I've been in the Air Force now for over 9 years as a heavy aircraft mechanic. I have been gettting a little burned out and around July of last year, I applied to retrain to the job I really wanted. I just found out a few days ago that I was selected to be a flight engineer! In case you aren't aware of what a flight engineer is, he's the busy guy in the cockpit on large jets that runs all of the aircraft systems and keeps the plane running while the pilots steer.
In my opinion, it is the best job an enlisted man can have in the military. People who hate flying wouldn't think so, but I've wanted to do it ever since I came in. To be an FE, you have to have years of experience in maintenance or flying career field and a thorough knowledge of aircraft systems. I'm pretty stoked that I was accepted. I even had the opportunity to be an officer and make double the pay I make now, but I wouldn't have liked that job. I figure I'd rather do something I like. It's more rewarding than money I think. The pay isn't bad anyways. I make a comfortable living on Staff Sergeant (E-5) pay.
Anyways, another perk is that I get to choose the plane I want to fly on and choose the base I want to go to. I have chosen the KC-10 at Travis AFB in northern California. I worked on KC-10's years ago when I was stationed in New Jersey hence the screen name. The KC-10 is a very large three engine refueling and cargo jet. Fully loaded, it can take off weighing 593,000 pounds. I'll have some training in Florida, Washington State and San Antonio, TX. Most of it will be at Travis AFB. I'm currently trying to figure out how to get all of my stuff, a bus, three vehicles a wife and two kids moved 1,650 miles away. I'll probably sell one vehicle. I have a few months to figure it out. Anyways, here's a KC-10:
My future office (FE station behind Co-Pilot):