Posted on Mar 7, 2018
SSgt Ifcs C 130 J Journeymen
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This is a 2 part question,I’ve been active duty Airforce for 5 years in the maintenance career field,but I’m looking to use my college degree and either go officer in the Contracting Career Field or the Personell Career Field,or possibly Cross train out of 2AX2 into Contracting I’m currently on my first enlistment,no awards and 4 and 3-Promote EPR’s can I apply to both at the same time? Because my time to re-enlist would be next April? So I have the options to make a solid decision?
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SSgt Weapons Load Crew Chief
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Applying to OTS does "Code" you. Meaning, once you apply you are not eligible for PCS orders for a short period while your application is being processed and the board convenes. I would never dissuade someone from applying if you are eligible. You might as well knock on every door until they lock themselves shut. Considering how competitive your package will be is important when prioritizing which path you want to focus on first.

Make sure you look on the retraining advisory list, I am pretty sure a TON of 2AX2 shreds are short manned, meaning your CFM will not release anyone from the AFSC.

If you don't know what some of these things are, feel free to drop a comment.
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SSgt Ifcs C 130 J Journeymen
SSgt (Join to see)
7 y
Yea that’s why I’m asking because a buddy of mine in Comm/Nav just got accepted for re-training and his career Field was supposed to be locked,but I guess AFPC goes case by case,just wondering if I’m competitive being that I didn’t get a must promote or promote now?
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SSgt Weapons Load Crew Chief
SSgt (Join to see)
7 y
The retraining resources on MyPers do say that they are selective about retraining because they want people who are going to be successful in a new field. Having your degree, they may see that as an ability to complete coursework. Having a Must Promote or Promote now doesn't always win out. A real person will review your retraining application at every step.
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CPT Emergency Room Nurse
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I was in the Army but in a similar situation. I decided to get out and use the Post 9/11 GIBill for a nursing degree. It is a tremendous amount of money and opportunity. I went straight into a degree program and used all four years, even though I had previous college. Best decision I could've made. Now I'm going back in with direct commission as 1LT, just selected a few months ago. If you want to serve your country in a higher capacity and further your career, I suggest you get that degree and become an Officer.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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I was just curious to ask something further, if I might, I read what others wrote in, and realize I may not have understood what you'd been asking. I gather you're AFSC 2AX2, as you'd said, and want to go into a contracting unit, while you'd apply to OTS simultaneously. When I went in, I wasn't prior enlisted, which, in retrospect, I think, would've helped me considerably to have been, if only for sake of perspective, certainly, I think I'd have understood the environment more before going on active. When I'd gotten out of OTS, which had been at Lackland at that time, not at !axwelp as it is now, I'd been assigned to a system program office (SPO), assigned to a contractor. I'd have had a chance to go overseas, I think, had I stayed here, I was AFSC 2825, electrical engineer, being used in an AFSC 2724 acquistpition spot. In some ways, I regret not having stayed there, as I'd have been able, I think, to have seen foregin countries, however, I'd really wanted pure science, and asked to be allowed to PCA, not PCS, internally at my installation, to a pure science research lab, which I did genuinely find of more interest at that point, if perhaps somewhat short sightedly. He reason I'd asked to kmow more about your circumstances was that your interests merely seemed to ne quite similar to where I'd initially found myself, when I'd been in that 2724 spot, honest. I was just wondering, for that reason, what your undergrad major is, I'd seen you also brought up your EPRs, which, when I'd been in, where termed APRs, though I never got to actually write any commissioned or enlisted evals at all, though that was covered at OTS when I'd been there in some depth. I was also just curious, do you definitely want to try for OTS only, or are you also looking at other services? I only ask as, when I'd been at OTS, there were many others who'd gotten in from other services, one guy had even been former Navy enlisted, wearing enlisted Navy dolphins, the only time I ever saw that. So I know it is possible to interservice when going to an OCS or OIS (direct commission indoc) program of any kind, I'd all been curious if you were going to a masters at all, I merely ask as he norm when I'd been in was to positively insist on doing Squadron Officer School (SOS) instantaneously and immediately, as well as to try to get a masters done as rapidly as humanly possible, I'd merely been interested in what major you might want for a masters, as well. I hope that is at least a more coherent explanation, I'd be most eager to hear more, so far as you might care to explain, if I can offer you any thoughts, I'd be glad to try if you'd care to hear them at all, many thanks.
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SSgt Ifcs C 130 J Journeymen
SSgt (Join to see)
7 y
I’m very interested in OTS because I actually enjoy the Airforce Culture and Heritage I’m just trying to expand beyond my current position,because I’m not extremely passionate about the work...I’m more interested and intrigued by the Contracting career field or acquisitions. I have a Bachelors Degree which I had previously to joining the AF with a 2.87 GPA in Business Management,in 2012 I Graduated from NYIT with a Masters in Energy Management but because I was only given 5 days to take the AFOQT in 2012,I bombed the test and my only option was to enlist and at the time I could not get a secured job in any business oriented career field I needed up open electrical because of ASVAB scores,which were high in Electrical and Administrative because that’s what I studied,my mechanical score was only 49. So I love the AF but I’m a bit concerned with continuing in a career I don’t necessarily love or am excited about,never had a bad EPR I just don’t hit any Must Promotes or awards. Which concerns me for OTS,I do have a 3.0 Masters GPA but I’m 32yrs old as well. I would be just as satisfied doing the job enlisted as well as it presents the same type of challenge however I know April 2019 is the end of my contract if I’m not selected,I love the Airforce but don’t want to serve in a job we’re im not growing to my full potential.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
7 y
OK, that helps, obvioisly, I saw the bachelor's and masters, I need to give that some thought...I can't gauge your age, I'm assuming late 20s, early 30s maybe...now, that being said, personallly, while I understand you prefer USAF, just as an observation, I'd also consider other svcs, however, that's something onoy you can decide, ofmcoirse....with a masters, I should certainly think you could do comtractingx ifmyou seriously want thst, or acquisitions, as the case may be, if the AFSC for it still exists, it used to ne 2724, hough it probably morphed into something else by now...you could try for USCH direct commission, possibly in engineering, as I'm assuming the masters must've had considerable technical content, ifmyou could list exact course titles for the masters, of ne able to judge more...a thought that occurs to me is for you to go law, doing contracting law, specifically business law, you might have a fairly decent shot going that route, as a JAG, if not USAF, then Army, USMC, Navy, USCG, not just USAF. Navy Supply Corps might also seem suitable, possibly specialized warrant for Armu, if that might ne possible, just a thohght? Had you given any serious thought to law? A good possibility for you might also be patent and intellectual property law, the USPTO, he patent and trademark officer has a Federal exam to let one become a patent agent, without needing g to do law, though he exam is quite rough, I know someone who tried it...as the bachelors isn't engineering or science, I think that might leave out a professionap engineer (PE) license, unless the masters was sufficiently technical, though you'd need work exposure. All services use acquisition/contracting officers, however, ifmyou were law, I think you'd have a relatively decent chance, as I'd said, in going JAG, and specializing in such contracting aspects, give me your thoughts, I'd be most eager to know your notions as to that idea, OK? If I find other things, I'll try to send them, as well, also....
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