Guides

The AFSC profiles in the careers section tell you what a job is. These guides tell you how to get there and what you’ll have once you do. They cover the enlistment and commissioning process, the pay and benefits package, and the tests that determine which jobs and career paths are available to you.

Use these guides alongside the career profiles. If an AFSC page mentions a security clearance requirement or a specific ASVAB composite, the relevant guide goes deeper on what that actually means and how to prepare.

Guide Sections

Paths to Serve covers how to actually join the Air Force. Whether you’re considering enlisted service, commissioning as an officer, or a direct commission into a professional field, the process has specific steps, timelines, and requirements. These guides walk through each route.

Benefits breaks down the full compensation picture. Base pay is just the start. Housing allowances, food allowances, healthcare, education funding, and retirement all add up to a compensation package that looks very different from a civilian salary. These guides translate the numbers into plain terms.

Test Prep covers the ASVAB and TBAS, the two tests that shape which doors are open to you. Enlisted jobs require minimum ASVAB line scores. Officer candidates need competitive ASVAB results and, for rated careers, a strong TBAS score. Getting these right before your first recruiter meeting gives you the most options.