Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: clerick on January 21, 2008, 10:09:27 PM
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Unless something happens i will be shipping out to Lackland AFB on Feb 12th. I'm not too worried except that I'm Thirty-fricken-two! When i tell people what's going on the unanimous response is "Oh! They'll make you dorm chief for sure!" Now, I'm sure that it's not a guarantee, but it got me wondering; how sucky is it to be a dorm chief, and is it really THAT likely?
Any of you AF pro's out there have any thoughts?
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Originally posted by clerick
Unless something happens i will be shipping out to Lackland AFB on Feb 12th. I'm not too worried except that I'm Thirty-fricken-two! When i tell people what's going on the unanimous response is "Oh! They'll make you dorm chief for sure!" Now, I'm sure that it's not a guarantee, but it got me wondering; how sucky is it to be a dorm chief, and is it really THAT likely?
Any of you AF pro's out there have any thoughts?
I can tell you for a FACT that age has only a little to do with who my DC is. I look at the roster and some of the older trainees tend to stand out more. However, some of my WORST trainees have been above the median age of the flight as a whole.
I could tell you more but I have to go. If you see an MTI with "The Terrible" on his hat strap you better give me a reporting statement.
PS your lucky my new flight gets here this week.
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Dorm Chief for sure!
TI usually picks oldest person with reasoning that you have most experience. But if you cannot do proper a job, you will be fired. Which is a no biggie....
Best advice - Do not stand out! Be average. ...
And if you don't mind me asking - why not try to become an officer instead of enlisted?
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
I can tell you for a FACT that age has only a little to do with who my DC is. I look at the roster and some of the older trainees tend to stand out more. However, some of my WORST trainees have been above the median age of the flight as a whole.
I could tell you more but I have to go. If you see an MTI with "The Terrible" on his hat strap you better give me a reporting statement.
PS your lucky my new flight gets here this week.
I can see your point. I would assume it is because the older guys are either mature enough to "play the game" OR they are too confident and arrogant to take direction from an MTI that is their junior.
And since i don't have the balls to track down an MTI with "The Terrible" on his hat strap to discuss a cartoon airplane game while I'm a trainee (i'm sure you'd appreciate it if i didn't too)...
Sir, trainee Erickson reports as ordered!
Another day and time perhaps, AFTER I'm an official Airman.
PS
If this post has given you any ideas about tracking down a fellow cartoon pilot... I'll buy you a beer after BMT if you can pick me out. Shouldn't be that hard, you have my name and age.
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Originally posted by Russian
Dorm Chief for sure!
TI usually picks oldest person with reasoning that you have most experience. But if you cannot do proper a job, you will be fired. Which is a no biggie....
Best advice - Do not stand out! Be average. ...
And if you don't mind me asking - why not try to become an officer instead of enlisted?
As for standing out, i'm screwed. I could show up in blue-jeans and a black t-shirt and STILL be singled out because of my size. I'm oldish, tall and broad, yeah call me Trainee Sore-thumb.
As for going enlisted, mainly because i have a little over a year to go for my bachelors and i am out of money for school. The Minnesota ANG is going to pay my bill come next year. Once i have my Four-year degree i'll see if there are any officer slots open in my squadron.
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Good luck. Hopefully older flight, who watches over, is not going to give you too much trouble. ;) Some extra sadistic folks from my flight kept scores on how many trainees they can make cry. I, after breaking down older large black guy who was a dorm chief, felt such actions were going over board. They are in the same boat...no need to cause extra stress to an already stressful situation. The guy had kids and wife...bah.....poor guy...seeing him cry there.....and just from verbal abuse....not exactly my proudest moment. :o
I went though 324th "Disney Land".,,,apparently it was one of the easiest squadrons.. .....
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Originally posted by clerick
As for standing out, i'm screwed. I could show up in blue-jeans and a black t-shirt and STILL be singled out because of my size. I'm oldish, tall and broad, yeah call me Trainee Sore-thumb.
As for going enlisted, mainly because i have a little over a year to go for my bachelors and i am out of money for school. The Minnesota ANG is going to pay my bill come next year. Once i have my Four-year degree i'll see if there are any officer slots open in my squadron.
Be sure to ask the training instructor where they keep those beautiful P-38s.
ack-ack
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Take care, I'm leaving for Coast Guard boot tomorrow. Best of luck to you
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Originally posted by nirvana
Take care, I'm leaving for Coast Guard boot tomorrow. Best of luck to you
You swabbie!
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If either of you guys make it to Houston I'll buy you a beer...or two.
And Nirvana, if you find yourself assigned to Galveston, we'll have to visit the "buy-me-drinky" bars there!
:aok
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Take a roll of quaters $5 and have about $30 in small bills. 1s and 5s. Don't spend this money on drycleaning or anything, save it for special events like fun runs and warrior challenge. There's also several details where you get to use the vending machines and we are required to send you with a few bucks.
Cut your hair before hand. Not shaved to the bone but at least a number 1 guard. You may hear all the stories about being messed with about that but they aren't true. You are too busy in zero week to mess with trainees about their hair. you wont have time in zero week to fix it so best it not be there.
Wear comfortable shoes pants and bring a sweat shirt. YOu may not get uniforms for 3 days and will be wearing civies until then.
Your recruiter may have givin you a list of things you'll buy when you get here. Most of them are a good idea.
-soap/shampoo and any other toiletry....get a flat bottle so it doesnt roll around in your drawer
-get a razor that shaves FAST...the mach 5 is good....you won't have much time.
-forget about towels....use the ones you'll be issued, they are easier to fold.
-phone cards are expensive here so go get a cheap one at wallmart.
most of everything else you can get here for cheap so you can pack light. ONLY BRING ONE BAG!
Learn how to say a reporting statement FAST before you ship.. "Sir, Trainee (last name) REPORTS as ordered"
Its not reporting for orders or reporting as ordered.
If you do get singled out for the DC job be aggressive and don't be afraid to have initiative. TIs love it when a DC can do their job for them....I'm not messing with you either, that's how I train mine, command voice and all.
Other than that move fast everywhere you go. Don't take attitude or argue with the MTIs. You'll stand out for your age but as I've said, I've had some 30 somethings in flights before and most were total turds. They washed up in everything else they did in life and ended up in my dorm. It really is hit or miss what sqaudron you get and how easy/hard it is.
I will tell you though it is not a walk in the park anymore. We train hard.....be prepared to feel some pain.
Good luck!
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Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Be sure to ask the training instructor where they keep those beautiful P-38s.
ack-ack
There's 2 of them on the parade grounds....no kidding!
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
If either of you guys make it to Houston I'll buy you a beer...or two.
And Nirvana, if you find yourself assigned to Galveston, we'll have to visit the "buy-me-drinky" bars there!
:aok
That's a promise. I'm not a huge fan of the Houston area but I guess it's not all bad, right?
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
I will tell you though it is not a walk in the park anymore.
Good luck!
What do you mean by anymore?
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
Take a roll of quaters $5 and have about $30 in small bills. 1s and 5s. Don't spend this money on drycleaning or anything, save it for special events like fun runs and warrior challenge. There's also several details where you get to use the vending machines and we are required to send you with a few bucks.
Cut your hair before hand. Not shaved to the bone but at least a number 1 guard. You may hear all the stories about being messed with about that but they aren't true. You are too busy in zero week to mess with trainees about their hair. you wont have time in zero week to fix it so best it not be there.
Wear comfortable shoes pants and bring a sweat shirt. YOu may not get uniforms for 3 days and will be wearing civies until then.
Your recruiter may have givin you a list of things you'll buy when you get here. Most of them are a good idea.
-soap/shampoo and any other toiletry....get a flat bottle so it doesnt roll around in your drawer
-get a razor that shaves FAST...the mach 5 is good....you won't have much time.
-forget about towels....use the ones you'll be issued, they are easier to fold.
-phone cards are expensive here so go get a cheap one at wallmart.
most of everything else you can get here for cheap so you can pack light. ONLY BRING ONE BAG!
Learn how to say a reporting statement FAST before you ship.. "Sir, Trainee (last name) REPORTS as ordered"
Its not reporting for orders or reporting as ordered.
If you do get singled out for the DC job be aggressive and don't be afraid to have initiative. TIs love it when a DC can do their job for them....I'm not messing with you either, that's how I train mine, command voice and all.
Other than that move fast everywhere you go. Don't take attitude or argue with the MTIs. You'll stand out for your age but as I've said, I've had some 30 somethings in flights before and most were total turds. They washed up in everything else they did in life and ended up in my dorm. It really is hit or miss what sqaudron you get and how easy/hard it is.
I will tell you though it is not a walk in the park anymore. We train hard.....be prepared to feel some pain.
Good luck!
I appreciate the input. I'm not TOO worried, just worried enough.
In many ways i hope to get the DC job, not for my ego, but because i don't want some 18 year old punk ruining things for me.
half of my hair has decided to migrate south anyway.... :cry
Oh! Does SSgt Michelle Manhart still instruct there? :D
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"Oh! Does SSgt Michelle Manhart still instruct there? "
You'll be DC for sure!:D
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Originally posted by Scatcat
"Oh! Does SSgt Michelle Manhart still instruct there? "
You'll be DC for sure!:D
Maybe i could play the part of the "naughty" trainee who needs some "special attention"
Is it really a good idea for me to be talking about this with a guy who KNOWS i'm coming down there in 21 days??
*pssst! THAT guy there. See him? Yeah, he's the goofy sonofa****** i was telling you about. He shot me down with 4 kills on board. Rammed AND HOed me... What? NO! I don't play video games! Don't be silly... Gotta go...*
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Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Be sure to ask the training instructor where they keep those beautiful P-38s.
ack-ack
you mean this one?
(http://www.usafmtia.org/images/FighterFiles/Lightning2.jpg)
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Originally posted by nirvana
That's a promise. I'm not a huge fan of the Houston area but I guess it's not all bad, right?
As soon as we get the last gawddamned New Orleans refugees back home it'll be perfect!
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Good luck. It's freakin' retarded (hi GS:) ), but it's one of those things you have to get through. Just keep your eye on the prize and you'll be done pretty quickly and you can get on with the real AF stuff.
Dorm chief would suck. Element leader isn't too bad... not that you'll have any choice in the matter.
See if you can get a copy of the memory work (at least the rank structure) from your recruiter before you go and memorize it well. You need to be able to spit it out when you're under stress without hesitation. If you've got it down, you'll have a leg up on everybody when you get there and you'll have one less thing to worry about.
I went through about a year ago, so if you've got any questions feel free to drop me a PM.
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Originally posted by clerick
Unless something happens i will be shipping out to Lackland AFB on Feb 12th. I'm not too worried except that I'm Thirty-fricken-two! When i tell people what's going on the unanimous response is "Oh! They'll make you dorm chief for sure!" Now, I'm sure that it's not a guarantee, but it got me wondering; how sucky is it to be a dorm chief, and is it really THAT likely?
Any of you AF pro's out there have any thoughts?
You just joined up @ 32 or are you re-enlisting?
If so, what is their cut off these days for pilot training? I tried to sign up to the Army Reserves just before I turned 28. That was before 9/11 and they said I was too old to be put in the flight training program.
I always wondered if they bumped the age restriction up for pilot training after 9/11 like they did with the enlistment age.
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Originally posted by clerick
you mean this one?
(http://www.usafmtia.org/images/FighterFiles/Lightning2.jpg)
I don't think that's a real p38.. I don't see the bomb bay doors.
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Man you brought back a few memories from 30-years ago. Our dorm chief was in his thirties at Laff-land. Really nice guy who the TI treated with kid gloves. What was good about that is the TI knew the guy couldn't handle to much physical exercise so he was easier on all of us. ;)
Good Luck :aok
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Is it still 6 weeks long with weekends off?
Pu**ies.
:D
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Student loans would be the way to go, unless you just absolutely want to join the airforce.
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One thing that has not been mentioned. Do NOT go all out on your first PT evaluation. Hang back a bit as you are expected to make progress through the program. If you go balls to the wall on the first one your progress will be slow and very very painful.
Do your best academically. You do have a maturity advantage to help mentor the others. Keep in mind that this is not a true weeding out program, it's designed to get the most cadets / troopies through it and into productive service.
Learn to sleep at a moments notice and with your eyes open. It comes in handy.
Good luck to you and Nirvana.
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I was a element leader when I went through and then got 'promoted' after the first week so to speak when my DC got 'fired'. Not too bad just stay on top of things and make the sheep mind. If they get into trouble it comes back on you as a leader. I was 22 when I went through and was 3rd oldest. But then again my first DC was an ROTC/Eagle Scout guy and just lost it one night... found him sitting out by the mailbox after TAPS played.
Basic is longer now, I think 8.5 weeks and you'll get the gas chamber stuff now. Good experience and you will want to learn quick with that gas mask. Also listen to what Gunslinger said... spot on post there. Good luck, and keep your head straight.
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Originally posted by DiabloTX
Is it still 6 weeks long with weekends off?
Pu**ies.
:D
They get cellphones too. :lol
Good luck Clerick! Thank you for your sevice.
20 year old punk squid. :D
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Got the day in the chamber with 'real teargas' and a mask when I went thru basic at laffland .. but that was awhile ago and durin that lil fiasco in Southeast Asia.
I got my draft notice 2 weeks into basic ..wasnt funny *then* because I didnt know the Army couldnt just come an get me ..LOL)
We also used the 'real' M-16 rounds when we qualified, not the .22 conversion.. kicks just a little harder, still a sweetheart to shoot with.
I went in with 3 from Phoenix, we all ended up in the same flight.. the other two dint make it.
Was ironic the guy who kept sayin it was 'just a game' got so intense into it that the pressure got him.
I mean he just freaked out one night screamin 'he couldnt take it anymore' and wanted the heck OUT!
I dunno .. I thought it was pretty damn easy.
Did the best I could, knew my right from left, didn't sweat the small stuff.
Only truly dangerous moment was my 'element leader' ..short black guy from Chicago with a big mouth, decided to ride the tall skinny guy from Phx.
He wrote me up every time for socks not bein folded 'right' or some such.. at 7 writeups you were automatically sent back a week.
I wasn't havin any of that, mk thx.
I told him if he wrote me up again, I *would* punch him out right in front of the TI.. automatic setback for both involved.. shrugged my shoulders, told him it was his call .. go for it.
Part of 'people skills' 101 .. everything is negotiable :)
-Frank aka GE
(good luck ..pay attention, do the best you can, settle the hash of any that want to 'ride' you one way or the other ..do NOT go to the TI ..they dont wanna HEAR it, Airman! ..it goes by FAST .. spare time is at a premium!)
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Unless there have been some pretty big changes in the last year, I call bull**** on cell phones and weekends off.
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Originally posted by Tarmac
Unless there have been some pretty big changes in the last year, I call bull**** on cell phones and weekends off.
:D
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:D :p yourself.
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6.5 weeks. For some reason he AF starts counting at 0 up to 6. No weekends off, maybe a few hours for church and definitely no cell phones.
I appreciate the input. One nice thing about being in the ANG is that i have been reporting for my UTA's since October. They have a program that is designed to get you a leg-up, as it were. They practice the basics, facing movements, enlisted and commissioned ranks and grades, saluting. We are issued BDU's and are expected to keep them up to standard. Its the ANG so its a bit laid back anyway, but we don't get any special treatment because of our "slick sleeve" status.
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Originally posted by Gunslinger
I will tell you though it is not a walk in the park anymore. We train hard.....be prepared to feel some pain.
Sounds like it's changed since I went through Basic in '73. Was a walk in the park then. Did 40 situps, 40 pushups, and worked up to a mile run everyday. That and some marching was it for PT. The toughest part was staying awake during some boring training classes and keeping a straight face when the TI got indignant about something.
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Best advice is to keep you head down & try to stay un-noticed (i.e. don't screw up) With your age, that's gonna be a feat. When I got out of boot, one of my Drills asked me if I was in his platoon when I shook his hand at graduation, that was when I knew I did a good job @ keeping my head down like my father had suggested.
Good luck sukka, you gonna need it running all the time (I seen your pics on myspace)
:D :aok
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I'm Thirty-fricken-two!
LOL! Have fun man :)
Charon
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32 !! that's almost twice the age I was when I went through basic training, I was 16 yrs and 7 months old and it was the best move I ever made. That was a long time ago and it's been 19 years now since I got out after 15 years of service.
That was service in the Royal Air Force starting back in 1974, not sure on age requirements over there now. We had one older guy in our Flight and he was expected to do as good if not better than us young pups.
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WOW,
lot of misconceptions here.
1. Cell phones get packed away in zero week not to be seen till gradation. You might be getting confused with the Army's new standard.
2. BMT is 6.5 weeks long. The 8 week program starts 1 oct allegedly
3. It is extremely physical now. The PT is harder. We are allowed to punish our flights physically for mistakes made.
4. You might get to use the pay phone to call home but that is a reward.....no weekends off. 2 hours on sunday for church...that's it!
5. There is no "free time" or what not.
6. They actually carry a "trainer rifle" from week one and shoot live 5.56mm rounds out of a real M16 at the range. (SF people have to qualify on alot more)
Basically it boils down to this. For the last 3 years the Air Force has been planning on a longer BMT but it doesn't adapt to change very well. There's alot of hands in the pot as far as what curriculum we teach our trainees. For the last year we have been teaching 8 weeks worth of curriculum in 6.5 weeks. It's tough to do but it works for now.
If BMT is longer less trainees will graduate in a year. It is a statistical fact. The Air Force hasn't quite figured out how to solve this problem yet. It is also about bragging rights at the pentagon among the brass. Our physical standards are actually tougher than most services with the exception of the Marines.
With all that said, you have a physically tougher boot camp and mixed with a faster paced academic study program and all around it is really tough. You are required to learn things the first time they are taught no matter how fast you get taught them. I tend to teach "right face'' in about 15 minutes and spend the next 30 minutes applying. after that I move on to the next drill movement. If you haven't figured the first one out by then you are going to be totally lost by the second. From there it just starts to snowball....the act of you falling behind the power curve. Learn fast and know it the first time it's taught. It's not that I don't want it taught properly....I as an instructor am under time constraints. There's stuff I can only teach on "my time" and I do it when ever that may appear. Time is your biggest enemy. You can't get it back once it's been spent.
I call this new generation the "Gen WOW". They've played world of warcraft so much that they can't comprehend learning any other way unless it's broken down on a keyboard for them. After 2 weeks of punishment they still can't comprehend stepping off with the left foot every time in a full 24" step. Going to bed at 9PM and waking up at 445 is completely foreign to them. Not only do they have to be taught, they have to be taught "WHY" because that's the only way it makes sense to them.
In a flight of 50 I generally lose 20% in the first 2 weeks. I usually have 1-2 kids that gets admitted to the psyc ward at the hospital here for suicidal ideations. I usually get 2-3 that have pre-existing conditions that come to light that would have disqualified them from service. There's always 1 in every flight that got off his antidepressants thinking he could handle it and tends to go crazy.
There is usually 1-2 that literally can't handle the stress of being yelled at. They tend to snap in the first week. I call this condition "vapor lock", they just freeze up and don't respond to questioning like they just saw their family murdered or something. And then there's those that just get injured....knees, ankles, shoulders, and what not. They have to go to a transition squadron to heal.
Well that's my rant on AF boot camp from someone that actually teaches it.
The average MTI works about 100 hours a week. That's 15-18 hours a day for 3 weeks strait. You get a week down for field training ( 3-4 hour shifts per day) and then right back at it for another 2 weeks. You get a week off between flights. You generally do this till you can't handle it anymore and then do it for one more cycle. I pushed 8 flights strait....took 3 weeks of leave and then pushed another 3 more. About the time I had problems with my wife I was given a bunch of down time but now I'm right back at it.
With all that said I never forget the fact that it is my sworn oath to "properly prepare young men and woman for military duty" and to "spare no effort". I take my job very seriously as about 20% of each flight I graduate will be in Iraq in less than 5 months. Another 40% will be there within the year. The stress and hardship I'm allowed to put on them now will make them a better Airman. Keep in mind there's more USAF personnel in Iraq right now than there are Marines. It's not like it used to be.
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Nice post GS!! :aok
Man I remember that first night not knowing what to expect that next day... but was well worth it. Keeping your head on straight and staying focused is the big thing...
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When your MTI asks who has a drivers license, get ready to push a mower. But it beats raking and bagging. Good luck, it may just be remembered as one of the best times of your life. When I went through BMT at Lackland in April of 1985 we had a recruit name Nickooforsat. Our MTI named him "Alphabet".
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(Edit: Gun, saw your post about what its like now...that's awesome. I wish it was like that when I went. After 4 years of high school ROTC, I was pumped to go back then...so you can understand my "let down" when basic wasnt quite that tough as rumored)
Air Force TI's are wusses. Sorry Gun, mine was so dramatic and teary eyed, Im surprised he doesnt have a regular spot on Oprah.
:)
There I stirred the pot...
But seriously, the TI's were OK, it was the Air Force Academy wanna-be that tailed with our instructor we really had daggers for. I dont know if they still shadow the instrutors, but the kid we had to put up with was mouthy. And he made sure to run away with the instructors...wise move.
As for the age thing, I went when I was 18 and we had a few guys in their 30s in our flight too. If anything, their wisdom and age had a calming effect on us young guys. We'd be all wound up over an inspection and those guys would just tell us to relax, do our task and all would be alright.
I went thru in 1988 (Flight 575 :) ) Don't recall the building, right across from the Security Police dog trainers and we had a T-38 in the front yard. Nothing about Air Force basic was physical, just a big mind game. I was disappointed, as we had a confidence course that looked like something out of a schoolyard. And the M-16s were lousy .22 LR conversions that jammed constantly. Now look, it isnt like I was hoping for something similar to the Marines, but I really thought it would be more. Maybe it was just the times...we walked a lot, but no doubletime, few pushups and the instructors werent allowed to yell at you if you got offended by that (rollseyes...we had a few that did).
Feel free to set me straight, Guns :)
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LOL .. the comment about keepin a straight face brought back some memories for sure :)
Two of us 'giggled' in formation .. near the end of basic .. I mean ..we could see the light at the end and knew we were outta there in a week .. and we had a little short mexican assistant TI who just went off at .. well .. me ..
..I had looked down at him .. and even worse ...smiled.. directly at him.
He had said something that tickled me ..made a comment about me bein tall, skinny ..and it was something my dad useda say to me.
Well.
He 'went off.' .. and I was staring straight ahead at the very tip of his hat as he got right in front of me .. and .. I giggled.
Ohh yaa ..I was in deep kimchi then .. then another guy to my left giggled .. I think we spent 2 hours pickin up leaves by hand.. the whole flight .. and most of us thought it was hilarious :)
-GE aka Frank
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:lolGood story GE, had a good time watching some guys get incentively trained in my company for laughing too. Ever hear of a monkey f***er? :t
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GunSlinger yer now a Air Force BMT?
Dam and you said before you were a Army DI at Ft. Jackson, SC?
WTF? Did you change branches of service?
Holy crap Rambo...
~Busted~
Mac
(SF people have to qualify on alot more) Now this is sooo moronic...but good.
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I think he's been a TI for a couple years.
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I think he's been a TI for a couple years.
So does he.
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The Air Force is getting tricky. A lot of guys are basically light infantry. The focus should be on flying. Or as the late, great, Col Hackworth suggested, merge all the forces into a defense force similar to that of Israels.
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:lol Mac
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Age means nothing. Dont go in there thinking they were waiting for you to come save the day for them, and lead the flight. My flight went through a couple guys before they got bored of making examples of them, and settled on the last guy. Its all head games.
They overload your mind with 200 things and if you remember 150 of them, they want to see how you react about forgetting the other 50, and also how you respond to them jumpin all in your toejame.
Dont get assigned laundry detail. Cleaning the toilets is better. Hand picking through 12 or so fellow airmen's dirty underwear is not pleasant. I know.
Go into basic with the goal of getting through it. If you listen, and pay attention, show you have qualities of leadership, you will be noticed. Just dont go overboard trying to get noticed. They know.
After that, do well in the school they send you to, and good luck in a duty assignment. Save your money!
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Nirvana. Id say something about monkey f..... but it would only set myself up for insults. :D
If they are the same we called them monkey humpers.
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<S> I am enlisting in the AF when i am 18, in 1 year!!!! YAY. what career path u going for? I hope to be a Aerial Gunner mabye Tactical Air Control Party sounds intresting. www.airforce.com (http://www.airforce.com) good luck in BMT
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Does the Bear crap in the Woods Son?
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I never had to do them but if I recall, you bend over and grab your ankles then basically squat from that position. They looked like killers. Position of attention remedials were out of this world too.
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Selino, I'm a TACP. Most recruiters aren't that knowledgeable about the career field so if you want some inside info get in touch.
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Eh, it wasnt so bad...
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Hehe, you can say that now that you're done. First week or two you were like :O that the majority of the time weren't you? :salute Sir, Congratulations.
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it wasnt that bad really. If i were 18 and still weening from mommy and daddy it would have been hell..
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So... Where are you heading now?
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I never had to do them but if I recall, you bend over and grab your ankles then basically squat from that position. They looked like killers. Position of attention remedials were out of this world too.
Yup thats them. And you can see the Navy jokes following me up after I would have explained it. :D
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I thought that was just preparing you for the command structure?
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So... Where are you heading now?
Am at Keesler right now, will be here until December or so.
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For any of you thinkin of signin up .. serious about makin a go of it ..
..sign up for 6yrs instead of 4, you get rank faster (2 stripes outta basic, 3rd a year from when you enlisted or some such, guaranteed AFSC ..depending on USAF need at the time of course ..and if there is *any* way possible .. finish a 4yr degree and bootstrap yourself into Officer country as fast as you can.
I mean it.
Don't fool around and waste years just bein a line troop or some such.. sure .. it's fun an all ..
..but next thing yanno yer lookin at retirement.
It comes at you fast.
20yrs goes by like you would not beleive.
-Frank aka GE
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Am at Keesler right now, will be here until December or so.
How is it since the hurricaine hit it?
Man, I was there the summer of 1988. I visited again in 1989 and 1992 while my ANG Unit was at Gulfport.
I really had a great time down there in Biloxi. Went to Mother Tucker's for dinner one night. Had a few drinks, got a little looped and called home to tell my folks where I ate. Got hung up on. Called back...explained its TUCKER!
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It is actully in very good shape since the hurricane. There are a few things that, once pointed out, you notice. I'm just not looking forward to the weather...
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Am at Keesler right now, will be here until December or so.
I spent 10 months there for radar school several decades ago. What are you there for?
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Air Field Systems. Is a combination od radio and MET-Nav. It is the longest tech school they have here... gonna be here a while..... :uhoh
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GE, the 6 year plan, as was explained to me when I first got to my unit, is only a recruiting tool. Sure you get an extra stripe and advance a little faster but you don't get the as many e-enlistment bonuses for your rate (if there are any). If there aren't any re-enlistment bonuses then you don't have to worry about it. In the Coast Guard they give you bonuses for the fist 10 years, after that they figure you'll probably be in for 20 anyway so why bother giving you another bonus. Bonus at 6 years, by the time your second re-enlistment comes around you're already at 10 years.
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Air Field Systems. Is a combination od radio and MET-Nav. It is the longest tech school they have here... gonna be here a while..... :uhoh
Sounds like they've combined more career fields since I retired in '95. Ground Radio was a separate field but they had already taken the weather radar from the Weather guys and combined them with NAVAIDS to make MET-Nav. Then they took the weather radar, ATC radar, and the AC&W radar and rolled them into one field. With so much of the repair limited to depot level anymore no need to specialize as much as before. That and the systems no longer need constant attention.
Good luck to ya clerick :aok
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I dont recall the squad name at Keesler but I was in the "Mad Dogs". Every morning we'd march...and bark. LOL
I recall going to Mother Tucker's a few times.
That place was soooo frickin hot during summer. But wow, Biloxi has some serious hot women too ;)
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Thanks for your service young Airman. :salute
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But wow, Biloxi has some serious hot women too ;)
They went out of their way to scare the troops into celibacy. According to the USAF Mississippi has the highest STD rate in the country and the county we are in supposedly has the highest in the state... IF true it gives new meaning to the word "hot" women..
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Thank you for your service.
Some day when you feel like it tell us the story of boot camp. Still too new right now. Probably has to sink in a little more.
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Nirvana: I *did* the 6yr enlistment, sewed on Sgt on the day of a year in service, and had two stripes leavin basic.
Enlistment bonus .. oh ya .. Nixon and the other bean counters made sure it was really worth our while you bet.
If yer in it for the money you are HOSED.
It was a leg up on any who had not and a few resented it primarily because they didn't know of it.
Frankly I didn't have to do some of the roadkill details they stuck the others on strictly due to 'rank'
..being an NCO quicker than most meant I got picked to be lead of most teams for this an that.
It also meant I tested for Staff earlier ..etc .. etc.
You never get time back.
-Frank aka GE (Tsgt under 10 ..tuff to do in ECM but I by-god did it and there were more than a few who were boggled)
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it wasnt that bad really. If i were 18 and still weening from mommy and daddy it would have been hell..
What was your flt# Squadron? I probably know your TIs
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I was in 331st (hua wolfpack!) Flt 247. Ssgt Weymer was my MTI AND Ssgt White was brother flight's MTI.
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haha lepaul, fellow mad dog here also.
I got out in 98. Was at keesler in 96.
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Keesler...
We had a big snow-ice storm there ..roomy and I went down to Hiway 90 to watch the tourists crash their cars after lunch for a coupla hours.. Some great entertainment.
I played a sound effect tape on the killer stereo I had built ..had a part that sounded like a german shepherd just goin ballistic ..roomy had a shirt that was all ripped up, so he scratched his arms up and jumped into the hall, slammed the door, yelled BAD DOG .. all of this while the brand new busload of troops from Basic was in the office gettin their rooms assigned. (our room was 2 doors down from the office ..LOL)
The TI was not amused.
By the time he came storming up, knocking on the door,
..and screaming that "DOGS WERE NOT ALLOWED IN HIS BARRACKS"
..we were layin on our beds ostensibly reading books.
Then he noticed there wasnt a dog.
'No dog here sir?'
'I think that was next door sir?'
-innocent looks-
Gawd we had so much fun with that tape.
Then there was shootin bottle rockets at people down in the square from the 3rd floor break room.. and being grabbed by the red rope to help find who was doing it .. one of the hardest things I had ever done was not to just plain lose it right there.
And the guy from Tennessee who refused to shower ..taller than I was, solid ..took 6 of us, but he took a shower with a 'swirly' thrown in for bein so much trouble.
And gettin so blown away on Hash the night before Monday inspection that we were still stoned the next morning .. and I laughed in formation right at the TI. I couldnt help it. He stood directly in front, 6" nose-to-nose, and his head bobbed around like you see a roosters..side to side ..up and down ..checkin us out.
I lost it.
Then there were a few snickers ..then a laugh from behind me.
We were in deep :)
-Frank, aka GE