WHEN YOUR CHILD TRANSFORMS, YOU DO TOO

It takes all kinds of skills to make the Air Force run. Wherever your child’s interests or talents may lie, there’s an Air Force career that will suit them well. Our number-one goal is to take care of our Airmen, and that’s why we provide benefits that rival any found in the civilian world. While stationed on base, Airmen typically work at their assigned job 40–45 hours a week.

Making a good decision requires a thoughtful process of learning about the Air Force, addressing questions and concerns and discussing findings as a family. An open conversation with your child will give you a better understanding of what’s driving their decision to join and why they feel the Air Force is the right choice for their future.

If you or your child have specific concerns about what to expect in joining the Air Force, make a list of questions to research. Discuss your findings and carefully consider how joining may help your child achieve personal, educational or professional goals.

Having a child in the Air Force may be different than you think. If your child aspires to join, take time to learn about all aspects of Air Force life. You may be surprised at the extensive resources and rich experiences that await your child as an Airman.

The Air Force lifestyle offers a work-life balance similar to that of the civilian world. While stationed on base, Airmen typically work at their assigned job 40–45 hours a week. Included with the Air Force full package of benefits, Airmen get 30 days of vacation with pay each year. Global locations, travel planning assistance and access to flights make it easy to take full advantage of vacation time.

Connecting with other Air Force parents may offer helpful support. It may be helpful to search for support groups online or on social medical platforms convenient to your family. While these groups are not officially affiliated with the Air Force, they may offer Air Force families a chance to meet others who are going through similar experiences.

For assistance, please contact the Air Force World Wide Locator at 210-565-2660. Customer service is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST), except on federal holidays.

Parents are welcome to witness a child’s graduation from military training at Lackland AFB. Basic trainees are allowed visitors on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of that week only. Families must plan graduation visits with care, as on-base access is subject to security restrictions. Even during graduation week, Airmen may NOT be available during all visiting hours. While every effort is made to allow you to spend the maximum allowable time with your Airman, training requirements must always take precedence. Airmen visitation and off-base privileges are EARNED, and can be denied AT ANY TIME for disciplinary reasons. We appreciate parents’ and loved ones’ understanding. Trainees are allowed to ID people on the VARL which doesn’t include children.

A background check must be completed for all family and friends attending. Discuss your intention to attend with your recruit before their departure for military training. Recruits must complete and hand carry a Visitor Access Request Letter (PDF) with them to military training.

Visitors are highly encouraged to purchase refundable/transferable tickets in the event they are denied access to the base or in the event the graduation date changes. All guests 18 years old and over must have a photo ID. Guests under the age of 18 may enter the base when escorted by an adult who is granted access. Recruits need not request access for anyone with a valid DoD card (e.g., common access card, retired military ID card) as this grants them access to the base.

We attract Airmen from all walks of life. We are like a big family that works hard and plays hard. We have a wealth of options for college and recreation. Many people take college classes or play organized sports while on base. The Air Force is supportive of Airmen families, with on-base housing, shopping, schools, parks, gyms and more. Assignments are 3–5 years in length. While the needs of the Air Force mission determine assignment, an Airman’s desired location is also a factor. Service in the Air Force offers a full package of benefits, including good pay, travel, excellent training, money for education and more.

After military training, and after Technical Training for enlisted Airmen, your child will be assigned to the base location that can best utilize his or her skills. It is likely that your Airman’s base location will change as often as every three years.

The eight or nine weeks your son or daughter spends in military training is an extremely focused and challenging time. You will not be able to contact trainees except by written letter. Your son or daughter will have opportunities to phone home, receive mail from family and friends and write letters of their own. Letters of encouragement are particularly valued by new Airmen. BMT trainees will call within 72 hours of arrival with a short scripted call.

At the start of an Air Force career, specialized training schedules do limit visitation. Once on the job at an Air Force base, however, Airmen can have visitors at any time. The Air Force lifestyle offers a work-life balance similar to that of the civilian world. While stationed on base, Airmen typically work at their assigned job 40–45 hours a week. Airmen also enjoy a full package of benefits including 30 days of vacation with pay each year. Global locations, travel-planning assistance and access to flights make it easy to take full advantage of vacation time.

Enlisted Airmen have no visitation during Basic Military Training with the exception of graduation week. Basic trainees are allowed visitors on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of that week only. Families must plan graduation visits with care, as on-base access is subject to security restrictions. Even during graduation week, Airmen may NOT be available during all visiting hours. While every effort is made to allow you to spend the maximum allowable time with your Airman, training requirements must always take precedence. Airmen visitation and off-base privileges are EARNED and can be denied AT ANY TIME for disciplinary reasons. We appreciate parents’ and loved ones’ understanding.

Enlisted Airmen also have limited visitation during Technical Training school. This intensive, hands-on experience requires Airmen to stay on base without visitors for the first two weeks. During weeks three and four, Airmen can go off base with visitors, but they must remain in uniform. Once week four is complete, Airmen can visit during any off-duty period and are no longer required to wear uniforms while off duty.

Yes. Bases offer on-base guest accommodations that enable family members to visit Airmen at a lower cost than what is available off-base. Airman can regularly entertain friends that live off-base at on-base rec centers.

Basic Military Training (BMT) is an intense, 8.5-week program. Trainees are required to send their address to their family or significant others their first week of training. You may write letters to your trainee, and in fact, it is encouraged. Basic training is stressful, and positive letters from home are great morale boosters.

Trainees may not be otherwise contacted during BMT. They do not have access to the Internet, email or incoming phone calls during the training cycle. Trainees may be only be contacted in the case of family emergencies such as::

• Death in the immediate family
•  Serious illness in the immediate family
• Birth announcement in the case of a spouse of a trainee

Contact your local Red Cross office to make contact with a BMT trainee. You will not be able to make contact directly. To contact the BMT Reception Center, call 210-671-3024.

When you enlist in the Air Force, you incur an overall eight-year Military Service Obligation with the option of a four- or six-year active-duty service commitment to the Air Force. Qualified individuals who enlist for four years active duty will incur an Inactive Ready Reserve obligation of four years. Qualified individuals who enlist for six years active duty will incur an Inactive Ready Reserve obligation of two years.

The service commitment for Air Force Officers is four years active-duty service, unless they become a navigator or a pilot. Navigators will incur a six-year service commitment from the date they complete training and are awarded an aeronautical rating. Pilots incur a 10-year service commitment from the date they complete training and are awarded an aeronautical rating. Airmen in these roles are evaluated for continued service one year to 18 months before the completion of this commitment. If approved for continued service, the Airman can serve out the remainder of the commitment.

Every 20 months, your Airman may go on deployment. Your child should plan to be deployed out of country at least once in their Air Force career. The length of an Air Force deployment ranges from four to 12 months depending on an Airman’s specific job, location and mission requirements. While deployments are an opportunity for your child to represent our country overseas, we understand it’s difficult to see a loved one go so far away.

Airmen enjoy a close-knit community and embrace a global lifestyle. Your child will be assigned to the Air Force base location that can make the most of his or her skills. Bases are like cities unto themselves, with amenities and supports that offer excellent quality of life. Learn more about Air Force life.

Airmen are eligible to retire after 20 years of service with the Air Force and begin receiving benefits the day they retire - no matter their age.

Standard Air Force pay is augmented by a retirement pension and a full package of benefits—housing, food and clothing allowances; full health, dental and vision care; ample vacation time and travel assistance; access to educational programs and financial assistance—that keep costs of living low. On-base schools, civilian employment opportunities and many recreation services support Airmen and their families and provide an excellent quality of life.

In most cases, learning and performing an Air Force job will qualify Airmen for a very lucrative career after the Air Force. Most jobs in the Air Force correlate to civilian fields and carry the same certification and qualification requirements.

During each Air Force career, we develop each Airman to his or her highest potential with unsurpassed educational opportunities. Whether your child is an enlisted Airman or officer, each will have access to programs that allow them to earn the highest degree they desire.

If your child enlists right out of high school, they will begin earning college credits from the first day of Basic Military Training. They will continue earning credits and gain on-the-job experience with Technical Training. Once assigned to an Air Force job, there are many programs to help them continue working toward a college degree and beyond.

If your child wishes to join as an officer, they will need to earn a college degree first. If your child is already attending college or hopes to attend, the Air Force can help them do so. Once they become an Air Force Officer, there are many programs to help them continue working toward advanced college degrees as desired.

Yes. Airmen must remain qualified to retain their job reservation. Once your child has signed a contract at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) and has sworn into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), they have reserved their Air Force job or aptitude area, and the Air Force will then hold that job for them.

The Air Force offers competitive pay augmented by a full package of benefits that offer excellent quality of life. Benefits include:

• 30 days of vacation with pay every year
  
• Comprehensive medical and dental for you, and if married, your immediate family
• Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]
• Tax-free food, clothing and housing allowances
• Discounted shopping at base department and grocery stores
• Low-cost life insurance
• Noncontributory retirement after 20 years of qualifying service

Our number-one goal is to take care of our Airmen. An Airman’s job and pay is guaranteed and includes regular opportunities for advancement. Standard Air Force pay is augmented by a retirement pension and a full package of benefits—housing, food and clothing allowances; full health, dental and vision care; ample vacation time and travel assistance; access to educational programs and financial assistance—that keep costs of living low. On-base schools, civilian employment opportunities and many recreation services support Airmen and their families and provide an excellent quality of life.

To help Spanish-speaking family members learn about the Air Force, we offer select information in Spanish. It is, however, required that Airmen read, write and speak fluent English. To learn more, ask the aspiring Airman or another English speaker to help Spanish speakers explore the breadth of information on this site, offered in English.

At some point, you may find you have questions specific to your child’s situation or that you just need a more informed perspective. Turn to your Air Force Recruiter for expert insight. Do not hesitate to connect with us. We’re here to help.