Ready For This?

As most people know, Basic Military Training (BMT) is at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. It lasts 8.5 weeks and teaches everything from disassembling guns and first aid to biological and chemical weapons defense and physical training (PT). What most DON'T know is what to bring when going to Basic. Now, when a person swears in for the AF, they are given a list of suggested items to bring. This list, however, is very vague, short, and useless. So, I am going to give some good advice on what I would recommend you bring and what I would recommend you don't.
- Cell Phone = As of January 2010, Trainees can bring cell phones to Basic. I can remember my brother (in Basic 2008) calling us from the BMT payphone, all crackly with other Airman shouting in line behind him to hurry up. ~WARNING: all Trainees make one call to family/friends to tell their address. They are not allowed to say anything else, not "how are you?" or "I love you," nothing like that. So, don't be upset as a family member if they sound a little short with you, and don't ask questions during that first call since they can't answer anything. ~ So, no more awful payphone calls (unless you don't bring your cell). There are rules, though, about cell phones:

1. Trainees are encouraged to utilize their cell phone to notify a family member of their safe arrival at the San Antonio International Airport.  Trainees will not have any specific squadron/dorm assignments at this time. - Call your parents BEFORE going onto the Base. Last chance to peacefully talk to family until BMT graduation day.

2. Within 72 hours, trainees will be authorized to call and release their mailing address information posted on the safe arrival postcard (which will then be mailed to family member's address). (What I mentioned above, but without having to use the payphone)

3. Trainees will use cell phones only under direct supervision of a Military Training Instructor (TI).

4. Trainees are provided one phone session per week (minimum of 15 minutes).  Trainees needing to contact family members to retrieve important processing documents or information are not restricted.

5. Cell phones will be used for voice conversations only.  Receiving, sending, sharing, or viewing videos/pictures/text messages is strictly prohibited (that means NOT ALLOWED).  Violations WILL result in disciplinary actions (you could get washed back - meaning you'd have to do Basic all over again - or even get kicked out).

6. Prior to arriving at BMT, trainees must remove all photographs or videos which are considered lewd or pornographic (I mean really, do I even have to tell you not to have nasty photos?).  TIs will conduct a "Cell Phone Policy Briefing" during the initial health, morale, and welfare inspection (Check to make sure you're not a psycho).  Trainees will sign a cell phone briefing roster stating they have been informed of and understand all policies associated with the use of cell phones while at BMT.

- Pre-addressed and Stamped Envelopes = You'll be so tired and crazy busy in Basic, this just makes writing your family way easier.
- Paperwork = You have a LOT of paperwork, so make sure you have ALL of it before you leave for Basic. This includes: College Transcripts or JROTC or Civil Air Patrol Certificates which can get you a higher rank when you get done with your last MEPS trip right before you leave. Bring your marriage license (if married), driver's license (needed for a lot of AF jobs), birth certificates of all children you have and spouse because these allow you to get your BAH and shopping privileges for your sweetheart, SS card, Green Card if you have one, any Banking information (like a deposit slip or blank check that'll have the routing # and account #).
- Cash = No more than $40. Why you'd want to bring any, though, is beyond me. I know that there's a BX, a pizza place, and a Burger King on Base, but you don't really get to enjoy it there until later.
- Hygiene Products = Some deodorant, some toothpaste, a toothbrush (in a container - not the round kind or you'll get a demerit for it rolling around during inspection), you know. Girls, bring some lady products, but not tons because you can buy some on base. Girls, also bring a hairbrush or comb - guys don't need one since it all gets shaved off right away. Bring 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. Bring body wash/soap (DON'T bring bar soap). A razor is okay to bring for guys, but us ladies don't shave until the 6th week, so we can shop at the BX.
- Black Pen = For signing and writing on official AF documents. (NOT blue, BLACK!)
- Clothes = Just like on the official list, don't bring any inappropriate shirt, just plain shirts with no pictures or writing on them (And yes, the cool AF shirt the recruit gave you has a picture on it - don't bring it). You wear them during Week Zero before you get your uniform. Underwear is a little different - guys wear civilian undies for Week Zero before being issued their choice of boxes or briefs that are all the same. Girls - please choose decent undies for Basic. Even if you're only wearing them for a little while, try not to stand out (the TI will give you the worst verbal beatings if you do) so exchange those neon thongs for some normal white panties before you leave. Though all girls are required to purchase undies at the BX (so we're all uniform), the sections are LIMITED so if you're hard to fit into a normal size, you can bring extra of your own (normally bring four pairs - guys, too). Remember, ladies, to bring around six sports bras to Basic, grey or white. Also, girls, bring bobby pins, hair bands, etc, that are close to your shade of hair color. (Don't forget!) And GLASSES (for those who wear them) - wear yours down to Basic, even though a couple weeks in you'll be issued a hideous pair of military eyeglasses that are your prescription.

BAD IDEAS

- Prescriptions = Because it's hard to tell if you're actually smuggling in illegal narcotics on the Base, the AF gives everyone with medications their meds on Base, rather than having you bring your own.
- Fancy Running Shoes = Before you go out and buy some fancy, expensive pair of shoes for BMT, DON'T. The Air Force has regulation plain white, New Balance shoes that all Trainees are given.
- Leaky/Drippy/Colored = Anything that you think will drip even a little, make a mess, or stain, do NOT bring it. Most people suggest clear shampoo and body wash for inspections. Don't bring those gel shaving cans that ooze out later when you're not looking because you'll get demerits for them.
- Notebook/ Paper = If you want to bring fancy paper or even normal stuff for Basic to write your family, I would suggest leaving it at home. There is paper on Base you can buy. As for the notebook, everyone gets the same exact "standard issue" AF notebook at Basic for taking notes.
- Magazine/Book = If you wanted to read on the flight, leave it at the Airport. Otherwise, don't even take any. The TI will go through all your belongs and will scream at you for all unusual items - which include books since they aren't on the list.
- Contacts = Leave them HOME. When you get to Basic, they will show you nasty pictures of when contacts do gross things to eyes. You aren't allowed to wear contacts for safety reasons, so leave them.
- Panty Hose/ Nylons = You can bring your own, but if you choose to then bring the skin colored ones. If not, ladies usually buy them at the BX towards the end of BMT for the graduation ceremony and such.
- Laundry Soap = Everyone in Basic pitches in and buys a HUGE box for everyone to use, so you don't need to bring your own unless you have some kind of skin problem or allergy so you have to.
- Pictures = I know it sounds bad, but they will make fun of you for bringing pictures of your family/spouse/friends and the TI will single you out to be picked on constantly for standing out. So, I recommend leaving pictures home until BMT graduation.
- Make Up =  Guys, you can't wear any. Ladies, you can't either.

Remember that everything you bring is going to go through inspections. If it can't be kept clean, don't bring it, you'll only get demerits.

If you're curious about anything Air Force or military, or, really, anything, just comment or message me and I'll happily answer.

Thanks for reading,

Airman Trainee Elizabeth

A Little Something Special...

Greetings, sweet wonderful reader. Okay, so here's the scoop: The Air Force does a little something special with certain people in the Air Force when they do certain things. So, I thought I'd give you a heads up and let you know all about it.

First, you should know about basic pay. All enlisted personnel of the same rank, no matter what their job, get paid the same basic amount. Officers get a way higher pay than enlisted, but for now, I'm just going to focus on enlisted pays. 

The E stands for Enlisted. If there was an O, then it would be Officer. The number is for rank. E-1, Enlisted level 1 (Airman Basic), E-2 (Airman), E-3  (Airman First Class), E-4 (Senior Airman), and so on, with the highest being E-9 (I don't have that on the chart because that is VERY high and HARD to attain, so, at the moment, it isn't all that important to know the pay of an E-9. 

Now then, the Air Force also gives Airmen enlisted for a certain number of years longer than the minimum, or enlisted in a more dangerous job, an enlistment bonus. These are technically subject to change suddenly and out of nowhere, but, still, how often does that actually happen? Not often. This can be paid monthly with your basic pay (above), but they generally pay it all in a lump-sum of money. 

An AFSC is an Air Force Security Code, which is just a really fancy way of saying Job. And, YES, because they are called bonuses, they are subject to federal taxes and state taxes. 

Now comes the more interesting part. The Air Force has this very interesting thing called "Special Pay." I'll give a list to show the different ones and what they're for plus how much money they give, but Special Pay is essentially a little extra money for doing something a little extra in the Air Force. It's also nice that, since they're called a "Special Pay" and not a "bonus," these little extras aren't taxed.

Career Enlisted Flyer Incentive Pay - Enlisted in a career involving flying. An Airman has to pull flying duties for 6 out of the first 10 years of being an Airman, nine out of fifteen years, and fourteen out of twenty years in the AF. If they do that, then they're eligible for this extra money every month. 

Years                           Maximum Monthly 

4 or less                       $150

Over 4                         $225

Over 8                         $350

Over 14                       $400

There is also Foreign Language Proficiency Pay, which means if you have to speak a foreign language for your job (FLPP I) or out of necessity (FLPP II). This pay is not to exceed $1000.00 a month.

There's Hardship Duty Pay. It's pay to an Airman if they're assigned to a place with living conditions much lower than the U.S. Quality of Life. That can range from $50 to $100 extra a month, depending on the location. 

We have Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay. If a person has to do a job that is considered far more dangerous than most, (i.e. Parachute jumping, explosive demolition, handling toxins, etc) they get an extra $150 a month. Air crewmembers that do flight duties get $150 dollars extra, which jumps up higher depending on rank. $165 for E-4, $190 for E-5, $215 for E-6, and so on. 

Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay - that is pretty obvious from the name. $225 extra a month.

Special Duty Assignment Pay. If you're assigned a very difficult job that needs certain skills to get done, you could be entitled to this. SD-1 is $75, SD-2 is $150, SD-3 is $225, SD-4 is $300 a month, etc. 

If you work as a Medical Officer, you get a special pay.

If you get shipped OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) and sign on for an additional year (or more) you are eligible for the Overseas Extension Pay. This is either $80 a month or a lump-sum not to exceed $2000.00 a year (I believe, however, that the lump-sum is counted as a "bonus," so it is taxable.) 

There are also Allowances. These are interesting in their own right, and I think I've mentioned a few before. 

Military Clothing Allowance - money you get to buy military clothes. Generally, this is only for officers since enlisted get their clothing in basic and have the cost of their clothes cut out of their first paycheck before they ever see it. 

Clothing Replacement Allowance - Last time I checked, it was $310 for men and about $346 for women that the AF gives to replace clothes. 

Standard Clothing Allowance - starts about 3 years into active duty. It's a pinch more money, but has the same purpose as the Clothing Replacement Allowance.

Cost Of Living Allowance - Since it's based on rank, years you've been in the AF, location, and if you've got dependents, the money amount varies quite a bit from person to person. If you're overseas, and there is a higher cost of living (such as Lakenheath or Mildenhall), you'll see that higher pay reflected in the Allowance. 

Dislocation Allowance - Extra money for when an Airman has to move suddenly. It covers any costs for moving - everything from boxes to food to gas.

BAH Allowance - Basic Housing Allowance for people who live off base and have to pay rent. (Check a previous post for more information about BAH.)

Family Separation Allowance - For when you're sent where your family can't follow. It's good for house repairs or babysitter bills. 

Per Diem - for service members when they have to go on business trips.

Temporary Lodging Allowance - for temporary housing when moving on an assignment. Daily rate is usually $290, but it all depends on location and such.

Travel - The government will pay for any official traveling you have to do, but it has restrictions so that you have to use the least expensive option that's appropriate and timely. 

Whew, this is long! But it was worth it to give you a sneak peek at most of the different little extras you can get in the Air Force. It was my pleasure to dig up all this info for anyone and everyone curious about joining the AIR FORCE! 

Just send me a comment and I'll be sure to reply. 

Respectfully,

Airman Trainee Elizabeth 

The Talk

Before going to basic training, there are a few things one should do and know. First of all, you have to know your reporting statement. It is very dull and you have to say it every time you talk to someone of higher rank than you, especially your TI (Training Instructor.) When they ask you something, or you need to ask them something, the first thing you have to say is: "Sir (or Ma'm if it's a woman), Trainee -insert last name- reports as ordered." So, if you had a male TI and you're last name was Smith, you'd have to say, "Sir, Trainee Smith reports as ordered." Simple, easy, and something you have to say all the time in basic. You don't really say it once you graduate BMT, though.
Second, remember the Airman's Creed and the Airman's song. The song is long and you'll be forced to sing it nearly every morning in Basic Training, as soon as you wake up. You can read it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_U.S._Air_Force_(song)

Now, the Creed is a bit shorter than the song and easier to remember. It is also a very new thing to the Air Force. With all the traditions of the Air Force, it still felt like something was missing. So, in 2007, the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Air Force Chief Master Sargent (Which are the highest ranks you can go for enlisted and officer) decided to issue a Creed for all Airmen. It goes:

I am an American Airman.
I am a warrior.
I have answered my Nation's call.

I am an American Airman.
My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win.
I am faithful to a Proud Heritage,
A Tradition of Honor,
And a Legacy of Valor.

I am an American Airman.
Guardian of Freedom and Justice.
My Nation's Sword and Shield,
Its Sentry and Avenger.
I defend my Country with my Life.

I am an American Airman.
Wingman, Leader, Warrior.
I will never leave an Airman behind,
I will never falter,
And I will not fail.

Pretty sweet, huh? Imagine thousands of BMT trainees all reciting this at the same time. It is going to be so great. Another thing that you should probably know are the Air Force Core Values. Three lines, really easy.

Integrity First
Service Before Self
Excellence In All We Do

That's it. It's just the basic set of values to live by. The Core Values are pretty serious and are taught to everybody; enlisted, officer, active, reserve, or whatever you may be. The values are supposed to remind Airman what it takes to get a mission done and meant to inspire Airman to do our best at all times.
Next, you might want to learn the phonetic alphabet. I know, I know. So much to learn, it makes your brain ache. Oh, well. The phonetic alphabet is really easy, anyway. For every letter of the alphabet, there is a word that correlates to it. This helps when sending messages through the radio or talking on the telephone so that "eavesdroppers" don't really understand what's being said. It also helps when some letters or words sound really similar to others so that there is no confusion if transmission is a little garbled.
A = Alfa/ Alpha
B = Bravo
C = Charlie
D = Delta
E = Echo
F = Foxtrot
G = Golf
H = Hotel
I = India
J = Juliett
K = Kilo
L = Lima
M = Mike
N = November
O = Oscar
P = Papa
Q = Quebec
R = Romeo
S = Sierra
T = Tango
U = Uniform
V = Victor
W = Whiskey
X = X-ray
Y = Yankee
Z = Zulu

So, if you wanted to say Army, you'd say "Alpha Romeo Mike Yankee." Easy. Now, you don't have to memorize all this stuff if you don't want to. I'm just saying, going into Basic Training is WAY easier when you already know all these things than if you go in without knowing them. It's nice to know the enlisted and the officer rank structure, too (what the officer pins and the enlisted stripes stand for.) You will get taught things like that in Basic, but knowing early makes it better than going in and cramming all this stuff in at once on top of the mental beat down that your TI gives you, with all the screaming and insults, and the physical beat down with all the crazy running, push ups, sit ups, and endurance all day long.
Speaking of physical beat down, you might want to get in shape before Basic. Not saying you have to be a body builder or go out and start trying to run a marathon, but you should at least put forth an effort to get fit. Try walking every day, then a brisk walk, then a jog, and maybe throw in a few sprints every once in a while. Ride a bike. Lift weights. Something so that you aren't going to pass out or throw up your first week at Basic Training.
Try job shadowing. If you know what you want to do in the Air Force, then find out about your job. Go talk with someone who has the job you'll be doing. See where the nearest AF base is and see if your recruiter can set up a time for you to visit. Learn as much about your career as you can. You'll be doing that job for a while, so you'll want to be prepared for the facts of exactly what you'll be doing. People who do that job have plenty of experiences to tell you about that will show what you'll do. You'll be surprised at what some of the Airman have to say.
Finally, one thing that you should almost definitely do before going to Basic Training for the Air Force is have The Talk. Sit down with your family and tell them that you're going into the Air Force. Tell them what you want to do, tell them why you want to do it, and give them all the facts. Give them a good idea of what the Air Force is really like because you going into the Air Force will effect them. If you're in high school or college, sit down with your parents or guardians or even your siblings. As an adult, you should tell your spouse or your girlfriend/boyfriend that you joined. If your family is moving with you to a base, you better tell them now rather than after Basic Training. Your family loves you (hopefully) and needs to understand what you're doing with your life and why. It's for the best to tell the people you love that you've sworn in for the Air Force. It will definitely make you feel better once you say something. If you have anyone in your family or circle of friends who was in the military, ask them questions. Get good advice. It'll be worth it.

Feel free to ask me anything.

Trainee Elizabeth, US Air Force

Around This World

Welcome! Bienvenido! Youkoso! Willkommen!
Most people like the idea of joining the Air Force because of its traveling options. Ask most seniors in high school why they're in the AF softbook program and you'll get, "I'll get to see the world!"
I hate to burst bubbles, but the belief that by joining the military you'll get sent all over the world isn't as true as you'd think. But don't worry, it could still happen to you. Let me explain.
When you first join the Air Force, you'll get sent to BMT. Basic Training is in San Antonio, Texas, and every airman, no matter where you're from or what job you're assigned, will go there. (Unless you've signed up as an officer, which is totally different than enlisted. Officers go to college first, then the AF, so the AF pays off all the college debt and the officer-to-be goes to the AF Officer Academy or some such place. I'll get back to that one later.) Anyway, after Basic, an airman will get sent to Tech School.
Tech School is like a mix of Basic (strict and organized and, well, military) and College life. Depending on a person's job, they could get sent to any Tech School, anywhere. A Security Forces member will stay in San Antonio, at Lackland AF Base. Someone who works on A-10 planes or the Warthog (Wart-Hog is an airplane) are often sent to Mississippi. An aerial gunner could end up in Florida, Washington, Texas, or New Mexico. (If you have a job in mind for the AF, type it in on www.airforce.com and you can find every base that you could get sent to for Tech School.)
Now, don't choose a job for its Tech School location. Tech School isn't like College, although you will earn an actual degree at Tech School, because Tech School is very short. As an aerial gunner, to get a degree in Aviation Operations only takes 27 days. A Logistics Planner takes the same amount of time. Cyber Systems Operations takes 56 days while Geospatial Intelligence takes 100-110 days. While the time varies a bit from job to job, it isn't nearly as long to get an Air Force degree compared to college degree, eh? Tech School is cool, though, because you get the college life with dorms, teachers, peers, a cafeteria, and college homework. It's just shorter, tougher, and lacks hazing.
While in Tech School, the Air Force will ask you what your top places to be stationed are (12 of them, I believe, 6 locations OCONUS and 6 CONUS) and you can list you're #1, what you want most, #2, #3, then so on. There is no guarantee at all that you will go to the base you want. If you want Hawaii and you have a job that you can't do on that base, don't put it as your #1. Depending on your job, there are some bases you will never be stationed at because you can't do your job there. However, there are some jobs that can be done on every base. Every base needs a Security Forces Specialist or a Services Specialist or a Nurse or a Doctor, etc. Unfortunately, because every base needs that job, someone could end up in Nebraska or Utah or Italy or Hawaii. It just depends on the needs of the Air Force.
The Air Force isn't mean. If you put Florida as your #1 and they have a spot open in there, they'll ship you right down to Eglin. The trouble is, most people put the same things at the top, places like Hawaii and Florida and Italy and California - places lots of people want to go to. So think about where you'd like most. If you want to go to Florida really bad, put the bases in Florida on your sheet and areas around FL, like Georgia or Louisiana. Because it is the big digital computer that ultimately slides you into your spot on a base, it will put you in that general region. If you put Maine then California then Florida, the data looks like you don't really care where you're going.
A lot of people get sent to their base and will end up there for most of their career. There are exceptions, though. If you're in Security Forces, you can get sent to Korea or Turkey or Afghanistan for a few months, maybe a year, then get sent to a different, safer base. If you work on air planes, you may be stuck on one base or get shipped all over. It depends on the plane(s) you work on and need. If you fix all the A-10 planes that have come onto your base in Oregon and tons are broken over in Japan, they'll send you over to fix them. My brother works on planes. He went to Basic in TX, then Tech School in Mississippi, then Arizona, then Korea, then a different base in Arizona, then over to Germany (His #1), and now he's going to Georgia.
So, yes, you can see the world. My first recruiter (who retired) lived on one base his whole career. It wasn't on his dream sheet, either. As soon as his eight years were up, he got out of the AF. Then he signed back up again a year later and was sent back to his same old base. He could have been sent to a different base, but the need for his job skills there hadn't changed.
Now, if you feel upset because you might not get sent all over the world, relax. Even if you don't get shipped all over, if you join the AF you'll have 30 days of paid vacation. That is a whole month, every year, that you can use to go anywhere you want while being paid your normal salary. Plus, as an airman, you get a huge discount while flying. However, even though we're in the military, you still need a passport to fly as a civilian. If the Air Force is sending you somewhere, they box your things for you and ship them for free and ship you to your destination with just a normal military ID, but if you're going somewhere on vacation, a passport is a must.
There are many Air Force bases overseas for the more daring person, such as:
Iraq, Korea, Afghanistan (I wouldn't recommend those), Italy, Guam, several in the UK, several in Germany, Turkey, three in Japan, Portugal, possibly Spain, Alaska and Hawaii both count as overseas, and a few I'm forgetting. Some of the bases I listed, such as those in high danger zones, you have to have special clearance to enter and a reason to be there (like being stationed there for a job and not on a vacation). Places that are danger zones don't generally allow civilian family members to be sent there or even visit because it is too dangerous. So if you were married and were stationed in a dangerous area, like Korea, your wife/husband would not be able to come with you and would have to stay behind. Once you finished serving in that area and got sent to a safer base, they can easily move in with you. Which reminds me, I forgot to talk about housing.
Okay, there are 3 kinds of housing: Base housing, dormitories (Never call them Barracks or your TI will beat you-verbally), and off-base housing. Dormitories are for all single airmen. If you don't have kids or a spouse, you will live on the base in a 'dorm.' It isn't as bad as it sounds - the 'dorm' is very similar to an apartment. You have your own bedroom, your own bathroom, and a kitchen/living/washer and dryer area you share with a couple other airmen. Women and men have dorms that are separated and far apart for obvious reasons.
Another kind of housing is Base housing. It is for all airmen with a family. If you have a spouse, kids, a decrepit old grandma, you'll probably live in an on-base house. It is a very nice house with all the things you'd find in a normal home without any of the possible sharing that comes from living in the dorms. You have a dining room, bedrooms, living room, yard, and get security with a, ahem, safe neighborhood. These houses are only available to families, though, so if you're single, then no dice until you're at least an E-4 (that is a rank, people. E = Enlisted)
Finally, there's off-base housing. Sometimes families, for whatever reason, don't want to live on the base. A husband and wife can move off the base if they want and live in a house, a rental, or an apartment. If you move off base then the AF will pay you a food-allowance, housing-allowance, and clothing-allowance because on-base housing is free, there's free food on the base, and the BX (an Airmen store that's on every base and sells super good things for SUPER low prices.) So there's that. Single people living in the dorms cannot choose to live off-base. The only way an unmarried, child-less person could go from the dorms to off-base housing is if the base were overcrowded. It happens sometimes, on certain bases, when too many people get shipped to the same base because there are jobs there that need doing and not enough dorms are available for everyone. When that happens, several people can volunteer or be chosen, and those people go out into the surrounding area, find a good place, and stay there until space opens up (which can take a long time). While living off-base, single airmen will also be paid allowances. Airmen who live in dorms, but have dependents that don't live with them get paid an allowance as well because the Air Force, and the military in general, requires you to provide adequate support (including a home) to your dependents (people you're responsible for taking care of).
So don't worry so much about where you're sent to live.  Bases are safe, secure, and comfortable. And, if you're really that uncomfortable with where you've been stationed, then just cross-train. Cross-training is where you learn a different job than the one you've got. As long as you qualify for it, you can learn that job, get shipped where that job is needed, and relax.

Any questions? Feel free to ask.

Airman Trainee Elizabeth

Things to Look For

Hey there! I'm just going to jump in and start up around where I left off.

After all the work you go through, when you're finally sworn in, you're IN! But it's not over yet. If you're younger, like me, and swear in post-graduation, you go into the Softbook program. 

Basically, it is a bunch of empty slots that get reserved for a certain number of people still in school. You join now so that when you graduate, you go right on to Basic Training. As a member of the Softbook, you have your place secured in the Air Force. No one can suddenly take your place because they scored better or have a higher GPA, or anything. You have security in your spot. Generally, if someone is older and swears in, they don't get to pick their job. They get placed where the Air Force needs them. In the Softbook program, you at least put down the top five jobs that you want and they take those into consideration. For me, I chose Security Forces. 

That being said, if you have a job you really want, and qualify for (ladies, don't beg to be para-rescue, its guys only, etc) then stick to what you want. Be adamant about it! THIS is what YOU WANT! It's your future, what you'll be doing for the next four, six, or eight years. You choose! 

After you get into the program, once every month you have to meet up with your recruiter. It's standard procedure. They have to make sure you haven't suddenly gained fifty pounds or gotten pregnant or gotten traffic violations. You get a paper asking you if you're pregnant, have gotten someone pregnant, broken the law, been arrested, etc. Your recruiter will weigh you and take your height every meeting. Then, when that's done, you can just ask questions.

This is very good, very easy advice. ASK QUESTIONS. If you don't know something about the AF, ask. Ask your recruiter, ask me, go on airforce.com and click the LIVE CHAT button in the top right corner. There are plenty of people to ask and plenty of things to wonder about. On the AF website, there is a "find your nearest recruiter" button if you don't know where to look to find a recruiter. 

Personally, as a female, I had to ask about hair. The Air Force has a little strictness on hair policies. Your hair, as a female, must be at least one inch in length. Unless you have a medical condition you aren't allowed to be bald or wear wigs. You can not have hair in any unnatural colors, such as, but not limited to, pink, blue, purple, orange, or green. You can not have hair cut in a faddish style (No Mohawks, side-swept bangs, etc). Bangs must be cut above the eyebrows, if you want to have bangs. If you want to wear your hair down, it can not touch the bottom of your shirt collar. Usually, ladies will just put their hair in a bun and that'll be that. They have a special technique that the ladies teach in BMT (basic military training - get used to acronyms.)

Another thing is jewelry. One ring can be worn and one bracelet can be worn as long as they don't show anything illicit, vulgar, or, you know, sick. No naked people, no terrorist symbols, you get the drift. You can also wear a necklace while in uniform, but it must be kept under the shirt. Earrings can be worn by ladies, but they can't be large or gaudy. Small hoops of sliver or gold and small studs of silver, gold, pearls, etc, can be worn. Nothing else. No ankle bracelets, lip piercings, eyebrow piercings, tongue piercings, nose piercings, and the like. 

Make-up is a bit a of a toss up. The rules state that if you wear make up it must "look natural." and "compliment the skin tone" of the woman wearing it. No wearing any lipstick of any unnatural shade such as, but not limited to (you hear that phase a lot in the rule book - such as but not limited to- blah) purple, blue, green, unnatural red, or black. Nail polish can be worn by women, too, but they must be a natural color that looks good with a woman's skin tone (like pink or light brown). 

Tattoos. Lots of people have them and worry about being able to join because of them. The basic rules are that tattoos can not cover more than 25% of your body. Tattoos can't be visible if in uniform with the sleeves rolled up. Basically, none on your face, neck, hands, fingers, arms up to the elbow, and, I believe, none on the feet, toes, or ankles that is noticeable. I don't think you'd get in trouble for alcohol or drug tattoos, but you might. Tattoos are an "out of sight, out of mind" sort of thing in the AF. If they aren't seen, we don't really care much. But if you have a huge tattoo across your face or something, you probably won't get in. 

Clothes. You have lots of clothes in the AF and while off-duty. All airmen have ABUs. Airmen Battle Uniforms. They are really durable and really comfortable. They're the camouflage uniforms you see airmen wearing all the time (the army has the same camo pattern the AF does, but ours are a little different so do NOT confuse an army soldier with an airman.) All enlisted airmen have patches on their arm that show rank. They start with a V shape, then two Vs, and so on. Officer airmen do not have the V patches, only enlisted do. Officers have pins on their collars. It will start with a long rectangle that looks like a stick of butter. Then a sliver bar, and so on. You'll learn the ranks at BMT. You will get uniform socks and shoes, too.

After Tech school, some airmen have slight changes in their ABUs. If you sign up for Security Forces (SF), they wear berets, dark blue with the SF symbol. They also have camo bullet-proof vests over their ABUs, that are reinforced with four plates of solid steel. (Little side note: If a SF person is wearing the vest and a helmet instead of the beret, you have good reason to be worried. The helmet on an SF means there is a high danger risk on or near the area they're guarding.) Other jobs, such as pilots, have totally different uniforms because of the work they do. Pilots need breathable uniforms that will help the blood in their body stay where it should be even when the plane goes upside down or sideways. If you have to ride on a plane with a pilot, you generally get a 'flight uniform.' You look like a patch-less, new pilot, really, but its just for while you ride a plane.

Another uniform airmen have are Blues. While they have a more "professional" term, everyone in the AF just calls them blues. They're meant for formal meetings and such. Men get light blue shirts, dark blue-black jackets with their patches, pins or metals on them, dress pants, shiny black shoes, a dark blue tie, and ugly Tepee-looking blue hats. Ladies have more options. We can wear skirts or pants in grey, dark blue, or tan and a blouse of grey, light blue, or tan (matching colors only - no blue to grey or tan to blue). We have hosiery (like tights, but not), a strange neck-tie thing, shiny shoes, and a slightly less hideous trapezoid hat (ours is flatter on top where the guys have it pointy)

We also have PT uniforms. Physical Training. You wear them when you work out in Basic, when you work out in Tech school, and you can wear them when you get placed on your permanent base and want to work out at the on-base gym. They come in shorts, sweat pants, T-shirt, long sleeved shirt, and wind-breaker (light jacket). They have the AF symbol and are light and breathable. However, one of the rules you need to know is that you can't mix and match uniforms. It is against the AF rules to wear the PT shirt and ABU pants or blues shirt and PT sweats or civilian shirts and blues pants or whatever. No mixing them together! Not even the shoes or socks! Also, you can wear, are encouraged really, to wear your civilian clothes out and about on your days off. However, in other countries, try to act polite and look decent. You could be the only American they ever meet so don't wear a shirt cut so low your breasts fall out or pants so big they fall off. As an airman, you represent this country and everything about it. People will look to you and judge your country by your looks and actions. So don't think on your day off when you wear civilian clothes that you can do and say and wear whatever you want. 

Let me know any questions you have. I'd love to answer them for you.

Airman Trainee Elizabeth

The Beginning

My name is Elizabeth. I'm seventeen years old and, as of a short while ago, I am a Trainee of the United States Air Force. Fancy title, isn't it?
I just figured that, after all the hardships I'm going to go through to become an Airman, why not write it (or rather type it) out to help other people through the same sort of things.
Maybe I should start off with a little background information.

My big, goofy brother is in the Air Force. I love him and his ridiculous ways of joking around. When he joined, I was pretty surprised. It was one of those 'if he can make it in the Air Force, any one can.' He's always been a little tougher than me, though. Not because I'm a girl, but because I've never really tried to toughen myself up before. That all changes now that I'm signed up, though.
Most people think that joining the military means I was out of options. You know, got bad grades, didn't want to go to college, yada yada yada. I have a 3.5 to 3.6 GPA (I just graduated from junior to senior, too) so it isn't that I'm stupid or was afraid of going to college. It just seemed like a better opportunity to join the Air Force. I mean, seriously, I don't have to have $20,000+ debt before even getting a job, I don't have to worry about not finding a job or losing it because people don't need it anymore, I'll get to travel places my classmates only dream about going, get a whole month of paid vacation time every year, I get to live in a very secure neighborhood (the base- obviously it will have good security), and I get to serve my nation and help protect people. Why would I trade that for thousands of dollars of debt, drunken roommates, tiny dorms, and employment insecurity? When it comes right down to it, the answer seemed so obvious. Plus, if I really wanted the college experience, I can go to college while I work my Air Force job (for free, I think - something about the Post-911 GI Bill [I need to read up on it first]) or I could go after my years are up.
You can sign up for 4, 6, or possibly even 8 years, I think. Everyone who signs on is technically in for 8 years, but if, say, you signed up for 4, then that's 4 years of actively working for the AF (Air Force) and 4 years of inactive duty (they'll pull you back in if, say, a war started or something).
Anyway, there are a few steps to getting in.
~First - talk to a recruiter. You can find the one closest to you on the airforce website (airforce.com)
~Second - sign paperwork. You get asked weird questions like: Are you a terrorist? A drug dealer? Do you wet the bed? Are you missing fingers/toes? Are you mentally ill? Etc, etc.
 ~Third - you go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) This is true no matter where you're going (AF, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard). It's not super fun, but it's not bad, either. You go in, take your ASVAB (for the AF) and as soon as your done, you get your score. If you do super bad, like moronically low (tens and twenties), then you have to retest. There are really simple jobs that you can have really low scores on (Security Forces) or other jobs that require a higher score (Cryptologic Linguist). After the ASVAB, they'll feed you. Then you go to your hotel where you usually room with someone (of the same gender). If you want, talk to the front desk and they can arrange a separate room. You'll rest and the next day get your physical.
 The physical sounds more scary than it is. You come in, get a folder with a bunch of papers, go into a waiting room and get a few tests done. They have you put on headphones and press a button when you hear sound. They have you look a letters to check your sight. They check for colorblindness. You go to a classroom and fill out more paperwork. They tell you you'll be arrested and imprisoned if you lie on your paperwork to get into the military - SO DON'T LIE! It's not scary. We joked around with our 'commanding officer' who was teaching us - he was Army. Made fun of the new 'digital camouflage' uniforms and wondered why the Navy had blue camo - if they fell in the water, how would we ever find them?
Also in the classroom, they have you blow into a small machine to check for drugs - why you would smoke a joint before going into a physical is beyond me, but whatever. After that, the blood test. The nurses that work there are super good at their jobs - you barely feel a prick. DON'T drink OJ the morning before the blood test or it'll show positive diabetes even if you don't have it.
You have to pee in a cup next. There's a window in the bathroom. Through it, a person will take your pee and check for alcohol, drugs, pregnancy (females only, sorry boys), and, I guess that's it. Next, the creepy exam. They bring all girls (and guys, separately, though I didn't see them go into their guys only room) into an exam room. They check your height and weight. (there's a chart in the AF website for size vs weight. Like if you're 5'1 then you can weigh a max of 145 pounds. They taller you are, the more you can weigh. If you're muscular, they make exceptions. They take you individually into another room and check your, um, parts, for warts and such. Awkward. It's easier, though, when the doctor (girls for girls, boys for boys) talks monotone and tells you ahead of time exactly what their doing and what for.
They have you bend your arms, knees and do walks (heel, toe, heel toe!) then you get the all clear.
Finally, you go to the AF office where an Airmen will show you your list of all possible jobs you qualify for. You pick your top five and they stick the data into the computer.
Next, you go to a smaller office where you'll be asked, 'if something happens to you, where do you want your money, house, etc, to go?' Then they'll do fingerprints for all of your fingers. It's kind of cool. "Ahhh, my old enemy - Female pinkies." - my scanner guy. Our pinkies are so small, it takes half a dozen tries to scan them in.
They might ask you to do a survey on how you felt about the physical, if they could make it better, etc. You could grab a sandwich from the cafeteria, or whatever. They'll take care of your folder, your paperwork, and you'll swear in. You raise your hand and repeat after the soldier in front of you. Easy.

It's late, so I'll explain more another time. Thanks for reading.

Respectfully,
Air Force Trainee Elizabeth