Son Leaving for Air Force Boot Camp

Think there should be someone to answer these questions. Who recruited him. Start there. For me personally, I would NEVER miss graduation.

I was in the Air Force, in Security Forces. :)

For boot camp, have your son pack plain clothes, and DEFINITELY no AF swag. (Anything with the Air Force logo.) anything with band names, or that really stands out only opens him up to being singled out during Rainbow Week. (The first week of Basic Training, where trainees wear their civilian clothes while processing and getting their uniforms.)

Make sure he is running and working out now. Believe me, those who went in physically prepared fared much better than those of us who went in cold. Push ups, sit ups, and running are especially important to focus on.

Send pictures of the family often during basic. If the letter feels thick, the TI will have him open it as soon as he receives it to make sure he isn't getting any dirty pictures. It's always good, because sometimes you have to wait until the next day or more before you get a chance to read your mail, so getting to open it right away is nice-eve if you only get to see pics.

Do NOT send any entertainment or food during Basic. BAD JUJU! I remember one girl got sent a package of Oreos... The rest of us had to do push ups while she and the TI are them. Ugh.

Don't send him so much cash. During basic, we had to keep a list of the cash in our locker, with the serial numbers and everything listed. It was a PAIN to write out. So send him with a couple 20s, a phone card, and a debit card.

Have a bank account set up, and all his bank information handy for him. He will set up his direct deposit during the first week, and if he doesn't already have an account he will have to set one up with the AF's bank... Which takes more time and is a hassle.

Don't worry too much about grad week.... It sucks not to see your family, (mine wasn't able to come either...) but there are usually a few families who are more than willing to take along an extra airman. I was invited to dinner with 3 different families, and while I was sad to not see my family, I completely understood.

Also, I'm not sure what faith you are, but if it isn't *super* important to you, have him go to the main service. (I can't member the exact denomination, but it was the one most people went to.) I was nonreligious, but if you don't go to a service you get stuck pulling dorm guard duty. (Which sucks.) the main service has a live band, and is a great stress reliever. (Which can NOT be undersold! He will NEED it.) even if I didn't care about the message, it was great to be somewhere you were allowed to smile, laugh, and cry. And EVERYONE cried the first week, even the males. Lol.

He will call you during the first week, (hence the phone card... They have to use pay phones.) to give you the details for writing. Make sure he has a list of phone numbers of people to call. I was devastated when I tried to call home, and couldn't get my dad, mom, or grandma on the phone, luckily, I had my aunt's number and was able to get in touch with her. It was GREAT to hear a friendly voice!

As for tech school, I was Security Forces. (Pretty much the AF version of infantry, plus military police.) We stayed at Lackland for Tech School... The dorms are only a mile or so from where the basic barracks are. (Depending on which flight you are in during Basic.) I REALLY enjoyed Tech School. It was strict, but much more relaxed than basic... Kind of like a super-strict college.

There, he can have almost anything he wants. He will get a wall locker that he can keep his personal belongings in. Computers, Instruments, anything as long as it doesn't pose a fire hazard or illegal. (Or alcohol...) He will have a mini-fridge in his room, and access to a microwave. There are common areas, clubs, restaurants, etc. on base that he will be able to use. While he stays, as log as he meets his physical training (pt) requirements, passes his classes, and passes his room inspections he will be allowed more freedom. He will be allowed to wear civilian clothes on base and be in uniform off base with a fairly early curfew for the first few weeks, then phase up to wearing civies off base and a later curfew.

First duty stations vary widely, but are tradable as long as they are the same job. My FDS was originally in Germany, but traded to a girl who had Wyoming. (I wanted to be stationed close to home at first, and she really wanted to travel abroad.)

Basic training is hard, but as long as he follows orders and remembers that it isn't personal, he will be fine. The hardest thing is the mental stress... The purpose of basic is to tear you down to your bare bones, and rebuild you into the Airman they need. It's stressful, but it's supposed to be. And it gets easier.

Good luck to him, and you!

I do not have a son in the military--my husband is Army. I don't know anything about boot camp, but I do think you should make every effort to go to graduation. It is a big accomplishment and he's going to want to share it with somebody! I know Army Military Police can be stationed anywhere--probably same for AF. Thank you to your son for serving our great nation!

Hello nervous mom, you are me when my son went into the Navy. Ugh, I can relive every moment in my mind, every tear, every excited feeling when he was finally able to call. You are right to reach out to other moms. I found myself a wonderful group of what we call our Navymoms, ten years of friendships in the making and am excited because I am going to finally meet some of them in person. I encourage you to see if there is a website for this airforce group, even as I write this I get teary eyed. No one quite understands except for those in the same situation. To answer some questions, I do know they will probably be some sent right away to their schools right after, some that might remain for whatever reason only the military will know and yes they are coming home at some point (which point I don't know). There was a point in there when my son went overseas and I didnt see him for a year. It was awful and terrible and I was so sad. And there was the wait for when their ship came in and I spent sooo much money that we really didn't have to go where they were arriving. In the meantime check with the other moms, if you want keep writing me personally, again not an Airforce mom but know your pain. A big hug to you! And thank you to your son for his service.

No personal experience with this, but I imagine the recruitment officer should be able to answer most of these questions. Thank you and your son in advance for your service to this country.

Best,
F. B.

My son went to Army boot camp in the summer of 2011. He was in Oklahoma. He could not call home for the first 8 weeks I think it was. Then he could call every Sunday after for a few minutes unless they got in trouble. I can't tell you how much I valued those phone calls and how I cried after the first call!

Please go to the graduation. We went. It was a wonderful experience. He was able to leave for a few hours the first day and the second day. He left for Mississippi for ATI on Sunday. We got to see him at the airport!! BONUS!! We then went to Mississippi for that graduation. He was not able to leave base for that which was a big disappointment but we got to see him!

We were able to send packages and did so. Be sure to buy him really great inserts for his boots. We didn't and ended up sending several types to him during basic.

He left in June for basic training and was home right before Thanksgiving. He started university in January.

I was Navy but my dad was Air Force. It doesn't matter what you pack (exception we had to do plain white underwear. no logos etc) everything else is sent back on day 1. they'll issue whatever is needed and deduct from pay. they made us stay awake 24 hrs since our plane got in late. yes a big grad but its understandable if its too far... mine didn't come either (TX- IL) . Usually they get a pass to go off base for the weekend (checking back at night) and then to A school. They gave us 3 ppaces we'd like to be stationed in preferance if there's room. I got mine but then again don't know many who's first choice is Guam too.

You need to talk to the officers to get the detail you are asking about what they do, when, etc.

My brother was in the Army and in the first wave of Desert Storm driving in a tank.

He was at Ft Benning GA for boot camp and we were in SC at the time... Our schedule and costs did not matter because there was.... NO WAY would we miss graduation. It meant a lot to him that we were there for this special day.

If my child were to be starting on this journey, I would find a way to be there every time I was allowed to be there to see her.

Hello! I went through basic in 2009 and am currently stationed at Lackland AFB (where he will go to basic). Feel free to message me with any questions you may have.

As far as what to send... Do not send food. Most Military training instructors will not allow it. You can send letters, but don't be surprised if he isn't able to write you back at first. When he graduates he will have that Thursday through Sunday "off" meaning he will have the day to spend with family or other graduates. He will have a curfew and only allowed off base on certain days.

As far as being security forces, as long as he is active duty, he could be stationed anywhere. He will get the opportunity to fill out a dream sheet of where he would like to be stationed, though it's not guaranteed.

And yes he will start tech school immediately after basic. His tech school will be here in San Antonio.

I hope this helps. Your son is making a wise choice to join the military!

M.