I'm thinking about joining the active-duty USAF at 34. I have a wife and three kids. I wanted to join right out of high school, but life had different plans for me. I grew up as a military brat and did three years of Army JROTC in high school. I'm familiar with the military lifestyle from a dependent's perspective, as both my dad and stepdad are retired Army.

I don't have a degree yet, but I have over 50 college credits and am currently enrolled in an online program working toward my bachelor's degree. I also have a job making around $70k a year. We own a home, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to rent it out in the current market.

The main reason I want to join is that I'm not happy with my current career (if you want to call it that). I feel like I need a change, and I think serving would give me a sense of pride and purpose. I've been working remotely for the past seven years. It's convenient, sure, but it's not fulfilling.

My long-term goal is to become a civilian pilot, but flight training is expensive, and I'd rather not take out an unsecured loan to pay for it. I understand that I'm likely past the age limit to become a pilot in the USAF, but I believe I could eventually use the GI Bill to help pay for Part 141 flight training. Is that correct?

At 34, is it too late for me to really benefit from a career in the Air Force? Has anyone else enlisted around my age while having a spouse, kids, and a mortgage? If so, how was the transition for you and your family? Would ANG be a better option considering the career path I want to take and because we own a home?

Thanks in advance.

So I’ve already been to BMT didn’t graduate I had finished everything but actually doing parade and retreat. I was sent home because I had a flight physical done in my 3rd WOT and by the end they said that they couldn’t tell if I had cardiomyopathy or not so I was sent home to be cleared by civilian doctors and then submit a waiver to come back… well my waiver was denied last week and my recruiter said to basically try again in a couple months bc ( I was cleared and doctor said I was completely fine. Also provided necessary documentation and test results to prove it as well) but he is a relatively new and younger recruiter I would like to get a seasoned recruiter or past ones input because I been really feeling down about it I basically did everything I need to do and I just feel disappointed. I was dorm chief honor grad all of the things you could do right and I just want to go finish what I started.

I always looked on here before I shipped out and there was a lot of useful tips and useless tips.

Help everyone,

I’m currently in the process with my recruiter, and he advised me to not disclose my bankruptcy on the SF-86, because then it would prompt them to need a waiver.

I’m not shooting for Top secret jobs and just regular security clearance roles.Should I still put it down? I wanted to put it down since I have nothing to hide, and don’t want this hurting me in the future if I do go for Top secret roles.

Hey guys, I got booked for General Aptitude Index, specially 9TG64, im schedule to leave in the next few weeks. I just want insight on people who have booked General aptitude index and have gotten their jobs from that. What jobs were offered to you at bmt? Did you get your top choices from said list? Or anyone who knows someone from Bmt who had that same job. Any extra information is greatly appreciated!

Hi, I know that RCT is offering reenlistment bonus. I am wondering if historically it has offer sign up bonus?

Hi everyone! I swore into the Air Force DEP on October 8, 2026, and I’m currently waiting for a job match.
Here are my top 10 job choices:

Air Transportation -QS
Services - QS
Traffic Management - QS
Operations Management - QS
Health Services Management - QS
Materiel Management - QS
Dental Assistant
Diet Therapy
Histopathology
General Aptitude Area -QS

I’m currently a high school teacher in New Mexico, and I’m hoping to get a job match before December because I’m planning to resign from my teaching position before January 2027.
For those who recently enlisted, especially in October, how long did you wait for your job match? Are more jobs usually available this time of year? Do you think getting a job before December is realistic?

I recently was told i got booked for my aptitude area, Which i chose Electrical, i was really wanting a 1D7 Job or a 1N Job. At first my mind filled with worry about landing a job in maintenance i’m not gonna like at all. After doing some research online i’ve seen that the list they give you at BMT changes very frequently for jobs they need, But they tend to be maintenance oriented. In my head, I don’t picture myself enjoying something like avionics, But then again i have no experience in anything so i don’t know that for sure.

My main reason for this post is to hear from people that have gone through this themselves, How did the process at BMT work for you? Did you end up getting what you wanted? Things of that nature.

For some side info my Electrical line score was 72 so i clear any benchmark for a cyber job, As well as maintenance jobs which as of now i’m not so fond of. Just wanna hear from some people that have gone through this themselves.

I’m curios on what I’ll be doing on my drill weekends, in between enlistment and basic since I haven’t had training on afsc!

I’m going to BMT in December and am trying to decide whether to keep my two vehicles. I have a wife and son who will be living with her family while I’m in BMT and a lot of tech school. Both our vehicles are 15+ years old but still going strong (Toyota Tough). We’re considering selling them and buying a newer one to share once I’m at my first duty station since she’ll have access to a vehicle with her family while I’m in training. Since I’ll likely live close to or on base we feel like we’d rather save the expenses of a second vehicle and share one. I imagine the feasibility of this plan depends on the base we’re assigned to. Am I crazy for considering this?

Is it possible to join as a single mom?
Are there jobs that don’t deploy and what do you do if you have to? how hard is it to manage?
It solves a lot of my issues and I know will set us up but in reality how doable is it actually?
Are there any other single moms that can speak on this?
TIA!!

Hello, I’m interested in joining the United States Air Force and pursuing a career as a surgical technologist. I’m currently enrolled in the Surgical Technology program at Southeastern College, and my goal is to complete my clinical rotations, pass my CST exam, and join the military. However, I’m concerned because I currently cannot do push-ups or pull-ups, and I don’t know how to swim. Will this be an issue during Basic Military Training? I would appreciate your honest advice on how to prepare physically and what steps I should take to pursue a surgical technologist career in the Air Force. Thank you for your time and guidance.

Hey guys! This is my current job list. I swore into the DEP last month and my recruiter reached out to me last week to send him my top 10. How quick do you think I can book a job based off my preferences? Thanks for any information provided!

Hello! After a long journey of getting disqualified at 19 now at 25 I’ve been cleared and just got word I’m booked for fire protection leaving February 2nd. Feel very late to party but luckily I have enough college credits to at least go in E3 Any tips on if this is a god choice enlisted job wise or just in general about fire protection? From the research I’ve done it seems very rewarding and I love the work schedule and potential camaraderie but the clock is officially moving for my ship out date and just looking for any and all advice. Thank you!

Hello, I have a question regarding job selection - bonuses. I’m currently in DEP and was planning to do four years, however, on the AF Website it says they are doing bonuses for 1B4; which is my No. 1 job. Hypothetically if I got 1B4 selected, could I switch to a 6-year before I ship to attain the bonus?

I barely passed depth at Meps. Mostly guessed on it. Booked an aircrew job and am stressing about the aircrew physical with the depth perception. Heard there was some trick to it with blurring my eyes but didn’t know it at Meps. Any advice? Also if I fail then what happens?

Hey guys! Does anyone have the updated 2026 AFSC list for Green Card holders (LPRs)? Meeting with my recruiter tomorrow and want to make sure my job list only includes eligible jobs. Thanks!

I'm 25F talking to a national guard recruiter now about enlisting. I want to go for the role of fire protection specialist. Recruiter says i will have to go to MEPS to find out for sure but I have been prescribed prozac for the past four years for anxiety after i had a rough breakup. never been hospitalized never had any suicidality or anything like that but i have seen a therapist before for anxiety. Right now im in the process of not taking prozac anymore and seeing if my doctor can get a letter of clean bill of health. Anyone have any advice in regards to this or had a similar experience? Feel free to send me a message and i apologize if this isn't the subreddit for this type of question. Thanks in advance

hello everyone,
im making this post on here because im interested in joining the airforce reserve but i had a few questions and concerns.
I would like to go the officer route as im graduating with my bachelor’s in business administration in august of 2027. the main reason i want to join is to get my student loans paid off (15k max in loans) and to get the VA home loan. i would like to do around 4 months of AGR to get my benefits.
my concerns are that i have asthma and i did have a criminal offense that has been taken off my record. im not reliant on my inhaler and my asthma is getting better. i was concerned about weight since im 5’5 but i have went from 165lbs to 152lbs in the past month.
is it possible to join the airforce as a reservist with asthma and a criminal conviction? is it possible to get waivers for both of these things? my conviction wasn’t anything serious just a stupid shoplifting incident that i deeply regret and have proven to not do anything like that ever again.

Hey Yall, so I’m in the process of enlisting. I’ve gone through meps and signed my contract. I booked a job that will require me to get a TS (Cyber) meaning polygraph and such.

I am worried because a few years back in my late middle school to mid highschool I smoked a good bit of weed, I also tried mushrooms one time 5 years ago. The last time I smoked to the best of my knowledge would be about 2-3 years ago.

My recruiter has told me not to disclose this information because it will get me disqualified but I’m worried because I don’t want to get UCMJ’d or anything what do I do. I’ve done a ton of reading and I don’t know if there is a waiver or something I should get or if I should get a discharge and scrap the whole military idea. Please Help!