I just took my test for the third time to see what I qualify for in regards to jobs. They offered one that stood out for the Air National Guard and that was engineering drafting. I would be gone for 6 weeks basic training and 14 weeks tech school, it also comes with an enlistment bonus of up to $10,000 dollars and an automatic 18 college credits for attending the tech school. I was wondering what I can do with this engineering drafting training from the Air Force, how do I go about getting a job, starting and is it something worth jumping on. Most of all however how do I know I will like this? I would hate to get into it and find out the road is long and tedious. I just want to go through training, work through some steps and get the ball rolling. What ever advice you can give is welcome. Thanks all.

 

uhmm...what do you want to do in life? i mean, they placed you in something...doesn't mean you have to do it, or will even like it. What do YOU want to do in life is totally up to YOU...

 

I want to get into a good job that I can make a living off of, I don't have to pick this job... in fact they may not even want me to have it, and may want to fill a crap job slot. I found it out that it was open and that I qualified because I made them send me the full list of jobs I could have. I just want to know about it.

 

A drafter typically starts for between $20K and $28K. They can make upwards of $50K, with proper experience and good skills (ie, become chief drafter for a company - management + drafting skills required).

Bottom line - you'll never be rich, but you can make a living at it.

 

P.S. The company I'm with will pay up to $80K for drafters, as they are boosted to become "designers" after a few years, which warrants a lot more money. Most guys making that kind of money have been here 25+ years, though. Do an engineering degree - you'll make that money inside of 5-10 years, probably, depending on how good you are.

 

Are there any specific attributes to a good drafter or a "natural" per say? If so I could apply them to myself and maybe determine or get an idea if I'd be good. For example I loved creating new structures with my lincoln logs as a kid lol.

 

A good drafter is meticulous, methodical, and efficient. If you aren't meticulous, you'll make stupid mistakes and tick off the engineer with whom you're working. Attention to detail is critical.

If you're not methodical, you won't build a robust model/drawing that is easily modified (it WILL be modified, at some point).

If you're not efficient, you'll take too long and no one will want you working with them.

Those are the three things I look for in a drafter. I've only met two so far that have those characteristics (out of maybe twelve that I've worked with).

 

Engineering - Drafting? Never seen the two mixed now days. You have engineers and you have drafters. Usually drafters are a dime a dozen, however those with a military background are always favored. The company I use to work would allow ex-military people the chance to become engineers w/o having a 4 year degree. Why not go to a community college to get the ball rolling? That's what I did and five years later I received a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Sam

 

A BSME who are well versed in Pro-E, Catia, or Unigraphics seems to be in demand nowadays.

 

In manufacturing, you almost have to mix engineers and drafters. Engineers do 3D models a lot of the time but leave 2D (production) drawings to drafting. Occasionally either will do the opposite, but that's my experience. The last company I was with had five engineers and seven drafters. The drafters did most of the CAD work for the engineers, but were not allowed to sign off on drawings or designs.

An engineer doing drawings appears to be wasting his time, in my opinion, unless he's using them for FEA or something. Why "waste" a degree on drawing, unless you're doing fitment and the like for a new product? 3D drawings/models are one thing, but plan/production drawings are another ballgame entirely.

I've been in manufacturing since I graduated and that's pretty much how it is in both companies I've worked with so far. Engineers = calculations and preliminary design, drafters = drawings and models as needed.