what are the pros and cons about this command post? im trying to decide which afscs to list for retraining and the amount of bases for this afsc catches my eye because they can be stationed everywhere! Ive had my interview already and was very excited about it. im almost sold but i wonder, why is this career field so critically short manned? are people getting out as fast as they can? there has to be a reason. What are the real gripes in this career field? I hear a lot about long hours and shift work. How often do you really have 12 hour shifts. How regularly do you get called in on your days off or the holidays? Is there any consistency in the work schedule? Oh and um.. how much down time do you really have per shift, per week, or per month? I know it all depends on where you are stationed, but i'd like to know peoples personal experience in the AFSC and what base or type of command it was in. I know its a lot of questions but im just trying to be as best informed as i can be on every AFSC i look into before i submit retraining applications.

Hey there cperito, the 1C3 career field definately has its pros and cons. I am going to go through the list and give you a straight answer on each. I have been in the 1C3 career field for over three years, doesn't make me an expert; but I can answer the basic stuff.

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Originally posted by cperito:
what are the pros and cons about this command post? im trying to decide which afscs to list for retraining and the amount of bases for this afsc catches my eye because they can be stationed everywhere! Ive had my interview already and was very excited about it.

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im almost sold but i wonder, why is this career field so critically short manned?

Although it is a great career field and you see the ins and outs of how a military operation functions, the E-5 to E-6 billets are always short because no one stays in the career field. It is nothing but shift work and it can get monotonous, therefore many of your FTA and STA leave.

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are people getting out as fast as they can? there has to be a reason.

Like I said above on the reasons why people are getting out, some people get a bad taste in their mouth depending on the command and mission. Unlike some career fields, the 1C3 career field varies from command to command and base to base. Some get a preconceived idea based off of one or two bases.

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What are the real gripes in this career field? I hear a lot about long hours and shift work. How often do you really have 12 hour shifts.

Gripes... There are many, shift work is usually the number one reason for gripes and complaints. The Command Post is a 24/7/365 job, we never close. So on that note, there can be very very slow days. 12 hours verses 8 hour shifts depends completely on manning and mission.

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How regularly do you get called in on your days off or the holidays?

I have never been called in. But I have gone in voluntarily to get some other work done. On the subject of holidays, it goes back to manning. If the manning is decent, you usually get every other holiday off. IE, if you worked Thanksgiving, you're likely to either have Christmas or New Years off, you get to choose which one.

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Is there any consistency in the work schedule?

It'll shift between manning, I have been on 4 on/four off schedules, I have been on two on/four off schedules.

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Oh and um.. how much down time do you really have per shift, per week, or per month? I know it all depends on where you are stationed, but i'd like to know peoples personal experience in the AFSC and what base or type of command it was in.

Took the words out of my mouth, if you're in an MAC base, you're going to be busy, but if you're going to be in an ACC or other some such command, you'll have quite a bit, I have completed nearly half of my CCAF and a BA without ever doing school work at home.

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I know its a lot of questions but im just trying to be as best informed as i can be on every AFSC i look into before i submit retraining applications.

Being informed is good. Here are my pros and cons:

Pros:
-Your feel like you're part of the mission
-You work side by side with the top commanders of the base
-A lot of time to study for a degree/WAPS/etc.
-It's indoor work
-You use your brain more than your hands

Cons:
-Long hours
-If you're looking for praise, this ain't the career field. Our motto is "If you have done everything right, it will appear you have done nothing at all."
-We are blamed for situations that we have no control over.
-Working holidays

Any other questions you have, I will try my best to answer. I check this site daily.

Oh, almost forgot, if you're cross training and want to get a heads up on some of our stuff, jump onto e-pubs and look up AFI 10-207 and AFI 10-206.

finally someone answers! Thanks for breaking down all my questions. i think the description of the job fits my goals. When i had my interview, the MSgt conducting it said he's been to 9 different duty stations. My questions is, is it common for people to PCS often? he's been in for almost 20. I dont mind PCSing, especially if its overseas, but 9 seems like its a lot.

when you say you've worked 4 on 4 off. Are those 12 hour shifts? Are there more down time during midshift since aircraft does not typically fly those hours? I take it they can switch up your schedule to days, nights regularly if they needed to.

another thing i wanted to ask you caliboy. you've mentioned you voluntarily came in to finish up some work. what is this work you had to finish during your off duty time? This was mentioned in my interview but i never knew what kind of work. It makes me wonder why some tasks could not of been finished at work. especially with 12 hour shifts and the occasional downtime perceived.