Space Force FAQs!

Hello! If you are reading this then you signed up to receive information about joining the Space Force. I was supposed to send this out last month but I had a health scare that took me out of commission for a while…but I’m back now and better than ever! 🙂 

Here’s a quick About Me:

I’m a Creole Black woman from South Louisiana. Basically I am born and raised in the bayou and learned a lot from my elders and others about how to navigate life and corporate America. I share knowledge with people everywhere I go because it’s HARD out here and I want us all to win. I joined the Army back in 2005 so I’m familiar with military life. I think the Space Force is a great option for us, and I want to help people achieve their goals. I was a career services advisor at a local trade school so I am experienced with resume updates and making connections with employers for job placements. I also like giving advice about navigating corporate life when coworkers try to pull one over on us, this happens way too often. I’ve worked as a litigation paralegal for some of the top lawyers in my state. I have an undergrad in Criminal Justice Admin and a Masters in Management. I’m applying to get my PhD in Depth Psychology so I can try to help with the abysmal mental health treatment people receive here. I also want to prove scientifically that schizoid disorders are caused by spinal birth injuries.

Ok, this was longer than I anticipated but it gives you an idea of who I am. I’m the local favorite hood lawyer in my area, lol….but I don’t have a law license and any advice I share is not legal, financial, or anything of that nature. I’m just a nerd who likes sharing info.

Now - here are the FAQs.

Q: I don’t know a thing about the Space Force at all or the best options for joining or working for them, where should I start?

A: Their website is: https://www.spaceforce.com/

There are a couple of options for working with them, you can enlist or work as a civilian. 

If you enlist, this means joining the military and signing a contract for X amount of years, which means you would be eligible for military benefits. Military benefits are better than most benefits you will find at a public company. 

*If you’re thinking of going this route just remember this means basically signing your life away to the US government for a certain set of years, and should not be taken lightly. But, this is a great way to have a guaranteed income and stability if you are in a position to join. 

You can join as an enlisted member or an officer. The officer route requires a degree. If you are a leader and don’t mind managing a team, this is the way to go if you can. You can rise through the ranks as an enlisted member but the pay scale is lower and it will take more time. 

Q: Is there an age limit to enlist?

A: Currently, the age limit is 39. Other branches have a higher cutoff up to age 42. But, if I were you I wouldn’t join anything other than the Air Force or Navy.

Q: I’m currently a contractor with the federal government, what should I do if I want to work as a civilian for the Space Force?

A: Their civilian job site is: https://afciviliancareers.com/space-force/

They are accepting apps from current contractors. Go ahead and check out the site and see if there are any locations near you with openings!

Q: What is the pay for enlisted members?

A: 2023 Basic Pay Table.pdf

Q: I don’t have a degree. What are my options?

A: You can enlist and earn a degree under their dime in a couple of ways:  https://www.spaceforce.com/education/enlisted OR (this one is for the younger crowd): https://www.afrotc.com/life-after-rotc/#:~:text=Air%20Force%20ROTC%20is%20a,Operations%2C%20Developmental%20Engineer%20and%20Acquisitions.

If you want to join as a civilian you can enroll in school and apply for internships.

Q: I tried to enlist but I was denied for health reasons. What are my options?

A: Look at civilian options or wait it out for whatever time period they gave you depending on your health condition. Sometimes people can get waivers, but you have to be connected to “someone important” for this. *And, I’m not sure about the SF and their options for that compared to other branches.

**If you have any questions that aren’t listed here, respond and let me know! I read and respond to all messages. Also, I’m more active on LinkedIn during the day than other platforms, so feel free to add me and send me a DM if you’d like to connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriahjohnson/