As you consider careers in the Air Force, you are probably evaluating the best Air Force Officer jobs. You are also likely considering enlisted airmen options, as well.
Furthermore, it is essential to consider how your training and education from the Air Force translates into the civilian world later in life.
There are several opportunities for careers in the Air Force, whether your plan includes earning your officer commission quickly, or as part of a long-term career plan.
Here are 9 of the best Air Force officer jobs available for 2020:
Jump To An Air Force Officer Job
#1. Cyberspace Operations Officer
#3. Pilot/Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot
#5. Air Battle Manager Officer
#6. Combat Systems Officer (CSO)
#9. Special Tactics Officer
Special Tactics Officers are one of the most highly trained individuals in the Air Force.
Their primary responsibility is to be the subject matter expert overall command and control operations for the Special Tactics forces.
They provide air traffic control support and global access for coalition forces.
In addition to having a bachelor’s degree and attending Officer training, those in this role must meet strict marine diving, parachutist, and ATC duty physical requirements, maintain water confidence standards and maintain combat controller certification.
This is considered one of the best officer jobs because the experience relates to careers in diving, parachuting, or military contracting.
Also, as an enlisted member, Special Reconnaissance has closely related duties.
Both the Special Tactics Officer and the Special Reconnaissance personnel will complete reconnaissance missions whenever necessary.
They must be trained to deploy in any way possible, at any time.
Because Special Operations covers so many specialties, this field is an in-demand job.
Civilian Opportunities
Special Forces Veterans are often invited to work as Site Managers for Special Forces Qualification Course site managers, training military personnel, or other intelligence agencies.
Related Article – 10 Best Air Force Jobs For Civilian Life
#8. Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Officer
Air Force TACP Officers are on the frontline, operating sophisticated technology, engaging enemy forces, and executing airstrikes.
They will create and engage in surface to surface and air to surface strikes.
TACP Officers must complete the JTAC specialty course, become experts in survival, attend Airborne school, and follow specific assessments four times a year.
Enlisted TACP specialists have similar job functions.
They work closely with Army and Marine units and call in airstrikes as well.
Job functions may be similar, but Officers hold more administrative duties, are required to train others, and be leaders on and off the field.
Civilian Opportunities
Due to security clearance, job experience, and your bachelor’s degree, there are civilian opportunities. Consider working for Homeland Security, FBI, DEA, or local law enforcement jobs.
#7. Security Forces Officer
Air Force Security Forces Officers oversee directing air base defense functions.
Also, this field is a current in-demand field in the United States Air Force.
They are responsible for using a variety of systems in combination with their extensive training to protect military installations, the people, equipment and resources in them, and the areas around them.
To enter this position, Security Forces Officers must have a bachelor’s degree in sociology, criminology, police administration, criminal justice, or a related area.
Officers will be required to meet Personnel Reliability Program requirements and must have a normal color vision as well as a driver’s license.
Related Article – Air Force Bonus List: 6 Bonuses Available For Signing, Enlistment, and Reenlistment
Civilian Opportunities
This specialty translates well to civilian life. Those who serve in Security Forces often find jobs in the field of Law Enforcement as a civilian.
#6. Combat Systems Officer (CSO)
A Combat Systems Officer manages missions and works to integrate all the moving parts of a task to ensure the mission is effective. This might include evaluating and managing operations, as well as advising commanders.
A CSO is highly versatile and undergoes navigator training, which includes a navigator track, a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) track, and an Electronic Warfare Officer track.
Additionally, a CSO needs a bachelor’s degree in engineering, math, or physical sciences.
Furthermore, there are additional requirements, such as a background investigation, a current aeronautical rating and qualification, and pilot training.
Also, an enlisted member who wishes to be in the same field might consider Combat Control.
The Airmen with this specialty carry out difficult missions in remote and dangerous areas.
Having a wide variety of skills such as air traffic control, scuba, and parachuting, those in this field are highly skilled and attached to a special forces team. Despite this attachment to a team, this specialty requires a tremendous amount of solo fieldwork.
Civilian Opportunities
As a civilian who served in Combat Control or as a Combat Systems Officer, there are plenty of opportunities.
There is well-paid work as an Air Traffic Controller, pilots, and flight engineering.
Related Article – Air Force Air Traffic Controller (1C1X1): Career Profile
#5. Air Battle Manager Officer
The Air battle Manager Officer works with command and control battle management operations. Also, they organize and direct air defense and missions by using their knowledge of weapons, joint mission tactics, and flying directives.
Also, this position is considered one of the best officer jobs because they organize the chaos that evolves from combat by using all their knowledge to ensure an optimal outcome of the battle.
An enlisted member needs a high school diploma or GED as well as a general knowledge of aerospace surveillance and reporting systems.
On the other hand, the Air Battle Manager Officer needs a bachelor’s degree and an understanding of the theory of light, joint missions’ tactics, and weapons control, just to name a few.
Civilian Opportunities
As a civilian, an Air Battle Manager Officer might find work as a pilot, an air traffic controller, or as an Atmospheric and Space Scientist.
#4. Weather Officer
A weather officer must have an undergraduate degree related to meteorology or atmospheric science and have completed the Basic Meteorology Program.
A weather officer is responsible for accurately forecasting the weather because this accuracy is essential for missions.
Therefore, these forecasts directly impact the safety and activity of missions to the U.S military.
Also, a weather officer engages in weather studies and research on an ongoing basis.
As an enlisted member of the Air Force in this field, you would need your diploma or GED, and have completed the initial weather skills course.
Related Article – Air Force Weather Specialist (1W0X1): Career Profile
Civilian Opportunities
For those in the field of weather, there are civilian options for careers.
Therefore, many in this field become atmospheric, and space scientists, natural science managers, or even enter airfield operations.
#3. Pilot/Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot
Pilots are an in-demand job in the United States Air Force.
As an officer in this field, you will need a bachelor’s degree and have completed the Air Force Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training.
Also, there are specific height requirements that are dependent on particular aircraft.
For those who are enlisted and wish to work in this field, there is more than one option to consider:
Fighter Aircraft Integration Avionics
In this field, an enlisted airman will help pilots by repairing and maintaining the systems that pilots rely on to process information.
Special Missions Aviator
In this field, an enlisted member is responsible for a plane, including the pre-flight inspection of the cargo and its placement.
Click Here to learn more.
Civilian Opportunities
In the civilian world, these career areas mean there are opportunities. For instance, those who served as a pilot or related field might work as commercial pilots, engineers, and airplane mechanics.
#2. Intelligence Officer
An Intelligence officer is considered one of the best Air Force officer jobs because information is considered an asset.
An Intelligence officer must analyze data and determine threats to have a full understanding of the enemy and their vulnerabilities.
Also, it is essential to protect our data to ensure it stays in the right hands.
To become an Intelligence officer, you must have a bachelor’s degree. This degree can be in either science, social sciences, humanities, structural analysis, math, or engineering.
Lastly, you must have a year as a commissioned officer already and complete a background security check.
Furthermore, as an enlisted member, there are several areas to consider in this field:
Operations Intelligence
As an enlisted member in Operations Intelligence, your goal is to analyze data and report critical information to help keep Airmen safe on missions.
Click Here to learn more.
Geospatial Intelligence
Geospatial Intelligence means analyzing aerial images from satellites and separating what is normal from what is a threat.
Click Here to learn more.
Signals Intelligence Analyst
Signal Intelligence Analysts gather information using sophisticated equipment and look for foreign activity and communication.
Click Here to learn more.
Civilian Opportunities
Lastly, in the civilian world, those with jobs in intelligence might find work as a Business Intelligence Analyst, Computer Systems Analyst, or as a scientist or technician in Remote Sensing.
#1. Cyberspace Operations Officer
Cyberspace Operations officers are experts in everything to do with cyberspace.
Therefore, this expertise includes all communications through computers, satellites, and even airborne communications.
Also, this job is critical to both planning and the overall effectiveness of missions.
It is necessary to have a bachelor’s degree in math, computer science, engineering, or something similar.
Also, it is necessary to have training in this Cyberspace specialty area.
As an enlisted member, a similar job is titled Cyber Systems Operations.
Missions rely on advanced software and computer systems.
Therefore, those in Cyber Systems Operations specialists make sure all these essential systems are working correctly.
Also, this specialty helps to ensure these systems are safe from outside intrusion.
Civilian Opportunities
Those in cyberspace Operations might consider Network and Computer Systems Administrators.
Also, another civilian career area to consider is Information Security Analyst and Computer and Information Systems managers.
Related Article – Air Force Cyber Warfare (1B4X1): Career Details
Conclusion
There is a large variety of career paths for those considering the Air Force.
You might be looking directly at the best Air Force officer jobs right away.
You may even be evaluating the enlisted equivalent in a career you know you want to leverage into a life-long career.
What every your desired path and career aspirations, the Air Force can meet your needs.
References:
https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Jobs/match-veteran-jobs.aspx
https://www.airforce.com/careers/browse-careers/
https://www.airforce.com/careers/indemand-careers
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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