I ship out for USAF basic in 6 days.  Anybody have any first-hand experiences they would like to share?
969256
you'll be fine ... basic is just a game, dont forget that just take it all in stride ..ur exercizing will help alot.
983238
This worked beautifully for me:  I joined the AF after 1 1/2 years of college - it was during Vietnam and I did consider the fact that I could be drafted and chose AF as best of service for me - because college felt like a continuation of HS and I was not challenged.  Joining AF was best thing I could do.  Loved the four years.  Trained as analyst and that helped my analytical thinking and assessments I would do in my career: Investigator.   When I discharged from AF I returned to college with renewed vigor.  Also, got GI bill that helped a lot.  Also, I was able to grow up during my AF years with so much responsibility and I saw most of the Far East, Washington DC and one year in Texas which I also loved.   Your situation seems a lot like mine was with the exception that you are not looking at the draft - at this time.   Good Luck.  Email me if you have other questions.
833606
Try the link below to see if you can hook something up through them.  I have a list of websites, but it's mostly geared towards soldiers who are deployed, this is the only one that looked viable.  \n\nDon't listen to everyone else who says he needs to budget.  While that is true, if your son is lower enlisted and far enough away that he'd need to fly home, chances are he could actually use the help.  My husband and I have been married since he graduated BCT, and trust me, I understand the money thing.  \n\nIf he's not in a hurry, he could fly Space A for really cheap, but that will only get him so far, he'd still have to pay for transportation home from and back to the airport where they drop him off, and there's no guarantee on dates and times.  Also, if there's a civilian run travel agent on post where he's stationed, have him check there.  Whenever I fly home (from Germany) I book my tickets at the travel agent on post and they usually have some really good deals.  I elected not to go through the emergency channels (for expediency) last time I went home, but still got a ticket through the office on post for half what they wanted online for a flight the next day.  \n\nUnless there's an emergency in the family, there's no place within the military that will help with elective travel.
1094115
it's nice to hear the air force is treating you well ... I was a army wife and it was not" 90210 "like you explained ...{thanks for the dumpy comment }, My husband was a GRUNT in Bosnia and in Afghanistan ... It was sheer hell for me and our 2 boys .. Im thankful for Ft. knox they did all they could do to make it as easy as they could for us during my husbands deployment... No matter what branch all these men and women are HEROS ! I was not aware that there were people who did'nt support our troops ... I just thought it was Bush they did'nt support ! being a "army" wife is very hard!!{ there is no fun and games at war} maybe I should have had my husband Join the airforce so we could not appear to be so dumpy!!! My husband is a hell of a man and Im very proud of what he has done for our country.. HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1063063
It's gonna be tough, but not overly so. Try not to sweat it too much. BCT for the combat jobs is a bit more intense. This is on account of the more intense 'working" environment. Fort Sill is on of the more "pleasant" posts for basic training. (that term being relative of course.)  You'll be hating life for the first week or so, this is what they call the "total control" phase of basic training. After that phase, it gets progressively more relaxed as the D.I.'s see that you're coming along satisfactorily.\n  P.S. You'll notice during B.R.M. (basic rifle marksmanship) that the drill sargeants are particluarly nice. Has somethng to do with the private having a loaded assault rifle I believe.
369151
Well if its anything like Army basic training you won't get a lot of time to eat so don't be picky. Take what you're given, scarf it down and try not to get noticed. Make sure you drink a lot of water, you won't be allowed pop, you may or may not get juice and milk (in our basic we had to drink at least one glass of water before getting juice or milk). Generally chow halls serve some kind of meat with a starch and a vegetable, its all normal American food, maybe not the tastiest or best cooking, but you're not going to get weird food you've never seen before most likely. For breakfast its bacon and scrambled eggs, maybe sausage, hashbrowns, maybe pancakes. The first few weeks of basic I got pretty much about 4 minutes from the time I sat in my seat to the time the drill sergeants were yelling at me to throw my stuff away and get out of the chow hall. Learn to eat quickly! A good trick I saw a lot of guys do was to grab a few slices of bread and cram those down, at least you feel full for a little while. Also, if you ever get  night when the chow hall puts on a big spread like steak and lobster etc (it happens sometimes) and the drill sergeants let you all eat your fill be very suspicious! Chances are you are going to go straight from the chow hall to physical training and work out until you all puke. Good luck!
775789
It has changed greatly since my days in the Air Force, But I spent my first year after Tech school at a place called Murphy Dome AFS Alaska \n(a radar/BMEWS site). And I simply put in an eight hour day (five days a week) behind the control board or staring at a radar scope. \nFrom there I volunteered for the 4400th CCTS where I was trained as a combat controller.(ETAC) Life changed a bunch from sleeping in a nice comfy private room to being imbeded in a Special Forces unit (bluesuiter)  in the jungles of Vietnam.
551333
I'm also a 92-day reservist and have been in the Corps now for 5 years. I went to Parris Island in May 2001, I was also a full time student at University at the time. My recruiter was the one that told me the options revervists had and mentioned the 92-day reservist option. I had high scores on the ASVAB and was slated to do Communications....the school for that is 12 months long...I obviously coudn't do that as I was in school and decided on Logistics...which is only 2 months long. Picking an MOS is easy you just have to consider a nearby reserve unit in which has an open billet for your MOS. While in boot camp, I broke my leg and was given the option of a full medical discharge or start over again the following summer (I immediately through this out as I would never go through 1st Phase of boot camp again). I opted to give up my 92-day reserve status and stayed on the island an extra 2 months while my leg healed. I picked up where I left off and graduated 3 weeks after joining my new platoon. I missed the fall semester from school and wanted to catch up. I asked my recruiter if there was anyway I could go to MOS school for the remainder of the semester. There was a class that started right after graduation, so I had to give up my 10 day boot leave and check in straight to school after graduation. I finished in time to start University again for the spring semester and that following May, I went to MCT for 4 weeks. (Yeah I did this in the reverse as I didn't want to go to MCT in the cold fall months). \nNow as to your other questions....my unit got activated and deployed back in 2003. The other 92-day reservists who hadn't completed their training were sent off to do their training and then joined their deployed unit later. Some went beck to the rear where they were kept active or went back to reserve status...it just depends on your command. So in times of war....yes, this happens alot. If you get activated...you are under orders and so must pull out of school (which I did) and work. I think Iraq is slowly winding down and doubt much more reserve units will be activated...unless we decide to go into Iran. Talk to your recruiter and let him know your concerns. \nSemper Fidelis. \nOut!
1133424
i am here now and i would suggest...lotion, your an extra unit patch for when you hit your mark youll look squared away cuz youll have yours, lots of white socks,extra shower shoes,yours will surely break after the first few months, you will have hot water...atleast 99% of the FOBs do now. Just to put it this way...your trip from the states to actual iraq will be a hurry and wait thing...youll be in kuwait for a good minute, not to mention going to other camps until you actually get to yours. Bring ear plugs( its part of your IBAS but bring an extra pair) make sure you have a flashlight for the power occasionally goes out. When you get over here you might have a chance to buy a phone like i did. Dont bother bringing phone cards because most of the places here require certain ones. DEET...yes bring some deet..flys out here are CRAZY. My room has a fridge,microwave, and tv but me and my roomy had to buy them, once you get settled in youll want to buy those things ...bring a power adapter and a power converter...if you have a playstation or things like that youll need to convert them from 220 - 110. I actually sent my DCU's home just because i dont wear them here...or the dark brown t-shirts. The laundry here usually takes 3 days turnaround..it sucks not to be able to do it on your own but you have to adjust right?Bring every pair of eye pro they have issued you because you WILL LOSE a pair or two. Body wash definatley makes life a little easier. 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner helps also. Make sure that in your pack..you pack all of your electronic gear and things youll need in a hurry ...eye pro..underware...so and and so forth..since youll be in kuwait a while you dont want to have to search through you A, B , and C bag for everything you need....Also if you can pack everything in zip lock baggies...it takes the air out and you can fit things more effectively in your duffle. you wont know your addy until about 4 weeks in. so make sure your family knows so. USO will give you gift bags while your at the air field with playing cards, beef jerkey, shit like that...and you have to take it so keep in mind that you will be gettting more things even when your bags are already full. There are also certain sizes that your carry on bag has to be so make sure that you dont pack it too full....good luck with your travel...its a long ride so get as much sleep as you can...i think youll be making a stop in ireland...get a smoke break and stretch out take a pee in an actuall latrine.....just be patient when you leave because itll be a long wait.....good luck!!! anymore questions contact me!!
195538
Additionally..access to base facilities like the gym, access to Child care(either an in home provider or the base day care centers), docounted tickets at ITT/MWR for places liek Disney and Sea World.\n\nAccompanied orders will be funded, including moving all of your household goods.  \n\nAccess to Hotels and resorts across the globe at significantly reduced rates.  Shades of Green at WDW in Orlando, The New Sanno in Tokyo, the Hale Koa in Honolulu to name but a few.  \n\nThere are also seminars and workshops offered through the Fleet and Family Support Center for things like help with resumes, job placement, even crafts and socializing.  I HIGHLY recommend that you take the Spouse 101 Class as soon as you can.  It's a great intro to Navy Life and can help explain the weirdness that is the military lifestyle.
283386
Recently I attended an excursion to our Airport in the capacity of a parent helper. Wow it was sooo fun.... we followed the yellow line in single file out on the tarmac as if we were planes about to take off. We learnt to recognise  the various signs within the airport eg. toilets, exit etc.\nBut the best part was when a Blackhawk helipcopter landed to refuel and the two pilots invited us to hop in and sit and walk through it. We got heaps of pics.
627425
Dig it: I was at both.  Ft. Jackson for BCT, and Knox for AIT (Bradley Mechanic).  Between the two, I spend 6 months in AIT at Ft. Gordon, GA.  This was a while ago, during the Clinton Administration when the Army was experimenting with "Low Stress" basic training.  I can tell you this: when asked during our final inspection what, if anything, we would change about basic training, of the 60-odd men in my basic training platoon, all but one said they'd make it harder.  We were all disappointed with how easy it was.  \n\nAt Gordon, I met some guys who did what they called "Pro-Train" at Jackson.  Apparently it was the exact opposite of what we did; thirteen weeks, ridden hard and put away wet.  Gordon itself was a very relaxed post for training, but it had to be.  AIT could be anywhere from 8 months to a year and a half.  You can't ride someone like you would in basic for that long.  \n\nFt. Knox was a wake-up call.  My MOS was reclassified and I was reassigned there.  Toughest time I had in training.  We did PT twice a day, training most weekends, ran to and from school, and had an hour of personal time at night if we were lucky.  But when I came out in the best physical and mental shape of my life, I felt an unparalleled sense of pride that I did not feel after basic training.\n\nRanger6 has the right idea.  Trying to get off easy is only cheating yourself.  Enjoy Ft. Knox.  It will be one of the toughest times of your life, but you'll live through it.  And you'll be able to stand just a little taller than some.  Good luck.
885241
Guaranteed, you will deploy to Iraq as SF.  You will mainly escort convoys, guard the base perimeter, and maybe do a sweep of a local area if necessary.  Everyone is being deployed so I really wouldn't worry about going, but the deployments are about 6 months at a time.  It is not as bad as people make it out to be, I have some friends in the Marines that are over there and they said that it's really not bad at all.
323996
I was in Ft Hood for 4 years.  We just moved to Ft Jackson last Nov.  My husband is a Drill Sgt here.  If you have any questions about Hood, feel free to message me!
1125960
Hi there, as a former AF type of 8 years I think I can answer this pretty easily. We'll take the questions in order.\n\nBasic training length? With travelling, waiting for the class to arrive or the like, you can expect the time of going to the MEPS station and completing AF Basic to be approximately 2 months long.\n\nWill you be able to spend time with him after that? That all depends on you, him, and the training school he gets arranged to go to after Basic. You can go and see him graduate from Basic, and spend the day with him, but that would be about it for being in Texas. Typically, to assure a smooth transition, new airmen get travel orders directly from Basic to their tech school. This tech school can be another 2 months long if it's small, or as long as mine, of a year and change for cryptolinguist studies. You can figure on an average of 3-6 months for tech school though.\n\nSpending time apart? It happens. I was in the military for 8 years, and of that I spent about 3 and a half years of that overseas. Typically, unless you're deployed to a war zone like the Middle East is right now, an overseas deployment is no more than 1 year long in duration. Either way, the biggest thing that both you and he need to realize here is this... once he signs on the dotted line his life is leased out to Unka Sam.. he goes where they say, when they say it, and for how long they want him to be there. Maybe half that time it will be for stuff that you're not allowed to go, or that if you chose to go the finances for it would be strictly on the two of you. Speaking as someone that faced that, trust me, unless one of you has some excessive funds stored up already, trailing after him is a very tiring and expensive endeavor. I'm not saying it can't be done, it's just difficult for young people to accomplish according to the AF's rules.\n\nWould it be easier to be married before-hand? Yes and no. You would have legal right to be with him in locations that allow family members to be with their spouse. However as an E1-E2 airman, he would be at the bottom of the list for getting on-base housing. You can get a housing allowance to live off base, but depending on what state you're in, it rarely will cover what you need. When I lived off base in California I had to come up with about 55% of my housing costs out of my own pocket, which hurt the finances, a lot. So, if you truly wanted to be there with him and have legal right to get covered in the housing clause and such, getting married before-hand can allow for such. However...I don't know any personal background here.. but time has proven in the past that giving time for him to accustom himself to AF life first is best if you want him to get all that he can out of the career choice. You can't be with him during Basic. You can't be with him during tech school. Usually leave is granted after the tech school and he reports to his first duty station, and if the hunger and desire to be wed is even stronger then than it is now... that has been the best time for friends I have known to actually get married. So many that did the deed before they went into Basic came out from the schools... different... and so much time apart.. it was awkward.. and ended badly. Like I said though. I don't know your circumstances... but if it was me.. I'd wait.. it's the smarter route to go in today's tumultous times.\n\nWould he have to live on base? As a young airman? yes. He could only live off-base with special permission, or if there was NO available dorms on the base that he'll be stationed at. As a single airman, it takes 2+ years before you have enough time to get the permission. As a married couple you are placed on a shorter list if no on-base housing is available.. but still... it takes time. My friend in NJ had his wife living 35 minutes away in a crummy apartment for nearly 3 years before they could get the permission for him to be allowed to
559802
Hi Funny,\n\nIf you check out my profile you'll see that your getting honest answers.  After Lackland he will go to Tech School and not AIT (Advance Individual Training=ARMY).  His tech school will be easier than basic training.  Yes the AF basic training is somewhat easy, but they are making it tougher and longer for the new generation of airman.  Basic is all about discipline and mental strength.  No branch of service wants their members breaking under pressure.  Gotta separate the adults from the children ya know.  As you were told by previous respondants, he may come back tougher, but I guarantee that he will come back different, wiser, and more mature.  More man like and less of a boy. \n\nHis tech school will be easier than basic, but not quite like the normal AF routine.  He's there to learn and they are gonna throw a lot at him to absorb, or they will wash him out.  Don't get upset because you don't hear from him very often.  He'll be maxed out at basic the entire time he's there except for the last two days.  Tech school is spent studying.  He will have some weekends off, so hopefully he will email and call you every so often!  Email is a great thing isn't it!  Most of us didn't have the luxury of instant communication when we went through this.  Had to use snail mail!\n\nAfter tech school he may go TDY (temporary duty) for (I forget what it's called now)?  From there he will be sent to his first duty location.  He will fill out a form (the Dreamsheet), in Basic with his choices of CONUS (Continental United States) duty locations as well as overseas duty locations.  AF members at Randolph AFB in Texas will make the final determination where he goes from there.  Air Force Needs always come first Funny!  I wanted Nebraska for my first duty location, I ended up in Germany!  At least it snowed in Germany.  After Germany I wanted Florida or Nebraska, they sent me to Texas.  And so it goes, but I never had a bad assignment during my entire career.\n\nMy nephew is in the Air Guard.  He went in at 18 years of age.  He made it, but it wasn't easy for him because he had a girlfriend.  You folks are young, and things happen in life.  People change and mature with age, well for most of us that is.  Funny, support him!  Write him everyday, even if it is just a little letter.  He needs to know that you care about him.  Those perfumed letters get us through the tough times because it tells us that we are doing this not just for ourselves but for you as well.  Even if you have doubts about the relationship after he leaves, support him just to help him get through it all. He deserves this!\n\nThe first 3 years will go by fast.  The fourth year will be tough because he'll have to decide to stay or get out.  For some it will be an easy decision, for others a tough choice.  I wish the two of you the best of luck, and welcome you to the family!\n\nOne more thing, don't listen to anyone that says he's going to Iraq!  He will be non-deployable for at least 18 months and probably longer depending on what AFSC he has selected?  You usually need to have your 5 skill level before the unit will deploy you.  Security Forces have some different policies on that as well as Transportation.  But for the general AF population, he ain't going nowhere near boom-boom land anytime soon.
427007
HOAH!!!!! NO PETS, 2 kids, moving in 8 days to Germany...I love being a part of the Army community...I have made so many friends and the kids have memories for a lifetime...the camaraderie is awesome and everyone is family...and of course the worst is deployments, but after the first couple of times it's normal...in my opinion there is no better life than this