Choosing where you want to go

[Jael]

I hope this is the right place, I'm still learning, lol.

Anyway, Dh is in the Air Force and was told that while in boot camp he gets to put down a list of 8 bases he would like to be at. Is that true? What are the odds that he would get one of those locations? Also, how long are you typically at one base?

[BKat]

This depends on a lot of different things. Has he been assigned a job yet? My DH works on F-15s so he can only even go to bases that have them, and there's a fairly short list. In that case, your chances are pretty high and we ended up getting our number one choice. But there are a lot of careers that can be done anywhere and the chances of getting what you want are a lot lower. They'll send him wherever they need him and I've heard a lot of the time, people get sent to places that weren't even on their list. The length of time depends too. Usually stateside you would go 3-4 years, overseas for usually 3 years, if he does an unaccompanied tour it's 2 years overseas or in Korea it's 1 year. It really just depends though, there isn't an easy answer to this.

[Jael]

Thanks. He's going to be doing air traffic control and I figure all bases need that.

[kwickham]

Here is a list from the about.com site. I don't know how up to date their info is, but it is nice to have somewhere to start anyway. I would think he would only be able to get assigned to a base that has a 3 in the skill level, but my husband once got put in a higher slot temporarily so I guess its possible. Good luck!

[Chelsea.]

that's true BUT it's called a dream sheet. he may or may not get one of the places he puts down.

DB was lucky and got North Carolina...but it was like his last choice.

[Jael]

That list was very helpful, thanks!

I guess we should just make our list and not expect to be put at any of them and if we are then great and if we're not then that's cool too.