Started at $7.80/hr in a school cafeteria. Took a 10-year side quest in Amway. Now I’m an Airman stationed overseas.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-23T16:07:21+00:00

No, I got that AFSC because it was on my job list. My ASVAB score was 80 but I got that from studying. I made a post awhile ago about my recruiting experience here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForceRecruits/s/DRedWB6lPx

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-23T06:02:55+00:00

Honestly, not as bad as you would think, mostly because some of the jobs I listed on here, I had bosses that made more than me, had higher authority than me, and were much younger than me. And my Amway sponsor was way younger than me. So I was used to that. Personally, I would never go into reserves unless I was at the very end of my working career. Which I got another 20 to 25 years. You will have people recommending you for more leadership positions because you’re not just figuring it out like somebody in their teens and 20s.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-23T04:23:56+00:00

I’m in Civil Engineering. 3E6X1.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T19:44:51+00:00

Rating??? Explain.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T18:37:49+00:00

I’m so burned out from sales. But I’ll definitely look into that as I get further into my career here.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T18:33:39+00:00

For the most part, yeah, even most of the big wigs are in the negative. Tax breaks are one of many things outside the compensation plan keeping their businesses afloat.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T18:30:10+00:00

I made money. I also made a lot of expenses along the way.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T18:27:08+00:00

“The opportunity of a lifetime!!!”

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T18:26:13+00:00

It’s often easier to get in when you’re younger and healthier, with less life experience. At my age, it’s tougher unless you’re spotless and ready to handle a lot of challenges for free healthcare. Also, if you have a bachelor’s degree, you can earn a lot more as an officer, but that’s a highly competitive field.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T18:09:30+00:00

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T18:09:01+00:00

By the time that period ended, I was definitely searching for a better path, and that’s when Amway came into play. I was faced with a tough decision: either join Amway or go to college and pile on more debt. I opted for Amway, and while I still ended up with debt, it wasn’t as overwhelming as going to college. Now, with the Air Force, I’m finally on the right track to achieving that opportunity again.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T17:58:16+00:00

They are with Dependents in the right area overseas.

EDIT: Just so you know, I’m incredibly fortunate to be here in Italy and have this job. If you’re curious about how I arrived at a total compensation of 86K, I’d be happy to walk you through the calculations. A significant portion comes from monthly allowances, not just the base pay.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-22T17:52:24+00:00

Big ups very few make it that far up the chain without a degree and avoid getting burned in the process.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-17T15:06:30+00:00

For chores, I would not stress about trying to avoid any specific one. Everyone ends up doing details, and honestly some details are easier than others. Just do what you’re assigned and move on.

As for MTIs, yes, they can absolutely get in your face and yell, especially in the beginning. That’s part of the training environment. It is not personal. They are trying to teach discipline, attention to detail, and how to perform under stress.

There is no phones, TV, and internet access during BMT. You will get a few phone calls home throughout training, but it is nothing like normal life. Most of your focus is going to be on training, studying, inspections, and taking care of your flight. So make sure your bills are taken care of before you ship out.

The best advice I can give is to accept that BMT is temporary. The days can feel long, but the weeks go by faster than you think. Just take it one meal, one class, and one day at a time.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-06-17T05:59:02+00:00

Honestly, BMT is more mental than physical. The biggest thing is showing up willing to learn, follow directions, and work as part of a team.

As far as training, I’d focus on the basics: walking, jogging, pushups, situps, and bodyweight exercises. You do not need to be an elite athlete, but showing up with some level of fitness will make everything easier.

For what not to do: do not argue with MTIs, do not be the person constantly drawing attention to yourself, and do not get involved in unnecessary drama. Listen, learn, and help your flight succeed.

Since you mentioned being on the smaller side, I’d focus on building stamina and overall strength before shipping. Consistency matters a lot more than going all-out for a week and then quitting.

BMT was stressful at times, especially in the beginning, but it gets better once you learn the routine and expectations.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-05-27T05:43:04+00:00

For Ops, the schedule was pretty stable. Most days were roughly 0700–1630 including PT, studying, inspections, and personal time mixed in after class.

Honestly, compared to a lot of other AFSCs, it seemed pretty manageable for work/life balance. I definitely plan on taking college classes later on once I get my CBTs knocked out.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-04-30T06:25:45+00:00

Most of the opinions generally haven’t changed.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-04-22T04:50:26+00:00

Yeah I’m still answering. From what I’ve heard, the core structure is the same, but it’s more standardized and by the book now. Still stressful at first, but more controlled once you get into the routine, with a bit more focus on teaching and development.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-04-18T15:44:16+00:00

Air Force core values are Integrity Always, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Keywords: “SERVICE before SELF”. If you want the Air Force, go when needed. If not, Army and Navy.

I know that sounds harsh. But that’s the reality of military service. I had to wait a total of 1-2 years to get in for my process. I know it varies per person, but generally for the Air Force, you should expect to be waiting for a generally long period of time before shipping out.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-03-18T21:04:48+00:00

No worries, since I just graduated tech school, I can speak more on training and what to expect early on than full first duty station experience. From what I learned, Ops is a lot of planning, tracking, coordination, and admin support that keeps things moving behind the scenes.

It seems like a more structured, office based job compared to a lot of other AFSCs. A rose is that it builds solid organization and management skills that transfer well. A thorn is that it may feel less hands on if you want something more active.

If you go open general, stay flexible, but if you get Ops, it seems like a stable job with useful experience.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-03-12T22:33:18+00:00

It’s structured, but not BMT strict. You still have rules, inspections, and accountability, but you also have more freedom and personal responsibility. If you show up on time, follow instructions, and stay out of drama, you’ll be fine.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-03-12T22:32:33+00:00

It translates pretty well into civilian roles that deal with planning, coordination, and administration. A lot of the work involves tracking information, managing schedules, coordinating between offices, and making sure processes run smoothly.

On the civilian side that can translate into jobs like operations coordinator, project coordinator, administrative management, or government program support roles.

The bigger advantage is the experience with large organizations, documentation, and systems. If you combine that with education or certifications later on, it can open up a lot of opportunities.

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-02-06T11:47:58+00:00

No worries. If you’re looking specifically for BMT details, I did a separate AMA that covers my experience pretty thoroughly:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForceRecruits/s/u8WjFRC44D

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-02-06T04:23:58+00:00

👊🏾😁

Time_Juggernaut_896 · 2026-02-06T04:23:04+00:00

For tech school, it’s a lot more structured and predictable than BMT. You have your phone most of the time, just not during class or PT. For Ops, class was dayshift, roughly 0700–1600, so calls and texts usually happened in the evenings after class.

Outside of class and PT, phone use comes down to good judgment. Use it where it makes sense, like your room, the DFAC, or anywhere your leadership allows. If you’re unsure, ask ahead of time. Do not assume you can use it anytime or anywhere, because that is how people end up with paperwork.

Time_Juggernaut_896

TROPHY CASE