Pros
The sense of satisfaction working for the U.S. Air Force is unparalleled. Even at a junior rank, the opportunity to impact national level decision making is remarkable. A tremendous amount of trust is placed in the hands of our junior enlisted members. Moreover, the opportunity for foreign travel (both being permanently assigned somewhere such as England or Germany as well as a deployment to the Middle East to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom) provide a great deal of pride in knowing that one is truly making a difference and contributing to our nation's national interests, which is an opportunity not afforded at other levels.
Cons
Unfortunately, for all the opportunities the U.S. Air Force offers, one gives up a significant amount of control over their own affairs by serving. Changing your residence every few years is common place, and with the current state of the Global War on Terrorism, deployments overseas are a part of the lifestyle that will not change anytime soon. Some may find the challenge of balancing family considerations with professional development and work expectations (such as going overseas for 365 days at a time) too difficult. That said, joining the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserves gives one control over where they live, though they too will certainly deploy overseas.
