Thinking about joining…

My husband said active and logistics or hr has a bit more control on hours
Guard would be good if your going full time college but you have to do a 6year contract to get your gi bill and you can’t draw from it for the first year

Can’t speak on Guard or reserves but as an active duty USAF spouse, I can say that they are great with families and make many efforts to accommodate for them. My husband has been in for 17 years and has just started pilot training, tacking on another 10 after he gets his wings. We’ve had plenty of friends in army, marines, navy and coast guard that have done their minimum and got out. Met a lot more career military members in the Air Force. Just my personal experience, but do your research on the different branches when it comes to active. Air Force has been known to be a good choice for families.

I’m currently in the Air Force and I’m active duty. I’m fuels and have been in about 5 years. When I first joined I worked shift in all hours of the day but after having my baby they moved me to a position that’s 8am-4pm. So from my experience and what I’ve seen they really try to accommodate families and especially mothers. I’ve heard the guard/reserves deploy more than active duty. But you’re obviously home more with your kids. I would suggest a medical/ personnel job because their hours are the most predictable and more like a regular 9 to 5. Try to stay away from maintenance, they work any and every schedule possible haha! As Melissa said you can’t use any college benefits your first year. But you’re able to use other options after the first year while in so you can save your gi bill until you get out. Such as TA to take corses to complete your CCAF (community college of the Air Force) which is an associate of applied science. So basically your career field specialty I believe.

If your main concern is time spent with your children and going to school, I would suggest joining the National Guard. You don't have to do a 6yr contract. You can do a three year contract and you still get school benefits you have tuition assistance and for most states it will pay 100% of your tuition. Yes the GI bill is nice but I would not suggest joining for a six year contract and that's all you're getting that's a long time and what if you change your mind and you don't really like it. As for jobs, the job you are able to get is based off your test scores on the ASVAB, so you really need to study study study. Do not let a recruiter convince you to take the test and you have a studied. Also, do not take a test called the PICAT, and you have not studied. It is a version of the ASVAB that can be taken in the office. Just please never test and you haven't studied all of the subjects not just a math and English.

So overall I would not get too caught up into what job that you're going to get because jobs you are eligible for are based off your test scores and the job has to be available in order for you to get it.