Pros
The benefits are really good compared to the civilian world--supposively. We has military members are really spoiled in the way we are treated so everyone thinks everything has to be free to them, which is not true. Sometimes we have the lowest prices at our shopping locations and the clothes aren't that bad too, but other civilian stores are much cheaper if you actually take the time to look elsewhere, i.e., Wal-Mart. All stores are close together which makes it very easy for us to shop, unless you go to some other bases which aren't that way--disadvantage. The Air Force team builds you up from the ground up. Teaches you main facets of life, to include: discipline, integrity, dependability, etc. Lastly, you can't complain about the free education members have either! The only thing a student/military member pays for is books and maybe occassional supplies. You can't beat that!! 100% tuition is awesome!! Thanks to the Air Force, I have no college debt like many other graduates out there in the civilian world. I must say that I have enjoyed serving in the military and had seen a lot of things I probably would have never encountered being in the civilian world, but it is time for me to move on and build a better life/career for my family and I. God bless America and good luck troops in all branches of the service!
Cons
The downsides of working in the US Air Force are the low paying salary scale(s), numerous deployments, and many more. I hate the A.F. in this aspect because the military isn't really "family" orientated to fit this type of life style--being gone constantly and lets add maybe even getting shot at from time to time. I am sorry, but my life shouldn't have a dollar value attached to it. Anywho, spouses/children are always suffering being away from each other and the whole world seems to evolve around the military member ONLY, which stinks. Also, back to the pay scale... Yes, everyone says you must include all the benefits we receive (medical, dental, etc.) while being in the military, but when you see it as dollar figures, it completely sucks. It actually makes you want to cry every time tax season comes around when you gander at your W-2 because you work so hard and devote so much over-time hours/energy for a measly $30K (my rank)--it is just not worth it to me to be on call for 24 hrs a day/365 days a year for this type of annual salary. It is crazy... Additionally, when you go into a medical facility, you'll see a sign which reads Family Practice (we go here to get seen for most medical problems/purposes). Well, let me just say that it is called "Practice" for a reason. Duhhh... I have been there, done that, and got the t-shirt. Lastly, having the freedom to do what you want to do is just so nice. You aren't so confined in a tiny "glass box" that just makes you feel horrible and 2 in. tall. Come on, the base is only so big and you see the same people over and over again, especially if you are stationed overseas. Which brings me to my final point, paying for plane tickets back and forth to the U.S. if need be and elsewhere; lets not say that we have free travel because we can get lucky every once in a while with a plane going somewhere, but normally our planes seem to be broken a majority of the time because they are just too old. I have heard plenty of military members complain about this not just myself. Who really wants to wait on their leave time (by the way, only a specified amount of days we can take at once--normally 30 days max.) for a plane to be fixed or not even know when it is going to leave or if parts need to be ordered? I have spent lots of money traveling back and forth when I was stationed overseas on plane tickets because military air is so undependable and very much a hassle to mess with. If you are the patient type that doesn't mind waiting for a plane to go out and waste your leave time, then props to you but that is just not me. As the cliche goes, "The military isn't for everyone..." My personal view, "Those who have served and still are will be heroes forever..." I am actually proud to say that I have served our country but there are just too many flaws in the entire military world/system for me to even list, you would be actually pretty surprised. To conclude: Without the men and women in the Armed Forces, America wouldn't be where it is today; #1! And those who don't mind these downsides/disadvantages along with many others will be happy with this kind of employment, but remember there are MANY sacrifices you must make in order to keep a military life going successfully no matter where you get stationed. Life in the civilian world is just a whole lot better... Cheers and happy readings!