New Member- Lots of Questions

Hi guys. New member here with some questions.

I just enlisted in tha Air Force (again- long story). I am shipping out for Basic 30 May for 2E633. At MEPS I was told that tech school would be 5 weeks at Lackland and then 15 weeks at Sheppard. Through some research, however, I found that it would be 9 weeks at Keesler and 14 weeks at Sheppard. My recruiter is clueless- when I asked him about it he just says to go with whatever MEPS says (his standard response to everything). Can you folks shed some light on this for me?

While I was digging, I also discovered that Luke AFB does not use 3-level 2E6 personnel. Is that true? I'd like to have Luke as my first base if possible, as I own a house nearby and it would be very convenient.

One more thing- if anybody has the time, could you fill me in a bit on the job? What's it like day-to-day, what training is like, opportunities related to it (both military and civilian), etc? I'd like to have as much info as possible before I finally ship out.

Lots of questions, I know, but hopefully somebody here has the answers. Bear with me if I'm stepping on any toes or anything as I'm new. ;)

I just PCS'd from Sheppard AFB. I was an instructor for the 2E633 career field and I am now stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in AZ.
For your tech school questions: Upon completion of Basic Training, you will attend Electronic Principles at Keesler AFB for approximately 9 weeks. However, I am not sure if you will attend Electronic Principles due to the devastation the hurricanes caused. As for the Sheppard portion of tech school, this is where you will receive actual telephone training along with some basic networking, and deployable communications training. This is approximately 14 weeks long.
As for Luke AFB, they are contracted out and the only telephone military people perform QA duties. QA duties are usually peformed by at a minimum a 5 level. There are special cicumstances where a 3 level can peform QA duties (joint spouse). If you have any further questions I can be e-mailed at david.kalal@dm.af.mil or if you would like to contact the school house at Sheppard call DSN 736-6730 or 5539 commercial number is 940-676-6730. Tell them TSgt Kalal gave you the contact info. Hope this helps you out. Good luck.

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Originally posted by Nineball

Hi guys. New member here with some questions.

I just enlisted in tha Air Force (again- long story). I am shipping out for Basic 30 May for 2E633. At MEPS I was told that tech school would be 5 weeks at Lackland and then 15 weeks at Sheppard. Through some research, however, I found that it would be 9 weeks at Keesler and 14 weeks at Sheppard. My recruiter is clueless- when I asked him about it he just says to go with whatever MEPS says (his standard response to everything). Can you folks shed some light on this for me?

While I was digging, I also discovered that Luke AFB does not use 3-level 2E6 personnel. Is that true? I'd like to have Luke as my first base if possible, as I own a house nearby and it would be very convenient.

One more thing- if anybody has the time, could you fill me in a bit on the job? What's it like day-to-day, what training is like, opportunities related to it (both military and civilian), etc? I'd like to have as much info as possible before I finally ship out.

Lots of questions, I know, but hopefully somebody here has the answers. Bear with me if I'm stepping on any toes or anything as I'm new. ;)

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Thanks a bunch for the help. It's nice to finally hear from somebody who actually knows something. ;)

As for Luke being contracted out- I've been hearing that a lot of bases are that way now or are becoming that way. If that's true, does that mean that all military telephone people are becoming QA people instead of actual techs? How do you see this affecting your job security?

There are many bases that have contracted out and all the military does is QA, but there are still a few bases where the military performs the base communications install, maintenance.

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Originally posted by Nineball

Thanks a bunch for the help. It's nice to finally hear from somebody who actually knows something. ;)

As for Luke being contracted out- I've been hearing that a lot of bases are that way now or are becoming that way. If that's true, does that mean that all military telephone people are becoming QA people instead of actual techs? How do you see this affecting your job security?

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I see. So do you have any recommendations on what bases to list on the dream sheet? How about recommendations on how best to prepare myself for tech school. I've got almost four months- is there something I should be studying up on to give me a leg up? I'm pretty bright, but I've been out of school for a few years (I'm 24 now). How about what to expect during tech?

Also, what can you tell me about the life of a 2E6? Day-to-day stuff, ups and downs, etc?

You are the best resource I've found so far, being as you are the only one I've been able to talk to who is actually in the career field. I know I'm asking a ton of questions, and I really appreciate your help. ;)

Most bases stateside are contracted out now. If you want to do real telephone work, you need to get overseas and stay there as long as possible. As for the future of the career field? More mergers. We'll merge with other IT-type career fields over the next few years.

BTW -- Say hi to Pam for me Dave.

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Originally posted by kalald

There are many bases that have contracted out and all the military does is QA, but there are still a few bases where the military performs the base communications install, maintenance.

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Originally posted by Nineball

Thanks a bunch for the help. It's nice to finally hear from somebody who actually knows something. ;)

As for Luke being contracted out- I've been hearing that a lot of bases are that way now or are becoming that way. If that's true, does that mean that all military telephone people are becoming QA people instead of actual techs? How do you see this affecting your job security?

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There are still a few stateside bases that do all the work! I would suggest trying overseas first and then once you have been in the career field a few years you might actually want a QA slot!!

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Originally posted by Nineball

Hi guys. New member here with some questions.

I just enlisted in tha Air Force (again- long story). I am shipping out for Basic 30 May for 2E633. At MEPS I was told that tech school would be 5 weeks at Lackland and then 15 weeks at Sheppard. Through some research, however, I found that it would be 9 weeks at Keesler and 14 weeks at Sheppard. My recruiter is clueless- when I asked him about it he just says to go with whatever MEPS says (his standard response to everything). Can you folks shed some light on this for me?

While I was digging, I also discovered that Luke AFB does not use 3-level 2E6 personnel. Is that true? I'd like to have Luke as my first base if possible, as I own a house nearby and it would be very convenient.

One more thing- if anybody has the time, could you fill me in a bit on the job? What's it like day-to-day, what training is like, opportunities related to it (both military and civilian), etc? I'd like to have as much info as possible before I finally ship out.

Lots of questions, I know, but hopefully somebody here has the answers. Bear with me if I'm stepping on any toes or anything as I'm new. ;)

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I think your best bet will be to try and go overseas after tech-school. Most of the bases work with Local nationals and a few contractors. Here at Misawa AB Japan we are contractor maintained but we have GI's also. We are trying to go back to GI maintenance. 13 years in PACAF.

monster

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Originally posted by monster
I think your best bet will be to try and go overseas after tech-school. ....

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I don't know about now, but in the late '60' in the 2879th GEEIA in Athens it would have been very easy to talk me into staying on a few more years. Two and a half of the very best years of my life.

Different AF these days. Our career fields are dying as more and more bases go either contract or civil service. I'm on my 8th assignment and 3 of my last 4 have been QAE-type work. Those of you at "blue-suit" bases need to count your blessings.

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Originally posted by Paladin

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Originally posted by monster
I think your best bet will be to try and go overseas after tech-school. ....

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I don't know about now, but in the late '60' in the 2879th GEEIA in Athens it would have been very easy to talk me into staying on a few more years. Two and a half of the very best years of my life.

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Hey guys, I'm in the exact same situation Nineball is in...I'm in the DEP for the 2E633 and ship out in Sept...

I have a wife and would really like to stay stateside if possible...Does anyone have a general idea of what stateside bases I'd have a descent shot of getting? I'd love Hawaii, but if there's no way in hell I'm getting it, I don't want to waste a dream sheet slot on it...

Do they issue books in tech school? If so is it possible for me to buy a telecom book now? Thanks guys!

They will issue books for school, after you finish and you go to your first base they will order your CDC's so all together you will end up with a lot of books. as far as staying stateside like i said previous go overseas if i can work it and stay in japan to retire I will. Good luck to you, i am putting my daughter in hopefully around the same time as you.

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Originally posted by Bacardi

Hey guys, I'm in the exact same situation Nineball is in...I'm in the DEP for the 2E633 and ship out in Sept...

I have a wife and would really like to stay stateside if possible...Does anyone have a general idea of what stateside bases I'd have a descent shot of getting? I'd love Hawaii, but if there's no way in hell I'm getting it, I don't want to waste a dream sheet slot on it...

Do they issue books in tech school? If so is it possible for me to buy a telecom book now? Thanks guys!

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monster

Well folks, thanks for the advice. I'm reporting to the hotel this morning, and flying down to Lackland to start Basic tomorrow. I'll check back in from Keesler.

Does anyone have any information about the day to day workings of a 2E6X2? Or tech school length? I am currently an Ammo troop and am looking into the 2E6X2 career field to retrain into, sounds good on paper, just wanted to know how it REALLY is

I'm still in DEP, I have no idea of the day to day and would love an answer...

About tech school, I was told at MEPS one would do 5 weeks in Lackland and 15 at Sheppard...After doing some extensive research on the web, I've discovered that info is outdated and that one would do 9 weeks in Keelser and 13 weeks in Sheppard...

After basic training, (which is about to go to 8 1/2 weeks), you'll go to Keesler for Electronics Principles (not the whole course, though). You will then go to Sheppard for Telephone School.

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