The Air Force is an excellent career choice for many Americans and can have long-lasting benefits for your future. As soon as you leave basic training, you should be making an effort to excel in your chosen career field so you can set yourself up for success. It can be challenging to create a successful career in the military, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible or not worth the effort. Below, we’ll walk you through the importance of doing well in the Air Force and the steps you can take to thrive.

Why It’s Important to Do Well in the Air Force

Whether you want to complete your contract and enter the civilian workforce or want to retire from the Air Force, it’s important to do your best during your career. You’ll receive training and experience that will benefit you once you decide to leave the Air Force since it will prepare you for some of the challenges you’ll face in the civilian world.

The better you perform in the Air Force, the more it will help you in the long term. The Air Force prepares you by equipping you with some valuable life skills, which include:

●Leadership

●Responsibility

●Time management

●Discipline

●Maturity

●Adaptability

●Communication

●Attention to detail

Apart from these life skills, your job in the Air Force will provide you with the training and experience you need to pursue a similar career in the civilian workforce. If you focus on doing your best in the Air Force, you’ll gain more skills and experience that will be useful to you for the rest of your life.

Our Tips and Tricks for Thriving in the Air Force

You can set yourself up for success in the future if you take the necessary steps to thrive in your Air Force career. Use some of our tips to help you be successful in the Air Force so you can build the path to a better future.

1. Be Attentive

Even if basic training goes well, you’ll still be entering a new, unfamiliar world and it’s not surprising if you’re not so sure about what you’re doing. Make sure you’re paying attention when you’re learning the ins and outs of your job and listening closely to the training from your superiors. The information you’re learning at the beginning will be crucial to the rest of your career.

Even if you know the basics of your job, the Air Force will expect you to become an expert. Pay close attention to what you’re learning so you can demonstrate that you’re learning, which will give you an edge against your fellow enlistees and make you stand out to your superiors. The more you impress your superiors, the more it will benefit you when you are eligible for promotion.

2. Keep Learning

Once you reach a certain point, you’ll need to convince your superiors that you’re worthy of a promotion. You don’t want to become stagnant in your career by failing to continue learning as you go. You should aim to learn the necessary information to ensure you can be successful in a higher position of power.

Each career field in the Air Force has its own Career Development Course (CDC), which are required to be completed in a certain time frame to be eligible for promotion. If you want to seek out additional training, you will need to do this yourself. Taking the initiative to learn more and participate in additional training will make it easier to stand out to your superiors.

3. Remain Confident and Motivated

Just like any job, the Air Force can be challenging, and military life poses its own set of unique challenges. But when times get tough, it’s important to keep showing up and performing your best, especially if you want to impress your superiors. Showing that you’re skilled at what you do and continually showing up to do it will let those in charge know that you’re committed to your work and doing your best.

The more committed you are to your work, the easier it will be to be confident in what you’re doing. Confidence is important as you climb the ladder since you want to show that you can successfully adapt in the face of adversity, which is key in securing a promotion.

4. Follow Your Orders and Don’t Make Excuses

When you’re in the Air Force, you must follow orders given to you by your command. Even if you’re promoted, there will always be someone ranking above you whose direction and orders you will need to follow closely. It’s natural not to be used to taking orders when you first join, but you should try to get used to it quickly since it will become a regular part of your career. Following orders promptly and correctly will show your superiors that you are committed to your work and willing to do what it takes to excel in your career.

5. Keep Yourself Informed

Changes occur in the Air Force all the time, and you don’t want to be left behind because you’re not keeping up with the information. You should stay up to date with changes in your unit and any other important information so you can make good decisions for your career and your future.

For example, if you’re an officer in the Air Force, then you’ll need to know what’s going on so you can appropriately direct your Airmen. Take time to figure out what’s going on in your unit from time to time. Attend regular trainings, talk to others, and stay up to date about emerging technology and weaponry.

6. Take Advantage of Your Benefits

The Air Force offers a wide range of benefits you can take advantage of to help you thrive during your career. For example, you can find resources to assist with childcare or childcare fees so you can ensure your children are taken care of, allowing you to focus on your work. You’ll also have access to high-quality healthcare to keep your body in the best condition possible so you can stay energized and healthy throughout your career.

You will also have education benefits and tuition assistance. You can take classes or seek a degree in your current field, or you can change to something new if you want to pursue an alternative career field once you’re out of the Air Force. This assistance can help you offset the cost of schooling so you can get the education you want without having to go into debt.

Make sure you’re researching what benefits are available to you so you don’t miss out on anything that could help you in your career. The Air Force has plenty of resources available to ensure its Airmen are taken care of, so you should take advantage of them while they’re available to you.

7. Be a Positive Example for Your Command

As an Airmen, you are a direct representation of the Air Force and must behave as such. You don’t want to act in a way that reflects poorly on the Air Force and your command, and doing so can land you in some trouble. That means you should avoid fighting, driving under the influence, having excess debt, and other undesirable behaviors.

Keep in mind that your family is an extension of you and therefore a representation of the military family community in the Air Force. Just like you, your family shouldn’t be getting arrested, taking on excessive debt, or doing anything else that may reflect poorly on the Air Force. To do well in your career, it’s important to represent the Air Force honorably.

8. Consider Your Options

There are many career options available in the Air Force, and you want to consider them carefully. Your choice should set you up for success in the civilian world once you leave the Air Force, so you don’t want to pick a job that won’t give you the experience or training you need to pursue your desired civilian career.

You should also consider what’s best for your future and your family when it comes time to either renew your contract or reenlist. What’s right for you might not be right for another military family, and what you want for your future will play a role in what you decide. Make sure you’re considering all your options carefully and talking to your family about these decisions so you can do what’s best for your family.

Trust AUSI for All Your Air Force Uniform Needs

Whether you’re just starting out in the Air Force or are looking for a way to elevate your career, American Uniform Sales has you covered. No matter what stage you’re in with your Air Force career, you need high-quality AFI-compliant uniforms you can trust. AUSI offers a wide selection of AFI-compliant uniforms, patches, insignia, footwear, and more. We even offer gear to assist you in your daily or extended operations. Get started by shopping our entire selection or contact us today with your questions!