My name is Eric J. Deer and I am a Staff Sergeant who has been serving the United States Air Force for more than 8 years. I am originally from Alamogordo, New Mexico. I decided to join the Air Force initially because trying to go to college, work, and improve myself at the same time to be successful was a huge challenge. I wanted to gain life experience and learn something that I would be able to use for the rest of my life.

I wanted to reach out to you to see what you have planned for your future! Big changes are coming around the corner where you are needing to figure out what your next steps may be. Is it College? Is it work? Or have you looked into the United States Air Force as a potential Career Pathway?

I want you to be assured that by pursuing an Air Force career you are setting yourself up for an amazing quality of life as an Airman, with benefits and resources available to you that are unmatched by other avenues.

Joining the Air Force was hands down the best choice that I have made. I started with nothing and immediately after joining the Air Force I was able to achieve things I never thought possible. My journey began at Basic Military Training (BMT) in San Antonio, Texas. After Basic Training the Air Force sent me to a technical training school through the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) in Wichita Falls, Texas. This is where I started working on my first college degree, an Associates of Applied Science (Everyone who joins the Air Force is automatically enrolled within the "CCAF", our regionally accredited community college, the Air Force is the only military branch to have its own College). BMT and my technical school took about 6 months. During technical training I lived in a dorm room with 1 other Airmen, and aside from my weekday school hours I had every other moment to myself to do whatever I wanted to do.

After Technical Training my first duty station was at Whiteman AFB, Missouri working on the premier $2.2 billion dollar Bomber, the B-2. Here at my first assignment I was able to learn aircraft knowledge and improve cultural awareness by traveling and exploring some of the most beautiful parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Northern Arkansas. Being from a small town in New Mexico, it was incredibly exciting to get a chance to live in a totally different part of the country, experience the culture, and a different way of doing things.

At this point only being in the Air Force for about three years, I had experienced these great things and a life style that I had always wanted for myself and was able to achieve it in such a short time period. Now at 8 years of service I’ve achieved two Associate Degrees and a Bachelor’s Degree. Since living in Missouri, I’ve traveled to many places (temporary duty locations) such as Las Vegas, Guam and even Iceland! I've been here in Anchorage, Alaska for a couple months and enjoy the beautiful sights and future outdoor activities.

I want you to know that I am here to help you set yourself up to achieve your goals and dreams as I have and invite you to sit down and talk with me about your potential options and opportunities. Feel free to call or text me at 907-201-1863 or even e-mail me at Eric.deer@us.af.mil. I wish you the best and look forward to hearing from you to help start you on your amazing journey!

If you have a simple process it should take 3-4 months before you ship out to basic training in San Antonio, TX. Each recruiter may run their process a little bit differently depending on the area they are assigned to. Here’s how I run it out of the Anchorage, AK office.

Step 1: Get prequalified. I’ll pre-screen you over the phone to check for any red flags that are disqualifying to enter such as serious medical issues/law violations/drug use/etc. I’ll send you a practice test you can take at home to give you an idea of how you'll score on the ASVAB. If your pre-screen and practice test scores are good to go, i'll schedule your initial appointment.

Step 2: At your initial appointment you must come prepared with your original copes of your social security card, birth certificate, high school diploma, college transcripts (if applicable), and a state issued ID (drivers license, state ID, passport, etc.). I will build you a profile in our system and we will review all necessary paperwork. I will provide you a background check packet that must be completed by your next appointment. We will go over all benefits, answer any questions, ensure you’re ready to join, and are open to current Air Force needs. Air Force needs currently include all mechanical aptitude jobs, electronics aptitude jobs, security forces, and special warfare positions. While we have 135+ career fields available and book a wide variety regularly, we cannot guarantee or create positions based on applicants wants.

Step 3: Once your background check are completed I will submit a scheduling request to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) for your ASVAB and physical. The physical is not a PT test. The physical will be checking qualifying factors such as vision, hearing, blood tests, drug tests, etc.

Step 4: MEPS will be taking precautions and will be screening everyone for covid-19 traits or exposure upon arrival. Once scheduled for MEPS you will go down and complete your testing on the first day. You’ll spend the night at a hotel nearby free of charge and do your physical the next day. Once the testing and physical is complete you will know what jobs you are qualified to do based on academic and physical results. You will complete the oath of enlistment, swear into the Air Force, and be a new member in the delayed entry program (DEP).

Step 5: The delayed entry program (DEP) is everyone who is qualified and waiting to book a job or has booked a job and is waiting for their ship date. We will complete your DEP briefing and give you some time to review the jobs you are qualified for so you can make an educated decision. I will be available for any questions you have and to discuss realistic options. When you are ready we will send a list of 10-15 specific jobs that you would like to request our operations center. You will never be forced into anything that you are not qualified for or requesting.

Step 6: Once a month our operations center will receive 100+ contracts. At this point they will review every DEP member in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon that does not have a job and will align contracts based on applicant's request and Air force needs. Air Force needs currently include all mechanical jobs, electronics jobs, security forces, and special warfare positions. Once you book a job you’ll receive a date to leave for basic training typically within the next 1-3 months.