If you’ve just joined the Air Force, you may not know what to expect from your new life, especially if you’ve never been exposed to military life. Your lifestyle in the Air Force can vary based on your role and duty station, but there are some commonly shared experiences among Airmen, such as attending basic training, moving to a new duty station, and the potential for deployment. In this blog, you’ll learn more about what you can expect from life as an Airmen so you better understand what your career and life will look like.

What to Expect as a New Air Force Recruit

You’ve decided to become an Airman, which is an excellent choice for your future, but you may not know what to expect and how it might affect your life once you kickstart your journey in the Air Force. Below, we’ll guide you through some of the different things you can expect as a new Airman.

1. Routine Changes

Once you get into the Air Force, your daily life will look a lot different than it did when you were a civilian. Your days may even differ from other Airmen you meet and become friends with. What your day is like will rely heavily on your job, though you may engage in the same basic activities as others in the Air Force, such as physical training in the mornings, room inspections, and wearing your uniform. As a new Airmen, you will likely also be required to live in the barracks.

A job in the Air Force can look very similar to a career in the civilian world, but there will be some differences based on your specific occupation and the military elements that come with the territory. The main lifestyle change will be adjusting to what it’s like to be a part of the military community, which can include a difference in community and culture.

2. Health and Physical Activity

As soon as you make it to basic training, you’ll start your physical training and continue your training well throughout your career. As a member of the Air Force, you’re expected to maintain a certain physique and physical standard, and you’ll be tested on a regular basis to ensure you meet the requirements for continued service.

If you want to start off your career on the right foot, you should start preparing your body before you make it to basic training. Start by establishing an exercise routine to improve your physical health so you’re ready to tackle the challenges at basic and beyond. It’s a good idea to get in touch with your recruiter so can you ask about weight standards for your height so you’re not surprised, giving you time to prepare and lose weight if necessary.

3. Moving and Housing

When you join the Air Force, you’ll inevitably move away from home to your new duty station, and it’s likely that you’ll move a few times after your initial move. Where you move to and how frequently you move will vary depending on your specific role in the Air Force and where your skills are needed most. Some of your fellow Airmen may move more or less than you do based on their occupation and skillset in the Air Force.

After getting to your new duty station, you’ll likely be required to live in the barracks unless you have a spouse and children. Married Airmen or Airmen with children can choose between living on base or living off base. If you live on base, housing will be provided for you but if you live off base, you’ll be provided a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to cover the cost.

You’ll want to consider what’s best for your family when choosing whether to live on or off base. You may find that you enjoy on-base housing and the connection you’ll have to other Air Force families. Or maybe you want your children to go to a specific school in the local civilian community. There are plenty of things to consider when choosing housing, including how your lifestyle may vary based on your choice.

4. Travel

The Air Force offers plenty of travel opportunities to its Airmen and their families, allowing them to experience different parts of the world that they may not have been able to otherwise. You’ll likely be stationed in a state that’s different from where you grew up, and you may even have the chance to be stationed overseas so you can be exposed to other cultures and see new sights. You’ll likely move to multiple duty stations during the extent of your career since many Airmen rotate duty stations once every few years.

Another lifestyle difference between the civilian world and the Air Force is the potential for deployment. It’s possible that you may never deploy, but that’s dependent on current world affairs, your role in the Air Force, and your unit. Keep in mind that a deployment doesn’t mean you’ll end up in combat scenarios. There’s a likelihood that you could be deployed for disaster relief, support, and other non-combat situations.

Something that Airmen also gain access to is Space A Travel, or Space Available Travel. This allows you to fly free on a military aircraft when space is available, which gives you the opportunity to visit a wide range of destinations. If travel is one of the benefits you enjoy about the military, then you should take full advantage of what Space A Travel has to offer.

5. Social Life and Connections

There’s a misconception that joining the Air Force or any other branch of the military will significantly limit your time for socialization, making it hard to maintain a social life or make connections. However, the opposite is true.

The Air Force introduces you to a wide range of people from many different cultural backgrounds, and many of these people can become lifelong friends and critical members of your support network. The Air Force also gives you access to entertainment and travel discounts to help you make memories with your loved ones and the new people you meet during your career. In fact, you may find that you become more social than you were in your civilian life.

6. Family and Support

The Air Force understands the importance of family, and many programs have been made as a result to support Airmen and their families. For example, the Air Force provides on-base housing or BAH, healthcare for dependents, military spouse education, family recreation, affordable groceries and shopping, and more.

The Air Force also offers support and programs to help you with the different challenges you may face throughout your career, such as deployment, relocation, parenting, and work stress. You can leverage various programs, resources, and your support network to help you and your family during hardships.

Many installations will also have programs specific for your children, such as base Youth Centers. These centers provide classes, games, and entertainment for kids of all ages, and provide them with a way to connect to other kids their age with military families. The Air Force Youth Centers can also be an excellent way to help your child deal with moving to a new duty station.

7. Work-Life Balance

The Air Force requires their Airmen to put in plenty of effort and hard work, but that doesn’t mean there’s no time to focus on your life. Generally, you’ll be expected to work for eight hours a day, which gives you enough time when you get home to spend time with your family and pursue your hobbies. While there may be times that you need to work more than usual, you can expect to be able to maintain a good work-life balance from time to time.

Let AUSI Support You Throughout Your Air Force Career

Once you join the Air Force, you’ll be issued a uniform to wear during your work days. What starts out as a new uniform will eventually get worn down from daily use, so it’s important to have a way to replace worn-down components or have extra uniforms on hand to make sure you’re covered.

At American Uniform Sales, we offer AFI-compliant Air Force uniforms, including OCPs, rank, insignia, footwear, and more. You can even find gear through us that can assist you in your various Air Force operations. Find what you need by browsing our site or contact us today with your questions.