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Hello Rallypoint. Although My sole connection here is recruiting, My daughter has expressed interest in joining Air Force. I am 100% supportive. She would like to do psychology and recieve an education as well. Although I have several military family, this is my oldest and first child I am talking about, so I have no idea what is coming my way, or what to do and how to make sure she researches everything. Any help with direction, I've navigated my way around the website, but figured what better than to ask help from my Rallypoint family!
U.S. Air Force
Posted from airforce.com
Military Family
Military Career
Psychology
Family
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
6
6
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Is she enlisting? ROTC? Academy?
Prepare for tears. Doesn't matter what job she's going to be doing, how supportive or prepared you are. When she's getting ready to get on that plane, you're going to cry. That's your first-born heading into the Profession of War.
And don't try to "be strong" and hide it. Go ahead and let her see it. Let her see that you care about her leaving. It's going to help her in the long run, far from home and loved ones.
Write often. Not necessarily every day, but letters from home are one of the few joys you get in training. Keep them coming regularly, from as many people as you can get to write them. Different voices are very welcome.
Prepare for tears. Doesn't matter what job she's going to be doing, how supportive or prepared you are. When she's getting ready to get on that plane, you're going to cry. That's your first-born heading into the Profession of War.
And don't try to "be strong" and hide it. Go ahead and let her see it. Let her see that you care about her leaving. It's going to help her in the long run, far from home and loved ones.
Write often. Not necessarily every day, but letters from home are one of the few joys you get in training. Keep them coming regularly, from as many people as you can get to write them. Different voices are very welcome.
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Lauren Weaver
she is not currently enlisted in anything. thank you so much , these are the things I need to know!
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SSgt Ryan Sylvester
Lauren Weaver - I'll also let you know, you're probably going to have one (or several) of those moments that you go into full-on Mom Mode with the recruiter. You're going to feel like they are lying to you, and worse, to your little girl. Don't worry about, they train to handle that sort of thing. Just try not to get too abusive, they're just trying to do their job. :-)
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Lauren Weaver SSgt Ryan Sylvester has given some solid advice. the4 majority of airman that I supervised starte4d out with the stated objective of getting an education. Alas, dorm life, single and away from home for the first time, deployments, and work requirements can and did distract them. It takes discipline and dedication to get that degree. Please have a heartfelt discussion with her before she leaves for basic training and do not be afraid to keep encouraging her once she reports for duty.
Now, about the recruiter. You may well hear the old lie that she has to take whatever AFSC they need just to "get in the service" and she can retrain later into her "dream job". Do not fall for this. If she wants medical (that is where psychology will serve) then have her get into delayed enlistment and BE PATIENT while waiting for a slot to open up.
Now, about the recruiter. You may well hear the old lie that she has to take whatever AFSC they need just to "get in the service" and she can retrain later into her "dream job". Do not fall for this. If she wants medical (that is where psychology will serve) then have her get into delayed enlistment and BE PATIENT while waiting for a slot to open up.
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MSgt Stephen Council
Lauren Weaver - Delayed enlistment means that she signs all the paperwork and takes the oath. Then she goes home and waits until a billet opens. It can take a while so enroll in a few classes, get a part time job, live her civilian days and prepare to depart when the billet opens.
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SSgt Ryan Sylvester
Lauren Weaver - Yeah, Delayed Enlistment Program goes up to a year, and it's pretty much the standard way you go into the Air Force. It's really the best choice when you have a particular job you want in the Air Force (at MEPS, you select 5 AFSCs and you will be matched on one of those five). Activation can literally be at the drop of a hat, too. I was on DEP for about a month when I called about going in to take the programmer test for my second AFSC choice, and my recruiter told me a guy with my top pick had broken his legs in a motorcycle accident and they had to now fill his billet... and the flight was leaving the next day.
They'll do career counseling in Basic Training, where they pretty much confirm the chosen AFSC. They may try and talk her into a different AFSC there, that's what they do, she's by no means required to switch. At any time during the process. Which is another thing... never sign anything if there are any questions as to what it is, or means, or if anything is different from what they've been saying.
Now, here's the thing on why I asked before if she was looking at enlisting, or going through officer training (ROTC or Academy). Most of what we're talking about applies to enlisted personnel. If she's thinking about enlisting first and going into the Psychology field, she probably wants to look at 4C0X1, Mental Health Service. Website here: https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344354
If she's thinking about going officer right off the bat, then she may want to look at service sponsoring through the advanced medical professional degrees. Typically, service psychologists are already graduated with their MDs and holding professional licenses before they go into service. Or, she could go the Behavioral Sciences route (more scientist than doctor) which she can go to the Academy or through ROTC while doing her undergraduate work.
They'll do career counseling in Basic Training, where they pretty much confirm the chosen AFSC. They may try and talk her into a different AFSC there, that's what they do, she's by no means required to switch. At any time during the process. Which is another thing... never sign anything if there are any questions as to what it is, or means, or if anything is different from what they've been saying.
Now, here's the thing on why I asked before if she was looking at enlisting, or going through officer training (ROTC or Academy). Most of what we're talking about applies to enlisted personnel. If she's thinking about enlisting first and going into the Psychology field, she probably wants to look at 4C0X1, Mental Health Service. Website here: https://www.thebalance.com/air-force-enlisted-job-descriptions-3344354
If she's thinking about going officer right off the bat, then she may want to look at service sponsoring through the advanced medical professional degrees. Typically, service psychologists are already graduated with their MDs and holding professional licenses before they go into service. Or, she could go the Behavioral Sciences route (more scientist than doctor) which she can go to the Academy or through ROTC while doing her undergraduate work.
Mental Health Service 4C0X1 - Air Force Enlisted Jobs
Supports mental health services in psychiatry, psychology, social work, family advocacy, substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation.
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Lauren,
I am a former recruiting squadron commander and have seen a lot of parents with the same questions. The answers provided in the thread are all spot on. Recruiting is run like a business. The Air Force (and other services) have certain jobs to fill and have quotas so to speak. That being said if she talks to an enlisted recruiter, go with her. Write down all your questions before you go and put the recruiter on the spot...they can take it. Don't leave until you have all your questions answered. If they need to get back to you, they will. If she wants to be medical she will have to score pretty good on the ASVAB. That is the first hurdle. Get her one of those books that she can prep for the ASVAB before she takes it. Don't let them try to force you or stiff arm you into a job or try to get you in any hurry. This is your decision no the AF's...and it is on your timeline...period. If they can't offer her a medical position right then, then ask when can they...you can wait if that is what you want. When she is signing papers make sure it states the medical position (or any other positions she might be interested in) before you sign. You don't have to take any position available...that is only if she wants to enlist and leave as soon as possible. I will be honest with you though, in the past the medical positions are harder to come by than most, but they are available. For her to do Psychology there are several options:
1: Enlist, get her undergraduate during her enlistment and use her GI Bill to pay for her graduate work.
2: Go to college, get into the ROTC program and get her undergrad, go in as an officer in the medical core field and apply for grad school.
3: Go to college on her own, get her Psychology degrees and apply for the Medical Corps field in the Air Force.
If you have any other questions, please ping me and I will try to get them answered. It has been a while but most things haven't changed
I am a former recruiting squadron commander and have seen a lot of parents with the same questions. The answers provided in the thread are all spot on. Recruiting is run like a business. The Air Force (and other services) have certain jobs to fill and have quotas so to speak. That being said if she talks to an enlisted recruiter, go with her. Write down all your questions before you go and put the recruiter on the spot...they can take it. Don't leave until you have all your questions answered. If they need to get back to you, they will. If she wants to be medical she will have to score pretty good on the ASVAB. That is the first hurdle. Get her one of those books that she can prep for the ASVAB before she takes it. Don't let them try to force you or stiff arm you into a job or try to get you in any hurry. This is your decision no the AF's...and it is on your timeline...period. If they can't offer her a medical position right then, then ask when can they...you can wait if that is what you want. When she is signing papers make sure it states the medical position (or any other positions she might be interested in) before you sign. You don't have to take any position available...that is only if she wants to enlist and leave as soon as possible. I will be honest with you though, in the past the medical positions are harder to come by than most, but they are available. For her to do Psychology there are several options:
1: Enlist, get her undergraduate during her enlistment and use her GI Bill to pay for her graduate work.
2: Go to college, get into the ROTC program and get her undergrad, go in as an officer in the medical core field and apply for grad school.
3: Go to college on her own, get her Psychology degrees and apply for the Medical Corps field in the Air Force.
If you have any other questions, please ping me and I will try to get them answered. It has been a while but most things haven't changed
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Lauren Weaver
Thank you so much. I am so appreciative of everyones comments on this thread. Means the world to me!
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