Air Force Journey #6 The Waiver Process

Here is the sixth video that I've made for my Air Force Journey series. If you've already watched it, skip down to the supplemental material, if not here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Getting a wavier is not a good thing. It means that something in your history is a possible disqualifying factor. These can be something in your medical history, which is the most common, or law violations and even some waivers for ASVAB score. However, if you're in the process of getting a waiver it's also a good thing because at least you haven't been DQ'd on the spot and the higher ups are giving your case a chance.

The most common waivers are also the toughest to get. What's different about medical waivers as opposed to moral or score waivers are that you can't change your medical history or get rid of a medical issue (for the most part). Moral waivers, for things such as speeding tickets or jail time, are easier to show improvement. If you went through a string of traffic tickets and have gone without one for 10 years, they can see improvement. If you scored low on the ASVAB, but show a lot of potential they can see that and hope you improve. However, if you have diabetes you can't just "teach" yourself not to have diabetes anymore (although diabetes was a bad example, as that is one condition that is automatically disqualifying, but I hope you understand the idea).

During your initial physical at MEPS you will meet with the head doctor before you leave, s/he will look over your medical packet and will determine if anything in there is automatically disqualifying, if you need a wavier, or if you're good to go. Then you give that doctor's recommendation to your armed service office at MEPS and they will take it from there and the higher ups will decide your fate.

BUT, there is more! What if your case can't be decided at your local MEPS? Well, they send you off to Washington D.C! Just kidding, not you, but they do send your packet to Washington for the head office of your branch to decide.

For me, my medical waiver was sent to the Air Force Surgeon General's office for consideration. If you have a moral waiver that can't be decided at MEPS your waiver will be sent to the Judge Advocate General's office for consideration. This works the same as MEPS they will either qualify you or disqualify you.

Links

The PDF that I'm going to link to you is not one to base your enlistment case upon. This PDF is used by the Air Force to determine if one qualifies for a FLIGHT PHYSICAL and NOT ENLISTMENT. However, it could be something that might give you insight into how severe your condition may be.
(It's also, very, very long - use the search feature! or look for your condition in the table of contents and jump to that page)

Waiver Guide

Air Force Journey #5 The MEPS Process

Here is the fifth video that I've made for my Air Force Journey series. If you've already watched it, skip down to the supplemental material, if not here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Getting to MEPS

First off, when you talk to your recruiter and you're ready to take the next step to see if you're qualified then they will set you up with an appointment at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). If you've already taken the ASVAB then your recruiter will probably book you into the local hotel the evening before. If you haven't taken the ASVAB yet you'll most likely take the next in the afternoon before your medical physical and once you've finished taking it you'll be checked into the hotel. The ASVAB test and the physical both take place at MEPS.

The hotel you stay in varies, it's whatever the U.S. Government has contracted. It will be more luxurious than you are expecting though, and you have standards that you need to act by when there. You'll be provided with dinner the night before and breakfast the morning after at the hotel.

The MEPS Day

It's an early start! Wake up call at 4:30am, and the bus leaves at 5:30 for a 6am start.

When you get there here is the way it went down for me, could be different for you:

1. Gather around for a briefing outside MEPS entrance.
2. Go through the metal detector and put your bags in a secure room.
3. Go to your branch of service office and pick up your medical packet.
4. Check in at the MEPS front desk.
5. Check in at the MEPS medical front desk.
6. Check heart rate measure.
7. Vision test.
8. Hearing test.
9. Get blood drawn.
10. Sit around for a while.
11. Meet one on one with a MEPS doctor.
12. Take a urine sample.
13. Go for a physical.
14. Sign out with MEPS medical front desk.
15. Go to lunch which is provided for you in the MEPS lunchroom.
16. Sign out at MEPS front desk.
17. Leave yourself, or wait for your recruiter to pick you up.

Air Force Journey #4 Understanding Your ASVAB Scores

Here is the fourth video that I've made for my Air Force Journey series. If you've already watched it, skip down to the supplemental material, if not here it is for your viewing pleasure.

ASVAB Standard Scores

  The standard score row on your ASVAB score sheet tells you how well you did in the different sections of the test. Each two letter abbreviation stands for a subject tested on in the test. For example, AR stands for arithmetic reasoning and tells you how you did on the math portion of the ASVAB. AS stands for Auto & Shop Information, and will tell you how well you did there. These scores are then complied to create the composite scores of the next section.

ASVAB Composite Scores

The composite scores on your ASVAB will give you compiled scores that will tell you which jobs in your service you will qualify for. The Air Force has four, Mechanical, Administrative, General, and Electrial. Check out this link to see AFSC and what ASVAB score they require.

ASVAB AFQT Percentile Score

This is your total ASVAB score. Each service requires a different score to even be eligible to enter the military, but to be competitive you must have higher than the minimum if you want a real shot at joining. To stand a good chance at joining the Air Force, a score of 50 has to be the absolute minimum.

Air Force Journey #3 The ASVAB Test

Here is the third video that I've made for my Air Force Journey series. If you've already watched it, skip down to the supplemental material, if not here it is for your viewing pleasure.

The ASVAB test stands for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Initially, it will test you to see if you qualify at all to join the military. Each branch has it's own score that you must meet to be able to join. Then your ASVAB score report will also list scores in certain knowledge areas which will qualify you for certain jobs throughout the military.

The ASVAB Structure

1. General Science – 16 questions to be completed in 8 minutes
2. Arithmetic Reasoning – 16 questions, 39 minutes
3. Word Knowledge – 16 questions, 8 minutes
4. Paragraph Comprehension – 11 questions, 22 minutes
5. Math Knowledge - 16 questions, 20 minutes
6. Electronics Information – 16 questions, 8 minutes
7. Auto Information – 11 questions, 7 minutes
8. Shop Information – 11 questions, 6 minutes
9. Mechanical Comprehension –16 questions, 20 minutes
10. Assembling Objects – 16 questions, 16 minutes

ASVAB Practice Links

http://www.testpreppractice.net/ASVAB/Free-Online-ASVAB-Practice-Tests.aspx

http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab

Also, like the recruiting service you intend on joining on Facebook, as they post practice questions there:

Air Force: https://www.facebook.com/USAirForceRecruiting
National Guard: https://www.facebook.com/nationalguard

Air Force Journey #2 Talking to your Recruiter

Here is the second video that I've made for my Air Force Journey series. If you've already watched it, skip down to the supplemental material, if not here it is for your viewing pleasure.

To start off, check out this link on the official Air Force's website, and locate your recruiter:

 Recruiter Locator

Air Force recruiters are very busy so getting to sit down with one could be a tough task. You want to make yourself appealing in your initial email to them.

You could start by asking questions to Air Force recruiters online:

Air Force Recruiting Facebook Page

Air Force Live Chat

Both of these are a good place to get your noobie questions answered, before having to sit down with a recruiter.

Make Yourself a More Appealing Recruit

1. List in your email your SAT or ACT scores, as these generally transfer well onto the ASVAB.
2. Tell the recruiter about your grades in high school.
3. Be committed. Make sure it is something you want to do, and email with confidence that you really want to join the Air Force.
4. Be knowledgeable. If you already know about the process, your recruiter can spend less time telling you things and more time doings things.

What to Ask Your Recruiter

Play 20 Questions With the Recruiter

What the Recruiter Never Told You

Answers To the Top Air Force Questions

Questions you may want to ask a recruiter

Questions to Ask a Recruiter

Air Force Journey #1: Is the Air Force right for you?

Here is the first video that I've made for my Air Force Journey series. If you've already watched it, skip down to the supplemental material, if not here it is for your viewing pleasure.

 

1. First off you need to decide if it really is the Air Force you want to join. Check out these links to compare the different services:

 Is the Air Force right for me? by MilitarySpot.com

Things to Consider When Deciding Whether to Join The Air Force by About.com (This is the links that talks about deployment bands as I mentioned in the video)

A very good answer to a prospective airman

The official Air Force page about enlisted steps

Yahoo! Voices article from a current Airman

Military Branch Quiz (Has some ads, but could give you an idea)

   2. If you think the Air Force is right for you, do you want to go to active duty, reserves, or the air guard?

If you're deciding on active duty you have to realize that this is now your job, and will be your lifestyle. After basic training and tech school you will be sent to an Air Force Base (AFB) where you will be stationed. You will live Air Force, not like the other two where you can go home after and only come in once a month and two weeks a year for training.

 Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve?

Air Force Journey Introduction

Welcome everybody to my blog page, here I will post supplementing material to all of my videos that I upload on YouTube. My YouTube channel can be found here.

It's a lot easier to clarify information in words, post links to good reads about joining the Air Force and it should make your decision easier as I want to provide the most information available from all over the web in one convenient place.

To start off I will tell you a little bit about me so you know who is in the videos and providing you with all of this information.

My name is Brad, I'm 19 years old and in the process of joining the Air Force. I'm currently (8/10/2013) waiting on a waiver approval, so all steps up to that point I can talk to you about in depth as I've already gone through it.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me on here or comment on one of my videos and I'll be glad to help you.

Thank you for reading!