How Does Air Force Life Compare to College Life?

Dormitory Life

Life for young, single airmen can be easily compared to college life in several ways. Military personnel are surrounded by other young people who are also single and oftentimes ready to enjoy some parties, but perhaps the largest commonality is dorm life. While some college students live in dormitories, so do some Air Force active duty members. Unlike other branches of the service, which refer to the living quarters as "barracks" or other terms, the Air Force refers to the living quarters as "dorms." After graduating from basic training and technical school, single airmen move into co-ed dorms that are amazingly similar to college dorms. Here they can mingle with other people during their off-work hours, much like college students who might mingle outside of the confines of class.

Education

Air Force members are constantly receiving additional education. Not only do they encounter education during basic military training and technical school, but they also have other educational requirements that are completed through both correspondence courses and in classrooms. Air Force members are also usually highly encouraged to pursue higher levels of college education. Colleges and universities often offer courses on base for the convenience of military members and their dependents. While the primary focus of Air Force members is the defense of the United States, education is a constant presence within the branch. In this sense, the Air Force offers a similar environment as college life.

The Difference

Although young, single airmen may live lives that are relatively similar to college life, there is a stark contrast that is constant. Air Force members are always at risk of getting called to pack up and go serve the country in a foreign land, and there are also strict regulations and guidelines that Airmen must adhere to at all times. For example, Airmen cannot indulge in some of the same self-expression allowed to many college students, such as dying their hair radical colors or speaking out publicly against political figures. While Air Force members might enjoy lives similar to college students within the same age range, make no mistake about it: Airmen are groomed for the possibility of deployment, while college students are groomed for the possibility of seeking out careers.