Career Advice

[Psicorp]

Why would you not be able to do CAP if you joined the Air Force?

WIWAC as a member of the Tyndall AFB Cadet Squadron (08435) nearly all our SMs were Active Duty AF, including no less than 3 Squadron Commanders.  There was also an AD AF Officer who was the official base AF / CAP liaison officer (never did find out who that was though). That person's job was supposed to be to coordinate activities between CAP and the base staff (something I ended up doing on my own). 

Not only is it possible, it's actually encouraged to volunteer outside of your normal duty hours. 

[Flying Pig]

Live the dream....be a Deputy!

In Ca. the Sheriff of each county is responsible for SAR.  We have a 30 man team that are sworn Deputies.

As far as doing it for a living outside of the military your probably going to need to look into getting into law enforcement or EMS.

Maybe look into the Air Guard in your area.

[Walkman]

...do you really want to still be making the technicians wages repairing equipment after 20+ years?

Along those lines, no matter what specific degree you study I'd advise a class on entrepreneurship. Jumping off the corporate ship and going out on my own a few years back has made huge difference (for the better) in my life. You can never be too young, either. Even discounting the 20-ish web wizards that started things like Google & Facebook, my brother-in-law started his own electrical contracting company at the old age of 28.

[♠SARKID♠]

Well, I think I have it.  Since there isn't really and SAR jobs, and I still want to help/save people, I think I'm gonna follow dad and be a firefighter.  It was about 3rd on my career list anyways.

[flyguy06]

Why would you not be able to do CAP if you joined the Air Force?

Kind of hard if I'm in a war.

As for non-wartime, I dont know how it works with living on base and leaving to go to CAP.

I have been in CAP for over 2o straight years. i ws deployed to Iraq in 2005. did my thing and came back home and back to CAP. Been there done that.

When I was enlisted I was at Schofield Barracks, HI. I was a grunt E4. I lived in thre barracks. I was also a Senior member in the Honolulu Composite Squadron. Yeah I got ragged on by my buddies for wearing a Air Force looking uniform and having bars didnt help much either. We met on Saturday Mornings. My Post CG had a rule about no training on weekends. That was family time, So I spent my weekends at CAP and taking flying lessons at the local airport. .Again, nothing new here. its done all the time.

[Flying Pig]

Well, I think I have it.  Since there isn't really and SAR jobs, and I still want to help/save people, I think I'm gonna follow dad and be a firefighter.  It was about 3rd on my career list anyways.

I think you missed it......

  There are a lot of SAR jobs.  I mean A LOT but most are in addition to your regular duties.  The military has it and you dont have to be a Pararescueman either.  Look into being  a helicopter crew chief or flight engineer with a National Guard unit. The Navy, Coast Guard as a SAR swimmer or the AF as or a medic type?  In Ca we have the Air Guard 129th Rescue Wing.  It may require you joining a unit in another State.  To follow your goal you may have to put CAP on the back burner for a couple years.  Keep paying your dues and stay on the list, but dont let the fact that you may have to miss some meetings control the direction of your life. 

As far as SAR, I dont know how Wisconsin woks, but out here firefighters dont really do SAR.   If your dream is to be in a professional SAR organization then go for it. Or at least try.   But realize nobody in the civilian world is hiring entry level SAR techs.  It will have to be a long term goal.

If being a firefighter was #3, what was #1 and 2?

[Walkman]

[Coast Guard as a SAR swimmer or the AF as or a medic type?

You just reminded me about a friend from years pat. he was air crew on SAR helo in the CG. He also flew some drug interdiction missions in South America. Coast Guard does a lot of SAR, now that I think of it.

[♠SARKID♠]

I think you missed it......

No, I was looking for full time, nothing but SAR.  My dream job isnt necessarily SAR, but helping/saving people.  Firefighting can give me that opportunity too.

If being a firefighter was #3, what was #1 and 2?

1) Music Teacher
2) C-130 Pilot
3) Firefighter

[Flying Pig]

Well, thats a broad list.  There are fulltime SAR jobs, but there is a long list of pre-req's and experience to get there.  Good luck.

[Pylon]

I think you missed it......

No, I was looking for full time, nothing but SAR.  My dream job isnt necessarily SAR, but helping/saving people.  Firefighting can give me that opportunity too.

If being a firefighter was #3, what was #1 and 2?

1) Music Teacher
2) C-130 Pilot
3) Firefighter

Why don't you combine #2 and your love of SAR and get a job with the 109th Airlift Wing (New York Air National Guard).  These are the guys who fly the polar missions with the special LC-130's, do aeromedical evacuations and all sorts of other fun stuff.    My squadron got to ride on a 4-hour medical evac training flight with them last year... great stuff.  Their base also hosts the NYWG Encampment (and has for the last 4 or 5 years), and they are extremely wonderful hosts and fully support CAP.

Check it out:
Stratton ANGB
and
Jobs and Careers with the 109th

It'd be at least worth giving them a ring or an email to talk about the different opportunities.

[♠SARKID♠]

Why don't you combine #2 and your love of SAR and get a job with the 109th Airlift Wing (New York Air National Guard).

Nah, I think I've strayed from the military path.  I used to be really siked up about it, but thats kind of left me nowadays, probably from too much time in the band room.

I'll see where it goes.  I'm looking at joining one of my local volunteer fire departments, so I'll see what happens with that.

As long were on the subject, my other dream jobs include...
Storm Chaser
FCC Officer (DF illegal transmissions)
Concert stage crew (possible, had job offers)
Physics teacher
Cameraman (Discovery Channel would be best)
Video Game Tester (Every nerd's dream job)
Charter Pilot
Air traffic controller
Police officer

Your turn!

[flyerthom]

Fire Science

more

John Jay

Could combine with ROTC

[Flying Pig]

Why don't you combine #2 and your love of SAR and get a job with the 109th Airlift Wing (New York Air National Guard).

Nah, I think I've strayed from the military path.  I used to be really siked up about it, but thats kind of left me nowadays, probably from too much time in the band room.

I'll see where it goes.  I'm looking at joining one of my local volunteer fire departments, so I'll see what happens with that.

As long were on the subject, my other dream jobs include...
Storm Chaser
FCC Officer (DF illegal transmissions)
Concert stage crew (possible, had job offers)
Physics teacher
Cameraman (Discovery Channel would be best)
Video Game Tester (Every nerd's dream job)
Charter Pilot
Air traffic controller
Police officer

Your turn!

My dream job?
A Deputy Sheriff assigned to Air Support.....Oh wait......

But I will tell you....I always wanted to be a parachute rigger.  Never got the chance to go to jump school either. Siiiiiiiiigh.

[♠SARKID♠]

A Deputy Sheriff assigned to Air Support

Aha!  I was wondering where 'Flying Pig' came from 

[Al Sayre]

I used to work with a Navy Pilot who got his BS in Musicology...

[fyrpilot2202]

I'm a new senior member with CAP, but I found my way into the fire service at age 17, now assistant fire chief. I would suggest a position with a sheriff's office if you were in Washington State, the county sheriff is the agency providing SAR personnel.  Plenty of jobs posted every week, most will pay you $$ to attend an academy and become commissioned officer.  Overtime a plenty during the year, everyone seems to work during major fires, floods, SAR missions.

Firefighting is great, but not as many positions open out here, so odds aren't as good as Law Enforcement.

Good to hear your interest in Comm also -  73....WB7RUC

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