What Does an Air Force Recruiter Do?

Research what it takes to become an Air Force recruiter. Get the facts about the age, basic training and physical requirements, job duties and contractual obligations for Air Force recruiters to determine if this is the right career for you.

<h2 id="section---WhatIsAnAirForceRecruiter">What Is an Air Force Recruiter?</h2> <p>Air Force recruiters introduce others to life in the military and provide them with information about career opportunities and enlistment procedures. Their job is largely to attract potential Air Force recruits who are intelligent and well-qualified. They must constantly keep in mind that they represent the Air Force when in public. They need to be knowledgeable about the Air Force in order to answer questions. </p> <p>Below is a table with some basic information: </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Degree Required</b> </td><td> High school diploma (or GED if additional requirements are met)</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Training Required</b> </td><td> Recruiting school, basic training</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Key Responsibilities</b> </td><td> Explain different possible military careers to potential recruits, host recruiting events, speak at schools</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Certification</b> </td><td> ASVAB test, physical exam (17-35 years old, general Air Force requirement)</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Average Salary (2019)</b> </td><td> salary starts at $1,681/month and is based upon rank and years of service*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *USAirforce.com</i> </p> <h3 id="section---AirForceRecruiterJobResponsibilities">Air Force Recruiter Job Responsibilities</h3> <p>As an Air Force recruiter, you are the first contact a person has when he or she considers joining the Air Force. You'll explain enlistment procedures, talk about career opportunities and determine if joining is the right choice for a particular person. You may work in a recruitment office or travel to different schools or locations for recruiting events. Some recruiters speak at schools, teaching students about the military and discussing their experiences in the Air Force. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheRequirements">What Are the Requirements?</h3> <p>The first step toward a career as an Air Force recruiter is enlistment in the Air Force. General requirements for enlistment include: </p> <ul><li>Meeting weight requirements </li><li>Being at least 17 years old and under 35 years old </li><li>Passing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test with an acceptable score </li><li>Having vision that is no worse than + or - 8.0 </li><li>Passing a physical examination </li></ul><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), recruits who meet these requirements then sign a service contract detailing how many years of active-duty participation are required, with four years being a typical term of enlistment (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). You'll then attend Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB in Texas, which involves physical conditioning and the study of military protocol. Basic training in the U.S. Air Force lasts 8.5 weeks. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatSTheNextStep">What's the Next Step?</h3> <p>After joining the Air Force and completing basic training, you can begin to work toward a recruiting career. According to the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), aspiring recruiters must meet with a senior recruiter and complete an application packet (<i>www.afrc.af.mil</i>). This packet is reviewed by the recruiter selection board. If your application is approved, you're sent to an evaluation and selection course. </p> <p>After passing the initial course, you'll attend recruiting school, which, like Basic Military Training, is at Lackland AFB. The school program lasts seven weeks and teaches you the skills needed to work with recruits and engage the public. Topics covered may include public speaking, marketing, salesmanship and benefits for recruits. You'll serve a 4-year extended tour of duty as a recruiter after completing this training program. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3> <p>If you like recruiting but don't want to work in the military, you might consider a career as a college recruiter or a job recruiter. College recruiters do a lot of work with marketing to encourage students to attend their university. They usually need to have at least a bachelor's in human resources or business administration. Job recruiters work for large companies to find quality employees. They generally need a bachelor's in a related field like human resources.</p>