What is the quality of life like for someone working as a truck driver in the Air Force?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:42:55 -0500

Im very close to getting back in the military going from the Army to the AF I was medically discharged but it wasn't anything too bad so I'm wavering back in. My main question is how's the quality of life I've pretty much chosen the same job (Vehicle operations) in the army is 88m just some insight would be nice before I sign everything again.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2017 12:50 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:50:14 -0500

Good luck with the Air Force. Trying to get into the AF as a Prior Service from a different branch is rather difficult. I tried multiple times and I ended up BACK in the Army.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Feb 16 at 2017 12:58 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:58:16 -0500

I have a friend in my current Reserve unit (we're 88Ms too), who was prior service Active Duty Air Force, and he loved it. He mostly confirmed a lot of the stereotypes regarding the cushy life in the Air Force, but take that with a grain of salt...experiences may vary.
Good luck out there Transporter!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2017 1:15 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:15:33 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member My father was Air Force. Thank you for continuing to serve.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2017 2:13 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 14:13:58 -0500

Active duty life is much like a normal civilian job but with all the Air Force thrown in for good measure. Work schedule really depends on your AFSC and base. Good luck!! Enjoy it!

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Feb 21 at 2017 8:27 AM

MSgt John Taylor — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 08:27:39 -0500

To start with, most of our war fighting capabilities require about 2 miles of 6' deep reinforced concrete, so the AF isn't going to just throw a few tents on the ground and call it a base. For the most part we operate out of permanent structures, and I think that this is where most get their impressions of the AF. If you have hardened structures, why sleep and serve meals out of a tent?

Promotions don't come as easy in the AF as they do in the Navy & Army, so there are financial aspects that should be considered, although to make E-9 is roughly the same in all services.

You'll work for/with great & crappy people, I'm sure that the other services have their share of both. Like any other job, you get what you put in to it. Good luck and AIM HIGH!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2018 7:41 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 19:41:13 -0500

I served 13 yrs in the Army/National Guard, Air CaIvary/Medical. I switched to Airforce/Air National Guard. Medical. The Airforce is a lot different than the Army but that is because the Airforce’s mission is different. The Airforce has better housing and recreational facilities.

Response by TSgt Ricky Morse made Dec 3 at 2018 7:27 PM

TSgt Ricky Morse — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 19:27:38 -0500

So shortly after the first Gulf war I deployed to Bahrain with a naval F-18 unit and a Marine EA-6 unit we were flying F-16s out of Shaw AFB. So we are all a bunch of aircraft maintenance guys doing the same damn job. An E- 4 is an E-4 right? So the Marines are in tents between the taxi way and the run way making 3.50 a day, the Navy was in the barracks at the Naval support unit 3.50 a day, we were down town in the Gulf Hotel 5 star ! Back then we didn’t have the credit card, we got paid 80% every 2 weeks $1400.00. I knew then I made the right choice.

Response by LCDR Tim McKenzie made Dec 3 at 2018 8:18 PM

LCDR Tim McKenzie — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 20:18:22 -0500

I slept in a tent once in 20 years. I stayed in hotels. Nothing to brag about. Perhaps our taxpayers should not be paying for luxuries.

Response by SSgt Steven Cornwell made Dec 3 at 2018 9:51 PM

SSgt Steven Cornwell — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 21:51:10 -0500

I was a combat sp. I trained with a joint class of Marines at the mp academy and also did four weeks of Army training at Fort Dix. I was qualified in and carried the M60 and M16/M203. We dug foxholes and played war games, ate mre's, and kind of envied other Air Force career fields that weren't as challenging. Still, that being said, our based were always great to come home to. We seemed to have the finest facilities in the military.