Needing confidence

[Anonymous]

Im 20 soon to be 21.I graduated highschool when I was 17 because I wanted to "get started on my life" but life doesn't work how you think.I went to school and tottally messed up.Right now I'm back to living with my parents and it feels like my life is going nowwhere.I wanted to be in the air force ever since I left highschool but my parents refused to let me.They think anything to with the military will corrupt my head.Im determined now to go ahead and try doing this however I don't think Im physically ready to do this.Im so afraid to fail but i really think the airforrce is what i need to help me get started on a nursing career.Do you have any advice on how I can help my parents understand my descion? How can I prepare myself phisically for boot camp? Thank you

rpotzler@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

I was the same age you are when I joined the AF. First of all, have you gone and talked to a recruiter? They will be able to give you the stats of what you are expected to do PT wise by the end of basic. My first thing for you is JUST START. Meaning, run, pushups and situps. Start out slow. I'll be the first to admit I am a slow runner and I HATE running. The thing is to stick with it. Start at a 1/2 mile and work your way up. The thing is don't walk at all. If you have to run at the pace that most "speed" walk so be it but DON'T walk. Set goals with the situps and pushups. You want to watch a tv show, drop and do 10 pushups first. Again, start at a low number and work your way up. They will also prepare you in basic. Yes, it will be with them yelling in your face :) but the are pushing you to do the best that you can. I couldn't do what they wanted when I first went in to basic BUT by the time I was finished I could and plus what the minimum was. If this is what you want to do, go to the recruiter now. You might have to wait awhile with force reduction BUT they will do their best to get you in. ASK QUESTIONS! If you don't believe them with something, ask them to show you in the regs where it is. The hardest thing with the AF is getting off your butt and starting the process! I wish you all the best. E-mail me if you have any questions or if you just need an ear!


:
: Im 20 soon to be 21.I graduated highschool when I was 17 because I wanted to
: "get started on my life" but life doesn't work how you think.I
: went to school and tottally messed up.Right now I'm back to living with my
: parents and it feels like my life is going nowwhere.I wanted to be in the
: air force ever since I left highschool but my parents refused to let
: me.They think anything to with the military will corrupt my head.Im
: determined now to go ahead and try doing this however I don't think Im
: physically ready to do this.Im so afraid to fail but i really think the
: airforrce is what i need to help me get started on a nursing career.Do you
: have any advice on how I can help my parents understand my descion? How
: can I prepare myself phisically for boot camp? Thank you


fairygrrl1@excite.com

[Anonymous]

I went in AF at 20. It helped me a lot with my confidence. Getting corrupted depends on you. If you know what you believe and will stand for it, you will do fine. It is like anywhere- you need courage and back bone. I didn't want my dd to go in AF either even through I was in back in 70's, times have changed. I only have one dd, I've lost 2, I didn't want her sent to Iraq- this could be what your parents are afraid of. In my time, women didn't go in to combat, now they do.

lynhead52@yahoo.com

[Anonymous]

If you want it bad enough, you will do it. Once I seen the recruiter, I knew it was everything I was looking for. I wanted it so bad, that I prepared myself for the physical aspect, this was over 20 years ago though. I am a retired recruiter, just retired out of recruiting actually, and it is important for you to know, we just don't have a whole lot of jobs available at this time. You must be sold on the Air Force FIRST, then worry about the job later. It's just the way it is. We will certainly be interested in hearing about what you want to do, however, our hands may be tied. You will probably end up going Open and picking your job in basic. As long as you do very well on the ASVAB, you won't get stuck with a job you won't like. The Air Force is worth it though!!! As for Nursing, we need them bad! You have to have a BSN or be a senior in Nursing school before you can apply. You might want to work on that then come in!! As for your parents, they are just worried. After basic training, you will be shocked at how "proud" they will be!

Good Luck.


:
: I went in AF at 20. It helped me a lot with my confidence. Getting corrupted
: depends on you. If you know what you believe and will stand for it, you
: will do fine. It is like anywhere- you need courage and back bone. I
: didn't want my dd to go in AF either even through I was in back in 70's,
: times have changed. I only have one dd, I've lost 2, I didn't want her
: sent to Iraq- this could be what your parents are afraid of. In my time,
: women didn't go in to combat, now they do.