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Just curious. Would love to hear any/all stories any of you have in regards to basic training/boot camp.
I'm leaving January 31st for BMT at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. Going into the AF with a guranteed job as a C-17 Loadmaster here in Chas. in my Dad(Lt. Col)'s squadron.
I'm kind of concerned about a few things. First off, I can do about 20 pushups max before I get tired/fatigued/need a break. I believe the min. requirement is like 34 in 2 minutes for a male. Also, in the past 6-8 months I have had no problems running. I can run the required 1.5 mile in 13:45, or whatever it is. And I can also do the 2.5 mile run. But, about 3 days before Christmas I kind of hurt my right knee. I've stayed off of it as much as possible. Haven't ran on it at all, taken a ton of IBP/Tylenol, put heat on it, etc. and today I tried running and at about .25 mile it started throbbing again to the point where I absolutely cannot run on it. Now I'm scared shitless that it will do this as soon as I get to basic, and I'll be screwed. Going to call the flight nurse/surgeon on base tomorrow, and see if they can do anything. Any advice out there?
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You need to keep your recruiter informed of your injury/progress. If you get to basic and they have to send you back, the recruiting squadron is going to take a hit and you DO NOT want that.
Air Force basic training has changed to incorporate the expeditionary force that leadership envisions. Because more Airmen are deploying in support of the Army and Marines, basic training has been tailored to incorporate in-depth field training, i.e., you're going to get very dirty. Like the Army, Airmen will be required to familiarize themselves with the M-16 or whatever rendition they have out now. Contrary to what others may think/feel/year, Air Force basic training has always been physical, i.e., lots of running, so the health of your knees will definitely come into play. About midway through the course, you will be in the field for two weeks (up from just one "Warrior Week"), participating in obstacle courses and "live" fire scenarios. Again, you must be mentally and physically prepared for those instances. AF BMT is not as difficult as the Army or Marines, but it can be made more difficult depending on your physical condition. Don't set yourself up for failure by hiding your condition from your recruiter and showing up to basic unprepared.
As for being in the same squadron as your father (is he the commander?), that's very interesting. That usually doesn't (shouldn't) happen. Good luck.
Last edited by stephygee : 01-13-2006 at 04:14 AM.
If you hurt yourself in basic, I believe that they will just make you sit out until you rehabilitate. If the injury is real bad, they might put your case in front of a med board while you sit it out in a rehabilitation unit. Or, they could give you convalescent leave for awhile, and then make you come back. They could do a lot of things, but one thing I learned in the army is to keep your mouth shut until it hurts so bad you can't stand it. If it is real bad now, then go ahead and mention it to your recruiter and get your deployment delayed. You are probably already in the DEP now.
I dont have any advice not already touched on but during my basic for the CDN reserves we caught a guy drunk as fack sitting naked on a urinal taking a shit!
Just thought i'de throw that in.
Good luck and make sure they dont make you return to training before being healed. Long term injury due to improper care is not worth passing up basic if you have to.
my advice, is to work out as much as humanly possible. I just went through Marine Corps bootcamp, and the biggest thing you can do for yourself is report in the best shape possible. Start running and lifting weights. If you don't do anything else work out.
What they do in the Marines is if someone gets hurt and ends up getting to many follow ups for it they send them to MRP. Where you live with all the other broke ones. It was always kinda funny to watch a formation of people in crutches lol. After you heal up they send you into the next company that is where you left off in training.
Running a lot and being active will help prevent stress fractures which if you end up getting can take a long time to heal. We had one guy that we picked up from MRP for stress fractures in his hip. It hadn't healed all the way and he was hurtting on the 10mile hump right after the crucible. He ended up getting droped again 2 weeks later.
You know what, I just looked that your leaving on the 31st. Do yourself a big favour and ask the recruiter to hold off your date you ship to basic. Tell him you only want to ship out as long as you can do the PT test, and you really shouldn't be shooting for the min at all...
I spent months getting myself ready physically ready for bootcamp. I couldn't run a mile for the life of me, but when I left I could do a 21:50 3 mile run time. Which still isn't great but decent. Well under the 28 min that you needed...
and if the recruiter is pushing you to leave on time, screw him, this is your life after all and I wouldn't leave unless you know you can meet all the requirments.
The thing about Basic training is it is 90% mental, 10% physical.
I was in lousy shape when I went to basic...no physical activity, only weighed 125 lbs, smoked lots of cigarettes a day and never ran a mile on purpose.
But even in this state, by week 2 I had gained 35 lbs of muscle and was able to run 2 miles without throwing up.
The hard part is keeping your head. The drills will piss you off on purpose and all you can do is keep your cool and stay on course.
Make friends there and be part of the team but don't get in any cliques that will form.
Don't volunteer for anything, it seems like a good idea but it's not worth it. If they need a volunteer, let them point at you and say "You volunteered"
You are on your own there. Some days may seem like you just can't go on but just remember that it is only so many weeks to graduation.
The drills will not make you do anything that you cannot do. It may be hard but if you apply yourself and "Suck it up and drive on", you will make it out in no time.
Honestly, that was one of the proudest moments of my life knowing that I made it through Basic Training even though a lot of people didn't think I would.
Take care.
Not much has been said that I wasn't thinking. But just make sure you are healthy when u report to BMT. I won't even say make sure you are in your best shape b/c TI's will help get you where u need to be. I'm in the same career field as u so u can hit me up with any career field related questions i work C-130's but i'm also familiar with C-17's, C-5's etc.
1. Keep your mouth shut unless you are told to speak.
2. Do what you are told.
3. Pay attention at all times and learn all you can.
If you do those things, you will have a much smoother boot camp.
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Joe My Resume
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Again, not to much to add, everythings been covered. Biggest thing is, have fun. It'll be beyond your thinking to make it "fun," while you're there, but you'll get some real close friends outta basic, and the minute you leave it's all you're gonna want to talk about. Keep your head down and push through it.
The thing about Basic training is it is 90% mental, 10% physical.
I was in lousy shape when I went to basic...no physical activity, only weighed 125 lbs, smoked lots of cigarettes a day and never ran a mile on purpose.
But even in this state, by week 2 I had gained 35 lbs of muscle and was able to run 2 miles without throwing up.
Basic Training?
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