Joining the Air Force can be an excellent decision for your future. When you meet with a recruiter, you will eventually need to choose from a list of available AFSCs so you can start your career. However, it can be challenging to nail down what you want to do during your contract with the Air Force.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the ways you can narrow down your choices so you can choose the right career for you and your future.

What is an AFSC?

The Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is an alphanumeric code the Air Force uses to identify specific occupations and will have five numbers for enlisted Airmen and four numbers for officer Airmen. Regardless of what job you choose, you will have an AFSC to go along with it, which will make it easier to refer to your occupation when you’re speaking with other service members. When you start looking at jobs with your recruiter, you’ll likely see different AFSCs, which you’ll slowly become more familiar with over time.

Common Occupations in the Air Force

The Air Force has over 200 jobs you can choose from in nearly all career fields, but there are some common fields that many Airmen work and build experience in. Some of these fields include:

●Maintenance and Repair

●Healthcare

●Aviation and Flight

●Special Warfare and Combat Support

●Logistics and Administration

●Cyber and Intelligence

●Science and Technology

You can choose from a wide range of highly specialized careers in the many career fields offered by the Air Force. The plentiful options allow you to find a career you love that helps you build the valuable experience you can use after you finish your contract or retire.

How to Choose Your AFSC

It’s important to make the right choice for your career so you feel fulfilled and like you’re gaining meaningful experience for your future. While it’s not always guaranteed you’ll get the job you want right away since you may be assigned based on need, it’s a good idea to meet with your recruiter with something in mind so you can find a position that’s best suited to your interests and skills.

With that in mind, here are a few methods you can use to choose your AFSC if you’re given the opportunity:

1. Think About Your ASVAB Scores

Your ASVAB scores will determine what positions you’re eligible for in the Air Force since the test assesses your knowledge and skills in different subjects, such as science, language, and math. Based on your scores, you’ll be matched with different jobs in the Air Force.

While some people take the ASVAB in high school, you can also take it after you graduate. Talk to your recruiter to learn more about taking the test, including what scores you may need to get the job you want.

If you’ve already taken the ASVAB and didn’t get the scores you wanted, you have the ability to retake the test a second time one month after your initial test date. If you still don’t get the score you want, you have the option to retake the test a third time after at least six months of waiting, so it’s best to study and prepare so you can score in your desired range.

If you’re not sure what you want to do in the Air Force, you can also use the ASVAB to gauge which field you would do best in. You may discover you’re capable of excelling in a career field that’s different from what you initially thought, and you may find out you love one of the other occupations available to you as an Airmen.

2. Consider What You Want to Do After the Military

Another important factor to consider is what you might want to do when you get out of the Air Force since the experience you gain in the military will be valuable to you once you get out. If there’s something specific you want to do in the civilian world after your military career, try to find a job in the Air Force that’s the same or similar to what you’ll do outside so you can build valuable experience.

3. Create a List of Your Top Choices

Once you’ve given some thought as to what you want to do in the Air Force, you can start making a list of the top AFSCs that are the most appealing to you. You don’t want to have just one option since your number one choice may not be available at the time you go to enlist.

A well-thought-out list will make it easier to choose the best AFSC for you since you likely won’t be interested in everything available and want a way to narrow down your options. A list is an especially good place to start if you’re having trouble narrowing your options to just a few choices, especially since you can use the additional tips below to nail down what you’d like to do for your career.

4. Ask Other Airmen

If you have an idea of what you want to do but want to know more about the job, you can talk with other Airmen who are working in that specific field or AFSC. You can speak with your recruiter, who may be able to help you find a job shadowing opportunity so you can see first-hand what’s involved in the job.

If you don’t live close enough to a base or the job you’re interested in has a security clearance requirement, you can always ask active duty, retired, and veteran Airmen about the job and what your prospects look like once you finish your contract.

You can find these individuals by speaking with your recruiter, who can get you in touch with current and past service members. You can also look online at forums or military groups where you can ask questions or browse through conversations discussing the lifestyle of the Air Force and their occupations.

5. Look Into the Job Requirements

Every AFSC has specific requirements you must meet to be eligible for the job, and some of these requirements will be more advanced than others. After you’ve started to narrow down your options, you should talk to your recruiter about what the requirements of these jobs are so you can see what you’ve already completed and what you need to do.

Some of the jobs you find may require a higher ASVAB score than the base score for the Air Force while others will require more intensive training after boot camp. If you’re familiar with the requirements for the job you would like, it will be easier to prepare, whether you need to study more for the ASVAB or prep for additional training.

6. Don’t Settle for the Sign-On Bonus

In most cases, you won’t need to consider pay when choosing your AFSC since you’ll be paid based on rank, location, and a few other factors that aren’t influenced by your job. However, some jobs may have a sign-on bonus as a one-time offer for positions that are desperately needed, with some bonuses reaching as high as $50,000 in special cases. Though, many of these high bonuses are usually in highly skilled career fields and may include some risks.

While these bonuses may seem tempting, you don’t want to sign a contract to do a job you don’t like or that won’t help you reach your career goals just because of the money. Even if the job seems easy, you may end up regretting your decision if it’s something you never wanted to do and doesn’t give you the experience you want for a career outside of the Air Force. While you should consider sign-on bonuses, don’t let them be the only reason you’re choosing your AFSC.

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If you’re joining the Air Force or already enlisted, you will need to keep your uniform within regulations and in the best condition possible throughout your career. American Uniform Sales has you covered with our AFI-compliant clothing, footwear, rank, insignia, and gear. We can help you replace worn-down pieces or find an entirely new uniform and gear to meet your needs. Take a look at our entire selection to get started, or contact us with any questions.