Posted on Jul 1, 2015
TSgt Structural
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For degree requirements, 20% of accessions says Engineering or Physics, 70% of desired accessions includes Management. Is my degree included under "Engineering" Specifically? It's a STEM degree if that matters. Thanks for your time!
Edited >1 y ago
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Lt Col Stephen Petzold
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Had my MS in Engineering Management and was a 63A. Just to echo Maj Hylton's comment below, you should also consider going in as a 62. You have some more flexibility and opportunities starting as a 62. As a 62 you can fill both 62 and 63 slots.
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Lt Col Stephen Petzold
Lt Col Stephen Petzold
>1 y
It all goes in cycles. Sometimes they need a lot of 63's and sometimes more 62's. With an Engineering Management degree you would probably qualify for 62EXG Project Engineer. Depending on future Service needs you may be able to get that as a secondary AFSC at some future point if there is a particular job that you want that requires that AFSC.
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Maj Matt Hylton
Maj Matt Hylton
>1 y
TSgt (Join to see) I have to laugh a little about your comment that they are showing that they need a large number in FY17. I just got RIF'd last year as a 63 because they were saying we had too many 63's and 62's. They can never seem to get the numbers stable. I remember the year before I came on active duty in '02, they were offering 63's and 62's a $10K a year bonus to stay past their 4 years, then I met a FSB in late '05. Then they recruited heavy again in '07-'08, then I met a RIF board in '09, then they said we were low again and wouldn't let anyone out of the career field except for mandatory "hot jobs" outside of the AFSC, then I had to meet another RIF in '12 & the third time was the unlucky charm. They can never seem to stabilize the manning curve; it always seems to oscillate up and down. I know it isn't just the 6X career fields, but I feel much more stable now on the civilian side as a GS-1101.
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TSgt Structural
TSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Maj Matt Hylton - Sir, I literally walked into the recruiting squadron and asked for a list of the FY16/17 accession goals for the Air Force. It's literally the best tool for me to use. (63AX needs 44 in FY17 for BOT applicants only)

I completely agree with you as well. It seems like they are throwing dice to decide what exactly they need. I personally believe this surge is because of the "war on terror", specifically on ISIL. Civil Engineers booted many members out in 2014, and were going to continue for 4 more years. Now, promotion rates are at an all time high. (TSgt promotion rate this year was 20%) Also deployments have shot through the roof!

So, I must thank ISIL for keeping me and my fellow Airman employed. Also thank our pilots for bombing them.
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Lt Col Stephen Petzold
Lt Col Stephen Petzold
>1 y
It does go in cycles and there is an element of luck and timing that comes into play. How many people are in your year group in your AFSC can be a big factor as to whether or not you end up facing a RIF board (or whatever happy name they give it at that time). I was in an extremely small year group and so I missed out on all the various RIF boards even as those above and below were facing them.
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Maj Matt Hylton
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Short answer, yes. Any STEM would qualify. You'd probably be qualified for 62 as well if you were interested. I was a chemistry major and they made me a 63 (i was trying for 61C or 14N).
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TSgt Structural
TSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Sir,

I appreciate the quick turn around! Hopefully I'll post in December that I accepted!
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Maj Matt Hylton
Maj Matt Hylton
>1 y
This is a good place to get some more info if you end up going 62 or 63. If you like engineering, I'd recommend going 62 first. You can cross over to become a 63 pretty easy if you are already a 62, but it is much harder to go the other way (I tried). Also, most career progressions for 62s end up becoming 63s anyway.

http://icatalog.dau.mil/onlinecatalog/CareerLvl.aspx
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Short answer, yes. You only need 20 credit hrs of business for 63A (I think), mostly regardless of the actual agree title, and your degree probably covers that with the management focus. Long answer, I have been recommending 62s to convert to 63 as fast as possible, because it's an unspoken trap by AFPC that will grab a hold and not let you go (lol). You have more leadership opportunities as a 63 (datamine the AMS authorizations to get a rough idea). If you go 62 now, and take the standard functional advice (earn a tech masters), your doors for going into 63 later will be much harder to open. AFPC routinely re-cores (depending on the overall manning levels of course) 40-50 62s/yr into the 63 career field at the mid-senior Capt time frame. But they don't advertise that, and work off of skimming for indicators in your record (which having a tech masters is a negative for consideration). There are slightly more locations for 63s as well. If you started as a 63 and wanted to become a 62 later, that door will always be open for you, because they are always in need of engineers. As far as experience convertible to post-AF life, both are great, but I'd rather wrack up leadership experience running an entire project/program and coordinating multiple disciplines as a 63, leverage my tech background, than just working as a 62.
TSgt Structural
TSgt (Join to see)
9 y
Another 2 months and I find out if I become commissioned. Hopefully they have some 63AX openings as well. I'm definitely looking forward to the next challenge in my Air Force career.
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