# Air Force OTS advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 12, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176 "2000-06-12T23:16:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jubei2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@jubei2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jubei2k)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/1 "2000-06-12T23:16:23Z")
This is a shot in the dark, but are there any Air Force officers out there, or anyone who has been through officer training school before? If so, what can you tell me about Air Force OTS? How bad is it?? I’ve recently been commissioned and want to know what to expect; mainly I’m interested in how grueling the physical aspect is… I’m not really what you’d call the “military type”. Thanks in advance… ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2000, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/2 "2000-06-12T23:31:29Z")
There’s nothing grueling about anything Air Force. You shoulda joined the military. ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/3 "2000-06-12T23:47:13Z")
HEY!! Not nice, Chief! Mr Bear and VB and Pipefitter all have done service in the Air Force, and did it well, too!! I’m not in the AF, jubei2k, but I have known many who were and are. Do you have any specific questions? Also, where are you going for the OTS? Are you coming to Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, by any chance? That’s the biggest OTS I know of. If so, I can meet you, and show you around when they finally let you have some free time. I live about 5 minutes from where you’ll be at. ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/4 "2000-06-13T00:25:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > There’s nothing grueling about anything Air Force. > > You shoulda joined the military. > \*\* Tsk Tsk, Chief! That earns you a Harpoon in that dinghy you call a ship! I defy you to ask any ‘Naval Aviator’ shot down in 'Nam what they thought of Air Force SAR, and how glad they were to see the Jolly Greens and Sandys! ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/5 "2000-06-13T00:41:56Z")
And you’ll not hear that often from me! At least none of us are (were) officers. Q: What’s the difference between a 2nd Lt. and a door stop? A: A door stop will hold open a door without asking “why?” ---
**Author:** ![jubei2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@jubei2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jubei2k)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/6 "2000-06-13T00:56:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > HEY!! Not nice, Chief! Mr Bear and VB and Pipefitter all have done service in the Air Force, and did it well, too!! I’m not in the AF, jubei2k, but I have known many who were and are. Do you have any specific questions? Also, where are you going for the OTS? Are you coming to Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, by any chance? That’s the biggest OTS I know of. If so, I can meet you, and show you around when they finally let you have some free time. I live about 5 minutes from where you’ll be at. > \*\* I think that I’m headed to OTS at Maxwell AFB in Alabama, but I could be wrong 🙂 My big question is: How hard is it, physically? I hear that they make you run a lot, but how much is a lot? Like how many miles should I be able to run and how many push-ups/sit-ups/etc. should I be able to do before going into this thing? The academic part doesn’t really worry me, but I’ve never had to do anything remotely athletic in my life! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/7 "2000-06-13T01:08:45Z")
I joke **jube** , but should be justifiably proud of the career in which you’ve embarked. Fear not, the physical requirements. The final tests may seem daunting, but remember they will be working you up to it. Your instructors are there to ensure you make it through the training. The training is nothing that any relatively fit person will eventually succeed at. In the Navy we call these instructors Company Commander. I’m not sure what they call them in the Air Force, but it might be “Mommy!” Oh, and get used to the interservice rivalries. Even though we’re on the same team, you’ll hear **pipefitter** , **VB** and others give me a hard time about the Navy. They just wish they’d joined the Navy. Well, that and I have a bigger dick. ---
**Author:** ![jubei2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@jubei2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jubei2k)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/8 "2000-06-13T01:18:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > I joke **jube** , but should be justifiably proud of the career in which you’ve embarked. > > Fear not, the physical requirements. The final tests may seem daunting, but remember they will be working you up to it. > > Your instructors are there to ensure you make it through the training. The training is nothing that any relatively fit person will eventually succeed at. > > In the Navy we call these instructors Company Commander. I’m not sure what they call them in the Air Force, but it might be “Mommy!” > > Oh, and get used to the interservice rivalries. Even though we’re on the same team, you’ll hear **pipefitter** , **VB** and others give me a hard time about the Navy. They just wish they’d joined the Navy. > > Well, that and I have a bigger dick. > \*\* Thanks for the kind words Chief. Another question: Do all enlisted people hate officers? I had a buddy in the Marines and he told me that, yes, they couldn’t stand most of the “butter bars,” most of whom (according to him) are nothing but physical education majors in college that get their rocks off making people salute them… That would really suck. I mean, geez, I hate management types as much as the next guy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kvallulf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Kvallulf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kvallulf)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/9 "2000-06-13T01:24:21Z")
Officers are only despised if they are complete morons, and don’t have the slightest clue as to what they are doing. We once had a transportation officer as our platoon leader, and he came up with the worst possible plans, so we ignored him. ---
**Author:** ![pipefitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@pipefitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipefitter)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/10 "2000-06-13T01:26:15Z")
Congrats, Jube, you joined the best part of the military there is. Right now I,m doing 2 weeks in Saudi Arabia, and trying to enjoy it. I’ve been in the military for 10 years now, and love every minute of it. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/11 "2000-06-13T01:30:44Z")
> [@](#): > > butter bars I still call 'em “boot brown bars.” A word of advice. Listen to your senior enlisted folk. They don’t want you to make an ass out of yourself any more than you do. One of our jobs is protecting and teaching our “bosses.” Listen, learn and they’ll take care of you. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/12 "2000-06-13T05:40:15Z")
Are you already an enlistee in the Air Force? Usually, civilians are not directly selected as candidates for OTS. If you are an enlistee, the physical requirements are not much more difficult than what you already went through as an enlistee. But none the less, you should start training now. The regimen consists of pull-ups, a standing broad jump, long jump, push-ups, sit-ups, and a 600 yard timed run. You would need to pass all the requirements for these. If you’re not able to, you would be given more time, and you could try again after that time has elapsed. ---
**Author:** ![jubei2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@jubei2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jubei2k)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/13 "2000-06-13T05:58:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Are you already an enlistee in the Air Force? Usually, civilians are not directly selected as candidates for OTS. > \*\* I am a civilian and have never served the in the military before, not even ROTC. That’s why I’m curious about what awaits me. I’ve been running about 2.5 miles a day, but something tells me that I need to up it a little if I’m gonna survive the 12-week OTS 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/14 "2000-06-13T06:01:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > I’m not sure what they call them in the Air Force, but it might be “Mommy!” > > Oh, and get used to the interservice rivalries. Even though we’re on the same team, you’ll hear **pipefitter** , **VB** and others give me a hard time about the Navy. They just wish they’d joined the Navy. > > Well, that and I have a bigger dick. > \*\* Being married to one of the AF guys, \ I have one thing to say to you, Chief, about your last line. _ **PROVE it!!** _ _Grin_ And, what are you trying to say about Mommies? Or AF men? Hmmmmm? I resemble/ I mean _resent_ that slur on Moms! And, jubei2k, My SIL was stationed there for several years, so let me know if you have questions about the area there, and I’ll see what I can find out for you. As to the other stuff, Chief, Kvallulf, and Vandal have already said it quite well. Good luck to you! ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/15 "2000-06-13T15:30:07Z")
Hey Jube (couldn’t resist; see: Beatles) I worked with and for officers all my career; some I’d have charged hell with a bucket of water for, others I wouldn’t give you a plugged nickel for. Anyway, Listen more than you speak, especially to your upper NCOs, and don’t get so eager that you become an unguided missile: All thrust and no vector! Good luck, and wear your uniform with pride! ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2000, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/16 "2000-06-13T16:58:14Z")
ok, stop kidding yourselves… Navy, nothing personal, but hey sailor… LOL 😛 'nuff said. sorry **Chief** , had to do it. Air Force, i hear you fly boys have it pretty rough in training at first, but i’ve never met any of you, so i can’t say jack. as for us INFANTRY, never met any brass i liked, thought they were all doofuses. I was offered OCS (officer candidate school) a while back, and turned it down. I’d rather be an E7 or E8 NonCom then a brass head. forget about inter service rivalry. just keep in mind the Armies Infantry, Rangers, SF, Marine Recons, Seals and your blue berets are the boys that do the hardest work, and don’t insult them, never met one of us that wouldn’t think twice before taking down some brass head for spitting out garbage he should have kept the lid on. ---
**Author:** ![Baglady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Baglady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baglady)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-force-ots-advice/22176/17 "2000-06-14T06:54:50Z")
Bah humbug. The US Air Force is civilians in uniform. Go for something that matters, like the ARMY!!! Hooah!! [ex-hubby is ex-Navy enlisted and currently Army captain. So there.] 😃