Postal Letter

Air transportation Apprentice for USAF? jobs in civilian world?

I've joined the US Air Force and got a score of 72 on my ASVAB, I also got Air transportation Apprentice. what exactly do they do? and what kind of jobs will be available to me after i get out of the service? I've asked my recruiter and he said that i can work at any airline, or FedEx. i personally joined the Air Force for personal reasons like getting to travel, and getting some experience to get a GREAT job when i get out. I might be asking too much but I joined because i wanted what will be good for me when i get out, like landing a 6 figure job or something that would make a lot of money. Am I in the wrong career field? or what other paths can I take to help me get to where I want to be, I really want a good paying job, and doing something that i would enjoy since I'm going to spend most of my lifes working anyways, I might as well enjoy what i do. (i say that because i'm only 20 yrs old) ANYONE WHO HAD THIS JOB/EXPERIENCE PLZ LEND ME SOME SUGGESTIONS, OR INPUT. AND FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT YOUR SUGGESTIONS ARE ALSO WELCOMED. PLZ AND THANK YOU. it's the one where i have to do cargo and drive forklifts. is it because i'm non-citizen? i am also bilingual, i'm fluent in vietnamese if that counts for anything.

Public Comments

1. I was in transportation in the USAF... Do you know what the AFSC is? 2T1X1? I am thinking it would be either be just regular trans or ariel port. If it is regular trans, you will be driving a big blue bus taking crews to and from the planes. If its ariel port, you will you will be driving the loaders for cargo planes, which is like a big flat vehicle that you roll palates of cargo on, drive it to the the plane, and then then unload it onto the plane. If you scored a 72 on the ASVAB, I think you are getting hosed by going in ANY transportation (I got hosed too.) I would tell your recruiter NO on that job. It doesnt matter if its guaranteed or not, you can get out of it and dont let him tell you other wise. One job that I always thought was SO incredibly awesome was, being a loadmaster. They are enlisted fliers. Their job is help load the cargo planes with the palates (that you may be delivering haha) and they fly all over the world. If I knew that job existed I would have been all over it when I went in. Another job would that would have good pay on the civilian side would be like a jet mechanic. But just so you know, you do not get any kind of certifications that you can take with you outside of the military. Like if you are a jet mechanic in the USAF, when you get out you have to have an A&P license to do the exact same work and the military training does not automatically give you that. You have to still go to school. Good luck I hope I helped some.
2. i agree with the other person on a load master, but not too sure you want to be a crew chief. it may sound glamorous, but there is a lot of BS you have to put up with, and you get dirty and work long hours. i like it, but the majority of mechanics don't like it.
3. Hey there- I'm a 2T2X1 aka Air Transporter more commonly known as a porter or port dawg. There are many "jobs" within this career field. Everything ranging from cargo processing (driving forklifts and building cargo pallets), to loading cargo and passengers onto aircraft. We also handle "fleet" duties (loading the food/water onto a/c as well as servicing the latrines). Once you get some experience you will move up to other duties such as load planning (planning the cargo to go on a flight and figuring out the center of balance of the loaded aircraft), etc. As a porter you will have PLENTY of opportunity to see the world. I have been to Japan, Korea, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Honduras, Iraq, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and even Antarctica. As far as landing a 6 figure job on the outside... good luck! This career field doesn't really translate very well to a civilian career except for working for the airlines/FedEx/UPS etc. And those companies don't pay that well starting off. You CAN earn 6 figures by working for Kellog Brown and Root doing air transportation jobs in the middle east. If you're single and don't mind living in the middle east for a couple of years you could easily save up a ton of money by working for them. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions!