(SOD Nov 2nd SF)
Im sorry if theres a thread already, I searched and found nothing. Im curious to hear your reasons for joining the Air Force and why you choose or ended up with Security Forces.

I always wanted to enlist through out my life, I always wanted to serve my country. A year after highschool I finally made the decession to join for real. I went out and talked to Marine and Army recruiters because I like the idea of the Ground, Rifles, Airborne, Armor ect.. those type of things. I was looking into the military police programs for each branch when I came across Security Forces. Sounded pretty good to me, The idea of Military Police / Infantry. Also on how they are working with the Army, Had the best equipment, Had some Airborne and other quilified squadrons like 820th SFG and 786th, Programs such as Raven.

As for the Air Force, My grandfather was a 1LT B36 Navigator in the Korean war. First person in my family to enlist since my Grandfather. My Freinds who are currently in other branches said Air Force is the best overall choice. Air Force cares about there own more then other branches from what Iv seen. Higher budget for weapons and equipment like the Army. Best looking woman in the DOD . I didnt like the fact that the other branches pretty much accepted anyone, I like the reason that its harder to get into the Air Force then the other branches. Some of the best SOC options such as Pararescue and Combat Control. Expect the unexpected in the military so I guess ill see what happens.

Whats your reasons?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hessian42,

You obviously did your research already. i didn't and im going to be reenlisting when it comes up in another couple years. just do it. if you don't like it your stuck anyways so it doesn't matter. you'll learn to like it.

Well depending on who you ask you will get this sucks or this rocks. It all depends on your attitude and who you work with. I joined because of the chance to get law enforcement experence. Which I am able to get on the base I am at. Its a good experence and good choice I went home on leave and everyone else was still doing the same old thing.

dude its not a bad gig, I have been in 4 years now, I am about to leave the career field and retrain to Tacp but that’s not here nor their, I have no L.E. experience so I cant speak on that part of this afsc but I do have a lot of experience with ABD, PTT and TSE missions. I loved every minuet of it. Being with the 820th SFG has been a great overall experience I have received a lot of good training and life experience

Way back a few years ago, I went Air Force because I had a little exposure to the Air Force growing up. My grandparents lived near a base, and I went to a couple of air shows as a kid. I too went SP because I thought it would help me with a career in law enforcement.I was stationed on a Navy base in Iceland, and had lots of exposure to the Army in Germany. I would agree that the Air Force takes better care of their people than the other services.I have no regrets whatsoever in joining the Air Force. Best of luck to you.

For me, the decision process started in October/November of 2002 (so the war in Iraq had not started yet). I went Air Force because, when I decided to give ROTC a try, the Army ROTC representative on campus never returned my calls or e-mails, whereas the AF officer not only returned my call, but was willing to talk with me and help me start the paperwork THAT DAY. Because I'd originally been leaning towards the Army, I'd looked for "army-like" jobs in the AF and actually came across Combat Rescue Officer, so that was what I was working for.

A few years later, I took a hard look at my situation and decided I just wouldn't be able to do the necessary physical training for AFSOC, keep my grades, and maintain my sanity. As a result, I went looking for another job. At this point, Operation Desert Safeside had been run, and I came across reports about the 820th and other things AFSF was doing in the desert. Taking this apparent "Air Force grunt" aspect in combination with my positive impression from the gate guards at Ramstein who managed to be professional (and even polite) in the middle of snowstorms and my DARE officer,and the fact I'd been considering Law Enforcement before I started ROTC, SF seemed to be a good place to go. So, I put it down as my number 1 on my dream sheet and, when I got SF, I was pumped (this was augmented by the fact my cousin, a Marine, was visiting when I got the news and he had a positve impression of AFSF). A few months later, when didn't get a pilot slot (missed a question in the depth perception test), I didn't cry one bit and turned down an opportunity to contest the test.

I won't say it's been the easiest of times. I knew our deployment setup didn't match the plan given for the rest of the AF. When I met my first commander, his "welcome" speech included news that I'd already been put in a slot to go to Baghdad the next march. There have been days where I've had to stay at work longer than I wanted to and even when I had to come in on my "off" time to put out fires. More than once, I've had to deal with a problem airman. But, no matter how boring or unpleasant it can get, I can see the value of what we do, and it's given me the chance to experience new things and work with some truly awesome individuals.

This is likely really a bad story: I didn't want to be drafted, so I volunteered to go into the USAF. I thought that way I would be able to avoid Vietnam.

Next thing I knew, I was in Vietnam with an M-16 in the middle of the TET offensive. Don't always believe what the recruiters tell you.

The military; in times of peace can be different than in times of war.

Anyone should know that signing up in the military is a vastly different way of life than civilians expect.