Submitted by Angela S. Williamson, LtCol, USAF, BSC
Robins AFB, GA
Q. What is the first step to coming into the Air Force?
A. Contact a Health Professions Recruiter, one who specializes in helping
people who have attained their health professions degree come into the
service. A local recruiter should be able to supply you with the name and
phone number of the regional Health Professions Recruiter. You'll be asked
to fill out paperwork, supply transcripts, letters of reference, submit a
short essay on why you are interested in the Air Force, take a physical.
You'll have an interview over the phone with a senior audiologist in the Air
Force, then your paperwork meets a board that will pick the best applicants
to fill the projected openings.
Q. I've heard the training is pretty hard, that I'm stuck on base for weeks
and have to do push-ups, is that true?
A. Well, not exactly. The training for new medical officers is called
Commissioned Officer Training (COT), and lasts approximately 4 weeks. At
the leader's discretion, you may be restricted to base for the first two
weeks, and must wear your uniform every place you go. The training is
mostly classroom in nature, going over history of the Air Force, our customs
and traditions. You'll also learn to march, salute, how to wear your
uniform and requirements for personal grooming. There is some running
required, you must be able to run 1.5 miles in a given amount of time for
your age/gender. The Air Force is phasing in push-ups and sit-ups, so you
will likely be doing those, as well, again number determined by age/gender.
Q. What does an audiologist do in the Air Force?
A. Essentially everything that an audiologist does out of the Air Force,
and more! We have positions that involve infant hearing screening, fitting
programmable and digital hearing aids, tests of balance function, aural
rehabilitation, hearing conservation, research, counseling, providing
lectures to residents in pediatrics, ENT, family practice, etc. We see
patients of all ages, not just the active duty member...we take care of the
whole family. There is also a much greater emphasis on hearing
conservation/industrial audiology and hearing loss prevention than you will
find in any civilian job.
Q. Where would I live? How often do I move?
A. Currently we have positions from Washington, D.C to north of San
Francisco, CA. Many positions are in Texas, two in Florida, three in Ohio,
one each in Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, Alaska, Nebraska, about 30 in
all. We also work in Italy, Germany, and England. A typical assignment is
three years, and some people move no more often than every four or five
years - but plan on three.
Q. What is the time obligation if I do come in?
A. You'll enter the Air Force as a 1LT, and have a three year obligation to
serve. During that time you'll likely be selected for Captain, and near end
of the second year, can opt to stay in the Air Force longer, or walk away at
your three-year point.
Q. Does the AF provide continuing education? Can I get an AuD or PhD?
A. Yes, the AF actively supports continuing education for its healthcare
providers, and most people are fully-funded to attend one course per year,
with some people going to more than one each year, depending on the needs of
their clinic, and the local budget. It is possible to be selected for
formal full-time training to attain a Ph.D. At present, to obtain an AuD,
the money would have to come from personal funds or through a "GI Bill" if
elected at time of entry into service, and you would use distance learning
to obtain that degree.
Q. Do I have to live on base? Will the Air Force find me a house, and help me sell it when I leave?
A. Family housing is available if you are married and/or have children,
though often there is a wait for an available house. Each Air Force base
has a housing office which can advise you about the wait times, and often
has houses listed for rent or sale in the local area. If you are single, as
a general rule, there is no on-base living facility, you must look for an
apartment or house off base. If single and living overseas, however, there
is housing available on base for officers. There is no financial help
available to sell a house when an officer receives orders to move, you would
hire a realtor or sell it yourself.
Q. How can I get a raise? Do I get bonus or pro-pay? A. Our pay scale is set by Congress and considers two factors, your rank and your time in service. Every two years we get a "longevity" raise, and when we get promoted to the next higher rank, we receive that raise as well. Recently, the Air Force did approve certification pay, and audiologists are eligible for that once you are fully board certified; this pay also goes up with longevity.
Q. Be honest, tell me some negative aspects of joining the Air Force.
A. Since it is the military, you can be sent someplace you might not
ordinarily want to live, making it difficult for a spouse to find a job, or
taking you far from parents, siblings and grandparents. The duties of being
an Air Force officer often take time from your audiology duties, so time may
be spent on exercises, drills, mandatory formations or appointments for
health processing. Frequent moves can be hard on children and spouses, as
well as furniture and finances! Entering any branch of the service requires
you to give up certain freedoms: being able to live where you desire, move
when you want to, take the jobs you are most interested in. The needs of
the Air Force drive where and when you change jobs, and that is difficult
for some people to reconcile. For some, the lifestyle is not a good match.
However, the majority of audiologists entering the Air Force remain on
active duty for a full career.
Q. Then what are some positive aspects of joining the Air Force? Why
should I apply?
A. The opportunity to see a varied caseload, to have responsibility for
your own clinic including budgeting and ordering decisions, to obtain
valuable training in all aspects of audiology, to travel and/or live around
the world, to meet and know leaders in our profession, the opportunity for
advanced formal training (Ph.D. or AuD), and to have the opportunity to
support our military efforts around the world. Medical and dental care is
free for you and your family, on-base shopping at grocery and retail stores
costs less than in town, and part of your pay is non-taxable, giving you
more dollars at the end of the month than a comparable civilian job.