Afrotc Field Training

[alphaone]

In a few days I'm heading out to field training. This years schedule takes me to Atlanta for a week of academic training, then we bus over to Maxwell AFB for the "fun."
This is the big deal for AFROTC. This is going to be my first Military style camp, and I'm both nervous and excited. How did Officer Training/Boot camp work for other's and how did you get through it?

Also, were staying at the ATL airport Westin for a week. 200+ cadets in uniform with "off duty" time=hopefully alot of fun. If anyone is going to be in ATL, hit me up, help me clear my mind, and psych me up before the boot camp part.

"One last hurdle before the pilot slot"

[Mike Lewis]

I have my memoirs of field training here.

It was a lot of fun when I look back on it, but it wasn't much fun at the time. And it was nothing compared to what the other services go through.

Good luck!

[umd81]

It's really not all that bad. I did mine at Lackland about 6 years ago. I didn't have to do the academic portion, so i was only there for 4 weeks. I would say the worst part was getting woken up ass early to the sound of my CTA beating a garbage can with a stick.

Just make it through the first week and it's all downhill from there. I actually kind of had fun at the end...lots of funny memories from that place...mostly of people doing stupid s***! Chow was by far the best part...i ate so much there it was ridiculous. You have to learn to eat really quick. I choked on a fish stick cause i was shoveling food into my mouth so fast.

I agree with what Mike Lewis said about how it's nothing compared to the other services. It's almost embarassing.

[Hacker15e]

I went to Lackland II 1993 FT. It was a 4-week camp (I was a 4-year AFROTC guy) and I'm certain it is completely different than it is today.

For one, they were "CTOs" back then -- Cadet Training Officers. Before some CTO decided that the term "officer" meant that he was entitled to something more than your average AFROTC cadet.

Lots of PT, lots of marching, some academics. I learned some important things, too. Like shutting up and coloring. Like how to post T.O. changes correctly. I also learned that you could scare the living crap out of other flights if you taped quarters on the heels of your boots and walked around after lights out as if you were a CTO doing bed checks.

I still remember my TI, even 14 years later -- SSgt Garza. The one who marched into our bay, starting tossing bunks over, yelling "who's got the Playboy!! Where is it!" The one who, as we formed up on day zero said, "now I know why lions eat their young."

I had an FTO who was an F-4G WSO. Desert Storm vet who had some interesting war stories, but was pretty much a tool. Too bad, because we could have learned a lot from him if he'd had a different attitude.

There were some pretty fun things, too. We went to Randolph one day to go fly T-37s, ran the obstacle course (before they renamed it the 'confidence course'), and went out for a couple days of survival training (e.g. CTOs leave you alone for a couple days!).

I hated it and liked it. It bears no resemblance to anything I've done in the AF previously or after it.

[alphaone]

Originally Posted by Hacker15e

I went to Lackland II 1993 FT. It was a 4-week camp (I was a 4-year AFROTC guy) and I'm certain it is completely different than it is today.

For one, they were "CTOs" back then -- Cadet Training Officers. Before some CTO decided that the term "officer" meant that he was entitled to something more than your average AFROTC cadet.

Lots of PT, lots of marching, some academics. I learned some important things, too. Like shutting up and coloring. Like how to post T.O. changes correctly. I also learned that you could scare the living crap out of other flights if you taped quarters on the heels of your boots and walked around after lights out as if you were a CTO doing bed checks.

I still remember my TI, even 14 years later -- SSgt Garza. The one who marched into our bay, starting tossing bunks over, yelling "who's got the Playboy!! Where is it!" The one who, as we formed up on day zero said, "now I know why lions eat their young."

I had an FTO who was an F-4G WSO. Desert Storm vet who had some interesting war stories, but was pretty much a tool. Too bad, because we could have learned a lot from him if he'd had a different attitude.

There were some pretty fun things, too. We went to Randolph one day to go fly T-37s, ran the obstacle course (before they renamed it the 'confidence course'), and went out for a couple days of survival training (e.g. CTOs leave you alone for a couple days!).

I hated it and liked it. It bears no resemblance to anything I've done in the AF previously or after it.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing! I don't think I will be doing any flying down there, unfortunatly.
It's kind of sad nothing you do in FT resembles anything in the Air Force.
But I'm ready to get through it in order to get those butter bars!

[alphaone]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I have my memoirs of field training here.

It was a lot of fun when I look back on it, but it wasn't much fun at the time. And it was nothing compared to what the other services go through.

Good luck!

Those are some funny stories, thanks for sharing!
"because he shaves mam!"
hahahaha...How did you keep a straight face?

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by alphaone

Those are some funny stories, thanks for sharing!
"because he shaves mam!"
hahahaha...How did you keep a straight face?

It was hard. It was funny, but I knew if I cracked up, I would catch even more crap than I was currently catching.

[Hacker15e]

Originally Posted by alphaone

Very interesting, thanks for sharing! I don't think I will be doing any flying down there, unfortunatly.

Do they not do Jet-O (Jet Orientation) anymore at FT??

[alphaone]

Originally Posted by Hacker15e

Do they not do Jet-O (Jet Orientation) anymore at FT??

Nope, no more flying.

[scramjet]

Wow, Mike. Field training sounds like some fun times!

[Hacker15e]

Originally Posted by alphaone

Nope, no more flying.

Damn, no wonder we have non-rated officers who can't tell the difference between an F-15 and a C-17.

There was actually a contracting officer in my SOS flight who did not know...unbelievable.