A Filipina in Air Force Basic Training

[DaveE 178]

I enjoy reading your updates, and it brings back a lot of memories. Basic is really all about stripping out your individuality and making you part of a team. Of course that is in addition to the basic military stuff you must learn, ie rank identification, customs and courtesies, military history etc.

I can remember going through every emotion you write about. Toward the last week, elation starts to build as you can see the end.

Will she be going to a tech school?

Heck, I liked it so much I ended up staying on active duty for 30 years, and still work on an Air Force Base.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

There is a lifetime of experiences in those 8 weeks or so, and that makes that journey seem a longer than it is, and the change to one's character is significant. When she returns home, it will take her a while to readjust, but I imagine her new swagger and military poise surprise a few folks.

[JoBri 548]

I remember I felt pretty good at graduation too! I had that swagger. I told her that when this week is coming to an end, she will see the end coming, and she will start to feel a whole lot better. You are right, there are so many emotions involved, and I can identify with most of them too. But it was a little different for me, because I couldnt imagine a life for me that wasn't military. I was a guy, 18 years old, and I couldnt imagine how a life for anyone who wasnt military could even be considered a life! hehe But I dont think it means quite the same to her. For me it was like eating and drinking and breathing. For her it is more like "I chose this, now I am going to succeed regardless, and get on with life after this". Or, a phrase I heard her use long ago was "You chose this, now embrace it and move on". Also, I had no one in my life at that time, and no child of mine either. And so I know missing our son and family is hard for her, something I never had to contend with.

When she got her orders to go to tech school they couldnt get a slot for school to coincide with the end of BMT. So they gave her the split option since it was taking so long. I sent an email to her unit and asked if she got orders yet for tech school, and they responded back and told me she will be going in September and finishing up in November. That will give her about 4 months at home before she goes back out to do that.

I enjoy reading your updates, and it brings back a lot of memories. Basic is really all about stripping out your individuality and making you part of a team. Of course that is in addition to the basic military stuff you must learn, ie rank identification, customs and courtesies, military history etc.

I can remember going through every emotion you write about. Toward the last week, elation starts to build as you can see the end.

Will she be going to a tech school?

Heck, I liked it so much I ended up staying on active duty for 30 years, and still work on an Air Force Base.

[JoBri 548]

Yes, I told her before she ever left to go there that when she is in the middle of it she will feel like that was her life forever before, and that it will feel like it will be her life forever in the future. It seems forever when you are going through it. I have also been giving thought to her readjusting like you mentioned. It is time for me to start figuring out what to do to make it easiest for her. I told her before she evre left that when it is over there will be things she will actually miss. When you get to the end you feel strong and confident and proud, and in some ways it is really hard transitioning back to an ordinary life at that point. Since she is not going full time active duty after this it will be hard for her in some ways around her co-workers and job. I told her that her co-workers will have no understanding what she just has been through, and it will bother her some that they just cant relate or identify with what she did. And, in my opinion, the whole civilian lifestyle will seem so mundane compared to the huge military perspective she has now acquired.

There is a lifetime of experiences in those 8 weeks or so, and that makes that journey seem a longer than it is, and the change to one's character is significant. When she returns home, it will take her a while to readjust, but I imagine her new swagger and military poise surprise a few folks.

[Darnell 8,479]

That is so cool she not get sent on to MED HOLD. She would be 'held back' to another graduating class, finish her stuff with another class. It's a bit painful, actually.

[JoBri 548]

That is so cool she not get sent on to MED HOLD. She would be 'held back' to another graduating class, finish her stuff with another class. It's a bit painful, actually.

Yeah, I was really worried for her. She would have lost her momentum too, and it would have been hard seeing her class graduate ahead of her, then having to fit in with a totally different class later. And she just wants it over now too, to come home as a family again. But she is back on track now, and will graduate on time.

My mom and dad wont be able to see her graduate now. Their age...79 and 81. My dad recently was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and my mom has a broken rib now, and they feel bad they cant go. All my life they were always there for me for everything, whether graduation from Army basic combat training or to visit me in Gerrmany or to welcome me home from a deployment to the Gulf War, they did all they could to be there for me. My wife has no parents. And it would have been nice for her if they could have been there, but they just cant make that long trip. Cant afford to fly. Me and my son will be renting a car and driving the 16 hours one way to be there to see her graduate though. We will be staying right on the airbase at one of the Air Force hotels. That will be fun. we will be able to walk just across the street to see her graduate! It will be quite an experience for our little boy.He will get to hear taps played at night, and see all the vintage aircraft on display. But I am sure the trip in the car will be very hard for him.

[JoBri 548]

For those who are interested, my wife tried calling from BMT yesterday and I missed her call, but she got ahold of my mom. She had her final PT test and she was very excited, because she told my mom that she got "the highest one", which would be Warhawk, a perfect score! That means that to get the highest score she had to do the 1.5 mile run in 10:55, Do 40 push ups in one minute and 60 sit ups in one minute, plus 5 pull ups too! I think she did great! And that was even after having a sprained ankle half way through. I know she was frightened at that point, but she charged forward and did great! Now isnt that great to see the endurance and stamina of a Filipina in the US Armed Forces? She did as well physically at her 100 pounds as most any man using the male standards. I am very proud of her, and proud of the Philippines being represented in such a way too.

In just about one day our son and I will be leaving for the long drive to Lackland Air Force Base to see her graduate from Basic Military Training. We will be staying right on the airbase in a family suite, since i have my military dependent ID card. I will give another update when we arrive there Wednesday night. It is so cool, our son will get to hear Taps at night, hehe.

[B_J 2,752]

For those who are interested, my wife tried calling from BMT yesterday and I missed her call, but she got ahold of my mom. She had her final PT test and she was very excited, because she told my mom that she got "the highest one", which would be Warhawk, a perfect score! That means that to get the highest score she had to do the 1.5 mile run in 10:55, Do 40 push ups in one minute and 60 sit ups in one minute, plus 5 pull ups too! I think she did great! And that was even after having a sprained ankle half way through. I know she was frightened at that point, but she charged forward and did great! Now isnt that great to see the endurance and stamina of a Filipina in the US Armed Forces? She did as well physically at her 100 pounds as most any man using the male standards. I am very proud of her, and proud of the Philippines being represented in such a way too.

In just about one day our son and I will be leaving for the long drive to Lackland Air Force Base to see her graduate from Basic Military Training. We will be staying right on the airbase in a family suite, since i have my military dependent ID card. I will give another update when we arrive there Wednesday night. It is so cool, our son will get to hear Taps at night, hehe.

We've been keeping up with this story from the beginning. We've been silently cheering her on and we're very impressed with her achievements. I don't think I could do 40 push ups if you gave me all day.

Tell your wife congratulations from all of us here at VJ.

Enjoy your reunion. I hope you are able to see more of San Antonio while you're here.

[JoBri 548]

We've been keeping up with this story from the beginning. We've been silently cheering her on and we're very impressed with her achievements. I don't think I could do 40 push ups if you gave me all day.

Tell your wife congratulations from all of us here at VJ.

Enjoy your reunion. I hope you are able to see more of San Antonio while you're here.

Thank you very much B_J. I am at my mom and dad's home right now with our son. We will be leaving from here (just me and my son now, since my mom and dad have gotten worse with age related problems since my wife left for Basic). They had wanted to go, and they had their base passes even, but they both wouldnt be able to make the trip now. My wife never had parents that she knew in a close way in the Philippines, and she was hoping for them to be there to see her too, but she understands about their health. Saturday when she hung up the phone with my mom she just kept saying over and over "I love you" to her while time ran out and the MTI made her hang up the phone. I sure wish they could go see her graduate too.

Anyways, in just 7 hours we will be leaving from here. I never had the time to research San Antonio, sadly. I know about the River Walk, a little. I wanted to take my son and wife for a walk down there maybe on Friday, graduation day. Maybe eat at a nice restaurant. I will research things a bit tonight still.

Thanks again!

[JoBri 548]

After 2 full days of driving my son and I made it here to Lackland AFB. Was no problem getting on the airbase with my ID, and we sailed right in. Got a great room with a living room and a kitchen with microwave and full size refrigerator, full size stove, and a separate bedroom and bathroom, furniture, 2 flat screen TVs...the works, all for just $55 a night at the Air Force hotel right on the airbase and right next to the parade field my wife will graduate on this Friday. We will be able to walk to her graduation.

As soon as we got on the airbase I went through a list of things I needed to do first. I found the BMT Reception Center we go to at 6AM in the morning for her run and coin ceremony. Then I found the brand new facility that just opened this year that she is staying in. I took pictures of my son standing in front of the building my wife lived in these weeks and where she probably was at as I took the pictures. We saw trainees down below standing in formation and I couldnt help but wonder if my wife wasnt one of them. Went to the Base Exchange and ate there, and then got my son news shoes, then to the Commissary to buy groceries to save on the money some here. And of course my son is thrilled to death with one giant transport plane after the other flying low over his head.

Anyways, will post pics soon of my wife and all the events.

[JoBri 548]

Well, she did it. My Filipina wife is now an Airman First Class, and has graduated from the United States Air Force Basic Military Training. Something that moved me was just before the Pass and review. All was quiet, just a couple commands given. It was overcast skies. The air was quiet accept for a gentle breeze. Everyone in the stands went totally silent with anticipation of what was to come. More commands were given, and they began to march on the field. And in the silence at that point the clear tone of my son's voice floated in the air as he called, "Mommy?" That just really struck me. Our military is so diverse. They get sent into all kinds of harms way. And I just thought at that moment of all the mommies that get sent too. So many mommies answer the call. And the mommy of my son... I am so proud of her!

There are a few pictures under my photos on here that I posted. there are pictures of the Airmans Run and following receiving the Airman Coin at the Coin Ceremony on Thursday. I have pictures of her at and after graduation, including some fuzzy ones of where she slept in the dormitory (I still have to call it the barracks). Also pictures at Sea World today after graduation.

One thing about my wife that really summed up all that she has been through was yesterday, Thursday, when she had an on base pass. My wife was playing with our son at the playground at the Air Force Inn we were staying at. All of a sudden a tune was being played in the air. It has been so long since I was in the military myself that it took me a moment to recognize what it was. It was the beginning of Retreat, when it is time to lower the flag at the end of the working day on military installations. And before I could even realize what was happening, my wife had gone instantly quiet and immediately stopped her play with our son. She turned to face the music and snapped to attention and stood silent. Then they played the National Anthem, and she gave a crisp, professional salute and held it to the end of the last note, then smartly snapped her arm down to "order arms", and resumed her play with our son. It was at that moment that it really struck me what my Filipina wife had become. She had become an Airman representing the United States Air Force. She had been molded into one of the greatest airmen in the world of an Air Force that is the most powerful of all in the world. And I was so proud of her.

Edited May 18, 2013 by Brijo

[Darnell 8,479]

Just saw the photos...

Since she graduated, will she be 'released' back to her National Guard Unit to await tech school?

I'm thinking she can drive back with you guys, maybe....

[Calypso 464]

The three of you look great. Congratulations!

[JoBri 548]

Just saw the photos...

Since she graduated, will she be 'released' back to her National Guard Unit to await tech school?

I'm thinking she can drive back with you guys, maybe....

She graduated on Friday morning. She had an off base pass after graduation on Friday and Saturday. She was required to be signed back in the dormitory by 8PM each night. I had to leave Saturday afternoon to drive back to Knoxville, Tennessee, arriving today, Sunday afternoon. She had an on base pass today too, but had to be signed back in the dorm by 6PM tonight to do final packing and paperwork. She wont be released until early Monday morning to fly back home at government expense.

She had a split option because they couldnt get a tech school to coincide with the end of BMT. So she will be returning to the ranks of her Air National Guard Air Refueling Wing here in Knoxville until mid September, at which time she will go to Fort Lee, Virginia for her technical school. Her school is 7 weeks long.

[Darnell 8,479]

I smell a much needed reunion mid week, Brijo. Yay !!!