Picking a Base

globalview2

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How does this work. I just googled all the AF bases and their are obviously a lot, but how do you pick your base? I am assuming some has to do with what you are going to do(pilot, ect..) but how does this work? What are the most popular bases? What jobs from USAFA have the most selection of bases?
 
How does this work. I just googled all the AF bases and their are obviously a lot, but how do you pick your base? I am assuming some has to do with what you are going to do(pilot, ect..) but how does this work? What are the most popular bases? What jobs from USAFA have the most selection of bases?

You fill out a Dream Sheet and then your dreams are crushed when the Air Force puts you where they need you..
 
What airman said. But sometimes you might get lucky as I got my number 2 spot which is Las Vegas.
 
Every AFSC (career field) has specific bases they can be assigned to. Some are very common (security forces, finance, force support, etc) as they are support functions that almost every base needs. Others, A-10 pilot or developmental engineer for example, are very specific, because there are only a few locations where that air frame or job is located.

Once you know where you can go, you will fill out a "dream sheet" of your preferences. The AF then takes that and compares it to what slots it needs filled. If they match perfectly, it's your lucky day. If not, the AF will put you where it needs you to be.
 
airman said:
You fill out a Dream Sheet and then your dreams are crushed when the Air Force puts you where they need you.

OR you take an assignment nobody wants to get the assignment everybody wants. You scratched the AF's back and now they will scratch yours.

I will say, that the ones everyone wants are hard to come by. If you think Hickham or Elmendorf are easy to come by, beware!
 
OR you take an assignment nobody wants to get the assignment everybody wants. You scratched the AF's back and now they will scratch yours.

I will say, that the ones everyone wants are hard to come by. If you think Hickham or Elmendorf are easy to come by, beware!

Wait, people actually want Elmendorf?

And should I be rejected I changed my BOP to Korea just to be able to choose another base.
 
Obviously you have never been to Elmendorf!

You don't know what you are missing!

For the 16 and 22 drivers they will be happy to know you would never throw your name into the pot.

I would go back there in a heartbeat.
 
Obviously you have never been to Elmendorf!

You don't know what you are missing!

For the 16 and 22 drivers they will be happy to know you would never throw your name into the pot.

I would go back there in a heartbeat.

I went to AiT with someone from Elmendorf. That Airman was Guard. Based on how that Airman came across nobody in our class wanted to be stationed in Alaska. I suppose we shouldn't judge a base based on one person. Ah, the benefits of maturing. I'll be sure to change my dream sheet.:thumb:

I have a friend who is TACP who's stationed there. I should visit sometime.
 
So lets say I want my hometown base of Kirtland AFB, how popular is this one and how likely is it?
 
Good to know haha, although I don't understand why, Albuquerque is a great town

LOL. I've been there once. It's not a horrible city. Anyone wanting to be stationed there should watch Breaking Bad before finalizing any decision. :)
 
LOL. I've been there once. It's not a horrible city. Anyone wanting to be stationed there should watch Breaking Bad before finalizing any decision. :)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Stationed there for 5 years and it's a great assignment. I spent almost my entire career in Enlisted Assignments and it always seemed that half the people I was sending to Base X were unbelievably happy and the other half were already figuring out when they would meet minimum time on station to volunteer to go somewhere else.

Don't believe everything you watch on TV.
 
It's been a very long time since I was AD, but...It really depends on you. When I was AD there were many folks that were assigned to Hickam AFB who literally hated it! They called it "The Rock," and couldn't wait to leave because there was "nothing to do." I always believed that newly frocked officers, and newly graduated enlisted have the best chance to get a great overseas assignment than others who have been in for awhile. The majority of the new "grads" seem to want to go close to home. So my belief is, try to get those choice assignments first shot out of the bag. Italy, Germany, England, Japan, and so forth. Guam and the Phillipines are probably not good choices, but different strokes for different folks. i.e. Guam has (debatedly) the best Oceanographic University on the planet.

You'll have plenty of time to get back stateside. Besides, your parents will probably appreciate the chance to fly to Aviano AB, Italy (or some other neat place) to visit you for a week... :shake:
 
I live(d) in Albuquerque, it is a great city. Especially the NE Heights area. I would also like something in VA, MD, something close to DC, or any major East Coast City
 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Stationed there for 5 years and it's a great assignment. I spent almost my entire career in Enlisted Assignments and it always seemed that half the people I was sending to Base X were unbelievably happy and the other half were already figuring out when they would meet minimum time on station to volunteer to go somewhere else.

Don't believe everything you watch on TV.

I was trying to be sarcastic with the Breaking Bad reference. But yeah, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I imagine most young families in the Air Force would not want Nellis unless they had family here.
 
You fill out a Dream Sheet and then your dreams are crushed when the Air Force puts you where they need you..

That's the best laugh i've had in a while! But it's basically true... LOL

My DH and I first assignment out of Tech School (Lowry AFB - when it was still open) - I don't remember what they were but overseas's, Germany, etc... we got our DEAD LAST choice - Seymour Johnson AFB, NC (DS born there) - we thought we had been put in Mayberry (originally from San Diego) - we literally didn't know places like that existed! Hindsight... it was a great place! LOL We have also been stationed at Elmendorf AFB (DD born there) - from there my DH got his SOAR scholarship from PACAF and we moved to ERAU in Prescott, AZ to complete his degree in AFROTC. Now my DH is a aviator - our choices are pretty limited (two bases).

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" - SO SO SO TRUE - but overseas assignments IMO are the hardest to come by - we've been trying since day one and it's been 20 years and all we've managed for "overseas" is Alaska. We've been at our current duty station twice... going on 7 years total... and let's just say, we are ready to move, but are basically still here for sure for another 15 months or so and then maybe then, we will get to move after 5 years (this time) here.
 
we are ready to move, but are basically still here for sure for another 15 months or so and then maybe then, we will get to move after 5 years (this time) here.
Hmmm...I guess things have changed in the past 20+ years. It used to be that a regular tour was 3 years.
 
Hmmm...I guess things have changed in the past 20+ years. It used to be that a regular tour was 3 years.

They don't call this place the "black hole" for no reason. I know people who have been here (not by choice) for 16 years! My DH job is one that he cannot leave until at least Feb 2013 - so that lines up for the summer of 2013... just in time for DD senior year... oh how this torments me.

Less moving, due to budget cuts... what else is new?
 
I live(d) in Albuquerque, it is a great city. Especially the NE Heights area. I would also like something in VA, MD, something close to DC, or any major East Coast City

We lived in the Heights when we were there. Just off of Louisiana and within walking distance of the club house at Arroyo Del Oso. Not too far from Monroe's, home of the best green chili cheeseburger in ABQ, in my opinion. My brother liked ABQ so much that he moved there after he retired from the Navy. Gives us a good excuse to go back.

Nothing like the smell of breakfast burritos and hot coffee watching a mass ascension at the Baloon Fiesta!
 
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