Joining the Air Force, how long can Delayed Entry take?

[Dreaded Claymore]

I am in the process of enlisting in the Air Force. As soon as I can get my birth certificate and HS diploma, the recruiter will be able to schedule me for the physical. I took the ASVAB already.

Does anyone have any guesses at how many months will elapse between the physical exam and getting on the [insert vehicle type here] to Basic?

(Most of the reason I'm asking is that my relationship with my dad has soured lately and I really want to be somewhere he can't yell at me any more. )

[todd2968]

Up to a year

[SilverTauron]

Depends on the job. Some career fields are undermanned ( read the less glitzy AFSC's) , and some have serious backlogs of recruits coming in.

Id be more concerned with getting in shape mentally and physically before worrying about when you leave, just yet. As you'll discover after BMT, when it comes to promises from the Government the outcome can be flexible.

[Stanksbeamen]

I was 17 and in the DEP, AFAIK you dont need your diploma to get the physical started but things may have changed. I was in it for 7-8 months because I was still a senior in HS but it may be different now. I dont think there is a time limit on it, get a job you really want, wait for it! If you go in Open General/Mechanic or w/e you will not get to choose, it'll be where the AF needs you.

Also, if you dont enjoy getting yelled at by your dad, are you sure you want to join the military?!? There WILL be people yelling at you in basic, in your face, spit yelling at you...Maybe rethink your choice if this is the case?!

[jloffermann]

It depends on what Job you get. I was going to be CE but they told me 6months.. so I asked about something else and got put on a quick-ship list the recruiter had me pick a few jobs and I was gone in 2 wks. make sure you choose what you want though. I ended up doing good. been in since 08 and counting the days til I sew on SSgT now congrats on wanting to serve man it's treated me well.

[steelrain82]

The longest you can be a poolie is for 1 year.

[stitchnicklas]

I enlist in the navy march of my senor year on a delayed entry and was at boot in sept.

[Dreaded Claymore]

Also, if you dont enjoy getting yelled at by your dad, are you sure you want to join the military?!? There WILL be people yelling at you in basic, in your face, spit yelling at you...Maybe rethink your choice if this is the case?!

It's not the "yelling" part, it's the "my dad" part. He doesn't actually yell, he plays guilt games, which are worse. Actually getting showered with spit and called a maggot will be refreshing.

In related news, my sister told me condescendingly that I won't survive basic because I'm too sweet. To this, I replied, "Hey, I survived you, b!%(h!" This is the woman who stabbed me in the belly with a pen on one occasion, and threw knives at me on another, to name two examples.

[tacticalcity]

For the record, I am envious. The military was the most exciting time of my life. You'll do fine. I survived, you will too.

Somethings to keep in mind that will help. Stuff I wish I knew at the time so I would have stressed out less.

1. Basic is more intense at first then after a couple of weeks things get much easier. It's never totally relaxed like civilian life, but it gets a lot less difficult as it goes on. So don't think all that yelling is going to last for your entire enlistment. It doesn't. Some squadrons are indeed a cake walk...other squadrons think its the marines. You have no control over which you'll be assigned to. I landed in the 3701 BMTS "Little Russian", but have lots of buddies that were in "Disneyland". The only difference is the amount of yelling and mind games. The rest is the same.

2. Unless you volunteer for special operations life gets considerably easier once tech school starts. Things get even easier as tech school goes on. There is almost no yelling. But there is a lot of structure. Meaning they account for your time, and scheduel everything. You won't be leaving the base very often. Follow the rules and you will be fine. Nobody is trying to wash you out at this point. Just study hard and pass your tests and don't do anything truly stupid and you will be fine.

3. Once you get to your first assignment, base, life is almost identical to civilian life. You only get yelled at when you seriously screw up. Show up on time, do your job, obey the rules, and then when off duty enjoy your life.

My point...even if you end up with a real hard *** for a TI, basic training ends fairly quickly. Suck it up. Soon enough you will off to Tech school and soon after that off to your first assignment.

Whenever you think you've had enough, tell yourself..."Suck it up. It only gets better."


TIP 1: During basic, if they ask who enjoys "bowling". Do not raise your hand. If they ask for a "house mouse" do not raise your hand. If they ask for a "guide-on" do not raise your hand. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but those questions all lead to jobs that suck. If they ask who is religious, or ask for somebody to be an escort for Sunday Morning services...that is what you want to volunteer for. Church is not about religion at Basic training. It is about getting away from training instructors and being surrounded by smiling faces for a change. So I don't care if you are a full on agnostic, during basic training you are as Christian as they come. Get your butt to church...it will keep you sain. Even better is being an escort who walks the junior flights to church all day long. While others are working their rear off, you get to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy the friendly enviorment of Church. It is the best of the chors to get assigned to...and everybody gets assigned something.

TIP 2: Usually the longer the tech school the more exciting the job and the more money it makes in the real world. Since Tech School is a cake walk, don't pick a short length school just so you can shorten the length of time at a training command. A lot of people do this, and try and ecourage others to do it as well. It is truly stupid. Don't do it. Tech school is not basic training. So pick the best jobs you can. You may not get your first choice no matter they tell you. In the end, a computer decides your fate. Any job in the military is worth the experience and benefits you get. So again...suck it up. If you make a career of the military you may change your career field two or three times. So if you hate it, then it is not forever.

TIP 3: Again, you will likely not get the base of your choosing. If you list all West Coast bases on your wish list it is a good bet you will end up on the East Coast. The whole point of joining the military is to see the world. If you want to stay home join the Air National Guard. As somebody who has been there and done that I STRONGLY recommend stacking your list with overseas locations. Including Korea and Turkey. If you make it a career it is best to get those out of the way while you are still single. You can't take your spouse with you on those and lifers almost always end up doing a stint at either Korea or Turkey anyway. Also, they are GREAT places for a single guy to experience...especially Korea. You already know what life is like in the states. If you get to see the world, you will appriciate that experience for the rest of your life. Again, even if you end up somewhere really crappy...it is not forever. If you make a career out of the military they will move you all over the place. That is part of military life. So again, tell yourself "Suck it up...it only gets better".

[egg358]

I am in the Navy and was on Deleayed entry for 7 months, it can take up to a year. I have also seen people leave the following week to boot camp so it depends on your job and how bad they need you.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

A friend of mine has a younger brother that had to wait about 9 months because of delayed entry. That's gotta be frustrating...

[rooster85]

Dont worry about the yelling, they're nice in Chair Force basic.

[j0k3r11]

My enlist date was in March '99 and didn't leave for BMT until August '99. It does depend on the job you want. IMO, I suggest not leaving for Basic in August. Lackland can get really humid around that time of year.

[killathrilla]

If u go in "open general" u can go in stat but i wouldnt recommend it as u will prolly end up handing out basketball at the base gym. If u can get a guaranteed job or guaranteed career field do that and go in delayed enlistment and move out of nommy and daddys house for a little bit

[scion]

I went in open mech in april of 04 and didnt leave for bmt until sept 04.
security forces, tac-p, combat cont, usually have shorter waits. self explanatory.

volunteer for laundry crew and stairwell cleanup details in BMT. doing everyones laundry may sound like crap but it gets you away from the TI for a few hours each time and you can hang out in the laundry room reading your study materials. stair well cleanup is a breeze..just sweep two flights of stairs and then your done....far better than latrine queen and the bathroom brigade.

if you want to fly, loadmaster , or flight engy is where the openings were when i went in. They were looking for aerial gunners as well and boomers.

and like killa said...dont go open general....youll be picking up sweat rags at the gym or cooking pans of powdered eggs at the chow hall