Ok well I'm going to MEPS next week and I wanted to prepare a list of jobs to give them. My recruiter told me you're supposed to list 5 or 6 + an Open field. I've looked around a lot of websites for job information but I figured that people actually doing the jobs could give me some better information.

So far my job list is most likely going to be:

1. 3D0X2 Cyber System Ops
2. 3D0X3 Cyber Surety
3. 3D1X2 Cyber Transport Systems
4.?
5.?
6.?
Open field would be Electrical obviously.

Any suggestions? I have an A+ cert if that helps at all. Will that somehow put me above another potential applicant trying for the same job? My recruiter didn't really know about any of that kind of stuff. I've always been interested in computers and servers and have learned mostly on my own since I was about 10. I've taken a couple of IT classes. It sounds nerdy but I usually read IT text books in some of my free time when I'm not doing anything else haha. Any suggestions? I mean I would rather do the actual technical work such as managing servers/security(#1 and #2) but I would do #3 just to be around the hardware and learn some stuff by installing it(if that's what they do anyway... because I'm just going off what military.com tells me). I've heard that 3D0X2/3's sometimes get put on help desk, is that true? I could live with it for a little while but eventually I would go nuts. Two things I know I don't want to do are help desk permanently(3D1X1) and programming(3D0X4). I worked for an ISP for 6 months doing help desk and it was hell on earth. I can only imagine it being worse in the Air Force so I'd like to stay away from it. Programming is just not for me... I took a couple classes in high school and hated it. I can do a little bit when I have to but there's no way I would want to do that as a career.

Are there any cool jobs similar to these that I'm missing? Any help at all would be appreciated. Thanks

I'm a 3D0X2 in an Air Control Squadron and have been there since I cross-trained into this career field in '05, so I do everything from servers to theater deployable comm...what I can tell you is in either of the 3 you put up there already, you can be put in any number of spots...ideally you'll probably be put at the help desk (at first) if you are sent to a base comm or NOSC...mostly because you'll have to CDC's and qualifications you'll need to accomplish...sorry but thats just it goes, but the bright side is you should move about every year or two to another position and hopefully where ever your first duty assignment, the folks there will look at your background and put in the best spot...for your initial entry, it doesn't matter what qualifications you have before you enlist...the AF isn't like a civilian business that looks at resumes...as for the AFSCs themselves, each one has it's pros and cons...can't really say which one is better. I would definitely stay away from 3D1X1 and 3D0X1...the 3 you listed are pretty much it if you want to work on comm outside of programming...hopefully this helped a little

that's pretty much it. i'm still waiting on waivers to go through before I can go to MEPS. let me know how the job picking goes.

Do not be fooled - -you do NOT have to list an Open field. You don't want to get stuck with a job you did not pick. You can list 1 job and 1 job only if you so choose.

This is true, I wasn't aware that you could choose only one if you want to,
but I know you don't have to list OPEN.

You could always tell them,
You'd rather wait until your 1st pick for a job is available and delay the time you leave.

I wasn't aware that you can only list 1 job and wait on it to open up. I figured that if it didn't open up after a certain amount of time that they could just give you any job they wanted.

I guess my recruiter was just trying to convince me to list anything so I would just join and be out of his hair haha. He told me several times that you have to list 5 minimum and then an open field. He told me there is no other option and that's just the way it is. The guy is pretty much a complete dick but the next closest recruiter is hours away so I'd rather just put up with his crap rather than going to a different recruiter.

So I can just list my top 3 and that's it? I've seen people say this stuff on other sites but they were mostly old posts so I figured that it had changed. This is pretty interesting.....

Only write down the jobs that YOU WANT. period.

All the recruiters tell you the same thing. Gotta list 5 or 6 etc etc

Its pretty simple. Tell him those are the only jobs your interested in.

You shoulda seen my recruiters face when I only wrote down 1 job.

You can not be forced to do what you do not wish to do.

Now, neither can the USAF . . ..

I've been told by recruiters BEFORE the current glut of potential recruits that at least one recruiting squadron has provided orders to the recruiters not to send people to MEPS who are not going to follow instructions and list at least 4 jobs and an aptitude area.

Stand on your one career field option if you choose, but realize that your recruiter has ZERO obligation to spend USAF money to send you to MEPS if he knows you are going to refuse to follow instructions. Heck, he is best serving the taxpayer NOT to spend the money to sned you when the guy behind you will list a wide variety of options.

It is your life, and you need to live with the consequences.

You are not a rare enough resource to dictate terms to the USAF, and still get to join.

Will do. Thanks guys.

Just an update....


My paperwork said that I had to list 4 jobs or I could not continue through the MEPS process. I asked and they said that I would be free to leave if I didn't agree and sign it. It was in the paperwork right before I signed my contract.... I may have been lied to but an e-6 and an e-5 both told me the same thing.

I don't mind that much because I found 4 jobs I wouldn't mind doing(except Open Electrical) but perhaps what the guy above said about being ordered to not send people to MEPS that wont list 4 jobs came into play here? It was at Cleveland MEPS if that makes a difference.

I put down

1.3D0X2
2.3D0X3
3.3D1X2
4.3D1X3 (I really hope I don't get this but I'll take it if I have to.)
Open Electrical

I really didn't have a choice in the matter.... I would like to just get in the Air Force rather than not. I have the worst luck in the world so I know I'm going to be open electrical sadly....


btw MEPS was the most boring thing I have ever done in my life. I was there for 12 hours and 7 of those hours I spent watching soap operas on the tv in the waiting area.

All of the careers you listed are all under "General" though, Why didn't you list an Open General?

3D1X2 isn't. But yes, that is it.

As for 3D1X3 (RF Transmission Systems) I've done that in the civilian world, It's not bad. (Used to work for Time Warner Cable)
Let us know what you end up with.

Well I figured that General is a pretty broad area and I could end up doing anything. At least with open electrical I would be doing SOMETHING with electronics. They told me that as well but I figured I would be better off this way.

I had to think fast but hopefully I made the right choice. I really want to do the jobs I listed but just being able to work with any electronics is better than not. I'm going to see how much I enjoy being in the Air Force after 4 years and then make the choice of either making it my career or taking my electronics experience to the civilian world.

Now the waiting game begins...... haha

I just want to leave already and its only been a month

I think the quickest way to get stuck with SFS is to go open general. That's if you don't want SFS

Only if you are stupid enough to put it on the list of career fields you fill out at BMT.

The number of kids who LIST SFS, and then complain that they were classified there against their will is very, very large.

I told them what job I wanted. Thy told me it could take 3 months to open up. I told them to call me when it did. It took a few days. If you walk, thy will change there tone.

Haha.

The majority of individuals join the military because they are unsure of what to do with themselves, or running away from their problems. With that said, That is why they believe they can push you into anything and you'll just accept it, which is the case the majority of the time, lol.

I'm just glad that wasn't my case, so everything played out how I wanted it. Lucky me