It's not ALWAYS what you make of it - Intelligence Officer US Air Force Employee Review

2.0
30 Oct 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You get the pride that you are serving your country and defending a country and liberties that very few in history and the world get to experience. Health care for you and your dependents. You MIGHT get a guaranteed job and pay. You MIGHT get to travel to new and amazing places. You MIGHT get training in a valuable and civilian-transferable skill.

Cons

Although it's there, it's not phenomenal health care for you and your dependents. You might NOT get a guaranteed job and pay, and you won't know until you've survived all of the "Reductions in Force" (RIFs) that come along due to huge expensive programs, like the F-35. You might NOT get to travel to new and amazing places, because it really is rolling the dice. You MUST completely fill out a "wish list" of 7 or 8 options and options 4-8 might not be so great and when you get one of those the powers-that-be can still say "well, we gave you what was on your wish list". Also, you may NEVER get to go anywhere desirable - often the luck of the draw. You might NOT get training in a valuable and civilian-transferable skill. This is also luck of the draw, but you can do your homework in advance to determine whether your specialty is valuable and transferable. It doesn't matter if you have the best idea(s) in the room and that you may or may not be more intelligent than your supervisor(s) because the biggest rank in the room makes the decision for better or worse - if this is not something you can deal with on a day-to-day basis then the US Air Force is not for you, however if you can swallow that and maintain patience with that day after day then you will survive the Air Force culture just fine.

Explore other reviews about US Air Force

5.0
24 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Best thing I ever did.

Cons

Not as much freedom on where you live.

4.0
24 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Teaches you a trade while paying you. Social appreciation. Purpose. If you have no idea what you want to do with your life especially as far as a career goes, run to a recruiter. Regardless of whereever you come from a military career is your stepping stone into middle class and up living and career opportunity.

Cons

Every extra dollar you attempt to make beyond your rank will require more work than you will be paid to do. The real payoff monetarily you get from competing in the military will come in to play during your post life. Confidence, courage, accountability, etc are not standard attributes in people at all.

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