I'm planning on joining the Air Force and I'm wondering are there particular job assignments that can get me stationed in Japan? If so what varies of jobs can I choose from?

 

Civil Engineers (Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Entomology, ETC), Securtiy Forces, Services, Supply. There are plenty of jobs to choose from, but choose wisely. You have to deal with that job for the next 4-6 years.



There are plenty of people trying to get over there and you have to compete with them also. Not just with others who are coming in, but the ones you have been in a few years also. I got lucky and got stationed there for my first base and I loved every minute of it. You can try, but its definetly possible. You can also put Germany and Italy on your list just in case you can't get Japan.


Even if your stationed over there you will still have to deal with deployments to other locations. Think about that to when your choosing a career field. What wouldn't you mind doing over there in the desert?

 

I'm really not sure as of now,I just need anykind of info I can get before I make a move.

 

Are there any places nearby these bases where someone like a civilian could fly into and stay and check out these bases? Or are there no guests allowed?

I have always wanted to see the bases over there and Japan in general and I was hoping I could combine it into the same trip!

 

Whatever you do, don't be vehicle operations, you'll be in the desert more than japan, and don't be flightline maintence either ie Crew Cheif/Electrical Enviromental Specialist/Avionics. You'll spend 12 hours a day + some on the flight line

 

OCONUS bases are just like CONUS bases: you can not enter without a valid military or government ID.

 

Talk to a recruiter about it. Just tell them what your looking for. I used to be in civil service and trained airmen to do comm / networking stuff.

You should worry more about what skills your gonna get than where your going. Because it's like totally random when you get an assignment if the people around you and everythign works out. Sometimes it's perfect but sometimes hell. LIke the good post above about your stuck with it...

I also used to work at HQ AFPC (personnel).

 

Hear comes the speech:

Agreed, however, don't let that persuade you from joining. I haven't met anyone who has regretted joining the AF. I meet people every day who complain about it, but thats life. AF does a lot of good things for you, sometimes the hard way but still a good learning experience. However, AF can turn out a lot of ****** also so watch yourself. But then again, thats with every path in life.


Oh one more thing, don't trust recruiters, sorry for any recruiter out there but you'd be a fool to trust one. Do your homework first because there is very few recruiters out there that actually don't think of you as a statistic. And yes, this comes from more than one experience speaking . But as I said, it's a good experience either way, so good luck

 

If you are just joining to get stationed in Japan I'd suggest you take some time to search through http://www.l-3com.com/careers/search...e/default.aspx for a possible job that could get you placed in Japan just as easy with less committment.

 

Don't do any aircraft maintenance careers, it sucks!! I'm miserable, maybe because Barksdale sucks ***** and I'm stuck in Louisiana, and only other base I can go to is Minot, ND. I went in as open heavy aircraft and put ALL overseas bases, and zero state side. I then get stuck state side. I try to do as many TDYs and deployments as possible to get away from this place. But if you end up here, we can be rotary buddies =) I guess I can be thankful that this place is where the whole addiction started and I have a local rotary shop only 5 miles away.

Choose your career wisely. Ask as many active duty people about what job they have and if they like it. The quality of life varies greatly with the base, location, job and people you work with/work for.

My first term is almost up and I'm starting to look for a new career to cross train into. Sure some of us gripe, but hell, it's a steady job. Most the benefits outweigh the negative, even if it's just enough to keep you in =P

 

Thank you all for the great info, if anybody else has info please post.

 

I hope you're not joining solely to go to Japan.

1. Think about your interests and what you want to be when you "grow-up"
2. Consider that almost all mainstream jobs are overseas.
3. There are a lot of cool places in the world, not just Japan.
4. The needs of the Air Force trump your desires, though they take it into consideration.

Seriously, don't join the service with your goal to be stationed in Japan; you might be in for a rude awakening.

Cool jobs:

4 Series- Medical
1 Seires- Aircrew/Special Operations

 

I've been in the AF now for 19 yrs and its been both good and bad. I'd say 90% of it good. Before you go making any rash decisions on joining the AF, know what your interest are. Don't go to the recruiter just looking to join. He'll put you in the most troubled career fields..ie Security Forces, LRS and CE. They're not bad but you need the right match for your skills. CE and COMM are two great units to consider, both will teach you trades highly desireable in the civilian sector. Now if your only wish is to come to Japan and you really aren't interested in the AF, take a trip. Because when you join you're locked in for 4~6 years and will most likely visit the desert doing your stent. Good luck...

 

As Grassninja probably knows, the AF is a totally different animal when he joined than now. I joined in '01 and left this past November and it was different. People who truly bitched and complained about the AF were pretty much scum/turds anyways, you can always drink and bang chicks on the weekends (or during the week like we did )

It's an experience that I love and miss. I'm highly considering government work again; it's good times.