Made the Decision!

[empatheticsoul]

I am now in the process of enlisting with the AF! I am excited and very nervous at the same time.

My question to all of you out there is, "What is BMT like?"

I have been on the AF's official website and got some good information there, but I want to know more details. My questions are silly but are important to me. Such as, can I wear bobby pins in my hair, can I bring any kind of body wash? Stuff like that.

Can anyone help?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can bring bobby pins, but make sure they are similar to your hair color. If you have long hair, you must be able to put it up and use pins, barrettes, bands, etc... that are plain and similir to your hair color. Your hair should not exceed 3" in bulk. If your hair is medium length, the rule is it cannot go past the bottom edge of the collar. If it does, it must go up. You can have your hair braided (if there is time), pony tail, etc... No beads. Pack as if you are going on a week long trip. It will be easier for you that way. You will be taken to what we call a "shoppette" where you will be able to purchase hygiene stuff like shower soap, etc.... As for your period, bring something. Some girls skip a period while they are in basic training or it becomes very light. Bring disposable razors. If you use electronic razors, the training instructors will expect it to be cleaned inside and out. Use the toothpaste that is in a pump. Easier to keep clean. For your tooth brush holder, use a flat one. If you use a round one it will roll around in your drawer and move out of place.

This will not be "Club Med". Expect to get severely yelled at and NEVER take it personnally. It is their job to break you down and to build you up and mold you into an Airman. Go with the flow.

Start learning to wear a hat outside all the time. Remember to take it off when coming in doors. Some people have a hard time getting use to hats.

Run, Run, Run, Run.... The new fitness requirements are stricter and it is important you are able to run 2 miles before you arrive basic training. I cannot stress it enough.

Reporting statement, practice in the mirror every morning, "Sir/Ma'am, Trainiee __________ reports as ordered", practice saluting. Get the proper instruction from your recruiter.

Basic training will be very stressful at first, but over time, you will bond with your flight mates and look back on it as a very memorable and rewarding experience.

If you know how to play a musical instrument, like Marching Band. Make it known if the band recruiters come around! I was in the band during basic and had a blast!

NO SMOKING!!!! IF YOU SMOKE..... QUIT!

Good Luck

Retired Recruiter.

[Anonymous]

I know when I went through we were not allowed to have bobby pins or any metal in our hair because someone cut their head open. It is now a rule in the training squadrons. Keep in mind the yelling is to make you stronger. It conditions you for a war time environment. You don't want to be emotinoal going over there and the yelling is an easy way of getting the emotions out of people. Everything they do has a purpose. They key is to figure our what it is. Folding your T-shirt, aligning beds, and remaining still in formation are a few tasks you will have to overcome. They sound simple but there are reasons for doing them. Listen to your TI's, they will not steer you wrong. Your first night there will be what is called OJT personnel yelling at you. They will try to tell you to do things like put t-shirts in your laundry bad and live out of it so you don't have to mess up your clothing drawer or hide candy in the bed posts. Do not listen to them. The last night you have Amnesty hour where you confess things you did over the six weeks. This is how the TI's figure out what to look for in the next class. They WILL catch you. You will have lots of class, drill, PT, and in the afternoons prepare your clothing drawer and do details. The showers do not work well and you will have about one minute to take one. The fifth week is warrior week. It is a week of firing weapons and a mile long ruck march. You play war games and sleep in tents, put on chem suits, and surprisingly the food is really good. At the end you do a confidence course. You do not have to pass it but it is fun. You get to walk, swing, and climb over water, crawl in dirt and do all kinds of fun stuff. The point is to have fun and see how much you can accomplish. You will look back when you graduate and think of how easy it was. Just don't get overworked about it.

[usa/usar13]

Just remember to take it a day at a time :D And you'll want to make/keep copies of any/all of your military paperwork/records (esp. your medical records). And make sure that your personnel file is always kept up to date. And one more thing. Take any/all of the correspondence courses that are offered (regardless of your AFSC). It shows the military that you want to expand your mind/horizon (plus, it adds points to your promotion packet). That was something my late dad (who was in the A.F. from '41 till he retired in '68 as a SMsgt/E-8 ) told me when I was in the Army.