Basic Training Times

falcon1 · November 6th, 2004, 12:04

Hey everyone! I am considering joining the ANG, but I had a question (well, I have lots, but just one for now) first. I would like to know when basic training takes place. The reason for this is that I do not want to have to miss a semester of college, then have to try and make that up. Is it possible to complete basic without having to miss school? I have spoken to different recruiters, and one said I could join without having to miss school, and one said I would probably miss a decent amount - nothing like confliciting messages, eh?

Thanks in advance!

-Jonathan

SickBird · November 6th, 2004, 12:54

I am active duty, but I had friends through basic and tech school that were gaurd so I know a little. Basically the biggest factor in determining when you go to basic is the job slot you selected. I am sure if you work with the recruiter you can find the right job slot that will leave for basic right after your school is over. I do believe you will be in the Delayed Entry Program for a minimum of three months from signing for your slot. Keep that in mind.

Basic of course is a little over a month and a half long, but things could happen like getting sick or screwing up so plan accordingly. I contracted pneumonia with about 5 other people in my flight which kept me at basic for 10 weeks!

When you are finished with basic, gaurd and reserve do not have to go straight to tech school, but I do not know how long you can wait before starting your tech school. My job had a tech school of 12 weeks and it was an average amount of time for most jobs in the Air Force. Again, they could screw up class sizes and you will be working details for weeks before you actually start classes. This happened to me since I missed my original class date because of pneumonia.

Realistically you are going to have to drop one semester unless you get a job with a very short tech school. Ultimately your recruiter will know the most. They don't need to lie to people these days because the Air Force is way overmanned right now and the quotas for recruiters is something like 1 a month right now.

Good luck.

falcon1 · November 6th, 2004, 23:08

Thanks for the reply! I am still thinking this through, so I suppose one of my options would be to apply right as I finish my last semester of school. Just FYI, I am going to go for a mechanic slot initially to get my foot in the door, then later apply for a pilot slot. Thanks again!

SickBird · November 7th, 2004, 02:52

Well you can be in the Delayed Entry Program for at least a year if you wanted to seal the deal and not worry about having any openings as your semester nears the end. I also think that most mechanical jobs out there do have about 12-18 week tech schools, and of course some really long tech schools for jobs like calibration, and a/c structural engineer.

Jason · November 7th, 2004, 02:55

I'm not in the military so don't take what about to say as gospel - but - if you're going to be a mech in a flying unit doing it without taking time off school - you had better wait until you graduate! I do have several friends in the Guard and I know the flying units in particular are staying very busy and deploy alot. My training partner had to go sit alert this weekend and he's a NAV on a KC-135 - there are many units that have aicraft on alert - both fighters and heavies - even here state side. The comment that my one friend made was "The days of one weekend a month and two weeks a year are long gone - especially on the flying side of things"

Jason

Windchill · November 7th, 2004, 19:40

greetings falcon1

I am enlisted in the ANG. Four and a half years at this point. I completed an entire year of college before enlisting. During my sophomore year, I attended school the fall semester, but took off and worked during what would have been my spring semester because I was scheduled for Basic Training for mid-April.

Basic Training was roughly six and a half weeks with Tech School varying on your career choice. Most ANG airman do go straight to tech school after Basic Training which would certainly affect civilian schooling. Depending on your career choice and schooling, I would advise you to expect to miss a semester to a year of schooling.

A little bit about the ANG:

How bad do you want to join? Remember, it is the military and you are at their whim, Uncle Sam isn't too hung up on making sure it's convenient for you.

What unit/aircraft are you looking to join? The ANG can be an awesome gig. I don't regret joining at all. I'm presently waiting to hear back from the Air Force to see if my paperwork is approved (medical waiver) so I can press on with my pilot slot.

Your time in the ANG can be rewarding. I was deployed for six months to Puerto Rico, a stint in Germany, and a little trip back down to PR. The money can be GREAT, the travel can be AWESOME ... but what goes around comes around.

This fall alone we have had an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) deployment to a Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), as well as an Operational Readiness Exercise, followed by an Operational Readiness Inspection. All of this in one season, in a year where we just had troops return from Europe, and different parts of Asia (SWA, Incir).

The Guard has more or less is no longer the "weekend warrior." We're working alongside active duty personnel in the worst parts of the world for extended periods of time.

Just make sure you know it's right for you, and enjoy what can certainly be an outstanding opportunity and rewarding experience.

If you have any further questions or comments, feel more than free to shoot a PM to me I'll be more than happy to help you out.

[Edit] And welcome to Jetcareers! [/Edit]

falcon1 · November 8th, 2004, 17:12

Thanks again for the great replys!

[ QUOTE ]
How bad do you want to join? Remember, it is the military and you are at their whim, Uncle Sam isn't too hung up on making sure it's convenient for you.

[/ QUOTE ]
I very much want to join...hehe! I am aware that it may not be the most convenient job, but I am thinking that the pros far outweigh the cons.

[ QUOTE ]
What unit/aircraft are you looking to join?

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, thats my little hangup. I am at kent State in OH right now, but I really want to join the 174th out of Syracuse, NY. They fly the F-16, and man, would I kill to just touch one of those, let alone fly in one. I have looked into things such as interstate transfers, etc, but again, I am starting to think it would be more prudent to just wait until I graduate here, then move on to the next thing. What do you think?

[ QUOTE ]
If you have any further questions or comments, feel more than free to shoot a PM to me I'll be more than happy to help you out.

[/ QUOTE ]

I appreciate the help, from all of you!

-J

November 6th, 2004, 12:04	#1
falcon1 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 9	Basic Training Times Hey everyone! I am considering joining the ANG, but I had a question (well, I have lots, but just one for now) first. I would like to know when basic training takes place. The reason for this is that I do not want to have to miss a semester of college, then have to try and make that up. Is it possible to complete basic without having to miss school? I have spoken to different recruiters, and one said I could join without having to miss school, and one said I would probably miss a decent amount - nothing like confliciting messages, eh? Thanks in advance! -Jonathan

November 6th, 2004, 12:54	#2
SickBird Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 110	Re: Basic Training Times I am active duty, but I had friends through basic and tech school that were gaurd so I know a little. Basically the biggest factor in determining when you go to basic is the job slot you selected. I am sure if you work with the recruiter you can find the right job slot that will leave for basic right after your school is over. I do believe you will be in the Delayed Entry Program for a minimum of three months from signing for your slot. Keep that in mind. Basic of course is a little over a month and a half long, but things could happen like getting sick or screwing up so plan accordingly. I contracted pneumonia with about 5 other people in my flight which kept me at basic for 10 weeks! When you are finished with basic, gaurd and reserve do not have to go straight to tech school, but I do not know how long you can wait before starting your tech school. My job had a tech school of 12 weeks and it was an average amount of time for most jobs in the Air Force. Again, they could screw up class sizes and you will be working details for weeks before you actually start classes. This happened to me since I missed my original class date because of pneumonia. Realistically you are going to have to drop one semester unless you get a job with a very short tech school. Ultimately your recruiter will know the most. They don't need to lie to people these days because the Air Force is way overmanned right now and the quotas for recruiters is something like 1 a month right now. Good luck.

November 6th, 2004, 23:08	#3
falcon1 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 9	Re: Basic Training Times Thanks for the reply! I am still thinking this through, so I suppose one of my options would be to apply right as I finish my last semester of school. Just FYI, I am going to go for a mechanic slot initially to get my foot in the door, then later apply for a pilot slot. Thanks again!

November 7th, 2004, 02:52	#4
SickBird Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 110	Re: Basic Training Times Well you can be in the Delayed Entry Program for at least a year if you wanted to seal the deal and not worry about having any openings as your semester nears the end. I also think that most mechanical jobs out there do have about 12-18 week tech schools, and of course some really long tech schools for jobs like calibration, and a/c structural engineer.

November 7th, 2004, 02:55	#5
Jason Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 979	Re: Basic Training Times I'm not in the military so don't take what about to say as gospel - but - if you're going to be a mech in a flying unit doing it without taking time off school - you had better wait until you graduate! I do have several friends in the Guard and I know the flying units in particular are staying very busy and deploy alot. My training partner had to go sit alert this weekend and he's a NAV on a KC-135 - there are many units that have aicraft on alert - both fighters and heavies - even here state side. The comment that my one friend made was "The days of one weekend a month and two weeks a year are long gone - especially on the flying side of things" Jason

November 7th, 2004, 19:40	#6
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: Basic Training Times greetings falcon1 I am enlisted in the ANG. Four and a half years at this point. I completed an entire year of college before enlisting. During my sophomore year, I attended school the fall semester, but took off and worked during what would have been my spring semester because I was scheduled for Basic Training for mid-April. Basic Training was roughly six and a half weeks with Tech School varying on your career choice. Most ANG airman do go straight to tech school after Basic Training which would certainly affect civilian schooling. Depending on your career choice and schooling, I would advise you to expect to miss a semester to a year of schooling. A little bit about the ANG: How bad do you want to join? Remember, it is the military and you are at their whim, Uncle Sam isn't too hung up on making sure it's convenient for you. What unit/aircraft are you looking to join? The ANG can be an awesome gig. I don't regret joining at all. I'm presently waiting to hear back from the Air Force to see if my paperwork is approved (medical waiver) so I can press on with my pilot slot. Your time in the ANG can be rewarding. I was deployed for six months to Puerto Rico, a stint in Germany, and a little trip back down to PR. The money can be GREAT, the travel can be AWESOME ... but what goes around comes around. This fall alone we have had an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) deployment to a Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), as well as an Operational Readiness Exercise, followed by an Operational Readiness Inspection. All of this in one season, in a year where we just had troops return from Europe, and different parts of Asia (SWA, Incir). The Guard has more or less is no longer the "weekend warrior." We're working alongside active duty personnel in the worst parts of the world for extended periods of time. Just make sure you know it's right for you, and enjoy what can certainly be an outstanding opportunity and rewarding experience. If you have any further questions or comments, feel more than free to shoot a PM to me I'll be more than happy to help you out. [Edit] And welcome to Jetcareers! [/Edit]

November 8th, 2004, 17:12	#7
falcon1 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 9	Re: Basic Training Times Thanks again for the great replys! [ QUOTE ] How bad do you want to join? Remember, it is the military and you are at their whim, Uncle Sam isn't too hung up on making sure it's convenient for you. [/ QUOTE ] I very much want to join...hehe! I am aware that it may not be the most convenient job, but I am thinking that the pros far outweigh the cons. [ QUOTE ] What unit/aircraft are you looking to join? [/ QUOTE ] Well, thats my little hangup. I am at kent State in OH right now, but I really want to join the 174th out of Syracuse, NY. They fly the F-16, and man, would I kill to just touch one of those, let alone fly in one. I have looked into things such as interstate transfers, etc, but again, I am starting to think it would be more prudent to just wait until I graduate here, then move on to the next thing. What do you think? [ QUOTE ] If you have any further questions or comments, feel more than free to shoot a PM to me I'll be more than happy to help you out. [/ QUOTE ] I appreciate the help, from all of you! -J

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