The 5 best jobs in the Air Force

In my opinion, these are the 5 best enlisted jobs in the Air Force. What do you guys think? Am I totally wrong? If so, what would you say are the top 5 jobs in the United States Air Force?

Airman Vision is run by Kyle Gott. Kyle is an Air Force Veteran who served 6 years and honorably separated as an E-5 Staff Sergeant. He started making videos on this channel to document his journey joining the United States Air Force back in 2013 and continues to help set future Airmen up for success.

The videos on this channel represent the individual opinions of those speaking and do not reflect thoughts of the Air Force, DOD, or US Government.

[whfowle]

Before I joined the Air Force, I put a lot of thought into what would transition to a great job when I retired. The reality is no matter how long you stay in the Air Force, it is over at 30 years so you will be out by the time you are 48. That's time to get in another great occupation before you really retire. I saw the Air Force as a training ground for what comes next. So, STEM was my focus in high school. The Air Force practically throws educational opportunities at you from day one. So, I wanted to get into a high technology field when I joined. My first was high reliability power systems. It placed me in a field that aligned with radar, radio, various communications fields, computers and networking, etc. I was able to spend my off hours getting a BS degree in electronics engineering. After 8 years, I cross trained into Air Traffic Control maintenance where I worked with various radar and radio as well as computer systems to track aircraft in flight. When I retired from the Air Force, I found a job at one of the National Laboratories working on R&D of the most advanced equipment on the planet. It's been quite a trip. I'm now close to retiring full time. My advice is to think way ahead of where you are now. What do you want your future to look like?

[RicardoSanchez-eswl]

Cyber Warfare / Cyber Ops is the best career field IMO. You are involved in the biggest events going on in the world, and “in the fight” without being in actual danger, and you get a TS clearance and the most transferable skills out of any AFSC I can think of. There’s SSgts and TSgts separating and making 120K+ in the private sector working for Cyber companies like CrowdStrike.

[Shootz]

1. Cyber ware fare (1B4)
2. Cyber Ops (1D7)
3. Any Intel career field
4. Loadmaster (for the travel)
5. NDI (they’re like doctors for jets😂)

[oHeihei]

I'm Cyber Systems Operations, and it's a job I'd highly recommend. Not only do I find it fascinating working with technology and servers, the hours are amazing, the environment is relaxed (I have my very own desk working 9-4:30 M-F as E3), and the experience gained is incredible. You gain tons of high level civilian certs, such as Sec+ with your training, as well as a TS Security Clearance, where outside the military, companies will pay big bucks to hire you. Often 6 digit salaries right out of a 4 or 6 year enlistment. But it's a great job if you're looking into taking classes and going to college in the Air Force. Most of the time you can grind out your classes at work during down time, or work on additional certifications. On top of that, we're significantly undermanned mainly because there's no way for the Air Force to compete financially with non-government companies paying so much more. So it's an easy job to get, and it's a really good job if you plan to stay in and retire because of bonuses, and more opportunities for SSgt+, but it's also good for those wanting to do one contract and get out. It's a good job for anyone pretty much. There are many upcoming signup bonuses, and reenlistment bonuses coming as well.

So I highly recommend 1D7X1B (previously 3D0X2), or really any 1D7 jobs. We need more people, and it's an INCREDIBLE job! I'm biased, but I wouldn't recommend it at all if I really didn't enjoy it.

[thomasolney]

C-17 loadmaster of 7 years - No complaints and 52 countries

[gabeusaf]

I was Security Specialist and not Law Enforcement. I retired as a recruiter. I worked nights and got my degree in Criminal Justice and Human Resources Management. After retirement I became a Deputy Sheriff and retired as a Police Sergeant. I took a much needed year off from being an SP and LEO. I decided to go back to work and now I work in Human Resources Specialist for the Veteran Affairs.

You get what you put into the Air Force. My USAF sacrifices are 7 deployments to the sandbox, 3 to Central America and a few Team Spirit, REFORGER, Giant Sword, Olympic Arena, and Peacekeeper Challenge competitions. I am old but can still pass a USAF pt test any day of the week.

[alanhirayama]

Kyle's list is solid. My opinion, in any military job, it's what YOU make of it. I have been in the AF for 6 years and ANG for 16 years (Navigator, Medical), and it's really your attitude that makes the difference. Having said that, in the AF, flying jobs (load master, boom operator) are probably the best if you can handle being away from home like Kyle said. I would also recommend looking into Air Traffic Control. This is a very important career field that is applicable in the civilian side. But it's fairly high tempo and stress because your actions will affect safety of aircraft.

[strumminandwrenchin]

ive just enlisted as a 2A551, airlift/special mission maintenance. It's not gonna be glamourous as an admin, desk job, but as a future reservist, who is using it as a stepping stone to get me into the airlines, I ain't complaining

[LauderdaleJoeM]

ADMIN ROCKS, I got to TDY @ THE PENTAGON. My supervisor for 6 yrs was a Major in control of Finance.

[TheRoadwarrior]

I was enlisted and then became an officer. But when I was enlisted, I was a computer programmer. I think that the work-life balance is there, the career training is there, and the opportunities after the Air Force are there. You also get to program on aircraft avionics, intelligence systems, communications systems, office automation, base level data processing, etc. so you feel like your job is important.

[frozenparodoxbassman]

Hey Kyle, just wanting to send out positive vibes to you. You helped me so much in my decision to join the air force. I can now say several years in I have no regrets and am enjoying every minute of it. I wish only the best for you and your future.

[GaryMontalbano-qz]

I flew as an Aeromedical evacuation technician in the reserve for 30 years until retirement. The best job I saw for an enlisted man is close to Loadmaster. It was the 'Boom Operator'. Flying on a KC 135, the boom operator works the refueling boom to refuel aircraft while flying. While sitting in the rear of the plane, he manipulates the refueling arm, (hose) to couple up with other aircraft to transfer fuel. You stay with the plane and are deployed all over the world in advance of ongoing missions. Your off time is where you land, often away from your home base, in other states and other countries. As member of the flight crew, your treatment by 'host' bases or countries is usually better than the regular troops. Worth looking into.... Good luck

[jameslyons]

I went in as a Law Enforcement Specialist (now Security Forces) back in 86. Not what some people would consider one of the best jobs. But I really would not have wanted to do anything else and it directly led to my civilian LE career (Criminal Investigator, USMS). So, if you are young please watch these videos, get as much information as you can without overwhelming yourself, but don’t let them dissuade you from doing something that is right for you.

[DS-ttvz]

I was an air traffic control radar tech for nine years, great job. With training I received I was hired by the FAA and retired with 40 years of federal service.

[ainako]

The 5 best jobs in the Air Force according to Airman Vision

1. Aviation Resource Management
2. Public Affairs
3. Load Master (if you're single and love travel... this is gucci!)
4. NDI
5. Administration (CSS)

[michaelvalcourt]

50 years ago I joined the air force. I was an Avionics Tech on the F-111. Awesome job. Out on the flightline fixing and launching airplanes. day or night

[sjpproductions]

Firefighter. It’s day camp for 20-something’s. Plus, you get the “hero-worship” of a first responder. You work a 24 on, 24 off schedule with one shift off every other week (you’re assigned the same day) which gives you a 3 day weekend. I never had to use my leave. We had no officers at the fire station as we’re pretty much enlisted/civilian run. We had no use for officers as they tend to get in the way. We were assigned to CE for our squadron needs and rarely saw any of our officers/first shirt. By the time I left the AF, our station had all the comforts of home: giant screen TVs, lazy boy recliners in the day room, semi-private sleeping quarters, a jacuzzi and sauna imported from Europe and so many other comforts it generated a sh!t storm of complaints. We were able to do all this as we’d been voted best fire department in SAC and they kindly dumped cash on us as a reward. Sadly, Castle AFB closed in ‘95(?) and the fire station was given to Merced County.

[toddmenard]

If I could go back and do it over again, I would’ve picked biomedical equipment maintenance journeyman. Apparently on the civilian side you make a lot of money fixing medical equipment. Plus, the people that work in the Air Force they do that job, stay relatively clean and they get to eat a chow at a normal time and hour.

[curthenry]

I was a Machinist in the USAF. Great job, I volunteered for the 3-11 shift. Best part was I only had stay out of site for a couple of hours and after that I was completely left alone with no old puke lifers hassling me. I built a chopper and a custom rifle on a 98 Mauser action on duty using. I had access to all of the Field Maintenance Shops. The shops were the world's best hobby shops. Being a night worker I had a room to myself and a sign on the outside of the door saying day sleeper, I had very few inspections of my room.

[kevinschannel]

So far I have been in for 6 years and have been ARMS for the whole time. I absolutely love it working with the pilots. I would recommend this career field to everyone