air battle manager and weather officer
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kp2001
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Saw a lot of ABM's during my deployment to the Middle East. Didn't find too many that were super excited about their job.
I would highly recommend finding a handful of people in that job and talk to them about it in the future (you have a while before needing to decide obviously.)
I would highly recommend finding a handful of people in that job and talk to them about it in the future (you have a while before needing to decide obviously.)
As a former AF weather officer, I can say that having a weather AFSC does not lead to a lot of career and promotion opportunities in the Air Force. Furthermore, a degree in meteorology requires a LOT of upper level math and science classes, so it's a long hard slog no matter where you go to school.
scoutpilot
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Look at the bright side...weather forecasters are the only people who can be wrong 7 days a week and not lose their jobs.
In all honestly, I simply went on the AF website and browsed through all the officer job descriptions. I guess I was too naive and simply named two that looked appealing.
One of the questions was: what are some of your future career goals?
I have had an interest in weather from watching the weather report ever since I was 7 years old.
One of the questions was: what are some of your future career goals?
I have had an interest in weather from watching the weather report ever since I was 7 years old.
Bullet
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OK, time to add some other perspectives here.
You mentioned you were interested in ABM, and it seems KP's response may have soured you on that. I'm betting he's 1000% correct, a lot of the ABM's deployed to the Middle East today are probably miserable. But why? Perhaps it's because the ABM career field is one of those most in demand in today's fight, so they are constantly being deployed there on standing rotational rates well above the rest of the military. And when they are there, they aren't doing their primary mission of controlling an Air Battle, instead they are playing "traffic cop", moving air assets around as required. Bottom Line: they are frustrated they are away from home so much, while doing so little.
But ask an ABM folk about his PRIMARY job and you get a different story. Most of the ones I've met LOVE doing what they do, controlling and directing perhaps the most dynamic combat environment anywhere. Pretty sure the ABM people currently engaged in OND (Operation NEW DAWN, i.e. Libya) are finding MUCH more job satisfaction over there.
So, it's about perspective. Will the situation of constant deployments for minimal work they are facing right now still be in place if / when YOU get there? Well, no one can predict that with 100% accuracy, but I'm leaning towards "No".
As to the weather career field? Again, perspective. Will you make General as a weather officer? Odds are long against it. Will you enjoy the JOB you are in? All depends on you. The weather officer is a KEY leader at every AF operational location, with VERY high visibility from the leadership at times. When the Wing Commander calls wanting to know whether it is OK to launch the fleet, the weather officer is on the other end of the line. THEY are responsible for the forecast. Joe Sunshine on Channel 4 gets the prediction wrong, and some one may not have an umbrella and gets wet. The AF weather guy gets it wrong, and the mission gets screwed up, targets get missed, and people may die. Big difference.
Again, perspective. What is it you WANT to do? If your goals are to one day make General, then look at the career fields with the best chance for that (hint: in the AF, the best chance is to be a pilot). If your goal is to be happy doing something you love.... Well, you took the first steps looking up information about them on the AF web-site. If really interested, I suggest you continue that research.
Bullet
You mentioned you were interested in ABM, and it seems KP's response may have soured you on that. I'm betting he's 1000% correct, a lot of the ABM's deployed to the Middle East today are probably miserable. But why? Perhaps it's because the ABM career field is one of those most in demand in today's fight, so they are constantly being deployed there on standing rotational rates well above the rest of the military. And when they are there, they aren't doing their primary mission of controlling an Air Battle, instead they are playing "traffic cop", moving air assets around as required. Bottom Line: they are frustrated they are away from home so much, while doing so little.
But ask an ABM folk about his PRIMARY job and you get a different story. Most of the ones I've met LOVE doing what they do, controlling and directing perhaps the most dynamic combat environment anywhere. Pretty sure the ABM people currently engaged in OND (Operation NEW DAWN, i.e. Libya) are finding MUCH more job satisfaction over there.
So, it's about perspective. Will the situation of constant deployments for minimal work they are facing right now still be in place if / when YOU get there? Well, no one can predict that with 100% accuracy, but I'm leaning towards "No".
As to the weather career field? Again, perspective. Will you make General as a weather officer? Odds are long against it. Will you enjoy the JOB you are in? All depends on you. The weather officer is a KEY leader at every AF operational location, with VERY high visibility from the leadership at times. When the Wing Commander calls wanting to know whether it is OK to launch the fleet, the weather officer is on the other end of the line. THEY are responsible for the forecast. Joe Sunshine on Channel 4 gets the prediction wrong, and some one may not have an umbrella and gets wet. The AF weather guy gets it wrong, and the mission gets screwed up, targets get missed, and people may die. Big difference.
Again, perspective. What is it you WANT to do? If your goals are to one day make General, then look at the career fields with the best chance for that (hint: in the AF, the best chance is to be a pilot). If your goal is to be happy doing something you love.... Well, you took the first steps looking up information about them on the AF web-site. If really interested, I suggest you continue that research.
Bullet
scoutpilot
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- Apr 29, 2010
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OND is Iraq. Libya is Odyssey Dawn.