A Filipina in Air Force Basic Training

[JoBri 548]

I am going to start a "journal" here, of my wife going through Air Force Basic Military Training. Gonna kinda post regularly, at least every week, just so people who are interested know what it is like for her.

She leaves for Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on March 20. She clears from her Air National Guard unit March 19.

A few years ago the Air Force revamped the BMT. It has taken a warrior turn now. In my opinion it is as bad as the Army was when I went in. That was a long time ago though and you tend to forget, to some degree, horrible things. But watching the videos of Air Force BMT make me vividly recall specific days/events. Like "flashback".

Here is a link to the chow hall for their first lunch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3KQLPMYDYh0. That seems as bad as I remember. hasnt gotten any softer, I dont think.

I told my wife I have saved online a link to "a female perspective of BMT". I told her the woman said she cried in bed the first 3 nights, and my wife responded "She just never lived in a dormitory environment before. I have lived in a dormitory, so it wont be so bad." I didnt say any more, because she just doesnt get it and doesnt want to know how bad it is, really. She never listens to me. She didnt listen to me when she thought about joining and she wont listen now, so I gave up on trying to tell her the truth. She prefers ignorance before going, she told me so tonight, because she "wont worry so much". I would prefer knowing what to expect. When she was going to be sworn in, I slowed the car wayyyy down and told her "We can turn around now, and go back home and tell the recruiter 'forget it' and never see those people ever again'". But she said "No, let's do it." I didnt want to stand in her way, so I said OK. Just to set things straight, it isnt the "dormitory living" that makes one want to cry. It is fear and intimidation and the feeling that no matter what you try to do you are doomed to failure. You just want to go home and get rid of these demons. Just watch the above video, you know? When you are going through it, at least in my own opinion, you feel like that is all your life has ever been and all your life will ever be. Maybe that was just me and my young age.... But that is how it was, for ME.

Anyway, "Off we go, into the wild blue yonder". Cheers

[JoBri 548]

PS: I never had female trainee with me nor a female drill instructor. But I think female drill instructors are real b****** with an ax to grind, and would take a male drill instructor any day.... My own opinion.

[Inky 1,111]

Please keep opsec in mind at all times. You should not be listing dates or places really at all online.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

*** closed for review ****

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Please keep opsec in mind at all times. You should not be listing dates or places really at all online.

Having reviewed the thread and looked at opsec guideliens as well as talked to some military, opsec is not being breached here as this is regarding basic training and not a military operation/ deployment abroad/ security sensitive training. It is always better to say too little than too much, but what has been said so far is fine. Carry on.

[Kevo 69]

Seems like from everything you've posted that she's strong, she'll be ok.

I've been AD in the AF almost 21 years and still love it. Hope you go to Lackland for her grad.

[KrystelKyle 16]

I am going to start a "journal" here, of my wife going through Air Force Basic Military Training. Gonna kinda post regularly, at least every week, just so people who are interested know what it is like for her.

She leaves for Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on March 20. She clears from her Air National Guard unit March 19.

A few years ago the Air Force revamped the BMT. It has taken a warrior turn now. In my opinion it is as bad as the Army was when I went in. That was a long time ago though and you tend to forget, to some degree, horrible things. But watching the videos of Air Force BMT make me vividly recall specific days/events. Like "flashback".

Here is a link to the chow hall for their first lunch. http://www.youtube.c...&v=3KQLPMYDYh0. That seems as bad as I remember. hasnt gotten any softer, I dont think.

I told my wife I have saved online a link to "a female perspective of BMT". I told her the woman said she cried in bed the first 3 nights, and my wife responded "She just never lived in a dormitory environment before. I have lived in a dormitory, so it wont be so bad." I didnt say any more, because she just doesnt get it and doesnt want to know how bad it is, really. She never listens to me. She didnt listen to me when she thought about joining and she wont listen now, so I gave up on trying to tell her the truth. She prefers ignorance before going, she told me so tonight, because she "wont worry so much". I would prefer knowing what to expect. When she was going to be sworn in, I slowed the car wayyyy down and told her "We can turn around now, and go back home and tell the recruiter 'forget it' and never see those people ever again'". But she said "No, let's do it." I didnt want to stand in her way, so I said OK. Just to set things straight, it isnt the "dormitory living" that makes one want to cry. It is fear and intimidation and the feeling that no matter what you try to do you are doomed to failure. You just want to go home and get rid of these demons. Just watch the above video, you know? When you are going through it, at least in my own opinion, you feel like that is all your life has ever been and all your life will ever be. Maybe that was just me and my young age.... But that is how it was, for ME.

Anyway, "Off we go, into the wild blue yonder". Cheers

Is that really what is life in the AF? My brother was in AF before and I am thinking of joining AF too in a year or 2, but watching this video made me so unsure now haha.. Please do update us(especially me I am joining AF not right now but SOON)

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

She leaves for Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on March 20. She clears from her Air National Guard unit March 19.

Tell her for me to have fun.

[JoBri 548]

Me, my 82 year old dad and 80 year old mom and 2 year old son will all be there for sure. Will take 16 hours to get there since we will be driving.

She just had her best time on the run today at the track...13:00 for the mile and half. That is pretty good seeing as how a 17 year old woman has to run it in something like 14:19, and seeing as how when she first started it took her 23 minutes to run it. And she is 39, so not doing bad. Plus able to do 57 sit ups and 44 push ups now each in one minute. She couldnt do one pushup when she started. I am proud of her accomplishments.

Seems like from everything you've posted that she's strong, she'll be ok.

I've been AD in the AF almost 21 years and still love it. Hope you go to Lackland for her grad.

Edited March 17, 2013 by Brijo

[JoBri 548]

That is life in Basic Training, which for the Air Force is 8.5 weeks long. It is not life in the Air Force after basic training. After basic it is really good life, in my opinion, in the Air Force... And that video was the first full day of basic training. It gets a little better after the first 2 weeks.

Is that really what is life in the AF? My brother was in AF before and I am thinking of joining AF too in a year or 2, but watching this video made me so unsure now haha.. Please do update us(especially me I am joining AF not right now but SOON)

[JoBri 548]

She is telling everyone with a chuckle where she works that she is going on an adventure vacation, hehe. I am starting to see some of the fear and apprehension coming out though. I am seeing her valuing things in her life that she might regularly take for granted, such as holding and hugging and kissing our son and playing with him, or enjoying the beauty of a garden today and sipping a hot cup of coffee. She just started realizing today I think that she wont be able to enjoy these luxuries for awhile.

Tell her for me to have fun.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Good luck, have fun and make us proud! :thumbs:

[JoBri 548]

Well, my wife clears her Air National Guard unit today. She leaves tomorrow for Lackland Air Force Base Texas. Am feeling sad about it. Will miss her so much. I bring her hot tea and a vitamin every night and rub her feet! She will not have much tenderness in the next several weeks, unfortunately. Am also feeling sad for our son. He will have a hard time with her being gone too. He is just 2 years 8 months old. I have been trying, but it is hard to explain it to him. I think he understands a lot of it though. That is why he has been so clingy to her the last few days. Tonight he stood at the window the entire time she was out running after she came home from work, and didnt leave the window until she came home... I think he understands a lot....

Edited March 19, 2013 by Brijo

[JoBri 548]

She is on her way. She called from Chicago. It was hard seeing her off at the airport. My mom and dad drove there too to see her go. Was hard for our son. He wanted us to go back inside and get his mommy, and on the way home he asked if he took a nap would she come home? Will wait for her call when she gets to San Antonio... I wonder if they will let her call when she gets to the airbase tonight, or wont it be until tomorrow?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

She is on her way. She called from Chicago. It was hard seeing her off at the airport. My mom and dad drove there too to see her go. Was hard for our son. He wanted us to go back inside and get his mommy, and on the way home he asked if he took a nap would she come home? Will wait for her call when she gets to San Antonio... I wonder if they will let her call when she gets to the airbase tonight, or wont it be until tomorrow?

I don't know how they do it now, but one of the first tasks they gave us at the reception station was to write a letter home, to say we made it okay. There were payphones for anyone that wanted to call. The Air Force looks a little different. From the video you posted, it looks like they jump on the recruits from day one, even before they get properly outfitted with uniforms and such.