(Part 3) Top products from r/AirForce

There are plenty of options..

---Buy/Sell: Buy, new or used, from retailers such as Amazon, Chegg, or your local bookstore. Preferably in that order. Sell back at a reasonable rate. Keep in mind that you do not have to sell back to whoever you bought from. I have even dabbled at buying/selling textbooks on Craigslist locally (caution: buyer beware and meet the other person in the lobby of a bank to stay safe). Note that books will lose value as more editions come out. Generally the value of books fluctuates in seasons based on the semester, so retailers will run promotions to buy or sell, so so keep an eye out.

One example buy/sell: We the People, a common government textbook to satisfy one of your general education requirements. Buy: We the People (ISBN: 0393921107), used, off of Amazon costs $39.25 + $3.99 shipping. You can sell it to Chegg for $27.91. Your total cost at the end of that semester for that book is appr. $15.33!

---Rent physical copy: Amazon and Chegg both offer promotions on shipping that let you print out the shipping labels so as long as you return the rental book in the time allotted. Generally they are lenient and are due back a few weeks after the end of traditional semesters. ie. Chegg rentals for fall are due on 19 December 14.

One example renting physical copy: Chegg offers We the People for $15.99. Don't be late in returning the book or destroying the rental and it's a good option.

---Rent etextbook: You can get the kindle, pdf, etextbook version from the same retailers. Sometimes the formatting is weird and don't always include the entire textbook so beware of that and read the comments.

One example renting etextbook: Chegg offers We the People for $23.99 for 180 days (due on 4 May 2015)

---Obtain off the internets: sometimes the books are on google as pdf copies, usually from .edu websites. Other sites, etc.

One example of obtaining: free, but be careful and don't do anything illegal

---Always get used

---Do you really need the book? Wait until the class starts or contact your teacher in advance. Sometimes they allow you to get an older version or they use their own set of notes.

---Also you should qualify for the Pell Grant as long as your spouse doesn't make too much money and are enlisted (in that case you shouldn't be here complaining anyways). File your FAFSA through your school and see what they offer you.

---Go talk to your first shirt. Usually the First Sergeant's Association offers a scholarship as well as the Top Three to offset cost of education, usually comes in a check made out to you. Of course YMMV.

Good luck!

Hey! I'm currently in tech school for that very AFSC and I could probably help you out if you want! Drop me a PM if you have any questions!

About the books, there are a few books you can pick up.

Do you have the email you were sent in regards to you passing the voice audition? If you don't, ask your recruiter for it. If you do, take a look at what they say you need to work on.

Then pick up this book: http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Voice-Articulation-Lyle-Mayer/dp/0078036798

It is very expensive, but very worth it. There are all kinds of exercises in here to help you work on your voice.

Also, don't stress too much, because you're in great hands here at DINFOS. The instructors here know exactly what they need to do to get you on the right track, and will work very diligently to get you where you need to be.

Cheers!

A couple good recommendations I have (aside from Tom Clancy stuff which I read for recreation) are going to be

Guide to effective military writing

and

AF Officer's guide (Incredibly useful even as enlisted)

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I'm currently reading Ghost in the Wires, it's pretty neat. It's about this guy who hacked the FBI and then hacked their hack on him... pretty fun stuff. Talks a lot about the social engineering side of security.

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I have CompTIA Network +, Security +, and Apple OSx Certified Support Professional.

Best way to get them is just to study by purchasing the books.

[Network +] (https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Network-Study-Guide-Authorized/dp/1119021243/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473465885&sr=1-2&keywords=network+%2B)

Security +

ACSP

You can schedule the CompTIA certifications here

You can schedule the Apple certifications [here] (http://training.apple.com/)

You only really need Security + to get a DoD job, however, the most certs you have, the better you look in the eyes of potential employers. Most people I've worked with have never touched a Mac, but support clientele that work on Macs, so having a Mac cert is a big plus, but not at all required.

If you get a Sec+, and have a decent understanding of computers and troubleshooting, you'll find a nice entry level job normally working Helpdesk.

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553447718/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nyBJBbFJSPCPJ

GET. THIS. BOOK.

Seriously. It's used in marriage counseling and has an amazing success rate.

I wish someone had given this to me when I first got married. It's good for EVERY serious, romantic relationship. This book would have saved me literally years of heartache and struggle to keep my marriage afloat.

www.AFOQTGuide.com has some things that may help, along with some links to other sites. It wasn't around when I was studying, but looking it over it has some good stuff.

The books I used were Master the Officer Candidate Test and Barron's Military Flight Aptitude Test. The Officer Candidate book covers the entire test. The Flight Aptitude book was just a good reference for the pilot portions.

If you ever wanted to read about the interesting history of the creation of the SR-71, check out this book [Area 51] (http://www.amazon.com/Area-51-Uncensored-Americas-Military/dp/0316202304)

The last chapter or so of this book jumps the tracks and goes off on some crazy conspiracy theories but the first part on the history of the U-2 and SR-71 is pretty good.

I was a pretty good swimmer before I started training but I picked up this book in 2006: Total Immersion and it really helped me get better in the water.

This book series claims that it will be the Navy, since they were founded to "ensure freedom of navigation" and "defend civilian transportation".

A great book recommendation is: The Whole30.
It goes into unhealthy food relationships and helps you on what To Eat. My wife and I read it 5 years ago and it changed our food lives.

In case you shop Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Whole30-30-Day-Guide-Health-Freedom/dp/0544609719/ref=asc_df_0544609719_nodl/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312178271755&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3499817873983818254&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007743&hvtargid=pla-450195540651&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60258871377&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312178271755&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3499817873983818254&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007743&hvtargid=pla-450195540651

[This book is also an interesting look inside early skunk works projects.] ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316743003/ref=pd_aw_sims_10?pi=SL500_SY115&simLd=1 )

Much of the military and military tradition has it's basis in the south, and in the south, you take your hat off when indoors. Also when the national anthem is played.

http://www.amazon.com/Manners-Excruciatingly-Correct-Behavior-Freshly/dp/0393058743

There is a book about this called Roberts Ridge.

I heard this has been required reading for all new AF general officers.

I used this book and cross-referenced it with the Exam Objectives to create a study guide. No crucibles, just asked for a voucher and got my cert.

USB Camera Adapter, RVOKOMS Male to Female OTG Extension Cable, iOS to USB-A Female Connector Compatible iOS Devices with MIDI Keyboard Electric Piano Drum Mixer Microphone Audio Interface Camera 6in https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SDPB2LT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1OeVDbDPVK5EN


I found this but didn’t want to wast money without asking. Lol

Simply radiation, it does horrific things to anyone who survives beyond the initial blast.

This book is haunting and can explain it better than I ever could: https://www.amazon.com/Nagasaki-Life-After-Nuclear-War/dp/0143109421

Hahaha.... Yes. Yes people have felt this way before. I am not laughing because your question is funny - I'm laughing because those in the profession of arms, self included, have been feeling this way since the cradle of civilization in the war after the first war.

I'mma step on my soap box for a bit:

Speaking as a guy who has been in for awhile and been to the places that you've mentioned - anybody worth their salt has had those same feelings about the conflict(s) before them. I imagine most pilots over Iraq would have preferred to have been dropping bombs over the shit instead. Pilots from the 'Nam era talk about the glory days over MiG alley, and pilots over Korea will tell tales of victories and lost friends over Europe. Every Marine everywhere will always drive an extra mile for Chesty. In Korea the Glorious Glosters were literally wiped out while holding on to the greatness bestowed upon the badges of their regiment... earned 150 years earlier in Egypt against Napoleon's forces. The old soldiers storming Normandy hoped to honor those lost at Meuse-Argonne, and I could keep going on and on and on.

And now, speaking as a guy on the internet with no authority over you, I'm giving you homework. Amazon links are attached, but check your local library. Read about a soldier who was furious that he joined too late after WWII. Read about a small generation of men who was told the war was over, and that there was no need to train hard during peace. Read about some Air Force nonners who were promised protection on a lonely mountain top... in a country they weren't supposed to be in. Read about the fictional - yet all too true lesson that war is hardly ever over and that things never change.

I don't have a non-douchy, yet motivational way to say this... so hear goes: Your job, whether we are actively involved in a major conflict or not - is to prepare to go war. Your time may come, and when it does, it's best to be as prepared as possible.

And if it doesn't... well... at least you got a baller GI Bill and some tendies.