Youngin' leaving the Air Force. Looking for advice from my older brahs

[GixxerSixxer]

I made the decision to punch out when my contract is up. I'm still over a year out but just trying to be prepared. My bachelor's degree is done, I'm single, have no debt, have decent savings, but I don't have a very civilian transferable AFSC (work in aircraft maintenance). Any veterans or people who work with veterans around? Any advice or things I might overlook? Any just general life advice for a guy getting back into the "real" world?

[Brackneyc]

I made the decision to punch out when my contract is up. I'm still over a year out but just trying to be prepared. My bachelor's degree is done, I'm single, have no debt, have decent savings, but I don't have a very civilian transferable AFSC (work in aircraft maintenance). Any veterans or people who work with veterans around? Any advice or things I might overlook? Any just general life advice for a guy getting back into the "real" world?

You could always go back in as a woman and do another tour of duty.

Then write a book on how different it was.

[ElrondHubbard]

What's wrong with aircraft maintenance? I'd think that would offer plenty of good jobs. It might also apply to related work in the general aerospace industry. There are plenty of people who become civilian contractors for the military, making more money but staying close to their old field.

Take some time, you don't have to find a job immediately (although if you do that's ok too). There's going to be plenty for you to choose from. Be picky. Have some fun.

[DieselsMom]

What's wrong with aircraft maintenance? I'd think that would offer plenty of good jobs. It might also apply to related work in the general aerospace industry. There are plenty of people who become civilian contractors for the military, making more money but staying close to their old field.

This^^^

I have two friends personally that were air craft maintenance in the force then have transitioned out to jobs still within the aviation field - one has now moved on to wildlife management but that was a new life path he choose later.

[Brackneyc]

Just be informed that not all employers are chomping at the bit to hire vets. If you don't understand why, you will eventually.

[startingat56]

I made the decision to punch out when my contract is up. I'm still over a year out but just trying to be prepared. My bachelor's degree is done, I'm single, have no debt, have decent savings, but I don't have a very civilian transferable AFSC (work in aircraft maintenance). Any veterans or people who work with veterans around? Any advice or things I might overlook? Any just general life advice for a guy getting back into the "real" world?

Just had a long talk with my daughter. Four years university in medical sciences. She was considering speech therapy, we were trying to steer her towards audiology. Audiology was a very limited course, paid well, and you could make your own hours because appointments are hard to get. Everything else she was interested in would have her working evenings and weekends in a strip mall.

This September she's taking a course on project management at a college

It's nice to do what you want, but sometimes you have to do what you can. You have to think strategically because of all the competition. Where do you want to live.
What hours do you want to work.

You are thinking in advance and that's great. No debt and that's even greater.

[ironwill2008]

I made the decision to punch out when my contract is up. I'm still over a year out but just trying to be prepared. My bachelor's degree is done, I'm single, have no debt, have decent savings, but I don't have a very civilian transferable AFSC (work in aircraft maintenance). Any veterans or people who work with veterans around? Any advice or things I might overlook? Any just general life advice for a guy getting back into the "real" world?

Aircraft maintenance isn't transferrable to a civilian position? Unless your job is involved strictly with armament, that's news to me, but whatever.


You didn't state what your exact MOS is, but it obviously involves either mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical skills, or even all of them. I'd think anyone with any of those skills would be eminently employable in the civilian sector in a vast number of construction and/or maintenance positions, and even more so these days due to so many kids getting into programming, etc., and so few who have any kind of craft skills involving tools or test equipment.