Career Opportunities - You need to start working towards your career goals from day one, because you are constantly compared to your peers and once you fall behind them your opportunities for advancement will begin to dwindle and you can't catch up or start over.
Compensation & Benefits - The Air Force is downsizing and budgets are getting slashed. Like most organizations payroll & benefits are prime cost cutting targets.
Work/Life Balance - An AF career is a big commitment. You have little control over your schedule, location, combat, risky jobs, etc., and you will constantly have to make choices between the AF and your personal life. Serving your country is very rewarding, but you need to make sure you have a life to go back to at the end of the day and after your career ends.
Senior Management - Military leadership will always be subordinate to politically appointed leaders and handcuffed by federal processes and regulations. That's part of what makes the US a democracy, but can also be a handcuff.
Culture & Values - "Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do" it's a simple ethos, but can be misapplied. If you always put service first you will burn people out. If you push for perfection as opposed to excellence you will create unattainable expectations and temptation to sacrifice integrity.
