How does the process work?
Step 1. Fill out the Air Force Application Above
You can simply click one of the AIR FORCE APPLICATION buttons above and fill out your information.
SSgt Carswell or SrA Moseley will reach out to you to cover pre-qualification information and get you set up for your PiCAT test (at home ASVAB test).
Now that your Air Force Application and pre-qualification is complete, it is time for you to take the PiCAT test.
What is the PiCAT and is it different than the ASVAB? They are essentially equal to each other. The difference is that you will take the PiCAT at the Recruiters Office or at home and will later take the PiCAT Verification Test (a condensed test used to verify your scores) at the testing site. The PiCAT Verification Test as well as the ASVAB are conducted at an official Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).
You will take the PiCAT Verification Test or ASVAB either at the MEPS here at Ft. Gillem in Forest Park.
If your scores are qualifying then you are are ready to be scheduled for the initial appointment. A qualifying overall score is a 31 or higher.
Your Recruiter will look to get you scheduled for an initial appointment here at the office in Morrow. We will ask you to bring the following forms with you to your Initial Appointment: Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, State Issued Identification or Driver's License, and High School Diploma or GED if you have already graduated.
If any additional documentation or paperwork is needed, such as paperwork for law violations or medical records, your recruiter will let you know. Once you get the documentation needed, reach back out to the recruiter and they will then get you scheduled to come in for your initial appointment.
Step 2. Initial Appointment - Discuss why you want to join the Air Force
During the initial appointment, we want to get to know you a little bit and really see what you're looking to get out of the Air Force.
We also want to answer any questions that you may have about the Air Force.
If you are ready to then commit. you will then be ready to fill out the Air Force job application online and sign initial enlistment forms to really start the process!
Step 3. Sign All Necessary Forms to Start the Process
The forms and brief description of those forms are listed below.
AF Disclosure Memorandum - Covers Privacy Act, Credit Check Disclosure, and Extremist Group /Gang affiliation.
DD Form 2005 - Covers Privacy Act specifically for Health Care Records
USMEPCOM Form 40-8-1-E - Covers Drug/Alcohol/HIV Testing
AF Form 2030 - Covers Drug and Alcohol Abuse
AF Form 3010 - Covers Dependent Care Responsibility
DD Form 1966 - Record of Military Processing
DD Form 2760 - Covers your eligibility to carry a firearm
DD Form 2807-2 - Covers your medical history
DD Form 2983 - Covers unprofessional activities between an Applicant and Recruiter
USMEPCOM 680-3A-E - Covers ASVAB testing information (this is your ticket to take the ASVAB)
USMEPCOM 680-3A-2 - Covers Authorization for Medical Record Release
You and your recruiter will sit down and cover all of these forms and you will digitally sign them using a PIN you will create.
Once these forms are filled out, your recruiter will submit something called a medical Pre-Screen. Essentially, this is a medical background check in a program called Genesis in which the doctors at MEPS will review and see if there is anything in your medical history that would require more information or could potentially disqualify you from military service. This Pre-Screen takes 1 week to come back and we will accomplish some other steps as we wait for it.
You will be scheduled for another appointment to take the PiCAT verification or ASVAB. As you wait for that appointment, you will go ahead and fill out your Air Force job application for your background check.
Step 4. Fill Out Air Force Job Application for Background Check
In this step, your recruiter will create your account on a program called Air Force Commissioning and Enlistment Portal (AFCEP) to fill out the Air Force job application.
This application is very detail oriented and takes a little time to fill out. Your recruiter will give you about 3-5 business days to complete.
In the application, you will need to list things such as where you've worked, where you've lived, where you've went to school, and you will have to provide reference and immediate family information as well.
Once this step is completed, you will be ready to get scheduled to go to MEPS for your physical.
Step 5. Go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
When going to MEPS, it is a 2 day process.
Prior to going to MEPS, your recruiter will set up a Pre-MEPS briefing in which they will go over how things work at MEPS and give you an idea of what to expect and how the process is going to work.
The same day you have your Pre-MEPS brief you will stay at the hotel in Atlanta.
You will then stay all night in the hotel and wake up at 4 AM the next morning so that you can go to MEPS for your physical to make sure that you medically qualify to join the Air Force.
During medical screening, you will do things such as a urinalysis (drug test), breathalyzer, hearing test, vision test, color vision test, depth perception test, x factor test (lifting weight up to your hips), a mobility test (duck walk, etc.), have blood drawn, as well as have a one on one with the doctor to discuss your medical history.
As long as everything goes smoothly, you will then sit down with the Air Force Liaison to go over your job application information to ensure accuracy.
Before heading back to Morrow, you will officially swear in to the Air Force Delayed Entry Program (DEP) by raising your right hand and taking the Oath of Enlistment!
Step 6. Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
Now that you have sworn in to the DEP, your primary responsibilities are to stay qualified, to stay motivated, and to prepare yourself for Basic Military Training (BMT). Your recruiter is going to give you plenty of tips and advice for success at BMT and throughout your AF career.
Your recruiter will sit down with you and you will create a list of at least 10 but up to 20 jobs that you can get hired for. This list will be based on what you qualify for, what you want to do, and the Air Force is hiring for.
Once that job list is created, you will just be waiting for a job that is listed on your job list to become available. When it does, it will have a date in which you will ship to BMT.
While in the DEP, there will be something called DEP Commanders Calls. You must attend these meetings as your recruiter has to see you at least every 30 days to make sure you remain qualified and are good to go.
Step 7. Ship to Basic Military Training (BMT)
You are now ready to ship to BMT and become an American Airman! Good luck in your career!