Careers

Career Description

Whether it's B-2 bombers flying nonstop from Missouri to an overseas destination or a squadron of fighters on patrol over a combat zone, keeping those planes full of fuel and in the air is the job of In-flight Refueling specialists. Operating a specialized boom from the back of a KC-135, you'll need a steady hand and cool nerves to hook up to another plane at 35,000 feet and pump thousands of gallons of jet fuel into it. It's a difficult job but crucial to our ability to maintain air superiority around the globe.

Career Tasks

• Become skilled in basic navigation procedures so you can assist the Combat Systems Officer in determining and maintaining the plane's geographical position
• Continually train in order to be effective in your Air Force mission
• Fly training missions averaging four-and-a-half hours in duration

Relevant Interests & Skills

• Aircraft
• Science
• Electronics
• Maintenance and Repair
• Mathematics

Training

After eight-and-a-half weeks of Basic Military Training, every Airman goes to technical training to learn their career. Here's the basic information about In-Flight Refueling technical training:

School location: Lackland AFB [TX]

Length of course: 28 days

College degree earned: Aviation Operations

College credits earned: 11