Just looking to get some advice on what job I should pick as my "back-up" in case I don't pass the PAST before my ship date. I am currently in the DEP, but have not booked a job. Out of the 5 I listed at MEPS, the top was ATC, and then mech. jobs for the rest.

Say I don't pass the PAST and have to go in under another job, would ATC put me ahead of the game for retraining into CCT at my 3 year mark? What would the pipeline be like during ATC training, if I already was ATC?

Levi

if you want CCT just pass the test, dont take a job you dont want just because your not there yet. If your goal is CCT then thats what you should do. If you fail you can re-test in 30days.

This is me just speculating but i think if you wanted to pick a job closer to CCT go TACP instead of ATC, but i would foucus on just passing the PAST and going with your number 1 choice. If passing the test just is not going to happen with in 2-3 trys you can cross train into CCT and PJ after only 2yrs, but i still wouldn't bank on it. Also isent ATC a 6yr commitment right now no matter what, as in you cant even sign for a 4yr enlistment as ATC. So i dont know if they are going to want you to cross train out of it, or if you having to sign for a 6yr enlistment will effect cross-training


Good luck and make the best choice for yourself

I appreciate the input. That makes sense that they wouldn't want you to switch if you had to do 6, I'll have to check into that... I am working hard on getting in the best shape possible, the only reason I am asking is because I have to book a job soon, and would like to be able to cross train into one of the spec. tact. jobs if needed in the future. TACP is the other one I am interested in. Is there many guys who do the switch from TACP to CCT? Or are they mostly satisfied with TACP?

Check out www.romad.com for more TACP info.

Word of advice from someone who is crosstraining it is not easy at all. Then you are coming out of a Chronic Critical Short(CCS) job which is harder. Do a search and there is a guy on here talking about trying to crosstrain out of ATC right now and he says its a mutha. So my advice is just go CCT and then you don't have to worry about all that, plus you dont want to wait 3-6 years to do what you really want. Just put in the time, get in shape and go for it. Remember crosstraining is a priviledge when you get in the Air Force so they dont have to let you.

I will piggyback off of noneother's post. Take it from a guy who spent 6yrs as a mechanic...you DO NOT want to be in the Air Force Maintenance career field. Trust me!!! I promise you with every last drop of blood in my veins.

Dont sit and wonder what you should do for a back up. This isn't something you only put a few eggs into the basket. You put your all and everything into it. Every egg in this basket and if you work hard because this is what you want. You wont need a plan B. Dont take the PAST until your ready. This is your future don't throw it down the drain by taking a job you do not want. What they have said to you is very true. Most of us are in the Air Force already and Cross-Training...it's not a simple process. It took me over a year from start to finish and I almost wasn't able to. Work Hard and don't worry about plan B!

haha, I can attest that the above is true. I start my retraining packet in June, and am a Russian Linguist. (Very high on the chronic critical list). I haven't even started the process yet, and it's taken me almost a month just to get straight what that process specifically is and figure out how many blasted waivers I'm going to need. (And I'm sure that number isn't final yet) Quite looking forward to getting it all out of the way though.

Thanks for all the help guys! I'm going at it full bore and not setting myself up for failure, if that's what it seems like above. It sounds like a bitch to cross train, probably even more so than doing CCT to begin with! So i'm going to try my hardest to make it the first shot.

1) The past should be a warmup. Train until it is.

2) mmgon is correct. Do or do not. Go for it or don't.

Any word on if they are taking "volunteers" to take the PAST at BMT? Or do you have to go down GTEP for CCT?

Just talked to a guy that graduated from BMT last month and he said no, no one get to take the PAST at BMT other then people that are allready going for PJ, CCT.... or the other ones that need it.

Also there is a pined topic on the forums that talks about how the chances are slim to none to take a PAST at BMT.

Thanks for the update, I did look at the topic above- but it's from 04 so I figured it wasn't too accurate... turns out it is haha.

i went and did a "practice" PAST the other day, was ill prepared for it as i had been out of town for a wedding, partying all weekend. there were some guys doing the official but i havent gotten there yet. i ended up doing well enough to qualify for PJ. i am an athlete, but i know that my long term training really paid off even though the days leading up to the test included very little sleep and lots of beer. biggest thing is, just work out every day and you will be fine. i know i will do even better next time!

I am still working out daily and am setting up a practice test with my recruiter soon. It should go well, I've done a couple on my own and was just close on the run and push-ups. All in all I think I'm doing better than I initially thought

@ MMcGon

Thats a lot of eggs......SO MANY EGGS!