Military Service And Past History

The Air Force evaluates each potential recruit for a number of different levels of fitness to serve. What the military does NOT do, in general, is evaluate the people in the recruit's family. A spouse's financial history or the nature of a parent's military service is not taken into account for most of these considerations. Where these factors may play a part, however minor, is when it comes time to get an Air Force security clearance for some types of sensitive jobs. If a recruit applies for a military intelligence job, a career as a linguist, or other similar vocations, an extensive background check may be required. Having past issues is not automatically a bar to getting a security clearance, but it is very important to be honest and forthcoming in all background checks, lie detector tests, and other information-gathering methods the military may require an applicant to participate in.