Is it normal to enlist in the Air Force with a Bachelor's Degree?

Question

Ok, so I just finished my Bachelor's Degree in Hotel Management. My question is, based on what I have seen and from what my recruiter said (he is an enlisted recruiter) the Air Force is pretty much offering commissions to those with Technical Degree's. Now my question is, are there many in the Air Force who enlist with a B.S. Degree fulfilled? Will studying from an ASVAB book help me with the AFOQT? More importantly, given the fact that I am a minority (Puerto Rican) and a woman, do they take that into consideration (as far as the minority on both sides counts). I can also get a letter from a Lt. Colonel in the Reserves as well as an Active Duty Captain, to vouch for me. What do you guys think? I just find it infuriating that while the Navy, Marines and Army are offering me commissions, the Air Force wants me to enlist! If I wanted to enlist I would have done so straight out of High School and not bothered with College! I truly desire to join the Air Force, and have a feeling that even if I'm not offered a commission (OTS) I'll still join. Even though I am Puerto Rican, I have been raised in Army Bases and have a deep and loyal love to the United States (h**l, I feel more American than I do Puerto Rican) and would love to serve!!!

Any insight and assistance will be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Or get more information through the

http://airforce.com/

I guarantee someone with an aerospace engineering degree wouldn't want to be a personnel officer.

Answer 2

What do you mean "the Navy, Marines, and Army are offering me commissions"?  Like, they're just going to give it go you?  I don't know about the Navy/Marines, but in the Army you either have to go through ROTC or OCS.  The only exception I've heard is if you're a medical doctor, which apparently you're not.  

As a Cavalry Scout in the Army, there was a large number of enlisted personnel with four year college degrees when I went in '98, and I was one of them.  I did ROTC in college and got assesed Ordinance not once, but twice.  Since I had my heart set on something in Combat Arms, I opted out of the program (I was non-scholarship) and six months later enlisted for exactly what I wanted and exactly where I wanted to go (Germany).  In OSUT for my MOS, there were three other guys with college degrees, and when I got to Germany, there were five guys with college degrees.  After 9/11, every Tom, d**k, and Harry joined and the Army greatly relaxed their standards, and as a result I saw fewer people with degrees in my MOS.  But my point is it's not as uncommon as you think.

Answer 3

The Air force enlisted recruiter has no idea what sort of people are being recruited as officers and he has no incentive to tell you.  He wants you to enlist for his own purposes, his own statistics, and is even in the informational loop for the officer procurement process.  Go to your college placement office and use them to contact an officer recruiter for the air force.

Answer 4

You might be able to get something as a supply officer, they do most of the logistics, which managing barracks and other things that could stretch a hotel management degree to.  Which ever service is looking for supply officers.

Not sure how anything to do with Affirmative Action relates to obtaining a commission in the military - I'd let them connect those dots instead of you bringing those cards into play - they could end up being jokers.

Answer 5

You need to talk to an Officer recruiter not and Enlisted recruiter.  The enlisted recruiter has no reason to help you become an officer as it doesn't help him any.  Go to www.airforce.com   there you can chat with a officer advisor and find an officer recruiter.  if i can help any more you may contact me directly.  [e-mail]

Answer 6

While a technical degree is in demand in the Air Force, ANY degree will qualify you for an Air Force commission.  h**l, I served with an officer with a degree in animal husbandry!  He was a munitions officer and a pretty damned good one at that!

It's entirely possible that there are no available slots for someone with a non-technical degree right now.  That can change at ANY minute though.  Tell that recruiter that you're NOT interested in enlisting but if he comes up with a slot that doesn't require a technical degree to give you a call.  Then leave.  (And maybe check with the AF recruiter in a nearby town.  Sadly some of them have personal agendas that are counterproductive to YOUR needs.)

Contrary to what others have stated, an enlisted recruiter CAN AND DOES bring officers into the fold.  They have monthly, quarterly and annual quotas of enlisted and officer accessions that they must meet.  Maybe he's already met his officer quota but is short on enlisteds.  Whatever, an AF enlisted recruiter most certainly can recruit officers.

The ASVAB study guides won't help much for the AFOQT.  But here's a link to a site that might help:  http://www.baseops.net/afoqt/

Answer 7

Im enlisting in the AF with a BA in political science. MY major and GPA are not competitive for a AF commission. Alot of people here dont understand that it is VERY hard to get a commission without a top notch GPA and tech major. The AF doesnt need much officers. In fact they kick out alot of young officers because they are downsizing.  

Answer 8

Most people who enlist do not have a degree.  Many earn one while on active duty.

Your age, s*x and ethnic origin will not be considered.

I think you should try the Army.  I think you stand a good chance to go in as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Answer 9

My son wanted to be an Air Force Pilot. That was his dream. He was told that in order to become a pilot, he had to have a college degree BEFORE he could become a pilot in the Air Force. You have to be an Officer in order to be a pilot, and to be an officer, you have to go in with a degree. At least that's the way I understood it.