For Air Force Candidates, Active Airmen, and Tech Schoolers! The AMS and EQUAL lists are pretty much the key to going where you want to go. In this video, I explain everything I know personally about getting orders. Enjoy!
My son is looking to join. I love your videos. They are positive but REAL!!!!! OMG!!! THANK YOU!!!😘😘😘 I joined the Navy 15 years ago and did NOT have YOU TUBE or Google. A hot mess. Man you are a God send. THANKS.
I wish my son had seen your vids before he shipped out this past Tuesday. You are extremely well spoken, btw and a great orator. Nice work WBY. I'll definitely pass much of the information you have shared in your vids on to my airman.
I taught technical training for almost 8 years. We gave the top three academics in each class first choice on assignments. You work hard, the Air Force will reward you.
I taught a mandatory 7-level school, Weather Technician (forecasters). These were almost exclusively Sgt's, or SSgt's, or TSgt cross-trainees. Fire Departments of cop shops don't need, or want, a bunch of mid level NCO's. So...Being an Honor Graduate from THE most difficult tech training school in the Air Force was your golden ticket to a great, next assignment, generally for the next 3-6 years, BUT..it also became a permanent part of your military record. Not critical when you are a one-striper, but crucial when your records go in front a board for E-8. It used to amaze me when I saw students, NCO's, not working hard on their studies or chart analysis....I'm like, DUDE...wtf are you doing?
Great videos Matt, best of wishes at the USAFA!!!! You inspire me to strive for it! I'm shipping out to Basic training in 15 days and your videos are the best :)
If you receive orders to Korea, you have to apply for your follow-on within a certain amount of time.If not, you will when you arrive you will have to wait for the overseas listing that coincides with your DEROS. However, if you KAIP you give up the option to apply for a follow-on.
I worked assignments at AFPC...The Trailer Park...yes there are people who look and double check every assignment that gets loaded...having short tours will put you in a higher probability of getting your top choices
My husband and I are stationed at Minot right now. It was the last place either of us wanted to be, but after living here for a year it isn't as bad as people say. The cold sucks, so I understand why people hate it here if they have to work outside. The people make the base amazing though. The leadership here seems to actually care about you and if you are willing to put in the effort they will help you with whatever goals you might have. If you have long-term goals for the Air Force, Minot is a great place to develop and get the support you need. If you are just in for your 4 years, then yeah, you will probably struggle to find things to like about Minot.
The 'Joke' about Minot AFB, all around the Air Force is.... "If you want to get Minot, just stand still long enough, because Minot 'sucks'..."... and there's a woman behind every tree.. just there are no trees around there.
When you marry another service member the Air Force 'tries' to accommodate you both, but Air Force needs come FIRST. Understand, you severely limit both of your careers, by putting this request/demand on the Air Force.... don't plan of being stationed overseas, nor re-enlisting... The Air Force loves single guys. The Air Force's mission is FIRST, shipping you and your spouse all over the world 'together' is not high on their list.
My roommate in tech school got Minot. He was trying to sell it for like $500! Of course no one wanted it. I did end up swapping like you mentioned here. I had gotten Andrews (MD) and swapped and went to Keesler (MS). It wasn’t a crazy process from what I can recall (this was 1993/94). I eventually did get orders to Kunsan. It was a little different then. They gave you a list of bases that had openings and you picked Top 3 I think. I got my second choice to Travis (CA). First choice was Eglin (FL). Things have changed a little since then. Best of luck to everyone!
Loved Germany I was stationed there with the army. My sister is air force she is trying to get Italy. My other army brother hasn’t been over seas yet poor guy lol.
I had a friend tell me that on your dream sheet to put down all the places and areas that you do not want to go and for some reason you will not be assigned there, but the next time when you renew your sheet after you put some time in, to go ahead and put all your desired locations. He received the advice from someone else and He said it worked. I should mention He is in the Army but I don't think that the deployment process is that much different across the branches. I'm considering the AF Reserve so it's not the same for me but I'd love to know if it really works.
Not sure if this really works but my system for dream sheets is to list only one base. In basic the only desirable base available was Ramstein (Germany) and I said to myself "if I don't get Germany I don't care where I go" So that's all I put down. To my surprise I got it. Then 2 years later I looked at my list and said "If I don't get Yakota (Japan) I don't care where I go" and that's all I put down.... I got Yakota.
Ya it doesn't normally work that way and I heard that once you get overseas it is easier to stay overseas. Not sure if that is true but just a thought. I been stuck at whiteman afb, mo for 5 years active duty and got stuck here in the reserves for 3 years because of a child custody thing so hoping I get to leave here when I go active duty again in a couple months
I listed 5 stateside bases, and NONE for overseas. Guess what, OVERSEAS base. I traded in Tech School for Vandenberg AFB with a chic that wanted overseas. Worked out.
I am interested in becoming an Airman in 3d0x2 or 3d0x3 (I have background in IT/Computer Science), and according to what I heard, my base selection lists are about 90-95% of all AFB's, as well as a handful of base/facilities of other branches for 3d0x3. As a resident of California, I would be interested in being stationed in a California base (hopefully Beale, Travis, Vandenberg, or Edwards).
Son is 3D131. IT . He's in WOT3, and w/ Covid, called me and wanted to know which bases had newest dorms, stateside. Sure he did some research on his own prior to leaving, but wants to make sure he's informed.. i hope he's onto VMPF and AMS etc...
You gotta play the AMS game right. Started off in Washington, went to Ramstein for 8 years, on a short tour in Turkey now and in 2 months time I’ll be back in Germany, Spangdahlem this time. Let’s go!
When I was given my first duty station, the dream sheet from basic was not used in anyway whatsoever. When I was in tech school an individual from the same career field as us worked at the group, and was in charge of receiving and giving orders to airmen. He came in, told us what bases we could go, what aircraft we can fly on, and different crew positions we could be. We created a new dream sheet, and two weeks later he came back with candy and chicken nuggets and told us our orders one by one and brought in any instructors who went there so we could ask them any questions. We all got the base of our choice, even though a lot of them had over 100% manning, so I think he really hooked us up. Apparently this is normal for aircrew, when talking to boom operators they said the same thing happened for the most part.
DD Form 392, Assignment Preference Listing, did NOT get wiped clean after each assignment. I kept the same one for 20 years..and each year, I had higher and higher priority on my choice.
I had 8 PCS' in 20 years and 8 days. Including 4 years at Clark AB and 4 years at Osan AB. Could not get off of Hill AFB. Guess what? My son got orders to Hill so i had to go back and visit. He PCS out of there thou. He's at Vance AFB looking to go overseas in a year or 2. I hope he goes to Japan. He tells me it's easier for officers to pick where they can go.
Black Berry I’m aircraft mx, 2A671C. Turkey was my top choice so I would have a shot at staying overseas with a follow on. I left yesterday, now in Germany again. Went from Wa for 5 years to Ramstein for 8, Turkey for 1, now Spangdahlem for another 4. Play the AMS game.
So how often can you move bases or put in a request? I know my son would like to see other places but I also think it would be nice for him to come back home near the time he plans to get out so he can apply to become a Police Officer...Yes he is going into AF as SF...we live in Hawaii...
I’m planning on joining the Air Force and doing personnel. I want to stay as close as possible to home (Miami, FL). So I would go to basic and after basic when I start tech that’s when I would update my preferred bases? Also working personnel, what are the chances that I do get those bases if anyone with experience can answer this for me. I’m nervous, I’ve grown up with such a big family, a little brother that looks up to me and is about start high school. I want to be as close to my family as possible so I don’t miss any moments. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.
Btw a tip idk if this also is in the air force but in the navy( i know this cause of nick he is utuber an corpsman) but anyways he said" if you hard extreamly hard an be top in your class then you get to pick an they will assign you will get what base you actually want" but i think you havw to be like in the top 3 or 5 but either way if you work your ass you will get the base you want
Will they website be given out to the new airman when they are finished with bmt? This is a good video to know! I am a Germany born army brat and I love to travel! So I would want to put places that I so miss you know! This is good info to know!
Question! Can you go into AMS as soon as you get to tech school and change things before you get your first initial orders? So you can manipulate the system that way because you’ll be able to see where they actually need you? I’m also concerned after hearing that some people realized after receiving orders that their dream sheet was lost or an “error in the system turned it blank” and definitely don’t want that happening to me!
What are these bases like (Mountain biking, night life), and can you have your stuff in the states (in a storage unit) shipped to you (how long does it take)? 1. SPANGDAHLEM AB Trier, Germany. 2. RAMSTEIN AB Landstuhl, Germany. 3. AVIANO AB Aviano, Italy. Advice welcome (: Thank you!!
Quick question, i wana do Client Systems in the AF but my recruiter keeps pushing mechanical, i am thinking about it because i didnt score high enough on Electrical so whats the best thing to do?
If I were to get stationed in South Korea like what you're saying, how long would I have to wait for my follow on? Are airmen able to change their stations halfway through their contract or something like that?
Is it true you can get your base preference after 3 yrs 11 months if you signed for six yrs? My grandson at Minot one yr. BTW, your videos are informative and enjoyable.
I would really hope to get stationed in Texas or Michigan. If they have any there?? Because my baby momma lives there so living in the same state is much better than going from Texas to Michigan and vice versa for our daughter
I would like to go to the Air Force for special forces but I don't want to go overseas. I'm from New Jersey and I would like to be placed somewhere down south on the east coast. Do you think this is possible if I list all Southern locations?
I heard u can pick ur base of choice after a certain amount of time in. I signed for 6 yrs. On my 3yr and 11month date I’m eligible to switch to a base of my choice.
How can you get re- assigned to a base you really like? Say if you start a family there and want to stay for stability, I guow Officers get a guarantee..
Minot? I volunteered for the remote island of Shemia Alaska just to get out of Minot. Six foot of snow in a single night plus tornados is not my idea of an ideal retirement environment.
I’m new to the army, already Mos qualified and heading to my first real unit (in ASIA) in few days. I have a girlfriend who is in another base(located inside U.S.) and we want a future together but Uncle Sam has us working in our careers. Any advice?
Iam between got o Air Force or army, which one in your opinion is the easiest to go to japan? I am willing to go to Okinawa. If not happen then Tokyo area. I lived in japan before as civilian and I I loved, is the safest country to Live in my opinion
