It most certainly is not your Daddy's Air Force Basic Military Training (AFBMT) anymore. Since November 2005, the Air Force has changed the way they turn civilians into Air Force members, emphasizing war-fighting and remote deployment skills much more than they have in years past. First, they toughened up the physical fitness standards. Then they placed greater emphasis on weapons training. Next, they replaced classroom training on folding underwear into six-inch squares, with additional training on combat-related skills such as first aid "buddy care," and chemical/biological weapons defense.
Now the Air Force has made one more major change -- the length of basic training has been expanded from 6 1/2 week to 8 1/2 weeks, beginning with the class that starts training on November 3, 2008. So, what can you expect during AFBMT, and what can you do to get ready? Read on, my friend...
The Air Force only has one location for enlisted basic training: the 737th Training Group, at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas. It doesn't matter if you're joining the active duty Air Force, the Air Force Reserves, or the Air National Guard. All new Air Force recruits go through the same basic training at Lackland. Each year, over 35,000 new recruits go through AFBMT. The new AFBMT is not only designed to teach the fundamentals of military life, but also places great emphasis on the Air Force Expeditionary Force (AEF) deployment cycle, which consists of pre-deployment, deployment and post-deployment phases.
Getting Ready to Go
Reporting to Basic Training
Basic Training Life
- Typical Day
- Dormitories
- Showers
- Classroom Instruction
- Drill (Marching)
- Physical Fitness Training
- Entry Controller (Dorm Guard)
- Inspections
- Meals
- KP and Other Details
- Recruit Duties
- Discipline (Punishment)
- Recycling
- Getting Paid and Financial Information
- Phone Calls and Patio Breaks
- Church Services
Settling In (Zero Week and Week 1)
- Rainbow and Baby Flights
- Drug Testing
- Haircuts
- Getting Your Mailing Address
- Initial Uniform Issue
- Shots and Dental Examination
- Initial Fitness Test
- Eye Examination and Glasses
- Recruit Leader Selections
- Weapons Issue
Pre-Deployment Phase (Week #2 through Week #5)
- Job Counseling and Selection
- Weapons Training
- Pugil Stick Fighting
- Weapons Qualification
- Obstacle Course
- Pre-Deployment Training
Deployment Phase (Week #6)
Post Deployment Phase (Week #7)
Graduation Week (Week #8)
