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The organization that would become the U.S. Air Force actually predates the advent of the military aircraft. With the Wright Brothers' Kitty Hawk flight, traditional methods of combat began their slow journey to obsolescence. Recognizing the importance of the new invention, the U.S. Army Signal Corps began its Aeronautical Division in 1907. The first military aircraft was developed by the Wright Brothers soon afterwards. The U.S. Congress established the Air Force as a separate service in 1947 after American pilots played a decisive role in the Pacific during World War II. After 50 years, the world's most respected air and space force is currently pushing in new directions to keep up with a changing world by emphasizing speed, precision, and high technology. Recently, however, the Air Force's reputation as the most progressive of the forces has come into question as allegations of sexual harassment surface. In 1999 the Air Force failed to meet recruiting goals for the first time since the 1970s. In response, the Air Force Recruiting Service launched the Air Force Experience, a traveling display complete with flight simulators, interactive kiosks, and a fully functional F-16 Falcon. The Air Force hopes to reconnect with the American people and thus spur increased interest in military service.
The Air Force recruiting site www.airforce.com describes the available positions within each Air Force department, including information about enlisting and entering officer training. All candidates must meet certain physical requirements. Those applying for civilian jobs do not have to meet age requirements, though all others must apply before their 30th birthday. The Air Force's recruiting hotline provides much of the same information as its Web page.
Members of the other branches of the armed services call Air Force personnel "civilians in uniform," because they are "more relaxed and down-to-earth" than the other military services. While the pay may be "low," the benefits "cover every aspect of life" and the pay raises are "constant." The Air Force also offers "comprehensive," "cutting-edge" training in advanced technology that gives veterans "a real advantage when they enter the civilian workforce." Civilian employees working for the Air Force, meanwhile, report that they must follow "strict regulations," though not as "severe" as those for enlisted personnel.
Human Resources (800) 423-USAF More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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