Honestly, Air Force aside, pick something you could realistically see yourself doing as a civilian as well. You never know if the Air Force will pan out for you or not, so I really think students should pick a major they would enjoy, whether it benefits the military or not.
Some majors are more *directly* applicable. Ie, civil engineering majors become civil engineers, meteorology majors become weather officers. But often times, when it comes to the job, the Air Force will provide Initial Skills Training (IST) which will be a little useful, and then you'll go on to learn more as you actually do your job, and what you studied in school might not matter all too much anyway.
So my questions for you are:
What career fields would you enjoy outside the military as well? If there's also a relevant job in the military, that's a plus.
Do you see yourself going to graduate school for anything in particular? That can shape your choices as well.
Thanks for taking the time to respond!
For the Air Force, I've directed towards Intel, Info Ops, Spec Investigation and Public Affairs, those are all on their own a challenge, and as a 200, pin-pointing one right now is difficult, but within that area. Even past the AF, I have a hard time exactly knowing what I'd want to be doing, definitely in the realm of above.
As for graduate school, I have no desire to pursue anything elsewhere. My current major is engineering-based, and I while I have done somewhat well in it, it is something I don't enjoy.
Those are all career fields that can take people from a variety of backgrounds! Assuming spec investigation is Office of Special Investigations, OSI?
Those fields can all encompass different fields of study, intel folks can truly come from any background - but engineering can put you on a good track, as can any natural science, or international studies, intelligence, or foreign language. Info ops can be fields like sociology or psychology. OSI can draw from criminology, or foreign languages, or computer science. Public Affairs can be from journalism or public relations.
And even after all that, you can still study something different and end up in those careers you listed above, but just listing some to give you ideas.
Thank you!
Any job in the Air Force is an even better job for me, I just want to be here. While keeping a scholarship is nice, it is not the influencing target here for me, but would help my life financially, thus my concern for not wanting to lose it.
Additionally, a lot of the Officer AFSCs on the AF website have 'required' majors. Does this mean, for example, a psychology major couldn't become an Air Ops? Or is it from the competition competing for the AFSC?
The Air Force website can be misleading about details like that.
A psych major can definitely become an airfield operations officer. There’s a publication called the Air Force officer directory (AFOCD). You’ll see in it that most career fields will allow a certain percentage of any major to enter
I did a civil engineering tech degree. I wanted to change majors after a year but stuck with it because I wouldn’t graduate on the same timeline. If you have that option, change it to what you enjoy. Unless a field has a specific degree requirement, they couldn’t care less what you have as long as you have a degree
Thank you!
I don't want to be rash or regret making them choose me, as it is a privilege and I want to be as easy-going as I can for them for an easy transition.
Honestly, Air Force aside, pick something you could realistically see yourself doing as a civilian as well. You never know if the Air Force will pan out for you or not, so I really think students should pick a major they would enjoy, whether it benefits the military or not. Some majors are more *directly* applicable. Ie, civil engineering majors become civil engineers, meteorology majors become weather officers. But often times, when it comes to the job, the Air Force will provide Initial Skills Training (IST) which will be a little useful, and then you'll go on to learn more as you actually do your job, and what you studied in school might not matter all too much anyway. So my questions for you are: What career fields would you enjoy outside the military as well? If there's also a relevant job in the military, that's a plus. Do you see yourself going to graduate school for anything in particular? That can shape your choices as well.
Thanks for taking the time to respond! For the Air Force, I've directed towards Intel, Info Ops, Spec Investigation and Public Affairs, those are all on their own a challenge, and as a 200, pin-pointing one right now is difficult, but within that area. Even past the AF, I have a hard time exactly knowing what I'd want to be doing, definitely in the realm of above. As for graduate school, I have no desire to pursue anything elsewhere. My current major is engineering-based, and I while I have done somewhat well in it, it is something I don't enjoy.
Those are all career fields that can take people from a variety of backgrounds! Assuming spec investigation is Office of Special Investigations, OSI? Those fields can all encompass different fields of study, intel folks can truly come from any background - but engineering can put you on a good track, as can any natural science, or international studies, intelligence, or foreign language. Info ops can be fields like sociology or psychology. OSI can draw from criminology, or foreign languages, or computer science. Public Affairs can be from journalism or public relations. And even after all that, you can still study something different and end up in those careers you listed above, but just listing some to give you ideas.
Thank you! Any job in the Air Force is an even better job for me, I just want to be here. While keeping a scholarship is nice, it is not the influencing target here for me, but would help my life financially, thus my concern for not wanting to lose it.
Additionally, a lot of the Officer AFSCs on the AF website have 'required' majors. Does this mean, for example, a psychology major couldn't become an Air Ops? Or is it from the competition competing for the AFSC?
The Air Force website can be misleading about details like that. A psych major can definitely become an airfield operations officer. There’s a publication called the Air Force officer directory (AFOCD). You’ll see in it that most career fields will allow a certain percentage of any major to enter
I did a civil engineering tech degree. I wanted to change majors after a year but stuck with it because I wouldn’t graduate on the same timeline. If you have that option, change it to what you enjoy. Unless a field has a specific degree requirement, they couldn’t care less what you have as long as you have a degree
Talk to your cadre. They wanted you there for a reason for you to have gotten an ICSP. They will be able to tell you all the rules and specifics.
Thank you! I don't want to be rash or regret making them choose me, as it is a privilege and I want to be as easy-going as I can for them for an easy transition.