EDUCATION AND TRAINING TRADE SCHOOL
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Air Force Trade School |
Other Trade School |
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|---|---|---|
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Education Requirements |
High school degree or GED |
High school degree or GED |
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Tuition Assistance |
Yes; the Air Force covers tuition for everyone. |
Opportunities vary by merit and school. |
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Benefits |
Yes; housing, meals and health insurance are provided. |
No |
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Pay |
Yes; Airmen start earning a paycheck from day one of training. |
Yes; Airmen start earning a paycheck from day one of training. |
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Tools and Supplies |
Yes; all tools and supplies are provided at no cost. |
No; cost of tools vary by program. |
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Certification |
Yes; certifications are earned automatically at no cost. |
Yes, at an additional cost. |
FOLLOW YOUR PATH
Understand the steps you’ll take throughout the trade school journey. The Air Force provides guidance and support along the way to ensure you achieve your goals.
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01
01 EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
Meet with a recruiter to learn about available opportunities and everything you’ll need to enlist in the Air Force.
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02
02 COMPLETE BASIC MILITARY TRAINING
Your Air Force journey starts with Basic Military Training (BMT), a 7.5-week course designed to test and build your physical and mental strength.
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03
03 LEARN YOUR TRADE
After completing Basic Military Training, you’ll begin your Air Force trade school training. Classes are a mix of academics, classroom instruction and hands-on training. You'll start earning your paycheck as well.
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04
04 START YOUR CAREER
After graduating from trade school, you’ll start your career, hone your craft and receive valuable real-world experience.
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05
05 ADVANCE YOUR FUTURE
No matter what your future holds, most Air Force technical careers align directly with civilian trades making any professional transition you may make easier.
FAQs
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Air Force trade school varies depending on which Air Force career you are assigned. Under normal circumstances, trade school is between four and 52 weeks in length.
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Yes. Enlisted Airmen begin earning college credits from the first day of Basic Military Training (BMT). Upon completion, you will have earned four semester hours in Physical Education. Next, you will attend trade school, where you will continue to earn college credits toward an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science (AAS) that pertains to your Air Force career. Credits are earned automatically through the Community College of the Air Force, the world’s largest community college. After that, there are many educational programs that help Airmen pursue the highest level of education they wish. Tuition assistance is available at your permanent base; speak to your education counselor.
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Air Force trade schools are located primarily at the following four Air Force bases (AFBs):
- Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX
- Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX
- Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS
- Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX
A few Air Force careers conduct training at one of the following nine locations:
- Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, MD
- Altus AFB, Altus, OK
- Fairchild AFB, Fairchild, WA
- Fort Leonard Wood, MO
- Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton, FL
- Pensacola NAS, FL
- Presidio, Monterey, CA
- Vandenberg AFB, CA
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Yes. You'll start earning a paycheck as soon as you begin Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT), before you start your trade school.
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Yes, Air Force recruiters and other Air Force professionals can help you explore and discover what Air Force careers fit your interests and skills. Once you’ve found your career, the Air Force continues to help you achieve whatever professional goals you may have from strengthening your interview skills to advancing your qualifications.
