My oldest son is heading off to Air Force basic on Monday. Would any of you Veterans (particularly A.F. vets) care to share some advice on how to get the most out of it, and how to make things less problematic? Anything you didn't expect? Thanks.
El Ka-bong
Hopefully he's in good shape.
Tell him to bring a wrist watch, and wear it at all times. Bring a flashlight, something like a 2AA mini mag lite
Tell him to bring a wrist watch, and wear it at all times. Bring a flashlight, something like a 2AA mini mag lite
The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.
Tell him to keep his mouth shut and his ears open. It's really very simple.
Good luck to him.
Tell him to keep his mouth shut and his ears open. It's really very simple.
Good luck to him.
Things must have changed since I did basic in the '80's because we couldn't have any personal gear like watches or flashlights. In fact the only personal gear I recall being allowed was shaving cream, a razor, toothpaste, & tooth brush. Everything else either got packed away, discarded, or confiscated upon arrival.
Speaking of hygiene, it might help the young man to shave now and get a little practice in before he's given 5min to ****, shower, & shave the first night. It's a painful experience to many to learn how to shave a beard in less than a min.
I'd advise him to keep his mouth closed, listen, do what he's told, try to be the best he can at everything he's asked (er told) to do, and most importantly to remember to not take anything personally - it's just a game of sorts - keep your head in that perspective and you'll do fine.
Good luck to your son.
Speaking of hygiene, it might help the young man to shave now and get a little practice in before he's given 5min to ****, shower, & shave the first night. It's a painful experience to many to learn how to shave a beard in less than a min.
I'd advise him to keep his mouth closed, listen, do what he's told, try to be the best he can at everything he's asked (er told) to do, and most importantly to remember to not take anything personally - it's just a game of sorts - keep your head in that perspective and you'll do fine.
Good luck to your son.
He's at least going during the good part of the year. I did basic in the late summer timeframe back in the days. Let me tell you it sucked.
He never wants to be seen just sitting around. He need to always be doing something, preferably constructive. If the TI's, if they are stil called that, see your son as an overachiever they will bust his balls from time to time. However if they see him slacking off, sitting down and hardly lifting a finger they will ride him until he cries.
If your son is good at athletics advise him to step up and support his fellow trainees during PT. He needs to remember that there are individual awards at the end of basic, make no mistake this is a team effort to get through.
Day 0 he will want to start discussions with everyone in his flight to build comradery early. It will help a lot. He also wants to drop, if he has it, the attitude that he's the biggest badass out there.
He needs to search YouTube for any videos he can find on what boot camp is like. All the branches are different, but they have so many similarities. He should also learn how to make a bed without a fitted sheet. I saw too many people struggle with this notion and I had to help make a lot of bunks. When I went through we still were in "open bays."
He also needs to get used to the idea of seeing a bunch of naked men and not be hesitant. We had 10 shower heads for 20 guys. Needless to say you just had to suck it up and get stuff done.
He never wants to be seen just sitting around. He need to always be doing something, preferably constructive. If the TI's, if they are stil called that, see your son as an overachiever they will bust his balls from time to time. However if they see him slacking off, sitting down and hardly lifting a finger they will ride him until he cries.
If your son is good at athletics advise him to step up and support his fellow trainees during PT. He needs to remember that there are individual awards at the end of basic, make no mistake this is a team effort to get through.
Day 0 he will want to start discussions with everyone in his flight to build comradery early. It will help a lot. He also wants to drop, if he has it, the attitude that he's the biggest badass out there.
He needs to search YouTube for any videos he can find on what boot camp is like. All the branches are different, but they have so many similarities. He should also learn how to make a bed without a fitted sheet. I saw too many people struggle with this notion and I had to help make a lot of bunks. When I went through we still were in "open bays."
He also needs to get used to the idea of seeing a bunch of naked men and not be hesitant. We had 10 shower heads for 20 guys. Needless to say you just had to suck it up and get stuff done.
When I went to AF basic everything we brought was locked away and we went to the PX where we were required to purchase bathroom items.
It took a few days to get our uniforms - check the labels because the guys tossing stuff at you don't really care if it fits or not! After we got our unifroms we packed our civilian clothes with our luggage and it was loced away again.
Basically, remember to take nothing personally and try to stay unnoticed.
Tune out the screaming and don't smile. Also, start practicing how to answer questions while keeping your hands at your side. Hand gestures/movement is not allowed - try grabbing the seam at the outside of your pants while talking.
Air Force basic is probably the easiest of all the armed forces.
It took a few days to get our uniforms - check the labels because the guys tossing stuff at you don't really care if it fits or not! After we got our unifroms we packed our civilian clothes with our luggage and it was loced away again.
Basically, remember to take nothing personally and try to stay unnoticed.
Tune out the screaming and don't smile. Also, start practicing how to answer questions while keeping your hands at your side. Hand gestures/movement is not allowed - try grabbing the seam at the outside of your pants while talking.
Air Force basic is probably the easiest of all the armed forces.
It has to have been changed drastically since I took basic training at Lackland 63 years ago. Wow, that was a long time ago.
Remember to walk straight, keep your mouth shut, and ears open. Pay attention to the details.
Ignore all the hollering, name calling, weird hours, etc, and he will survive OK. It's just a matter of breaking down what was, to what is now. :thumb:
Remember to walk straight, keep your mouth shut, and ears open. Pay attention to the details.
Ignore all the hollering, name calling, weird hours, etc, and he will survive OK. It's just a matter of breaking down what was, to what is now. :thumb:
Basic, or any other high stress course can be fun, helps to have good fitness, aptitude, listening skills, leadership skills.....on and on
Do not wear leather boots or shoes. They have to be polished. Do not wear anything that will draw attention, no logo and messages on the t shirt. Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. If he had time, go to a professional gun range and learn how to shoot. You only get one day of training before you try to qualify. The most important thing he can do is apply for training in a career he can use on the outside. Basic won't last but his training will last a lifetime. The AF is perhaps the most technical of all the branchs. Good Luck
"The most important thing he can do is apply for training in a career he can use on the outside."
This is very good advice. I'm guessing though, that this is something that he negotiated with the recruiter before signing?
At least I hope he did.
There are girls in basic now. Absolutely, positively keep in mind that women in the military are soldiers...nothing more. A fast way to send your career off the rails is to chase a girl who has anything to do with the military (officer, other enlisted, civilian contractor, whatever). About a year before I got out (Army, not Air Force) they had really ramped up the sexual harrassment training to where it was pretty much a monthly ritual. I'd imagine he's going to get a heavy dose of that along with the "the enemy within" type of stuff that's designed to try and obscure the fact that 99.9% of the time, the enemy actually is a camel herder that bows to Mecca.
This is very good advice. I'm guessing though, that this is something that he negotiated with the recruiter before signing?
At least I hope he did.
There are girls in basic now. Absolutely, positively keep in mind that women in the military are soldiers...nothing more. A fast way to send your career off the rails is to chase a girl who has anything to do with the military (officer, other enlisted, civilian contractor, whatever). About a year before I got out (Army, not Air Force) they had really ramped up the sexual harrassment training to where it was pretty much a monthly ritual. I'd imagine he's going to get a heavy dose of that along with the "the enemy within" type of stuff that's designed to try and obscure the fact that 99.9% of the time, the enemy actually is a camel herder that bows to Mecca.
Run 2miles a day and 50 pushups daily to get ready... once there,head down,shut up and do what they tell you
Yeah, I thought Air Force basic was all about which pockets you keep your hands in and for how long.
Keeping your mouth shut and being a wall flower isn't the best advise if you want to be a leader and start off a military career with a bang. If he's a natural leader my advise would be to do what comes naturally. There are leadership positions in boot camp. There was in Marine boot camp. Not sure about the Air Force but squad leaders in boot camp graduated as an E-2.
I'm not sure if I believe what is on the official A.F website about how the recruits days are structured. According to the breakdown, they are only doing P.T. For one hour a day. The rest of the time (supposedly) is other (classroom type, if that is a proper description) training. Although he was put on delayed enlistment and was told he basically had to be able to pass the required physical requirements (push-ups, crunches, timed run) before he left here. He met with his recruiter several times in the 8 months he's been waiting so the recruiter could check his progress. I guess that could be how they are keeping the P.T. Down to an hour a day. Everyone is already at the proper level. He had to wait until a slot opened up in one of his chosen fields. Which explains the 8 month wait.
I appreciate all the input from everyone.
I appreciate all the input from everyone.
I have been retired almost 7 years but I guess the practice of taking husky boys and running them into shape is no more. A kid who works at the range I go to has been trying to get into the Marines for several months now but can't seem to pass some physical or size requirement. The kid has the off season football build so I don't know what the problem is...
Send about three hundred dollars with him.
We were issued CHEAP tennis shoes for running.
(Large bills, easier to keep track of)
When I was there in the early 80s
I had the cash to buy an iron.
That way I didn't have to wait to use one.
DO NOT GET DRUNK OR DRINK IN THE AIRPORT
Do not volunteer for laundry detail in the summer months.
(it is hot in the laundry)
Do not go in on a Friday. The weekend doesn't count as
training days.
Don't take any CONTRABAND. If it wont go on the airplane
you shouldn't have it anyway.
No guns, knives, dope, naked pictures of your girlfriend etc
Start running now. Start doing pushups now etc
Do NOT annoy the Army MPs, or the Air Force law enforcement
in the San Antonio air port. They have NO sense of HUMOR
HINT HINT HINT
We were issued CHEAP tennis shoes for running.
(Large bills, easier to keep track of)
When I was there in the early 80s
I had the cash to buy an iron.
That way I didn't have to wait to use one.
DO NOT GET DRUNK OR DRINK IN THE AIRPORT
Do not volunteer for laundry detail in the summer months.
(it is hot in the laundry)
Do not go in on a Friday. The weekend doesn't count as
training days.
Don't take any CONTRABAND. If it wont go on the airplane
you shouldn't have it anyway.
No guns, knives, dope, naked pictures of your girlfriend etc
Start running now. Start doing pushups now etc
Do NOT annoy the Army MPs, or the Air Force law enforcement
in the San Antonio air port. They have NO sense of HUMOR
HINT HINT HINT
Never take anything personally
Never stand out, nail that sticks out (good or bad) will get hammered.
Do what he's told without question.
Don't get caught laughing at dumbasses that are getting chewed on by their TI,
They will bring their wrath upon you (experience: ).
I took a few hundred bucks with me and it came in handy when I needed boots shined or something else and freed up my time for something else.
I also kept a tiny bottle of aspirin with me and learned to dry swallow them, lack of sleep would give me these raging headaches, but don't let them catch you with it!
Time is one thing he will not have much of his own, use it wisely!
If he has a nice girlfriend, send him photos after he gets there, always nice to know you have something nice to look forward to when you are done.
Otherwise Boot was easy, some of the more advanced training is when they will really test you depending on his AFSC. Some are a cake walk, couple of mine were ball busters!
He'll be fine so long as he doesn't have an attitude or is too stupid to tie his shoes.
.
Never stand out, nail that sticks out (good or bad) will get hammered.
Do what he's told without question.
Don't get caught laughing at dumbasses that are getting chewed on by their TI,
They will bring their wrath upon you (experience
: ).I took a few hundred bucks with me and it came in handy when I needed boots shined or something else and freed up my time for something else.
I also kept a tiny bottle of aspirin with me and learned to dry swallow them, lack of sleep would give me these raging headaches, but don't let them catch you with it!
Time is one thing he will not have much of his own, use it wisely!
If he has a nice girlfriend, send him photos after he gets there, always nice to know you have something nice to look forward to when you are done.
Otherwise Boot was easy, some of the more advanced training is when they will really test you depending on his AFSC. Some are a cake walk, couple of mine were ball busters!
He'll be fine so long as he doesn't have an attitude or is too stupid to tie his shoes.
.
An above post about not drinking reminded me of a couple of more things to add...
Don't drink at all when headed down to TX. All of the dumbasses I left Boston with, including myself at 17 yrs of age, got plastered on the plane ride down there. I look back on that and can't believe we got served but things were different then I guess. A couple of these other guys got busted because they were staggering but I was an experienced alchy by this time (I started drinking very young) so I walked on through but man those few minutes were something I wouldn't want to go through again.
Don't bring your stuff in a trashbag. Yes I personally saw this.
Do wear shoes and a shirt. Yup, saw that too.
On sticking out, unfortunately the AF doesn't want a leader to step forward, they will tell you who will lead based on prior college credits. Yeah...so...don't waste your time trying to get a promotion because all you'll get is a pile of sand to pound for your trouble.
Don't drink at all when headed down to TX. All of the dumbasses I left Boston with, including myself at 17 yrs of age, got plastered on the plane ride down there. I look back on that and can't believe we got served but things were different then I guess. A couple of these other guys got busted because they were staggering but I was an experienced alchy by this time (I started drinking very young) so I walked on through but man those few minutes were something I wouldn't want to go through again.
Don't bring your stuff in a trashbag. Yes I personally saw this.
Do wear shoes and a shirt. Yup, saw that too.
On sticking out, unfortunately the AF doesn't want a leader to step forward, they will tell you who will lead based on prior college credits. Yeah...so...don't waste your time trying to get a promotion because all you'll get is a pile of sand to pound for your trouble.
I've already posted, but I can't let myself not reiterate this again:
-WEAR A WATCH!!
I went through Army Basic in Feb. 2013. Out of a platoon of 50-55 people, maybe 10-15 of us wore a watch. Hopefully your son hasn't been corrupted by the idea of a cellphone as a primary source of time. He ships out soon, go to Wal Mart and buy 3 Casio F-91W's. There $15 bucks. Bring one for back up (two is one), and one more for a battle buddy
-Bring a flashlight
Those military 'elbow' lights suck and a 2AA Mini Maglite is very small, very handy, and perfect --- bright, but not too bright.
-Bring plenty of pictures
Again, he won't have much, if any access to his cellphone
-Make sure to have contact info of friends/family
It's all gonna be snail mail
-Bring stationary
A spiral notebook for letters and a few ballpoints pens. Sharpies too.
-Label everything
There may be times he'll have to mix in only half his dirty laundry with someone else's. I never felt comfortable wearing someone else's socks and underwear
Stretch well, hydrate well, be nice and respectful to your fellow trainee's and give 100% effort at everything you do.
God Speed to your son, ah salute!
-WEAR A WATCH!!
I went through Army Basic in Feb. 2013. Out of a platoon of 50-55 people, maybe 10-15 of us wore a watch. Hopefully your son hasn't been corrupted by the idea of a cellphone as a primary source of time. He ships out soon, go to Wal Mart and buy 3 Casio F-91W's. There $15 bucks. Bring one for back up (two is one), and one more for a battle buddy
-Bring a flashlight
Those military 'elbow' lights suck and a 2AA Mini Maglite is very small, very handy, and perfect --- bright, but not too bright.
-Bring plenty of pictures
Again, he won't have much, if any access to his cellphone
-Make sure to have contact info of friends/family
It's all gonna be snail mail
-Bring stationary
A spiral notebook for letters and a few ballpoints pens. Sharpies too.
-Label everything
There may be times he'll have to mix in only half his dirty laundry with someone else's. I never felt comfortable wearing someone else's socks and underwear
Stretch well, hydrate well, be nice and respectful to your fellow trainee's and give 100% effort at everything you do.
God Speed to your son, ah salute!
Just an additional thought;
Letters from you, his friends or especially his girlfriend are priceless.
Start writing them even before he arrives and then send them regularly.
Having your name called during mail call is almost euphoric,
Letters (and goodies) from home are THE best morale booster.
Assuming you want to do your part.
.
Letters from you, his friends or especially his girlfriend are priceless.
Start writing them even before he arrives and then send them regularly.
Having your name called during mail call is almost euphoric,
Letters (and goodies) from home are THE best morale booster.
Assuming you want to do your part.
.
My nephew went tough Air Force Basic a few years back and he shared a video of it with us. It looked to me like they had cleaned it up and made it more difficult, not the easy ride it once was. I was in the army many years ago and I thought it was easy. The problem today is a lot of our youth are out of shape and spoiled, not used to being yelled at. Start working out and learning how to take orders and he will be fine.
Tell him to remember that literally thousands and thousands of people have gone before him and successfully completed training. Other than that, let him learn on his own.
As far as taking things, I'd just go with what the recruiter says to bring,
He'll do fine.
I have no idea what Air Force Basic is like, but any military basic training is only impossible in a person's own mind.
As far as taking things, I'd just go with what the recruiter says to bring,
He'll do fine.
I have no idea what Air Force Basic is like, but any military basic training is only impossible in a person's own mind.
When I went through in 92, it wasn't a big deal at all. If he's in relatively decent shape, the PT won't be an issue. Unless they have upped the PT, but at that time you worked your way up to running two miles in something like 20 minutes. Not exactly hard. Be ready for a lot of classroom time. That was the most boring thing for me, standing around with nothing to do except read the Air Force book they give you. I had that stupid thing memorized by the time we got around to taking the test on it.
I have to say I enjoyed Air Force basic. It was more like camp then anything. Things might be different now but all you really needed back then was a good attitude and be in decent shape. This is definitely the time of year to go. I started in April and by the time we were done in May, we were hitting 100 degrees.
Just tell him to keep his head down and do what they say. He'll be fine. A lot of people with absolutely no clue have made it through just fine so he shouldn't be worried.
I have to say I enjoyed Air Force basic. It was more like camp then anything. Things might be different now but all you really needed back then was a good attitude and be in decent shape. This is definitely the time of year to go. I started in April and by the time we were done in May, we were hitting 100 degrees.
Just tell him to keep his head down and do what they say. He'll be fine. A lot of people with absolutely no clue have made it through just fine so he shouldn't be worried.
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