How to become An United States Air Force Officer

The United States Air Force Officers are “committed to addressing today’s challenges while preparing for the future, so they can better compete, deter, and win” in their mission to defend the nation through optimal control of airspace.

•  USAF Officer

• Air Force Commissioned Officer

• Airman

What do the United States Air Force Officers do?

A United States Air Force Officer would typically need to:

• Protect the data, people, institutions, and property of the United States at home and overseas, using relevant equipment, procedures, and strategies
• Lead a team of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel in  promoting the local and national security of the US
• Be responsible for the welfare of their squadron/unit during both wartime and peacetime operations
• Use verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication to construct and share information and ideas
• Change communication style to suit the target audience and serve the purpose
• Monitor and manage the behaviour of subordinates; ensure strict legal compliance in the use of various weapons and matching ammunition
• Monitor surveillance equipment to make sure requisite jobs are carried out per applicable US air force policies, safety, and security
• Delegate tasks based on the subordinate’s ability, level of preparation, competence and legal scope of practice
• Ensure the subordinate understands the scope and timing of the task thoroughly so there is no cause for error
• Train a crew of air force personnel in activities specific to their duties and air force regulations and operations while ensuring their welfare
• Take steps to minimise or neutralise any security threats identified during investigations, inspections, or patrols
• Communicate and cooperate closely with military and civilian institutions in the discharge of their duties
• Plan and direct battle operations and aid/rescue/search and intelligence missions as per instructions from senior officers as a combat pilot
• Focus on combat-related tasks such as air combat, intelligence, or ground defence
• Provide medical services that maintain or improve the health and physical readiness of air force personnel, as a healthcare officer
• Examine, diagnose, and treat patients as a physician, physician assistant, nurse, or dentist
• Provide therapy, rehabilitative treatment, and additional health care to patients as a physical/occupational therapist, pharmacist, psychologist, or optometrist
• Manage recruitment, placement, and training programmes in the air force as a human resource development officer
• Monitor and manage job assignments, staff promotions, and career counselling as a personnel manager
• Direct and supervise recruitment activities as a recruiting manager; identify training needs and develop viable educational programs as a training and education director
• Regulate how air force-related information or events are created and presented to the air force and the public as a media and public affairs officer
• Assume responsibility for the safety and protection of individuals and property on US air force bases and vessels as a protective service officer
• Develop warning, evacuation, and response procedures in planning and preparing for any kind of disaster as an emergency management officer
• Ensure adherence to pertinent laws on air force bases and police the investigation of crimes as a law enforcement and security officer
• Manage all activities related to critical functional areas, such as logistics, transportation, and supply as a support services officer
• Operate and command an aircraft for the efficient and safe transportation of military personnel and equipment as a transportation officer

The US Air Force allows its Officers to strike the perfect work-life balance with eight-hour workdays that include routine tasks and training for a potential challenge to the country’s safety and security.

USAF Officers are left with plenty of time to relax, recharge and pursue other activities once they are out of their uniform. You will most likely live on a self-contained Air Force base with everything necessary for an exemplary standard of living.

A USAF Officer generally puts in 40 hours per week and has the weekends off, except when called on a mission or an emergency.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. US Air Force Officers can boost their job search by visiting the USAF official website and ensuring they meet the standard prerequisites.

US Air Force Officers are generally employed by: 

• The United States Air Force (USAF)

Professional associations and organisations, such as The Military Officers Association of America (MOOA), are crucial for USAF Officers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Separation from family and friends during training and active service in the USAF
• A bond that prohibits quitting the USAF until completion of a minimum period of service with commitment and respect regardless of non-fulfilment of personal and professional expectations
• Lack of freedom regarding personal appearance and clothing
• High likelihood of near-fatal injuries or death in case of a war

The USAF invests heavily in training and equipping its officers.

Applicants who pass the physical exams and the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) must attend an AF-administered 12-week officer training program designed to test their commitment and train them to become exemplary officers.

Active duty AF enlisted members eligible for selection as potential officer material will be assigned to the next available Basic Officer training class; it is recommended that you work on your physical conditioning while waiting for the programme to begin.

Beneficiaries of ROTC programmes undergo three to five hours of military instruction every week. At the same time, those who opt for Officer Candidate School (OCS) or OTS must go through several weeks of academic, physical and leadership training followed by service obligation to active duty.

You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Applicants to the USAF Academy must prove their strength of character in their educational institution and community. Your community leaders should be motivated to provide referrals to members of Congress who may nominate you to the Academy if that is your chosen gateway to the USAF.

Candidates with training in specific health professions may qualify for direct appointments as officers. Direct appointments are also possible in other speciality areas, such as the legal field or religious ministry. All prospective officers who enter the field through a direct appointment must attend several weeks of training in orientation, academic subjects, and officer leadership and tactics.

Take some time to learn about the USAF. Read about the profession, research online, reach out to a recruiter, and interview experts working in the USAF to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Aspiring United States Air Force Officers can choose from among four viable paths to enter the career of their choice, based on their current level of education and future goals.

Candidates with a college or postgraduate degree in law enforcement, medicine, and engineering are eligible to apply to the Officer Training School (OTS) for the twelve-week-long training. 

Applicants from healthcare, religious, or legal professions may opt for a condensed Commissioned Officer Training.

A nomination from their US representative or state senator can also allow prospective AF Officers to attend the USAF Academy and partake of its competitive, intensive, and world-class education, accompanied by fully-paid tuition, room and board, medical care and a monthly stipend in return for a commitment to serve. 

Aspirants may also attend the US Military Academy at West Point or US Naval Academy at Annapolis and choose to become an AF Officer when they graduate.

You can avail of the popular Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) scholarship programme available with colleges and universities across the country; successful applicants can experience college life, earn their degree with tuition assistance from the AFROTC, and become a Commissioned AF Officer after graduating. ROTC encourages enlistment before or during college. You can access online applications from the Air Force ROTC website.

It is also possible to enlist as an airman and work your way up to becoming a USAF Officer or go to the USAF Officer Training School, earn a degree while on the job and become an officer.

Officers who wish to serve as pilots in the US Air Force must have a pilot licence, while those wishful of serving as lawyers (judge advocates) may need to have and maintain their state bar licences to enter and remain in the USAF.

You may also need to undergo an employment background check that can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of US Air Force Officers.

If you have not already earned one, rest assured you will be promoted to First Lieutenant or higher after four years and experience an incremental growth in salary, rank and responsibilities.

Candidates with a college or postgraduate degree in law enforcement, medicine, and engineering, have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active US Air Force Officer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

You will attend developmental education programmes, such as Air Command, Staff College, Air War College, and National War College, designed to shape you into a strategic leader who can develop innovative solutions to potential challenges facing the US Air Force.

In addition, you can step out of your current speciality and graduate from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) with a deeper appreciation of the Air Force and real-time training in the skills that will allow them to lead their squadron successfully.

As a world leader in defence technological education, research, and consultation, a graduate school of engineering and management, and an institution for professional continuing education, AFIT enables USAF Officers to pursue graduate studies as a full-time active duty assignment comprising classes and field exercises. 

Landmark Events

1903 marked the creation and maiden flight of a heavier-than-air-powered aircraft which propelled the US onto a course that made them a superpower.

1914 witnessed ground attacks and aerial dogfights by fixed-wing aircraft, but it wasn’t until 1941 and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour that the US took the lead in this battleground in the sky and dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

With the skies becoming the ultimate high ground, the US lost no time establishing its technological and organisational leadership in the military, especially in aerial warfare.

The US helped turn the tide in favour of South Korea in the war against Noth Korea and reconfirmed its role as a global military power. The decade-long lull saw the USAF reaching for the stars and testing the boundaries of the human body to fly faster, higher, and longer than was previously attempted.

Although Vietnam War cost the US government dearly, it brought home the crucial role of air superiority and the use of new tactics and more sophisticated weapons systems. 

The subsequent era of relative peace saw the USAF breaking many barriers in terms of technology, gender diversity, and racial discrimination. 

The US was able to ring in the 21st century on a triumphant note with the liberation of Kuwait that heralded the activation of the GPS and launching of the first crewless aerial vehicle in a clinching display of its air power.

2001 saw the advent of the war on terror against an enemy without traditional borders and the emergence of crewless aerial vehicles as a dominant player in the USAF’s air attack.

To Make The Grade

Physically fit US citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 years must apply for the position before their 29th birthday. Before applying, you must pass an air force physical fitness test and a comprehensive medical/physical exam.

The USAF invests heavily in training and equipping its officer recruits and seeks the most promising candidates who keep a clean record in high school and college and do not have a felony conviction.

Candidates who wish to enter the service through the testing route must pass an AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test), comprising 12 components such as verbal analogies, maths, reading, science, and aviation information. 

You can take the AFOQT twice, so study and prepare well. Applicants to the rated programme must also take the Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS) to generate a Pilot Selection Candidate Method (PSCM) score.

Their recruiter makes an appointment for successful candidates at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to assess and ensure the candidates’ physical and moral standards adhere to the specifications of the Air Force, Department of Defense, and federal law.

Based on their path and profession, every candidate’s application is reviewed by the Officer Training School Selection Board or Air Force Recruiting Services which uses a series of objective and subjective parameters to select/reject a candidate. Your local Line Officer recruiter will have more details about the biannual selection board schedule.

Prior to Leaving

Sort out all your personal matters. Figure out which family member will handle your bills, collect your mail, and deal with your bank accounts. Be prepared for a regimented life during the training from the time you wake up to when you go to bed at night.

As the first female fighter pilot in the US Air Force (USAF), Jeannie Flynn Leavitt broke the gender barrier in the 1990s and blazed the trail that scores of others have followed.

The USAF Officers’ ability to exploit and master futuristic technology in air warfare, space and cyberspace helps sustain the US as an unmatched military power in the global arena.

Lead always by setting a good example. Ask for and listen to the advice of your senior officers and enlisted personnel before making a decision. Own the recommendation once you accept it and decide on the proper course of action.