 100k.

Rich

[youthpastor]

Do what you are passionate about- what do you think about constantly? check out Dan Miller's 48days.com and .net- great community about doing what you enjoy- :D

[Sandbagger]

If your thinking about the Auto Body Collision industry ... Run

















not kiddin

[Stuart Adams]

The planes will always need ejection seats. You could maybe cross train into something else that interests you in the air force. I would make them kick me out before I would get out in this economy.

I understand your complaint, but being twice your age and putting two kids through college and professional school, there is too much instability right now to think it's greener on the other side.

Thanks for risking your life for us, I hope your decision brings you happiness and prosperity. Be safe.

[03fridge]

I can understand your frustration with the military these days, but you really need to think this decision about separating completely through. You need to give Stuart Adams' advise some thought. I retired after 21 years in the Air Force (1983 to 2004) and currently work in the Air Force Contact Center or as they call it today "The Total Force Service Center". I talk to guys in your situation all day, every day, and if you would be interested in talking to me and allowing me to hear what you are thinking concerning your situation, I might be able to give you some things to think about or alternatives to your current situation that might have you reconsider staying in. Maybe not until retirement, but possibly doing a CONUS tour after Korea so you might be in a better position to separate at that time.

My DSN is 665-5238 and I work 0630 to 1530 CST Monday - Friday, if you're interested. No pressure if you do or don't...just trying to help take care of our own.

Scott

[garickman]

I agree with Stuart Adams.

The grass may be greener on the other side but it's just as hard to mow!

[garickman]

I agree with Stuart Adams.

The grass may be greener on the other side but it's just as hard to mow!

AND THANK YOU AND ALL THE MILITARY PERSONELL FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE SO THAT WE ALL MAY ENJOY OUR FREEDOM.

[Bryan O]

I have the chance of getting out pursuing a degree in something. But the only thing that peaks my interest quite frankly is building stuff. I love the feeling of working the day away and having the picture that has been stored away in your mind come to fruition.

Stuart has given you some good advice.

However, if you do discharge from the military and go to college I highly recommend getting a B.S. Chemistry degree. Then go to graduate school and get a degree specifically in Organic Chemistry. You will become an expert at building molecules.

Chemical synethsis is applicable to essentially all technologies.

[T_Raven]

I see Wyotech was mentioned. I went there in 01/02 and I wouldn't recommend anyone get into the automotive field, but if someone wants to don't bother with Wyotech or UTI they are over priced ($20k+ for 9 months) and most employers aren't impressed by those schools.

People always say "Do what you love and the money will come". In my personal opinion that's total bs, especially if it's a manual labor job. If you do what you love it will make you hate it and if the money sucks you'll hate it that much more. If you work on cars 50-60hrs/wk you won't want to work on your own in your spare time. And when you're topped out at $35k-$40k busting your butt all week long you'll hate it that much more. I see you mentioned welding but I can't imagine it's much better than being a mechanic or body guy. Plus think about all the filth, grinding, eye damage, skin burns, fumes you'll breath, heavy lifting etc you'd do as a welder. I love to weld but try to imagine doing it all day every day for the next 40 years and ask yourself if it's really what you want. The other thing about welding or fixing cars is that once your body wears out you're done and retirement benefits suck if they are there at all.

In high school I just wanted to get out into real life and get a job. I always wanted to fix cars so that's what I got into. After feeling like I was rushing through everything to get where I wanted to be I got there, looked around and was like..this is it? I spent $17,000 for 9 months of school and my first two job offers were for $7.50. I made more than that cooking at Applebee's while I was going to Wyotech. I busted my butt for a few years, got up to almost $30k/yr but at 23 I was almost topped out and had no career goals to work for. I wouldn't have been happy doing the same thing for 40 years with no possible promotions, minimal raises, basically nothing to work for to keep me motivated and excited about my career. It was hard enough to support myself on that money too, no way I could support a family on it. I spent the last 4 years in Iraq as a contractor to save some money for school, so I'm very familiar with the military as well. I'm now home and looking into an electrical engineering degree. It will take some time and be a lot of work but it gives me something to be excited about and work for. If I do get a degree I can start out at more than I'd be making if I kept fixing cars.

Oh I also worked at a protouring type custom shop briefly. I thought it was what I wanted to do but building other people's cars totally took the excitement out of wanting to build mine.


I now think people should go for as much money as they can and good benefits and try to find a job they can enjoy or atleast tolerate. Save what you love for a hobby. Education is always good but I think if a person doesn't have one they should at least have a skill. I see a lot of people who have decent jobs doing whatever, sales or maybe owning a business. But what happens if they end up unemployed at 40 with kids and a wife, no education and no skill? That would suck.

I understand liking manual labor, I'd hate to sit in a cubical all day but anything beats busting my butt for $40k and no benefits for the rest of my life. If you want out of the AF, think about going to school and getting a degree. If school's not for you look in to some kind of skill in high demand and think about the posibility of starting your own business at some point rather than working for someone else forever.

[soundqdoug]

I recently got out of the AF and re enlisted in the Navy. After being in the civilian world, I still believe the millitary life is the place to be. There are several reasons I feel this way, and would be more than available if you want to discuss this. The AF is a great place, esp for a career in Avionics. Have you considered commissioning? As an O-2, you would probably make more $ than your civilian counterpart in the same position, with better benefits, and with the economy the way it is, you wouldn't have to worry about finding a job or being laid off. If $ is the reason for your decision, I understand, but I do think it's not always greener on the other side. Just IM me...