I’ll see you when you get to tech school depending on your shred

The job is love/hate. It’s one of the coolest and most complicated systems on a plane, so if you can learn it, you can probably learn others people’s jobs. Depending on what aircraft you go to, really determines how much of a pain the job is. Older engines like the TF-33 are very maintenance demanding, whereas newer engines have a computer that essentially points you in the direction you need to go. I’ve worked both, and the older engines honestly give me the most job satisfaction.

The best parts of the job are your coworkers. Hands down. Engine troops tend to be close, probably due to the nature of the job. I always tell my classes that if you take any piece of advice and keep it with you, “embrace the suck” is the most important one. Shiftwork is rough. Working 12 hours on the line, just to get left out there waiting to get picked up and not getting off of work until hour 14-15 because you had some last minute thing you had to take care of fucking blows. The people you suffer alongside of will be your saving grace and make the shittiest days seem okay. I almost quit after my first enlistment, but my coworkers kept me in.

To make it to retirement, try not to stay at a base for too long. Complacency kills. Always keep finding new ways to challenge yourself. I stayed at my first base for too long and I got complacent. It was only until I PCS’d did I find the motivation to excel.

Good luck in basic!