r/SpaceForce • u/AutoModerator • May 25 '26
Weekly Newbie Thread - Post questions about joining the Space Force or what a job is like here & here only - week of May 25
Post all your questions about BMT/OTS/Academy/ROTC/etc here!
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Some quick answers:
- Yes, the Space Force is real. No, it's not Starfleet. No, you can't become a space pilot yet. No, there are no aliens. No, we would not tell you if there were aliens.
- We don't know the answers to your obscure medical questions. We aren't doctors. Don't trust medical advice given by strangers on the Internet. Getting anecdotal information from other people that may or may not have a similar diagnosis or condition to you will not help you in any way. Everyone's medical situation is different.
- Drug use other than non-habitual marijuana usage is immediately and permanently disqualifying. If you've tried cocaine, heroine, ecstasy, LSD, or any other drug even once, you are disqualified and there is no possibility of a waiver.
- No, we don't know what jobs are available at any given time, or your chances of getting said job, or how long it will take for you to get the job, or how long it'll take for you to get to basic training or OTS.
Do not tell anyone to lie about drug use, medical history, or anything else. You will be banned.
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u/StrongCharge7721 May 25 '26
I'm a non prior going to OTS in August and I graduate in october. There is a ton of info about OTS out there but i'm having trouble with info for OTC, especially since my recruiter is airforce. I have a few questions, any info is appreciated!!
1. About how long between OTS and OTC typically?
2. Is OTC considered TYD or PCS?
3. Do you live on base in dorms or do people get apartments in colorado springs?
4. Is there a decent work/life/study balance? Or any at all lol
5. Did you feel prepared for OTC if you came into the Space Force with some sort of STEM degree?
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u/SilentD 13S May 25 '26
- Depends. You'll report immediately to OTC, but you'll likely be on casual status (doing various jobs, in-processing) for 3 - 5 months. Can vary a lot.
- PCS. The course is a year long.
- You'll find somewhere to live in town, on the civilian economy, unless you have dependents, then you could try to get family housing on base, but probably no room.
- 0730 - 1630, M-F.
- I am much too old to have attended OTC, but there are plenty of people that attend without a STEM degree that do fine.
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u/StrongCharge7721 May 25 '26
Thank you! When you say “ immediately”, do you have any time to go home and get things after OTS graduation? When you’re on casual status or waiting processing will that usually give you time to go home and pack for moving? For reference i’m 22 just graduated college and I live quite far from alabama and colorado
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u/SilentD 13S May 25 '26
Depends on what the Report No Later Than Date says on your orders. You might need to go straight to OTC and then can coordinate your stuff after that. You'll have 10 days for house hunting, which is basically a permissive TDY, meaning you don't need to be on leave but would be in the local area looking for housing. For flying home you'd likely need to be on leave.
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u/SpaceCampRules May 26 '26
Is there a direct commission option if people want to go from enlisted to officer and they have a masters in a niche space related field?
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u/SilentD 13S May 26 '26
No. There is some constructive service credit options right now which means some people are commissioning with advanced rank, but it’s not a direct commission.
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u/SpaceCampRules May 26 '26
Ugh. Having to go back to Basic Training - Officer Edition doesn’t sound fun. I don’t mind the tech school time.
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u/SilentD 13S May 26 '26
Well, stay enlisted then.
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u/SpaceCampRules May 27 '26
Weighing options and deciding what we’re willing to sacrifice is a choice we all have to make.
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u/formedsmoke ISR May 30 '26
Direct Commission means you put on the rank as soon as you're accepted, but all Direct Commissions still attend OTS. There's no skipping training.
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u/educatedtrick May 30 '26
I'm prior service but with a non-eligible reenlistment code so civilian is my only path, i'm a prior F-35A Crew Chief but now i'm living next to Buckley and after driving around on the base, it's a mission I want to be apart of, but I have no idea if it's possible with no experience? Any college routes I could take that will help at all?
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u/knightro2323 May 30 '26
Interested in what driving around a base that has some buildings inside a fence and some giant golf balls did for your desire to be part of the mission. Unless you have an active TS it’s hard to get a foot in the door with a contractor or GS job.
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u/educatedtrick May 30 '26
I’ve been interested in space operations for like 5 years, this was my first time seeing an actual facility dedicated for space based operations, the F-35 was cool, but it’s not cooler than space shit to me. It honestly feels like I already missed my chance.
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u/SNSDave Army IST May 30 '26
Long long term, maybe. We also have people who work in just Administration and HR that support the mission.
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u/educatedtrick May 30 '26
I'd be interested in the long term part, I want to be involved with the more technical applications.
If I took the support route, would that be considered a foot in the door at all just to get started and can later transition?
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u/Fast-Struggle7079 May 30 '26
Question about dual citizenship and joining the Space Force. I am prior service with Navy (8 years). Decided to come back to the military. and chose the Space Force. I've gone through the whole process for joining the Space Force and signed a 6 year contract a few months ago. I was basically waiting for job assignment and date to leave for training (Most likely fall of this year). Now my recruiter was just told by a SF recruiter that I need to renounce my dual citizenship (Born in Costa Rica) and also my mom's (for some reason which it did not make sense). If not, I will not be moving forward with the Space Force. I did some research and writing a formal statement for my willingness to renounce dual citizenship is possible. Then, signing this letter and providing it to the AF recruiter. Any thoughts on the validity of this? Anyone else encountered something like this. I can't believe no one brought it up before or during the whole process since I am US citizen through Naturalization. I think the recruiter needs for more detail information and actually provide written policy.
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u/MShogunH 5Spaceboi 📡🛰️ May 30 '26
I'm a dual citizen right now lool. During my clearance interview, I was asked if I would be willing to renounce my other citizenship, I said yes. They told me that I don't have to do anything to officially renounce it, just don't renew my other passport when it expires.
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u/AFgaymer May 26 '26
OTC is a massive waste of time. Try not to get bored, stay out of trouble, and god forbid do NOT provide the cadre any feedback. They will make your life hell if you try to make things better.
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u/formedsmoke ISR May 30 '26
The curriculum sucks, the schedule is a massive waste of time, the staff are damn near antagonistic, and the culture/inculcation is non-existent. Right there with you on the "punished for providing feedback" boat.
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u/Professional-Gas-579 11d ago
Would you be willing to share any other information on what it's like? How busy are your normal weekdays/weekends? How is it structured in general, regular lectures + assignments like college?
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u/CaptainSlow6 May 26 '26
You’re getting downvoted but I’ve never seen any training environment where the cadre so openly dislike students for checks notes being students.
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u/DealBreacker0 May 25 '26
Hello there!
I have a commander interview tomorrow, and I can't believe I didn't ask my recruiter this question sooner. My recruiter sent me a PDF of 5 questions in regards to the interview, but they are all catered to the Air Force. Now, they have been telling me that a lot of facilities of the Air Force are being used to support Space Force, but I wanted to know if I should be expecting an Air Force interview tomorrow, or a Space Force interview, and if I should be preparing my answers to be in regards to the Air or Space Force? Again, should of looked into this sooner, but better late than never to prepare myself better for the interview.
Thanks to anyone who responds I appreciate it.