My husband is currently in Iraq and not very pleased with the way the Army handles things. We have been considering switching to the AF for a while now, but is it really better? Do the soldiers get treated better? Are the deployments shorter and fewer? Or should he just get out completetely?
By the time his ETS date comes around next year he will have 8 years in service and he is currently an E-6. He is determined to get out of the Army, the only question is - AF or civilian??
Anybody who has some advice for both of us - I would really appreciate it.

Hey there!

Dexter is in the ARNG right now and is currently serving in Iraq. His Bro and sis are both in the Air Force, and his Mom and dad are both Air Force Retired.

Dexter used to want to join the Air Force after he got out of the Army National Guard, but them he got activated and now he's changed his mind.
I"m not too sure if its better/worse or not..... One of the other guys will be able to answer your question better than I could.

Anyway, welcome to the site!!

Feel free to PM me..... I may not be a wife, but I'm going through a deployment just like you are!!

If your husband simply doesn't want to deploy, then yes, he needs to get out. We are at war, and all branches are subject to extra long deployments - if he and you aren't willing to accept that .. civilian life is your answer.

First off, I don't have any experience with the US Army and the experience I have with the USAF is from my dad who is in Special Ops and other who have worked directly with the Army.

The USAF is spoiled. A recent example I can think of was when my dad was deployed to Romania and he was staying at a top star hotel in Romania and there were people complaining about the food and the Air Con at the hotel while not too far away the Army was staying in tents eating MRE's with no Air Con whatsoever. My dad being in spec ops has told me that the Air Force really does offer more benefits for families and offers a more comfortable living style for AF members than the Army. When I was looking to join the military he said that although the benefits and conditions the Army and Navy offer are improving they are still not as good as the Air Force.

As for deployments it really depends on what your husband wants to do in the AF. If he gets a job at MPF (Military Personnel Flight) than he will probably never deploy. If he becomes a PJ than he will be deployed A LOT and will probably have the same living conditions as the army because the of people PJ's deal with. Its really impossible to tell you what deployments are like in the AF without knowing what he wants to do in the AF. If you could tell me what your husband is looking at cross training to than I might be able to offer you a better idea of his deployments.

I think the best person to talk to would be an AF recruiter but at the moment and until the next fiscal year the AF is not accepting any more recruits because they have recruiter 2500 to many this fiscal year. I heard that directly from my AF recruiter.

Originally Posted by MilitaryWife?

My husband is currently in Iraq and not very pleased with the way the Army handles things. We have been considering switching to the AF for a while now, but is it really better? Do the soldiers get treated better? Are the deployments shorter and fewer? Or should he just get out completetely?
By the time his ETS date comes around next year he will have 8 years in service and he is currently an E-6. He is determined to get out of the Army, the only question is - AF or civilian??
Anybody who has some advice for both of us - I would really appreciate it.

I made the switch few years ago when the AF was accepting prior service from other branches. However not long after I came in that program was stopped cold since the AF is now way over strengthed. Now the AF needs people to get out. The only way he could probably do it, is ETS from the Army and join the Air National Guard and then maybe later try to go active duty. But either way, even if he does decide to go civilian my advice would be to go in the ANG anyway. That way his 8 years active duty wont go to waste and it can go towards a retirement. Also the extra check everymonth for drill pay would be nice. If you have anymore questions just ask.

I am at the point in my USMC career where i need to either reenlist or EAS. I have looked in to the Air Force but none of the recruiters can give me a no answer on my chances of getting enlisted in Feb of 09. I would like to go Air Force for my family and get them out of the 13-16 month deployments that i am currently in line for. The bonus i get in the USMC for reenlisting can't really compare to getting to watch my son grow up and possibly having another child. I do love my Corps and will miss it very much but i am not happy with this MOS and the Air Force offers the EXACT MOS that i am wanting to work in.

Any advice on getting good info on how to switch branches is much appreciated. feel free to PM me.

Geez... Marine life is hard huh?
I am re-enlisting but not as a Marine. Basically carrying too many damned injuries to make it happen there.

Thoughts on the original question.

Get out.
If neither of you are ready to go through another deployment the only answer in my mind is to get out.

Do NOT compare this situation with SOF units, they are a completely different animal.

Implicature, I have an aquaitence that switched over from Navy to Army not too long ago.
I dunno if that would help you in your current situation, but if you want the contact info I will provide it after checking with him.
Your call.

//KJ.

Right now it's real hard to switch out of either Army or Marines to Navy or Air Force. Nigh on impossible right now actually.

Originally Posted by implicature

I am at the point in my USMC career where i need to either reenlist or EAS. I have looked in to the Air Force but none of the recruiters can give me a no answer on my chances of getting enlisted in Feb of 09. I would like to go Air Force for my family and get them out of the 13-16 month deployments that i am currently in line for. The bonus i get in the USMC for reenlisting can't really compare to getting to watch my son grow up and possibly having another child. I do love my Corps and will miss it very much but i am not happy with this MOS and the Air Force offers the EXACT MOS that i am wanting to work in.

Any advice on getting good info on how to switch branches is much appreciated. feel free to PM me.

Go here: http://forums.military.com/eve/forums

They have discussion forums for individual services and many recruiters are there. Switching services and WTC are covered in-depth, including daily questions and replies that sound much like yours and the young lady's that began this thread.

Not that I in any way mean to dismiss this site, as I love this site! But military.com really is where you need to be asking questions that will affect your life and career future.

Thank you, everyone, for your service, and God Bless our troops!