Posted on Sep 13, 2016
How is the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) tactical aircraft maintenance? Is it a good choice? How long is the school?
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How is the AFSC tactical aircraft maintenance? And is it a good choice? Also how long is the school?
Posted in these groups: 
2A3X3: Tactical Aircraft Maintenance
Air Force Enlisted Village
2A3X3: Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Air Force Enlisted Village
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
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Experience: I am currently an F-22 Maintainer 2A355 (7 level)
To answer your original question, the Technical training is not difficult. You will start out in a two part course. The first portion of the training will teach you basic aircraft and test equipment (Aerospace Ground Equipment) or AGE theory and operation. Most of this is a general course which all Aircraft Maintainers go thru. Then, your class will split up and go to more specialized training based on the Aircraft you are assigned to work. I think I spent 5 months in technical training or there abouts. However, it may have been easier for me because I had been in 2 other career fields prior to being an F-22 Aircraft Maintainer so I already had some knowledge of aircraft from working back shop maintenance prior.
What I can tell you about the job itself:
It is a very demanding job, both physically and mentally. The work is not difficult, but it is physically demanding. What makes the job so difficult is the shortfall in manning which basically effects everything from proper training, all the way to the number of hours you have to work. The result of this often tends to do two things to people. They either embrace it with a scowl and some bitching, but embrace it none the less. Or it turns them into truly damaged individuals that end up having all kinds of issues from blatant insubordination to drinking problems and family problems due to the toll it takes on them personally and physically. I would say, few people enjoy the job itself, but a lot of people try and find little things, like watching the aircraft you just fixed fly off into the sunset to drop bombs, to quench the hole of satisfaction it leaves in their guts.
In conclusion,
You will work hard (10-12 hours and sometimes longer) and it will take a physical toll on you so you need to make sure every major injury you have is documented in your medical file so you can have it dealt with down the road when it really effects you.
Prepare your family for what you are about to do. If you are married, you need to make sure that your significant other knows what is ahead of them. They won't see you often, you will be tired and irritable often after work. You will be deployed a lot, and when you are not deployed, you will be working very long hours, including long hours on weekends. I have personally seen this career cause divorces and family break ups because as civilians, they don't understand how the military works or its culture.
Prepare yourself mentally and physically. I have seen people go from being very healthy, to physically ill due to the toll the job can take on your body. And due to the number of hours you have to put in, often times your health will take a back seat.
Don't expect rewards for hard work. If you get them, great. But this tends to be a very thankless job. You generally get the feeling, in spite of what they say to your face that you are integral and awesome, that you are just filling a manning spot on their rosters. They WILL try and squeeze every drop of sweat they can get out of you, and even more, if you allow them. Generally, the reward for hard work, is that you get all the hard work because you are willing to do it. Those who don't work as hard, get easier work because they won't get things done quick enough to meet the deadlines leadership is given. So the harder you work, the harder you're worked.
If I could say anything about this job, it is as true a statement made about the military in general. Some people are just not cut out for it, or will never enjoy it. Working on fighter aircraft is a subculture of a subculture in that same sense. Most people don't enjoy it, but rationalize with it and still do a good job. A minority of people really don't enjoy it, and are unable to adapt at all. There are a minority of people who truly enjoy it. I think I have met all 5 of them over the last 3 years.
To answer your original question, the Technical training is not difficult. You will start out in a two part course. The first portion of the training will teach you basic aircraft and test equipment (Aerospace Ground Equipment) or AGE theory and operation. Most of this is a general course which all Aircraft Maintainers go thru. Then, your class will split up and go to more specialized training based on the Aircraft you are assigned to work. I think I spent 5 months in technical training or there abouts. However, it may have been easier for me because I had been in 2 other career fields prior to being an F-22 Aircraft Maintainer so I already had some knowledge of aircraft from working back shop maintenance prior.
What I can tell you about the job itself:
It is a very demanding job, both physically and mentally. The work is not difficult, but it is physically demanding. What makes the job so difficult is the shortfall in manning which basically effects everything from proper training, all the way to the number of hours you have to work. The result of this often tends to do two things to people. They either embrace it with a scowl and some bitching, but embrace it none the less. Or it turns them into truly damaged individuals that end up having all kinds of issues from blatant insubordination to drinking problems and family problems due to the toll it takes on them personally and physically. I would say, few people enjoy the job itself, but a lot of people try and find little things, like watching the aircraft you just fixed fly off into the sunset to drop bombs, to quench the hole of satisfaction it leaves in their guts.
In conclusion,
You will work hard (10-12 hours and sometimes longer) and it will take a physical toll on you so you need to make sure every major injury you have is documented in your medical file so you can have it dealt with down the road when it really effects you.
Prepare your family for what you are about to do. If you are married, you need to make sure that your significant other knows what is ahead of them. They won't see you often, you will be tired and irritable often after work. You will be deployed a lot, and when you are not deployed, you will be working very long hours, including long hours on weekends. I have personally seen this career cause divorces and family break ups because as civilians, they don't understand how the military works or its culture.
Prepare yourself mentally and physically. I have seen people go from being very healthy, to physically ill due to the toll the job can take on your body. And due to the number of hours you have to put in, often times your health will take a back seat.
Don't expect rewards for hard work. If you get them, great. But this tends to be a very thankless job. You generally get the feeling, in spite of what they say to your face that you are integral and awesome, that you are just filling a manning spot on their rosters. They WILL try and squeeze every drop of sweat they can get out of you, and even more, if you allow them. Generally, the reward for hard work, is that you get all the hard work because you are willing to do it. Those who don't work as hard, get easier work because they won't get things done quick enough to meet the deadlines leadership is given. So the harder you work, the harder you're worked.
If I could say anything about this job, it is as true a statement made about the military in general. Some people are just not cut out for it, or will never enjoy it. Working on fighter aircraft is a subculture of a subculture in that same sense. Most people don't enjoy it, but rationalize with it and still do a good job. A minority of people really don't enjoy it, and are unable to adapt at all. There are a minority of people who truly enjoy it. I think I have met all 5 of them over the last 3 years.
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SMSgt Roy Dowdy
This........"Generally, the reward for hard work, is that you get all the hard work because you are willing to do it. Those who don't work as hard, get easier work because they won't get things done quick enough to meet the deadlines leadership is given. So the harder you work, the harder you're worked.".............is absolute truth!
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SMSgt (Join to see)
Well written, and truthful Sarge. This is a good sight picture of what you can expect as an aircraft maintainer in the 2A3 world.
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It was AFSC 431X1/2 when I was in. When I got out in 1988 it was the only AFSC that qualified you to test for both the FAA airframe and power plant license. Many things have changed. If you think you might want an A&P when you get out you might want to contact your closet FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and see what AFSC meets the minimum OJT standards for authorization to test.
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