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| [Source: J. Boone Pooler Photography] |
Who am I to tell you what to do? Well, I left for BMT on 31 May 2011. I was an older trainee at age 30, and I'd just finished my fifth year of teaching. I had been physically preparing myself for five months, focusing on running, pushups, and sit-ups. At BMT I was the Dorm Chief, from start to finish. I was never permanently replaced, nor did I replace a "fired" Dorm Chief - I was my MTI's first choice. I received a 97 on my EOC. I was an honor graduate. Upon graduation day (28 Jul 2011), I was awarded Top Honor Graduate out of 817 trainees. Numbers aside, I had a successful experience at BMT. The only thing I can't speak to is marksmanship - I did not have a good day on the range, although I qualified.
What are you getting yourself into? Read on about my experience at BMT!
My Journey To Enlistment
Announcing My Intentions
Moving From "O" to "E"
Meeting with the Recruiter
ASVAB - Debrief, Awaiting Results, and Results
MEPS - Before and After
Choosing My AFSC
My Enlistment
Thoughts From Training
1 June 2011 - My Arrival
28 June 2011 - Monday of 3WOT
7 July 2011 - Murphy's Law [Written after training.]
13 July 2011 - End of 4WOT
1 Aug 2011 - En Route to Keesler AFB
3 Aug 2011 - Day 2 of Tech School
19 Sept 2011 - The Shock of Reintegration
Pre-BMT Preparations
My Journey To Enlistment
Announcing My Intentions
Moving From "O" to "E"
Meeting with the Recruiter
ASVAB - Debrief, Awaiting Results, and Results
MEPS - Before and After
Choosing My AFSC
My Enlistment
Thoughts From Training
1 June 2011 - My Arrival
28 June 2011 - Monday of 3WOT
7 July 2011 - Murphy's Law [Written after training.]
13 July 2011 - End of 4WOT
1 Aug 2011 - En Route to Keesler AFB
3 Aug 2011 - Day 2 of Tech School
19 Sept 2011 - The Shock of Reintegration
Pre-BMT Preparations
Money Matters
What to Pack
Know Before You Go
Cell Phones
Guard and Reserve
Traveling to Lackland
"Made It" Postcard
Shakedown Sheet
Daily Life at BMT
Dress and Appearance
Beauty and the BMT
The Makeup Question
Wedding Rings
Rapunzel, Rapunzel
How-To: The Sock Bun [YouTube video]
When conformity is a GOOD thing!
Glasses
Duties and Details
Why you should raise your hand!
Dust Down
BMT PT Regimen
Racing for PT
Weekly Highlights
Graduation Information
What to Pack
Know Before You Go
Cell Phones
Guard and Reserve
Traveling to Lackland
"Made It" Postcard
Shakedown Sheet
Daily Life at BMT
Illness and Sanitation
The Period Problem [TMI female post]
Entry Control [Also listed under "Duties and Details"]
The Period Problem [TMI female post]
Entry Control [Also listed under "Duties and Details"]
Chow Runnin' and Grubbin' [Also listed under "Duties and Details"]
Love in the Squadron
Laundry Bag Living
Love in the Squadron
Laundry Bag Living
Dress and Appearance
Beauty and the BMT
The Makeup Question
Wedding Rings
Rapunzel, Rapunzel
How-To: The Sock Bun [YouTube video]
When conformity is a GOOD thing!
Glasses
Duties and Details
Why you should raise your hand!
Dust Down
Student Leaders - Dorm Chief, Element Leaders, Guidon Bearer/A-Flight Guide
Flight Office Technician - "House Mouse"
Flight Office Technician - "House Mouse"
Chow Runnin' and Grubbin' - Chow Runner
EC Monitor [Also listed under "Daily Life at BMT"]
Part 1 - Bed Aligners, Shoe Aligners, End of Bed Display
Part 2 - Fire Monitor, Utility Crew, Day Room Crew, Hallway/Chrome Crew
Part 3 - Academic Monitor, PT Monitor, Water Monitor, Electrician
Part 4 - Chapel Guides, Road Guards, Pad Crew
EC Monitor [Also listed under "Daily Life at BMT"]
Part 1 - Bed Aligners, Shoe Aligners, End of Bed Display
Part 2 - Fire Monitor, Utility Crew, Day Room Crew, Hallway/Chrome Crew
Part 3 - Academic Monitor, PT Monitor, Water Monitor, Electrician
Part 4 - Chapel Guides, Road Guards, Pad Crew
Physical Training
Running ShoesBMT PT Regimen
Racing for PT
Weekly Highlights
Grilled Cheese and Jesus!
Chapel Services
The Obstacle Course
The Gas Chamber
Weapons Training and CATM
Chapel Services
The Obstacle Course
The Gas Chamber
Weapons Training and CATM
Graduation Information
Graduation Schedule
The Airman's Run
Retreat
Squadron T-Shirt and Coin
The Airman's Coin
Awards and Honors
Reuniting at Graduation
My Challenge Coins
No-Nos Series
Part 1
Part 2 - MTI edition
YouTube Series: Rolling and Folding
Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Towels
Part 3 - PT shorts and shirts
Part 4 - Female Undergarments
Part 5 - Socks
Part 6 - Sand T-Shirts
YouTube Videos
How-To: The Sock Bun
Motivation: Core Values = BMT Success
The Airman's Run
Retreat
Squadron T-Shirt and Coin
The Airman's Coin
Awards and Honors
Reuniting at Graduation
My Challenge Coins
No-Nos Series
Part 1
Part 2 - MTI edition
YouTube Series: Rolling and Folding
Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Towels
Part 3 - PT shorts and shirts
Part 4 - Female Undergarments
Part 5 - Socks
Part 6 - Sand T-Shirts
YouTube Videos
How-To: The Sock Bun
Motivation: Core Values = BMT Success
28 comments:
Not sure where to post this or if you've said something about it and I've missed it. It has to do with doing your hair. I know it's to be kept off the collar, my hair isn't long enough to bun but it would most liked touch my collar. Do you have to bun your hair? Also is there anytime do do your hair? Because I have very thick curly hair and if I don't straighten it with a flat iron then I'm in big trouble, not way would I be able to pull it up nor would I be able to wear a hat at all. If you could cast some light on this that would be great!
@Hope - If yours isn't long enough to be put into a bun, then you're going to have to cut it shorter, unless you can manage to braid it and keep it from touching your collar. You won't dry your hair with a hairdryer and definitely no straightening while at BMT. You'll just have to end up with a bigger hat to accommodate your hair. The time you have to do your hair in the morning is VERY minimal, and it has to be perfect. Good luck, I know it's a PITA to figure everything out!
Wow thank you so much for all this time and information you have put into this blog. I leave in Aug for BMT and just by reading your blog my nerves cool down a bit. I really appreciate.it. Thank you!
Hi Erin! I'm a big fan and have been following your blog for forever. I was wondering, when do they take your body fat measurements at bmt?
@Sarah - The took our waist measurement that first night, but I never remember them actually taking body fat measurements. Hope that helps!
I know army solders receive an army tag, does airforce by any chance get their own?
@Franshesca - What do you mean by an "Army tag?"
It looks like a dog tag. It contains their name and some other information. They may have another one attached of a loved brother/ or sister that may have been killed in war.
Thanks again Erin! I don't know what my BF is, I do know that my weight and waist measurement are ok though.
@Franshesca - Yes, you get dog tags, but you won't wear them at all at BMT, and you're only supposed to wear them in the AF when you deploy. You'll give them to your Unit Deployment Manager when you get to your first base.
@Sarah - Then you should be good to go! ;)
Hi Erin!
I'm headed to BMT at the end of October and will be in Tech School for about 4months in Ohio. Cold?! My friend will be mailing me a pre-packed suitcase to my Tech School since my family will be unable to attend graduation at Lackland. Can you recommend a packing list for Tech School?
@candycane! - Hello! I would wait it out and see what the conditions are like when you get there. You won't be able to wear civilian clothes initially anyway, and you may find it more convenient to just go shopping. You might want to send a favorite pair of jeans or shoes. Towels you can buy there (if you don't want to deal with your small BMT towels), as well as additional beauty/toiletry items. You might have them send your iPod or laptop (if you're comfortable with that). You also might want some warm PJs or sweats for hanging out in your dorm room.
Thank you again for speaking with us at last weekends UTA @ Peterson AFB!
@Mr. Gordon - You're very welcome! :)
Hey Erin! I leave for basic in February and im getting a little nervous. I was a little curious about the amount of people who dont make it to graduation, wether it was because they failed the tests or just couldnt handle it? Kind of a weird question!
@Kassidy Allardice - Congrats to you! Out of our flight of maybe 51/52 people, only one didn't make it because she was recycled. The others that we lost along the way, two were due to medical issues (out of their control) and one was due to an issue with a tattoo that had to be appealed. Ultimately, you'll learn that they don't WANT to lose you - it doesn't make sense for the AF financially, since it costs so much to take you through the process and train you. Discharge is a last resort. Hang in there, embrace the suck, and know that you can do it!
Thank you!! That helps calm the nerves a little!! I appreciate all the time you have put into this blog, it has been a big help and i think id be going a little crazy with out it! haha
@Kassidy Allardice - You're very welcome! I try to put in as much time as I can, which is challenging these days with a new house and a pregnancy! Good luck to you!
Erin, thank you so much for making the time to write. After the graduation, will you be able to go back home before tech school?
@Michael Smith - My pleasure! Typically, no. If you're AD, it's almost certainly a no (according to my experience). If there's a BIG gap between BMT/tech (I'm talking months, like August to November/December for a girl in my flight), then you'll be sent home before going to tech. Otherwise, everyone goes to tech school and will be put on AFI ("Awaiting Further Instructions") where you'll do chores and CQ while you wait for your school to start.
Hi Erin!
I am (hopefully) leaving for BMT sometime this summer. I am still waiting for jobs to come down. But I have started a physical training program to get me ready for basic. I would love to score as a Thunderbolt on my final PT eval and I was just curious if you remembered the run time and number of sit up and push ups needed to score as one. I have found numbers on various sites but they differ. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much! :)
@Stefani Bradley - There's no magical number you have to hit to make it - you just have to have a composite score of 90 or higher. :) I hear that they don't do awards for it anymore though, so it's a crapshoot. All in all, it's still worth it to try. If you get a 90+ on your PT score, you won't have to test again for a year. Good luck to you!
Ahhh I'm so glad that I found this blog. I've been reading all your posts like a mad woman. I'm leaving for BMT June 4th. Everything that you've said has been so insightful. I too live in Colorado, Colorado Springs. I read where you mentioned Peterson and Carson. My husband is TACP in the Air Force and so he's stationed out of Carson. I've been asking so many people that I know about their BMT experience and they're so vague about it and just tell me that I'll do fine. So thank you so much for being so detailed!
@Nicole Rinker - Glad to help! Are you doing ANG/RES/AD? Congratulations to you! Definitely take advantage of our high altitude to improve your running!
Yes it'll be nice to actually feel like I can breath while running for once. I'm going active (finance) in hopes of putting in a package for OTS when I'm eligible, that is if I like it.
@Nicole Ringer - You'll be heading to my old stomping grounds, the 335th TRS at Keesler. Enjoy your time there!
Hello Erin, I hope this message finds you well. I leave for bmt in two days and I am excited and nervous. I have found your site very informative and helpful. Unfortunately I only found it a few weeks ago, I wish I had found it months ago so I could have studied your posts in depth, haha. I just wanted to thank you so much for all the time and work you have put into it. It is by far the most useful site on the internet. I have one question for you, my husband suggested I pack a separate bag for tech school. Forgive me if I missed a post containing this information, but is this allowed? And what should I bring? My ideas of what to bring are clothes, makeup, shoes (just my super comfy nike sandals), air force appropriate jewelry, shower/hair stuff (like my deep conditioner, I know my hair will need it after basic!), my contact lens case/solution, my full wallet/my purse, and my ipod and accessories. I was also wondering how many clothes I should bring? I am aware I may lose some/a lot of weight during basic so should I only bring a few items? I'm thinking I should bring clothes that are small/tight on me now too. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank again for everything ma'am!
@Alison.B - the ideas you have for your tech school bag are perfect. Don't go crazy with the clothes. I brought one civilian workout outfit, my favorite jeans, a jean jacket, and that was about it. The best way to do it is to have your husband bring you the bag and figure out what fits out of those items by Sunday evening, and take possession of that bag then (versus Thursday night). You can always buy more clothes there or have your husband ship you items. Good luck to you! You're very close to my original ship date! :)
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