Hello there everyone,
I was trying to Google more info about this job field because I just got a call today from my recruiter telling me that I landed this job and my leave date is the 28th of February. It wasn't my top choice, as the Client Systems job was my top choice, but this was my second choice because it seemed to appreciate a Computer Science major, which I'm currently working on and plan to finish while I'm in.
My main question is, for everyone with experience in the field, will this compliment my aspired Computer Science field? Will this job help build on that major with experience? Is it, if not an enjoyable job, a somewhat tolerable job? Can someone provide maybe a little bit of a background as to their thought-process while working in the field?
I'm sorry for sounding so inherently needy with my first post on your forums and I apologize if this might be in the wrong section. I just want to make sure that this is going to be a positive direction towards my future aspirations.
Thank you so very much for your time!
Not sure PMEL is going to be very complimentary to a Computer Science Program. While computers and computer based TMDE are very common, you don't get "inside" a whole lot. There is some programming and automating of procedures but for the beginning of your AF career in PMEL you aren't going to get to apply much of your computer science skills.
It is an enjoyable job or it can be a dull mundane chore depending on what you want to make of it. Look at everyday as an opportunity to learn something and use it as a step to something bigger with your computer science aspirations.
I agree with pmel whore. Especially in the military did you say what branch of the service you were going into? About the only thing you will be using the computer for is to look up procedures and enter the paperwork once you have completed the calibration. Watch this video it may give you a better idea what we actually do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxZBNYBoLLU
You may want to tell your recruiter you will not go if you do not get the job field you want. I believe you would be wasting your time going into PMEL. Of course this is just my opinion but a lot of calibration technicians do not have to do much with computers.
Try shopping around with other recruiters see what they have to offer then go back to your recruiter and say if you do not give me what I want I am going to join another branch of the service. Worst they can do is tell you no.
I do have to compliment Newwisdom01 for his diligence. Very good idea at this stage of life to check out the pros and cons of decisions that could make a very long term difference in your career.
I agree, when I joined the Air Force and went into PMEL I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. Not that it didn't work out well but I had no idea what I was going to do anyway, he obviously has a plan.
When I enlisted I hadn't gotten my US citizenship yet and PMEL/TMDE was one of the 11 jobs they had available for us foreigners with my test scores. I called a friend's father who was in charge of the QA division of the now closed GM plant here in California. He said we are always looking for calibration techs/metrologists. When you get out we can pick you up. That was in 1992 and in 1995 they closed the plant. So now I'm in aerospace with dual citizenship, well acknowledged by one country anyway. It's a good field with some variety in the type of work you can do when you get out.
Previous to enlisting in the military, I visited all of the recruiters. At the USAF office, one of the sergeants assigned there told me that I should strongly consider becoming a "Precision Measurement Equipment Specialist," where I would be working in a facility that is "seventy-three and dust free." Initially, I had no interest, but he wore me down and I signed on the dotted line. After spending four years in the USAF, I separated and had no intention of continuing on in the field. I got hungry, however, and wound up taking a job working for a major manufacturer of PME...
Looking back at this point, I have spent very nearly 40 years in the field and have seen DC Voltage uncertainty go from about 0.005% to a few parts per billion, the equipment evolve from vacuum tubes to microprocessor based, and have had the opportunity to meet many 'movers and shakers' in metrology over that timespan, as well as visit several national and high-end industrial labs. What could be more fun/rewarding/exciting than that?