Read This Before Shipping Off to Basic
In a former life, I was an Air Force MTI (Military Training Instructor), the Air Force’s version of a Drill Sergeant. I spent my last 4 years in the USAF at BMT (Basic Military Training) at sunny Lackland AFB. If there’s one thing that’s constant, it’s that BMT is always changing. So even though I retired in October 2022, I am going to give some broad advice here that should remain relevant no matter when you enlist or ship off to BMT. I promise that if you take this advice seriously it will set you up for success, not only in basic training but beyond that in your Air Force career.
Get Your Mind Right
I hate to start off as a killjoy, but the first thing you need to understand going into this is that you are joining a PROFESSIONAL organization, not a summer camp. This will come into play in everything you do at BMT and it’s important that you have the right mindset going in. Although you’ll be eating in a cafeteria, wearing a backpack, and there will be other things there that might remind you of school, it is absolutely NOT school.
You are being paid taxpayer dollars to train and learn what it means to be an Airman. This is the bare minimum you must accomplish before you go to tech school to learn how to do your actual job for the Air Force. You’re a grown ass adult and the instructors there will you treat you as such. That means they expect you to listen and follow directions. If and when you don’t, they will hold you accountable. If you have thin skin and don’t like having your mistakes blasted all over for everyone to hear then you are going to get a big dose of reality really quickly at BMT.
Now that you’ve made peace with that, if you have the attitude of giving 100% effort and taking every advantage to learn and improve yourself, you will do well at BMT. And the instructors will notice. They might not constantly give you attaboys or attagirls, but if a trainee is committed to doing their best, pays attention to detail, and works hard they will stand out (in a good way) because most other trainees don’t do this.
If You’re Wondering How Hard Air Force Basic Training Is, Read THIS
Aim High
Okay that’s an old cheesy recruiting line, but the message still stands. What I mean is aim for the top in everything you do. There is an old joke that goes like this-
An Army recruit getting ready for a PT test jumps up and says “What do I need to get to max everything out?” Meanwhile, the Air Force recruit steps up and says “What numbers do I have to get to pass?”
Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm for more Air Force trainees (and some AF members in general) than not. But that’s not you, right?
Don’t aim for the minimum. Aim to max out everything. This ties directly into the first tip. If you’re going to sign a contract for 4-6 years, starting with a 7.5 week program in hot-as-Hades Texas being yelled at by a bunch of grumpy NCOs, then don’t you owe it to yourself to give it your all?
Think about that for a minute.
What are you here for?
This doesn’t just apply to PT and it doesn’t only apply to basic training. Plan to pass all your RLA (Recruit Living Area) inspections with zero demerits. Get a 100 on the EOC (End of Course) exam. Ace tech school. Get your upgrade training, PME (Professional Military Education), and other certifications done ahead of time.
This is a skill that will pay dividends throughout your career whether that ends up being 4 years or 20+. And it will also remove some of the associated stress because you’re taking ownership of your responsibilities. You’re controlling what you can instead of avoiding it.
Adopt this mindset while preparing for basic training (and definitely before shipping off) and you’ll be ahead of the game.
Speaking of preparing…
Come Prepared Physically
Here’s a problem that occurs regularly at BMT- An incoming trainee procrastinates in getting physically prepared for basic training. Maybe they’re overwhelmed. They don’t know where to start. They think, “I’ll just wait till I get down there and then give it my all.” And they do. They try their absolute hardest at cramming all of the training they should have done prior into the 4 weeks they have before taking their final PT test. Often one of two things happens. They either don’t pass or worse, they break themselves.
Here’s the thing. The body needs time to adapt. If it can’t recover from the physical stresses being placed upon it then injury occurs. If you have a background playing football, wrestling, running track or playing other sports you might be okay. Even if you just like to hike or walk a lot you might be okay.
But be honest with yourself.
I see on Reddit all the time where former trainees tell others, “Don’t even stress on the PT. You’ll be totally fine!” That might be the case for some, but not everybody is starting from the same place. If you have spent the last 5 years on the couch and your body isn’t even used to being on your feet for several hours a day, you NEED to give yourself time and start preparing NOW.
Just imagine yourself on the day of the final PT test. You’re a nervous nelly, wondering if you’ll be able to put it all together in order to get a passing score. If you don’t, you might miss Pacer Forge (formerly BEAST week) or worse, get recycled to an earlier week. If you’ve failed previously, you might be on the verge of getting kicked out of the Air Force before your career has even started.
Or you could just completely remove this scenario from the realm of possibility by “overpreparing”, so that you can hit the needed standards even on your worst day. And they’re not that tough IF you prepare. You can learn more about training to prepare for basic here. There’s even a 14-week prep course available on the Air Force’s DEP (Delayed Entry Program) app. Get started now.
Expect to be Outside Your Comfort Zone
You are going to be challenged in BMT. For some, the above PT talk gives them butterflies in their stomach. For others it will be the challenge of being away from home for the first time. After several weeks, the stress and irritation of sleeping in a dorm with dozens of people with varying backgrounds with no time to yourself will be difficult.
You are going to go outside your comfort zone. And that’s okay. It’s GOOD.
If you are the same person at the end of basic that you were going in, something went wrong. You should grow in some way, maybe in multiple ways, during your BMT experience. Be open to it. Your MTIs are going to help you get there. Your fellow wingmen will most likely help you get there too.
And it doesn’t stop after basic. BMT is just the first step in a series of challenges that you will face during your time in the Air Force. Welcome it. It’s going to make you stronger. It’s going to make you better.
Anyone that knows me, knows how introverted I am. But the Air Force needs leaders, and in keeping with that I probably spent half of my career solidly outside my comfort zone. Being an introvert didn’t stop me from blasting trainees every morning of Zero Week. The Air Force got me ready and it’ll get you ready too.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
And now we come down to it, the real thing that makes the Air Force tick. TEAMWORK. You will not succeed at BMT without embracing this concept. If you plan to lay low, not talk to anyone, and do everything on your own it’s not going to work. Not only will you need help, but you’re going to need to help your wingmen too.
This is partly why I make such a big deal about the first 4 points. The more squared away you are when going to BMT, the better prepared you will be to help out your wingmen and your flight. There will be student leadership positions that you may be placed in, but you don’t need to be in one of those to make a difference.
Be willing to look over your wingman’s wall locker to prepare for inspection. Practice drill movements together in the day room. When things suck keep an upbeat attitude. As before, you’re setting the foundation for the rest of your career.
Final Note
Your MTIs are going to “give you the business” as one instructor put it. They’re going to yell at you early and often. I remember when I was going through basic myself, I got yelled at at least once a day. It’s their job to give you corrections, whether that’s in the mechanics of drill or in your attitude. Don’t take it personally.
This doesn’t mean they don’t care or that they think less of you. It’s precisely because they care, that they are so intense. They’ve been entrusted with building a force of professionals. They take their job seriously. And they want to see you succeed.
In order to graduate you’re going to have to earn it. Take the advice above to heart. These are observations made both as a former trainee and as a former MTI. If you work on developing these skills you will not only succeed in basic training, but in your Air Force career as a whole.
