Disqualifying Factors for Air Force Enlistment
As most of you know, Adam has been in the process of enlisting in the US Air Force. I had mentioned in previous blog posts that standards had risen considerably in recent months but didn't give many details. I think I'll take a little time to list some of the disqualifying factors that today's young adults face when attempting to enlist in the US Air Force.
I recently read that more than 90% of potential recruits are disqualified in the initial telephone interview. NINETY PERCENT DISQUALIFIED before they even get into the recruiter's office! Here are some of the reasons for being disqualified immediately:
- Prior arrests (whether convicted or not)
- No high school diploma
- Overweight
- Prior drug use
- ADHD/ADD diagnosis, especially use of ADHD/ADD drugs
- Tattoos
- Piercings
- Moving motor vehicle violations
- Certain allergies
- Responsible for more than two dependents. Single parent recruits with less than two dependents must apply for a waiver and sign agreements on acceptable childcare practices.
- Outstanding debt
Once the potential recruit gets past the initial telephone interview, other factors can disqualify a candidate:
- Not exceeding minimum written test scores (Air Force has highest of all branches of service)
- Medical deficiencies
- Not exceeding minimum weight and fitness standards
- Adding any new preliminary disqualifying factors listed above
- Not meeting dress codes while attending meetings pertaining to enlistment
- Failure to attend meetings/appointments
- Failure to behave respectfully at all meetings/appointments
These are some high standards and very few of today's young adults showing interest in the US Air Force meet these initial qualification requirements. Additionally, the need to meet higher than average standards does not end at recruitment but continues throughout the airman's career...
- Must keep out of trouble and earn Good Conduct Medal every three years to be eligible for re-enlistment.
- Must be working toward a college degree and/or advanced certifications/degrees to be eligible for promotion.
- Must be approved by a board of senior leadership to be eligible for re-enlistment.
- Annual performance reports must show integrity, excellence, and outstanding service indicating the airman is the best of the best.
- Must meet re-enlistment requirements and Air Force needs to qualify for retraining into a new career field.
- If you do not meet promotion requirements, you are not eligible for re-enlistment.
- With rank comes more responsibility and higher standards.
For those who have never served in the military, I suspect these requirements, qualifications and standards come as a bit of a shock. For those of us who have served, we are not so surprised at the standards themselves but rather how few of today's young adults can meet these standards. Our own experiences have taught us to expect standards to rise as recruitment needs drop.
I'm still waiting for standards, accountability and integrity to rise in the civilian world... it truly seems as though the trend is going the other way though. I have lost faith that most people could even effectively define "standards", "accountability" or "integrity" nevermind have the self-discipline to hold themselves to these honorable qualities which were once expected of all citizens in our society.
Personally, I'm happy to see these higher entrance requirements for the US Air Force supporting the same core values I still live by today...
Integrity (meaning find your moral compass, use it and lead by example)...
Service Before Self (meaning the world does not revolve around you so stop being a whining selfish bastard and understand that everything you do affects everyone around you and even those nowhere near you)...
Excellence in All We Do (meaning always do your best, strive to be the best and strive to improve even if you are the best)...
I recently read that more than 90% of potential recruits are disqualified in the initial telephone interview. NINETY PERCENT DISQUALIFIED before they even get into the recruiter's office! Here are some of the reasons for being disqualified immediately:
- Prior arrests (whether convicted or not)
- No high school diploma
- Overweight
- Prior drug use
- ADHD/ADD diagnosis, especially use of ADHD/ADD drugs
- Tattoos
- Piercings
- Moving motor vehicle violations
- Certain allergies
- Responsible for more than two dependents. Single parent recruits with less than two dependents must apply for a waiver and sign agreements on acceptable childcare practices.
- Outstanding debt
Once the potential recruit gets past the initial telephone interview, other factors can disqualify a candidate:
- Not exceeding minimum written test scores (Air Force has highest of all branches of service)
- Medical deficiencies
- Not exceeding minimum weight and fitness standards
- Adding any new preliminary disqualifying factors listed above
- Not meeting dress codes while attending meetings pertaining to enlistment
- Failure to attend meetings/appointments
- Failure to behave respectfully at all meetings/appointments
These are some high standards and very few of today's young adults showing interest in the US Air Force meet these initial qualification requirements. Additionally, the need to meet higher than average standards does not end at recruitment but continues throughout the airman's career...
- Must keep out of trouble and earn Good Conduct Medal every three years to be eligible for re-enlistment.
- Must be working toward a college degree and/or advanced certifications/degrees to be eligible for promotion.
- Must be approved by a board of senior leadership to be eligible for re-enlistment.
- Annual performance reports must show integrity, excellence, and outstanding service indicating the airman is the best of the best.
- Must meet re-enlistment requirements and Air Force needs to qualify for retraining into a new career field.
- If you do not meet promotion requirements, you are not eligible for re-enlistment.
- With rank comes more responsibility and higher standards.
For those who have never served in the military, I suspect these requirements, qualifications and standards come as a bit of a shock. For those of us who have served, we are not so surprised at the standards themselves but rather how few of today's young adults can meet these standards. Our own experiences have taught us to expect standards to rise as recruitment needs drop.
I'm still waiting for standards, accountability and integrity to rise in the civilian world... it truly seems as though the trend is going the other way though. I have lost faith that most people could even effectively define "standards", "accountability" or "integrity" nevermind have the self-discipline to hold themselves to these honorable qualities which were once expected of all citizens in our society.
Personally, I'm happy to see these higher entrance requirements for the US Air Force supporting the same core values I still live by today...
Integrity (meaning find your moral compass, use it and lead by example)...
Service Before Self (meaning the world does not revolve around you so stop being a whining selfish bastard and understand that everything you do affects everyone around you and even those nowhere near you)...
Excellence in All We Do (meaning always do your best, strive to be the best and strive to improve even if you are the best)...
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