Army to Air Force

Currently, I am in the Army, located in Iraq (just finishing my last month here), and then in November, I am out of the Army. I have talked with the local Air Force Reserve recruiter near home, and he said it would be fairly easy to get me in, I would just have to get him a few papers, nothing huge.

My questions are this:

1: While I am in the Air Force reserve, I plan on going to college to get a Computer Science Degree. In fact that's the BIGGEST reason for going just reserve, instead of Active. Which of these jobs are overall better:
2E2X1 - Computer, Network, Switching, and Cryptographic Systems
-OR-
3C0X1 - COMMUNICATIONS - COMPUTER SYSTEMS OPERATIONS

With my College Degree I plan on being a computer technician, so which of those two jobs would be closer to what I'm going to college for?

2: While serving here in Iraq, I have gotten my Combat Action Badge. Will this transfer over into an AFCAM, so I can still wear a combat badge/medal, or am I just SOL?

I will more than likely have more questions, but this is all I can really think of at the moment. Thank you in Advance :)

SPC Bowler.

Answer to question #1, I would say most like say 2E2X1. Option #2 sounds like more of an anaylist then a tech. Question #2, you are SOL because unlike us and the marines, air force and navy have ribbons not badges for combat action. So, that CAB you just earned it becomes a soverneir. Being ex-Army and the NCO inside me talkin, why Air Force reserve and not Army? That Air Force recruiter makes it sound easy as slicing bread but thats what he is paid to do. Do you realize you have to go through air force basic and possibly more training depending on your MOS. I am not trying to change your decision but just curious as to why your jumping ship. I can tell you its alot easier to transfer from active to reserve if you stay in the same branch. My advice to you would be do some more research you know talk to the Army recruiter and see what hes got to offer. Then weigh your options and make sure your 100% about your decision. You should know once you sign that dotted line, theres no turning back. I just want to say SPC first and foremost make it home, I know been there, done it. Whether you take my advice or not, good luck with whatever you decide. Hooah.

Enter your Response to Army to Air Force.

Thanks for the response SSG :) I have actually considered the Air Force for a really long time. I was born and raised as an Air Force brat, and the main reason I didn't join AF in the first place was because the recruiter had been a HUGE dick to me so, I decided to follow a secondary dream and go with the Army, as a M1 Armor Crewman. Well, since I got to train in tanks, I felt that mission got completed, and it's just no longer a dream of mine, and honestly I don't feel I should be in the Army anymore. I have just heard the Air Force calling my name out, so that's the big reason for a branch change. Plus, from what I hear, overall the Air Force has more opportunities than the Army does computer wise. And since I have been talking to the recruiter (as well as my dad, who's retired AF), both have mentioned that I won't have to go back to Basic, all I will have to do really is an intro type course to get my uniforms, and get accustomed to the AF life style/customs, and then to AIT/Tech School.

So I'm not at all worried about the Basic portion, and if I did have to go back...Heck I loved BCT for the Army. There is NO WAY that AF can be worse. It can only be easier, lol. At least that's how I see it :)

But I have definitely had my dad there weeding out a LOT of BS that might have been put out, so for the most part I'm getting a clean cut deal, and not a bunch of regular 'recruiter jumbo'. :)

I do greatly appreciate the advice and for the concerns though. it does mean a lot to know there's still NCO's (retired or not) that care :)

HOOAH!

you will not have to do basic again and yes depending on your current mos you will probably have to go through tech school.

Going into the Air Force from another branch you don't have to do Basic at all.

Enter your Response to Army to Air Force.

are there any requirements in switching branches?..im also army looking to switch but i havent been to see a recruiter yet....ive heard the air force is not taking anyone right now...any truth to that?

With the Air Force, they're taking people, but only in certain fields (Like Survival evasion and resistance (something starting with an E)...SERE for short...), basically combat type stuff... Reserves is also taking people. As for other branches, I'm not too sure. You'd just have to talk to an in-service recruiter...

there are so many rules to go from green to blue. your best bet is to talk to a recruiter and see what they are willing to do for you. it is the recruiters job to give you the information. as far as the AF not taking anybody that all depends on if you want to go active or reserve. the reserves only have so many spots available for a base, if the slots are full at base 1 ask about the manning at base 2...
the biggest catch to the program is that 99.9% of the time will loose a rank when you go AF.
the best way to figure out what job you want to do is to do a google or yahoo search for AFSC's (Air Force Specialty Code) that will give you a break down of what that job includes. i hope this helps.

I'll take a stab at question #2. I was awarded a CAB (deployment under Army command) but had to convert it to an AFCAM (used all the CAB paperwork as justification) since the CAB isn't authorized on the AF uniform unless serving directly with the Army. "Award eligibility is retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001, through a date to be determined and is available across the total force. Personnel no longer on active duty can submit packages to the Board for Correction of Military Records." There was a timeline placed on awards going back to the 2001 date, so I couldn't say with certainty if it's too late or not. I say when you join the reserves submit an Air Force Form 3994 with all the supporting documents from your CAB and see what happens. Couldn't hurt to try. Reserves should be able to help with the whole submission process and package. Hope this helps.

It helps quite a bit actually, and I appreciate the help! :) Just gotta wait on the army to get me my medical records, and then I'll be good to go with the reserves.

Just thought I would update this: I am now enlisted in the Air Force reserves as a 2T251, Air Transportation. I got tech school waivered (assuming due to prior service?). I am stationed at McChord AFB with the 86th ASP. I report in on Saturday morning for my first orientation and drill weekend :)

Edit: And I retained my rank, so I am a Senior Airman!

I understand this forum post is semi-old... although I noticed that you retained your rank @ E-4 when you transitioned over to the AF from AR Jonathan.
I am also an E-4 in active duty army at the moment with desires to switch over to active Air Force after my tour in Afghanistan in over. I am looking at becoming a Spec Op Weatherman transitioning from being a Cavalry Scout.
My main question is that if you obtain E-5 in the Army, do you get knocked down to E-4 when you switch to AF? Or would you transition from an Army Sergeant to an Air Force Staff Sergeant on the spot?
Also, I noticed you are still displaying your Army Service Ribbon, did you get to retain that?


Thanks in advance and congrats to your transition Jonathan.

Hey Sorry it's taken me a while to respond Brandon. I don't visit here often, and hopefully you'll get to see this. I retained all of my awards that I got. The only thing I haven't been able to transition over was my C.A.B. I was told as the rank goes, if you have over 12 months (Maybe it was 16?) as an E-5, you retain it when you switch over. If you have less, then you get knocked down to E4. I had more than enough time in grade to retain the E4 so that wasn't a big deal. I had over double I think, lol!

Any of the badges we have don't seem to transition over, but all of your medals/ribbons should without a problem :) Even the Meritorious and valorous unit awards I managed to retain and can wear.

Good luck to ya, hope everything works out great on your transition over, if you haven't already done so!

Well A lot of Thank You to Brandon, I'm currently in the same boat, I'm also a scout and was active duty for 3 yrs before i switched to National Guard back in 2009, Now I just plain hate it... granted my platoon is highly motivated BUT... being attached to an infantry unit puts any training we plan on doing on hold and get stuff doing all paperwork. I enjoyed active duty, but Now that I have a family since getting out of active I was looking for something more family friendly and something that career wise will be more beneficial when I'm out since, being a scout hasn't done anything but land me a p.o.s rent a cop job that doesn't remotely make me happy. Thankfully I live next to an air force base and every airmen i talk to love his/her job unlike army you'll get 50/50

Hi Jonathon.
I was reading your posts and was wondering if you could answer some questions for me.

I am currently in the Army and want to transfer to the Air Force just like you did. But I want to transfer to the Air Force to become an Officer. My hole goal is to become a pilot in the Air Force. I am currently an E3 but am about to finish my bachelors degree around the end of next year. I wanted to enlist in the Air Force from the beginning, but since I am not a U.S citizen I had many issues with the immigration and had no choice but to join the Army. I'm not sure why but assuming since the Army is the biggest branch of the military, and has more opening than other branches, they let me in. Now I have my U.S citizen and ready to apply as soon as I finish my bachelors degree.

So here are my questions.
1, Can you apply for Air Force Officer Training School from a different branch?
2, If question#1 is possible, will I have to stay in the Army until my contract is over, or will be able to apply as soon as I get my bachelors degree?

The reason why I ask question #2 is because I am currently 25 and the limit to apply for pilots in the Air Force is 27. My contract is over 3 years from now which makes me 28.

I know my situation is very different from yours, but it would still be very helpful if you can answer my questions since you've accomplished to change branches. Thank you in advance!

I am a 25-years-old uniformed girl( working in Air Force), down to earth and cute but still single. I wanna find my lover who can give me real love, so I joined in the "www.Kissinguniform.com". It's a 10-year-old club for uniformed personnel finding their intimate encounters. Well, being in military service does not mean to be lonely, you can meet the Mr. or Miss. Right there.
p.s. The admirers of those uniformed person are also warmly welcome there.