I have been looking into the Air Force recently as well as the other branches of the armed services. I am in the graduation week of my undergraduate college career and am looking towards the future as to what I'll be doing next. I was interested in going into the Physical Therapy field but currently can't afford it so I've been looking towards other options. As I said before I am a college graduate with my bachelors degree in Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy as of Saturday May 8th. I will be graduating from Saint Mary's University in Minnesota with a 3.36 / 4.00 GPA.

I have an uncle who is retiring from the Marines after 25 years of service and I've talked to him a few times and he told me to explore all of my options. I am interested in the medical field but computer technology, engineering, business, and law are all other interests that I have and debated going into prior to this point. I know that military service could provide gateways into some of these interests both with experience and education but I'm interested in what each branch has to offer and what I have to offer them in particular.

First I'll tell you a little about myself. Like I said I'm graduating with a bachelors in Biology in the standard four years with a 3.36 / 4.00 GPA. I have been a member of the colleges track and field team for 4 of those years and the team captain for 3. My last three jobs outside of school have been of the manual labor variety as a summer worker for utilities wrecking out electrical lines doing the grunt work for the older guys like digging the holes and I've also done landscaping and lawn care.

I had a few questions for you as well.

I have had braces on for the last year and am currently halfway through the process. I had to get them because I was having trouble cleaning my teeth well and had more cavities than the average person. Can I still sign up? Do I have to wait until I have the braces removed?

I have contacted a recruiter by email and he hasn't gotten back to me. I'm not sure if this is because the answer is no or if he just hasn't gotten around to it. I'm planning on making a phone call Monday if I don't hear back.

This reply came from another thread (the search/find function is very quick and easy to use) and is still the case:

Okay here's the deal. You can't join with them on and you are not supposed take them off, before treatment is complete, to join the AF. If you take them off early, and tell MEPS, you MAY be disqualified. Plus, your teeth will go back and probably make your parents angry.

"You can get a letter from your ortho stating when your braces will be removed and process with that. You just won't be able to ship out until they are off. Then you will have to get another letter stating they removed and NO FURTHER TREATMENT is required (retainer doesn't count).
One more thing. The AF will most likely NOT pay for your braces to be put on unless you REALLY need them or are stationed Overseas"

So the answer is no you cant have them while in BMT, but with a letter from your dentist stating they will be off within the year you can start MEPS processing.

Good luck to you!

I think Tampa pretty much touched everything you asked, just one little tip I have. Go see your recruiter in person. True, e-mail may seem easier, but honestly, recruiters get more than there fair amount of spam mail (go figure) so there is a lot of things they do not check. If spam isn't the case then they are probably out and about "chilling." <-- Found that out when I did RAP over a year ago, lol.

I am a RIC and no you can not join with bracs but you can join if you get a letter from your doctor saying they will be removed before you leave for BMT that will not DQ you.

Do yourself a favor and talk directly to the AF Medical Services folks.

Tell them who you are, what your background is, what you want to do, and if they can refer you to someone who handles recruiting at your level.

Call this number 202-767-4797

Here's an old bulletin:

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123104397
http://www.sheppard.af.mil/new...ory.asp?id=123173800

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Saquaro,