Air Force still hiring

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Despite rumors to the contrary, the Air Force is still hiring. People interested in joining are always encouraged to apply, even in light of the Air Force's recently released force-shaping initiatives.

To match the Air Force's new strength numbers, next year's recruiting goals have reduced by nine percent in comparison to the numbers sought in 2006.

"The Air Force is still hiring a mix of people in all of its career fields," said Chief Master Sgt. Edward Vargas, Air Force Recruiting Service Operations Division superintendent.

The branch of service best known for its use of cutting-edge technology seeks 27,760 high school graduates or the equivalent, ages 17-28, to join its enlisted ranks from October to September 2007.

Based on Air Force Personnel Center requests, there are more than 200 enlisted career field openings from which to choose. Security forces, mechanics, administration and electronics, with about 10,200 positions available, are the four most plentiful job opportunities for 2007.

The linguist, aerospace maintenance, computer systems operations, fire protection, integrated avionics systems, vehicle operations, munitions systems, tactical aircraft maintenance, air traffic control operations, fuels, explosive ordnance disposal, aerospace propulsion, aircraft loading and operations intelligence career fields offer about 5,540 openings.

"Hot" enlisted career fields include air and ground linguists and special tactics, such as combat controller, survival instructor and pararescueman.

"These career fields are doing extremely well," said Chief Vargas. "We're finding the right mix at the right time."

The Air Force also seeks 482 college graduates to join its officer corps. The career fields with the most available positions are pilot, combat systems officer (navigator), air battle management and electrical engineering.

Officer Training School applications are continually being accepted by recruiters for the fiscal 2007. After all 482 OTS positions are filled, additional applications move out to fill the following year's jobs.

"It is taking 12 to 18 months to get an OTS seat because the process for selection is so competitive," said Master Sgt. J.P. Brown, AFRS officer accessions NCO.

Chaplain and medical fields remain the "hot" officer careers for 2007. The Air Force has numerous openings in the "big three" medical careers -- doctors, dentist and nurses. Additionally, the biomedical science corps and medical services corps will continue to have openings in 2007.

"It's challenging to find people for these positions because they must be highly qualified," Sergeant Brown said. "For example, for doctors to qualify to become flight surgeons, they must have completed their general residency, general medical education and must be licensed to practice medicine." 

Force shaping will also affect the number of Air Force recruiters who will work in field offices. The reduced number of recruiters, in addition to the reduced number of job openings, will help maintain low monthly recruiting goals, which averaged two new recruits per month per recruiter in 2006. The exact number of recruiter reductions is under evaluation.

For more information about Air Force careers, visit airforce.com. The interactive Web site offers links to enlisted and officer career information, a chat line and a recruiter locator service.