I did now. Thanks for that! That’s a classic!
Thank him for his service, etc. You know how us crusty, old liberals still get misty eyed over kids willing to put their lives on the line. As only an Air Force Reserves brat I don’t have much to say, other than my dad would congratulate him on his fine choice of branch, and wise words he drummed into me from infancy, “The infantry’s for chumps.”
I went into the Air Force right after high school. Best decision of my life. I’m out now, I work in insurance, but without the military who knows where I’d be.
Tell him to fly. Trust me on this.
I’ve been through recruit training twice, neither time in the AF. And both times were back in the 70’s, so these suggestions may be inoperative now. So, here is what he should bring with him.
- A good comfortable pair of running shoes: He’ll be spending a lot of time running. They’ll issue some, but they’re not particularly good. Any other clothing he’ll need will be provided. You’ll probably receive a package from him once he’s reported for training. It’ll contain the clothes he was wearing when he reported.
B. Personal grooming supplies: Shaving supplies, deodorant, nail clippers. My 2nd time around, I took a pair of shoe trees with me. The petty officer inspecting my bag for contraband gave them a second look, but then let me keep them.
III. Reading matter: They’ll let a recruit bring a Bible, Koran, or other religious text. Any other sort of reading matter will be shipped back home with the clothing. An address book would be okay.
4th. Jewelry: They’ll probably allow a religious medal on a chain. They may or may not allow a wrist watch. Don’t wear an expensive one. A cheapo water resistant one with a scratch resistant crystal is all he’ll need. Around the day before he graduates, he’ll be allowed to make purchases at the Base Exchange and will be able to purchase a good wristwatch at a
discounted price then. I don’t know about earrings for women, but I expect plain posts or plain, small, hoops would be allowed. Nothing else.
What you can send him while he’s a recruit:
- NO FOOD!! It will be confiscated from him. He will not be allowed to eat any of it.
B. Photographs. Yes, but they will be examined by the training staff to make certain there are no in appropriate photos.
III. Maybe a pre-paid phone card. It might take some time before a recruit is allowed phone privileges. Ask him in a letter if he can use one.
You may find this book interesting: Joining the United States Air Force: A Handbook
I enlisted in the air force in 95 and am an officer now waiting to pin on Major. If you have any specific questions you can pm me and I’ll answer them honestly.
Good luck!
I retired from the USAF after 24 years and now work as a contractor for the USAF at Scott AFB Illinois.
Hundreds of thousands of people have gone though the Air Force basic training with no problems. Basic training use to be only 6 weeks and was rather easy. Now they’ve expanded it to 8 or 9 weeks and it’s more difficult. However if your son works hard and does what he is told when he is told, he’ll do OK. Tell him that they do play a lot of mental games and just play along. They will provide what he needs for those few weeks (except for upbeat letters from you - that’s your job).
Tech school will be next after basic training. Again he just needs to do what he is told when he is told and to put honest effort into it.
After tech school will be his first duty assignment. Tell him NOT to try to get assigned to Little Rock AFB if that’s close (like within 200 miles)! People who get assigned close to home often get in trouble the most. Plus he should see the world on Uncle Sam’s dime while he can. Again he needs to do what he’s told when he’s told. Also avoid the temptation to party a little too much. He can’t legally drink until 21 years old and even when he’s legal, getting a DUI is a career killer. Also they randomly test for drugs. Enough said about that.
Tell your son that things that might get you fired in the civilian word can get you sent to prison in the military. For example not showing up for work for a few days. In the civilian world you get fired. In the military you’ll get at least Article 15 punishment. Telling your boss that he’s an ass in the military can get you punished and not just fired (unless you choose your words and timing very, very carefully). Punch out a boss? That is going to end very badly. And so on.
The US Air Force is going through a sexual abuse scandal right now. They are really cracking down. Suggest heavily to your son that he doesn’t even think about (yea right) chasing around a young female airman in basic training or tech school. Maybe when he gets to his first duty assignment, but even then be careful about sexual relations, even jokes, with other military members. He may be much better off looking off-base.
Tell your son to take advantage of educational opportunities once he’s settled in at a duty station and pretty well through his military training (5-level). This old Kentucky boy got 2 associate degrees, a BS degree, and a dual-master’s degree and didn’t have a school loan to pay when I was done. Of course that took me 24 years, but I’ve seen many people get an associate degree in 4 years plus working full time.
God, yes. And if Air Force housing is anything like Army housing where lots of private businesses spring up aimed at the enlisted, tell him to stay out of the twenty or so pawn shops which will be within a five-mile radius. He will likely blow his entire paycheck on absolute garbage every time he goes in one.
Have him start out on the [del]right[/del]left foot and get a couple of good nights of sleep before shipping out. He should go to bed about 7 or 8pm and get up at 4 or 5am. Resetting his internal clock will help him tremendously.
You know, the things that are launched off cowtapults? Anyway, I was trying to say chow, which is the stuff that is found in dining facilities. I don’t think anyone calls 'em chow halls anymore, too old school.
Hell yes, I totally forgot about this. I was stationed in Turkey for a year and got about 13 credits worth of college done while I was there. If someone is really motivated and has time, they might be able to get an associates in less than 2 years. These were courses through University of Maryland and Central Texas College, so they are accredited.
Thanks to everyone for all the advice and well wishes! I think we’re about to get a handle on everything, and tomorrow we find out his date for shipping out to Basic!
So… what do you have to do to get promoted? If you’re enlisted, can you get promoted or apply for officer rank?
If he does well on the DLAB and chooses to go in that direction, he could spend up to 2 years in training before he gets to his first duty assignment. He might consider putting careful thought into which language he selects, if that is the case, because the language will determine the duty assignment.
He jobs that come with that training are pretty prestigious. But - general rule of thumb from my experience is that if you don’t fly, you are a second class citizen in the AF. Ymmv.
Psychopants, I don’t want to publish his scores all over the place, but I can say that he scored more than well enough for the Category IV languages, and that’s what he’d like to do.
We’ve been counseled that such training would mean he’d be in California (I think?) for quite some time before a regular duty assignment, and that once that happens, he won’t be able to tell us much of anything specific about what he does.
Oh, I just thought of something they expect you to know how to do in boot camp but they don’t train you how to do it. They expect you to know how to shine your shoes. So that would be a useful skill to develop before your son reports in.
I’d say ignore the advice about getting him good running shoes. Yes, he’ll be running a lot and the ones issued do suck, but you do not want to be the only guy with different shoes. Any individuality or specialness is bad.
It’s also a very bad idea to become your TI’s special project within three days of getting there. Don’t ask how I know…
According to the movies I’ve seen, they play a lot of volleyball while greased up in suntan lotion in the Air Force, so send him lotion, but not a lot of shirts
Yes, not just California, but Monterey. In a very academic environment. Classroom training by day, freedom by night. A huge percentage of enrollees wash out of the school. It is spectacularly beautiful and fun there.
Btw. Been there, done that. Green uniform, not blue.
And there might be 6 months to a year of other specialized training after that.
That would be the Navy.