Officially Active Duty....Lackland Bound!

I've made it to Houston!

Today has been a ridiculously long day, and I'm ready for some sleep, however brief it may be! Flying has been an....adventure...for me.

I'm gonna have to sign off for now! I have a million calls to make still, before leaving out for San Antonio. I'm expecting to be there around 2200! Ughhh. I'll make sure and give several longgggg posts about my MEPS experience today, and the BMT process in general!

Talk to y'all in 8.5 weeks! Aim High, DEPpers!

It's Our Time

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm currently sitting in my hotel room, waiting to head to a briefing, then come back and go to bed, then go to MEPS, then the airport, then to Lackland AFB! Haha. You get the picture.

Well, the last few days have been crazy! I've had 2 going away parties, one with my mom and family, the other with my in-laws. I got pretty emotional yesterday when I said goodbye to my in-laws. I've been a part of that family for almost 10 years. It's crazy. Knowing I wouldn't see my sweet, weirdo 18 month nephew for 4ish months almost killed me! I love that boy so much! It's hard saying goodbye, but it's for the better. In 24 hours, I'll either be arriving at Lackland, or well on my way. And then in 8 (hopefully short) weeks, I'll be an American Airman. Wow.

Also, this week my 11thers are graduating!!!!! Ahhhh!! I'm SO proud of them! Britt and Brandon: I can't believe it's already that time! I hope it goes by as fast for me, as it seemed to for y'all! Write me as much as possible, and let me know what jobs y'all ended up with!

Anyway. Tomorrow is going to be heart breaking. I have to tell my mom and husband goodbye. =[ Y'all already know how I feel about it. My hubby is my best friend in the entire world; not having him there with me is going to be torture. On top of that, I had to tell my children (cats) bye today! Poor Teddy Westside isn't going to know what to do! I already miss him bunches!

So my weight crept back on me these last few weeks. Boo. My max weight is 150, and the last several days, I've been a constant 143. But, my going away party yesterday killed it. I was almost 145 this morning! Eeeeekkkkk! I'm thinking I'm back down to 144, but hopefully less. I want to be at 142, which is what I weighed in at the first time to MEPS. But, if I get 143, I'll be happy! I haven't eaten alllllll day! And, it's 1930! I've been drinking water like nobody's business. Then, I'll have to have a repeat tomorrow of my first trip to MEPS: nothing. Not even water. I just got back from the hotel gym, where I ran for 20ish minutes. I'm about to head back down until our briefing at 2030, and possibly do the elliptical or bike. I've also done some push ups, sit ups, and jumping jacks in my room! Then, I'm going to make my own sauna in the bathroom when I get done. Hopefully I can sweat out some weight! Everyone keep your fingers crossed that I make it down to 143 at least tomorrow!

Well, I'm calling it quits tonight. I'll try and update tomorrow at the airport or something! It may just be a one-liner, but I'll get something out! Thanks so much for reading, and thinking of me as I go through this awesome journey! I can't wait to tell y'all what BMT was like, and soon Tech School! Have an AMAZING Air Force evening! <3

I've Got Chills...They're Multiplyin'

Wow. Just…wow. As of today, I only have 3 full days left at home with my loved ones. Crazy how time flies, huh? I'll be leaving for the hotel around noon Monday. It's just...weird. I officially broke down and cried my eyes out last night. Thinking about spending those 2 months away from my husband got to me. I know I'll hardly have time to think about it, but it still blows.

I'm officially all packed up and ready to go. Well, the only things I'm lacking in my bag are make up and my comb. I'll put those in there Sunday night or Monday morning. I only have to lose 3 more pounds by Tuesday, so I'm doing pretty well on that front. I definitely need to PT more, though. I don't think it's possible at this point to do it too much. Every little bit will help! Unless I get injured, of course. But I won't let that happen!

It's weird to think that my 4thers from the September group did their Airman's run this morning, and will officially be Airmen come tomorrow! Then, 3 days after I arrive, my besties and 11thers will be graduating! Time has flown since they went, so I'm hoping it'll be the same for me.

I'd have to say the thing I'm most nervous for is BEAST week. I'm excited about it, because it's going to be badass, but I'm not looking forward to waking up and there potentially be a snake cuddling me. I have a feeling I won't get much sleep that week. Haha!

I think that what I'm most looking forward to, aside from actually graduating, is the O-Course and getting my ABU's and Blues. Doing the O-Course is going to be a big challenge for me. Not like I can't handle it, but I want to see what I'm actually capable of.

I think I'm going to make a post about what I'll be doing each WOT, that way y'all can kinda keep up! For now, though, I'm signing off. I'm about to attempt and see how many push ups I can do in a row. This is what I call fun now.

Happy Day After Halloween! Haha! =]

Are You There, Sleep? It's Me, Starr.

So I've been laying in bed for several hours now, hoping to get to sleep early for once. However, my nonstop mind had other plans.

I just had my first huge freak out about leaving! Well, not so much leaving as actually being there and doing everything! I have no idea why or how it came on tonight, but it did.

I'm down to 6 days before my feet touch San Antonio soil. Wow. Do y'all remember when I first got my ship date?! It seriously just feels like 2 weeks ago. Most people feel like it was forever ago, but not me. I'm so anxious/nervous/excited/scared. I have taken my PT regiment way too easy lately. I know I'll end up regretting it, too. And on top of that, I need to lose about 5 pounds by Tuesday. Gahhhh.

I feel like time is just dragging by now. In a week's time, I won't be in my own bed anymore. I won't get to cuddle my child (cat) or my husband. I won't be able to call my husband whenever I want. He's my best friend, and not being able to just pick up the phone to hear an encouraging word, or a simple "I love you" is going to be the worst. He's always gotten me through everything. He's my rock. Despite the problems we've encountered these last few months, he's always been there for me, and always will be. I don't think I'd be able to make it through this week, or BMT, without him. Those scarce phone calls are going to be my lifeline. If all I was ever allowed to say to him, and hear him say to me is "I love you", I would make it through. It would be enough.

Sorry for getting all mushy, but as my time at home draws to an end, I feel like my emotions are all over the place! I just have to remind myself, it's only 2 months of my entire life. And the result of it will be worth everything we have gone through.

Signing off for now! Hopefully I can get some rest! I'm planning on a nice, long PT session tomorrow! Good night, all!

Picking My Own Brain...A Collage Of Random Thoughts

Hey guys! Today officially marks exactly 2 weeks until I'm stepping off of that bus, onto Lackland AFB! Ahhhhhhhhh. I'm still super pumped, but the nerves have definitely set in.

I'm starting to miss my September shipper friends more and more!! I wish that they could be here for me to talk to about all of this! We were all really good at keeping each other distracted when we wanted to be, or getting serious and talking about how we're feeling, or what's going on in our lives. I've been in contact with them via mail, though! I haven't talked to my soulmate, Brittany, though. I never saw her address posted on her Facebook page, so that makes me sad. =[ I sure could use a good laugh, or even just a nice convo with her about anything. Which reminds me....PLL premieres tonight! I swore to her that I would watch it and fill her in on all the juicy details, but alas I cannot. I may just make an entire post dedicated to it, though, that way she can read all about it when she gets out of BMT!!

Anyway, I've had several "Oh Shit!" moments lately. From walking down the Christmas aisle at the store, to just looking at my oldest nephew, I realize how much I'm going to miss everything and everyone. My husband nearly gave me a heart attack yesterday when he informed me he was going to have to do the taxes alone this year. =\ Yeah. NO. I'm praying to have a relatively short Tech School that way I can get back before April 15 (coincidentally my oldest nephew's birthday =]) and file those taxes! My poor husband is having to take on a lot while I'll be gone. I've always handled the bills, and most of them are in my name. I'm the one that calls to get stuff taken care of when a company messes up our bill, or anything like that. I'm the one that pays our property taxes and has our vehicles assessed and then gets our tags renewed. I'm the one that goes grocery shopping and actually makes a list, a budget, and sticks to both. I do not fear that he won't be able to do it. I have complete faith in him. He can do it, without a doubt. But, I just feel like since he has to do everything by himself, he may become overwhelmed. It's a good thing he has his mom and my mom close by to help him with everything. I'm sure my recruiter could also provide him with a considerable amount of advice, since he's done it himself, and has put many married recruits through.

Now, I'm down to picking out jobs and bases. This is the one thing I've been procrastinating on. Which is ridiculous, I know. But, I keep saying, "Oh, I have plenty of time for that!" Well, two weeks away, and still nada. I've enlisted the help of my friend Lee, (see Interview with an Airman, part 2) to sort things out. He's researching a few jobs I wasn't sure of. Bless his heart.

Tomorrow, I get to go to one of the nearby colleges with my recruiter for a career fair! I'm rather excited about it. However, I'm not excited about my 0430 wake up call. I have to be at his office approx. 0630. Yikes! We have to get to the college (roughly an hour or so drive), set up our little booth, and be ready to go at 0800. Craziness. But, I'm happy to do it. I legit have the best recruiter out there, and he's helped me out so much through this process, that this is the least I could do. I plan on making him take a picture with me before I leave. Hahahahaha. That's another reason I'm hoping to have a rather short Tech School. His contract is up next year, and he expects to be gone from this area by July. I graduate BMT the beginning of January, and most of the jobs I'm looking at have a Tech School length of 1-2.5 months (just in class days, so we could probably say 3-4 months to be safe). That would put me arriving back home for RAP in May-ish. Fingers crossed!

Alright, time to call it to a close. Gotta get back to my research on jobs and bases that my husband wouldn't mind. =] Have a lovely Air Force day recruits!

What's In My BMT Bag?

Hello hello! Today I'm going to try and give a detailed description of what I will be taking with me to BMT. Remember, I have a packing list on this blog, and several of the Facebook groups. That's what I used. Some people think I'm taking too much, but trust me, I'm not. Everything I have, with the exception of maybe 3-4 items, is required. And, it all fits in my super tiny bag, with room to spare. If I get there and they tell me to buy different stuff, or to throw something away, I will live. My feelings won't be hurt over something that trivial, I can assure you. Okay. Now to get down to details!

I've decided to go through and edit this, with what I didn't end up taking. I've made a video on what you should/shouldn't take with you to BMT on YouTube!

•All of this fits in a plain black backpack with no logos from Target. It was $10.

Paperwork:
•I'm bringing this in a small accordion file. I have my SS Card, BC, Marriage License, and copies of my husband's SS Card and BC. I'm also taking a small address book, just in case.

Clothing:
•3 Plain T-shirts, 1 black, 2 dark gray. I purchased these at Academy. They're the BCG brand, in the men's dept for $4.99 each.
•Yoga pants to sleep in until we get our PTU's. I took sweatpants instead, and only slept in them one night.
•One pair of jeans. They're from Gap, obviously lol. They're the Curvy fit, so kind of like a boot cut.
•4 pairs of crew length socks.
•One regular white bra
•8 pairs of underwear. I have two that are Champion brand from Academy, $11.99 a piece. I have these to specifically leave folded in my security drawer. Obviously, I'll wear them a few times so they'll show use. The other 6 pairs are the Gilligan O'Mallet brand from Target. I got these on sale for $6 for one two pack! There are 4 black and 2 cheetah print. I know, cheetah! It's fine. I actually recommend taking all white, if you're going and buying new ones. Some MTI's will want your whole flight to have all white undergarments (including bras), so don't spend a lot on different colored undies, because you may have to end up wearing those terrible granny-panties from the Mini-Mall. They literally come up to your boobs.
•8 sports bras. Two of them are also from Gap, to leave folded in my security drawer. They've been worn before, so that's good. They're nude and white. The others are from KMart. I got them in 2-packs, 3/$18!! I have 1 black, 2 gray, and 3 white.
•3 pairs of black compression shorts. These are from Academy, the BCG brand for $10 a piece.
•One pair of black flip flops for shower shoes. I got these at Old Navy. Just take any color you can find, if you don't have all black. It'll be better than showering in running shoes!
•1 Livestrong bracelet (for those of us shipping on the 6th!) I didn't have time to stop and look for anyone! 
•1 pair of white/gray Asics running shoes (not pictured)
I also wore a black fleece jacket down there. I didn't really need it, during the day because it got really warm. But it was nice to have while flying, and when we had to march at night.

Toiletries (all liquids are under 3 oz):
•3 bottles of Pert Plus 2in1 I seriously didn't need this much. I thought I would. One would've sufficed.
•2 bottles of Dial body wash ^Same.
•1 tube of Sensodyne Pronamel toothpaste
•1 stick Degree deodorant
•2 bottles of Tresemme hairspray (non aerosol) I acutally dumped one out, and filled it with detangler spray, and marked it. I'm VERY happy I did.
•1 bottle Tresemme hair gel
•1 pack of 30 count Qtips
•1 pack face wipes (10 ct)
•1 pack of feminine wipes (45 ct)
•1 4 pack of Chapstick
•8 tampons Didn't take.
•4 pads Didn't take.
•1 rectangular toothbrush holder
•1 full size toothbrush
I also didn't take the razor pictured. I knew I wouldn't be able to use it.

Hair accessories:
•3 mesh buns
•1 package of hair ties
•1 package of bobby pins
•8 hair pins (came with mesh buns)
•1 compact/brush combo
•1 comb Didn't take. My brush was fine.

Make up:
•MAC powder compact
•Avon Smooth Minerals blush (bronze)
•MAC eyeshadow (nude color)
•Maybelline eyeliner (black)
•Covergirl mascara (black)
•1 blush brush (MAC)
•1 eyeshadow brush (MAC)
•1 blue/white stripes make up bag

This should be everything pictured! Just comment with any questions or concerns! =]

Say What?!

Holy cow! It's been almost a month since I've last posted! My deepest apologies to you all! I've just been crazy busy. Between PT, writing letters to my September Shippers, work, husband, family, everything! But, I finally quit my job! It's been weird to just sit around and not do anything really.

I only have 18 days left as a civilian! Whaaaaaaat?! It's so surreal. My last post was 42 days out, now I'm almost at 2 weeks. Holy moly. I'm completely packed, though! I'll post a picture, maybe even a video if I can get it to upload, later. I'm so pumped, but the nerves are setting in! My PT has improved tremendously. I can now run for a little over 20 minutes at a time. Andddddd 15 push ups! Woot! It's weird that 2 months ago, I couldn't do any. But, it goes to show that hard work pays off!

I had my last DEP call today. It wasn't our usual PT session. We had to meet the Flight Chief today! He just wanted to answer any questions we might have had, and get to know those of us leaving in the next month, and to make sure we're still qualified. Also to remind us of the ramifications if we did anything stupid. Haha! He was a pretty awesome guy. But, he meant business!

I did my background investigation a while ago, now. I haven't heard anything back from them, so I guess everything went well! It was a 2.5 hour long interview! Phew. It wasn't too bad, though. My interviewer guy was pretty cool. He had been in the Air Force a while back, then joined the National Guard, then was an FBI Agent. He was hardcore.

Anyway, I'll stop here for tonight. I assure you, there will be AT LEAST one more post before I'm off to Lackland! Watch out for my picture/video! Good night, all!

Manic Mondays

Well, I have had a crazy couple of weeks!!

Let's start with my DEP call a few weeks ago. Well, I was driving there, when one of my friends called. We usually do our DEP calls at a local "park", with a 2.5 mile path around the lake in the center. Haha. Anyway, my recruiter had decided to do it at a local high school track, so we could do our PT test. So, my friend calls me and tells me there's a football game going on, and there was no way we'd be able to PT out there. She called our recruiter and let him know, so we had to re-route to the park. Bummer. We didn't get to do the PT test, but don't think for a second we got out of it that easy, lol! Our RAPper showed us a little bit of what it was like to PT at SF Tech School. No bueno. My quads were literally sore for 5 days from doing so much stuff. Mostly squats. Lawd. After alllllll that mess, we ran around the lake. It was awful. Yet, my time was somehow almost 10 minutes better than the last time I ran it! I was completely okay with that!

So, that was basically it for DEP call. On to other news.

I received a call yesterday from someone wanting to do my background investigation. I missed the call, but he left a voicemail. I posted about it in my November BMT group, and they all told me to be careful. Apparently, there is some sort of scam related to this going around. So I'm going to head to my recruiter's office in a little bit and discuss it. He was on vacation last week, which sucked. Every time I have something to talk to him about something, he's always on vacation it seems like! But, he'll still reply to my texts and whatnot when he's gone, which I appreciate! It just always seems to happen when I actually stop by his office haha! I had to have a promissory note sent to him for my student loans, and I'm going to head over there to make sure he got it.

Anyway, I feel so lonely these days! All of my September shippers will be gone as of tomorrow. It's weird. I've gotten a bit closer to my November shippers, which I'm very thankful for! Most of the ones I talk to , however, all leave after I do. =[ So if any of you lovelies are leaving Nov 6, please go join our group! Just login to Facebook and search for "USAF BMT November 2012". I would love to get to know anyone and everyone I could be shipping with, or even have in my flight!

I suppose that's all for today. I just feel like I've been running around like a crazy person! I've actually been working a lot! I've decided that my last day will be Oct. 20, and that just can't come fast enough! I officially have 42 days until I step off the bus onto Lackland AFB. It's weird. But, I am so ready for it. My PT was slacking last week, but I'm getting back into this week, I have no option. I'm not about to get there and not be able to run my 1.5 mile. I want to be able to run it in 10 minutes flat by the time I graduate. I definitely think I can manage that. =]

Have an awesome Air Force day, everyone!

DEP Call Anticipation.

Hey guys! Just doing a quick check in.

I have a DEP call in about 4 hours. And I'm not feeling too hot today. I've had a massive, pounding headache, and some nausea. It sucks! We have a RAPper in our DEP right now, and he's going to be at DEP call today. We're going to do a mock-PT test, then he's going to do a nice little PT session. By nice little PT session, I mean what the Security Forces Tech School PT was like. Fun stuff.

Anyway, I haven't heard from my friend that was supposed to call the other night! I've been told that if they don't call within the first 72 hours upon arrival at Lackland, you can call or email them (the personnel at Lackland) and you can get their address. However, I think you have to have like, their SSN, and a whole bunch of other specific information that I do not have. It'll be okay though! I know they're doing just fine. Those MTI's may be mean, but they're looking out for all the Trainees!

Well, I'll sign off for now. I'll update maybe tonight or tomorrow with my PT test results. Be prepared for awfulness. Haha! I don't think I'll do too bad. The push ups is what'll get me. Anyway, have a lovely afternoon! =]

Surrealism.

Well, today I saw (metaphorically) off some of my friends for BMT. It kinda sucks. Of course, they're all members of my BMT group on Facebook. I actually got to meet one of them, though! He lives about an hour away from me, and we did a public swear in together a few weeks ago at a baseball game. I was SO excited to get to meet him!

I feel like one of those creepers that you see in the movies. Haha! But these guys have become some of my best friends, even if it's just over Facebook. One day, we'll all meet up. I know it! The Air Force isn't that big. =]

All day long I was just a ball of nerves. I honestly felt like I was going to MEPS, swearing in, waiting around at the airport, riding the bus and everything. They kept me, and our group, updated throughout their whole day. I was even up at 4 this morning!! I'm so happy for them, and excited. I know at this exact moment they're having their "Holy shit, what did I just get myself into?!" moments, but that'll fade within the next few days/weeks. These people, they've got what it takes. I have no doubt about that.

Now, it's a little past midnight, and they're all probably still playing pick 'em ups, or hearing their MTI's running into their dorms screaming at them to wake up and stand at attention. I'm actually hoping to receive a phone call tonight, or whenever they're allowed to make that first phone call, from one of the people in the group! I was more than willing to be their support system. Nobody should have to go through something like BMT and not have anyone to share their experiences with, or their fears. They didn't really want to call their family because they're not all too close by any means. They wanted to act like it was no big deal, which was actually quite believable. However, I can read people quite well! The call could come in 5 seconds from now, or at 2 a.m., or tomorrow morning. Who knows? Hopefully, I'll be awake to answer it, or at least hear my phone ringing in my sleep.

I'm down to 1 person in the September group that is one of my close friends. And she's leaving next week! We actually don't live too awfully far from each other, and were able to meet up this past weekend at an Air Show at our closest AFB! It was awesome! I feel like these next 2 months are just going to drag by so slow. I'm down to 55 days (54 til MEPS!). I'll get to speak with my 4thers for a few days before I leave, but the 11thers will be graduating the week I arrive. =[ It sucks so bad! I won't even get to talk to them before I leave! Of course we still have letter-writing, but still. No more awkward ooVoo sessions, no more random, ADD posts, no more dimple, no more cats, no more Batman. Nothing.

This all seems so weird to me! I had a "Holy Shit!" moment earlier today. I think it was due to the fact that my friends were all experiencing their ship day, after talking about it for months and months. They were actually at MEPS. They actually swore into Active Duty. They actually flew to San Antonio. They actually loaded onto a bus, and drove onto Lackland AFB where they're currently flipping out. This will be me in less than 2 months.

I don't really know how to react to it, honestly. I'm still 100% positive this is what I want to do. I'm meant to do it. No questions there. But, can I do it? Do I actually have what it takes to become an American Airman? I've always known it would be hard. I've always known that I'm going to have so many struggles along the way, but they really got put into perspective for me today. I'm not worried about the PT portion of BMT too much. I can definitely run like no one's business right now, so with another 55 days of prep, I'll be good to go. Push ups...meh. I can do 12 now, though!! Graduating standards are only 18, so if I can't come up with 6 more in 4 months, something's wrong there. I can do 32 sit ups. The only reason they're that low is because the last time I timed myself, I got incredibly tired for some reason around 22ish, and slowed wayyyy down. All of that will be a breeze. But it's the mind games. Not the ones played by the MTI's. I know what they're trying to accomplish with those. They must break you down, to build you back up as an Airman. Someone worthy of defending our great country. Someone that will not falter, and will not fail. Failure has never been an option for me. Now more than ever, I want to succeed. I must succeed.

I have a tendency to over think and over analyze everything. I'm also OCD. Not like, not able to function properly, but things must be a certain way. I must do them a certain way. It's weird. I've always been a very logical person, and I like to think I have more common sense than the average person. So, when I combine those two things, it gets bad. Well, in regards to BMT.

This is how I see it: A 22 year old, 5'2", 135 pound, Southern girl with no college education, got married at 19, has never been independent her whole adult life, is about to embark upon the toughest journey less than 1% of Americans take. Of that 1%, only .01% are Air Force (at least, so I've been told). She has 3 years worth of management experience under her belt, has dealt with enough stupid people to last anyone a lifetime, and has handled the stresses of young marriage, crazy work schedules, stalkers, debt, poverty, growing up without a father, being a full time student and employee at the same time, being the perfect housewife and all. So how does that relate to the Air Force? These things are definitely a symbol of an overcomer, but, can she overcome Basic Military Training? Where MTI's don't care who you are, who your parents are, what your feelings are, if you're tired, scared, have the sniffles, anything. Can she do it?

I guess that's my food for thought. It's probably what every DEPper has felt at some time or another, but it's still tough to deal with. I want this more than anything, and I hope that that kind of determination I have will be my light when it all seems so dark. It will guide me home.

"And the only solution was to stand and fight.
And my body was loose and I was set alight.
But, she came over me like some holy rite.
And although I was burning, you're the only light,
Only if for a night."
-Florence + The Machine "Only If For A Night"

September to Remember

This post is going to be dedicated to all of my September 11 Shippers. =]

Guys, I already posted in the group about how much I'll miss y'all, but figured I'd take the time to make a blog post just for y'all!!!

Brandon: I've already told you how you're my favorite and all, but for reals. You are my fave!! You're tons of fun, and don't take anything too seriously. We have the same attitude about mostly everything (especially creepers!), and I'm still going to send you letters written on pink, glittery paper =]

Brittany: Girl, you are my soul mate foreva. We've had some awesome laughs, and we know what's up when it comes to guys! Boobs > anything! I still wish I could sneak in your bag and camp out under your bunk for the next 55 days!! 

Callie: I've loved getting to know you the past several months, and am happy to have found another Southerner like myself!! You're going to kick BMT's ass! Don't ever let anyone hold you back!

Chris: Dimple. That's all that really needs to be said, but I'll say more =] I know you've worked incredibly hard to get to the point where you are now, and couldn't be any happier for you! The next 2 years are going to be the toughest you'll have to face, but you can make it through! You're a boss. I'm always going to be pulling for you!

Dari: Dear, sweet, Dari. I will miss your clever humor oh so much. You always get the group in a fantastic mood, and cheer everyone up when they're feeling down. I'm still going to creep your videos, also. =]

Jake: You're the Batman to my Catwoman. What else needs to be said?! =]

Matt: I've enjoyed getting to know you, and was pleasantly surprised by how much we have in common! It was nice having someone else who was married to talk to about it all! Just stay tough, and you'll be back home with the wifey soon!! =]

Michael: I'm so excited that we got to meet!! And angry that I somehow was deaf enough to not hear you yelling at me to take a picture!! We gotta represent for the Memphis area! Go in there, and show those MTI's what's up! Just be yourself: a badass.

For those I missed, I did not do it intentionally! I just read the names off the doc in the group, and spoke from my heart! I know I've gotten to know the other 11thers pretty well, and wish them all the best throughout their BMT/Tech School and Operational journey!! Always remember in your toughest, darkest times that what you're doing is so much greater than yourself. Think about everything you've sacrificed to get to the point that you're at, and use that as fuel. You only go through BMT once, so make it worth it!! When you're feeling down, remember that hundreds upon hundreds of trainees graduate every week, and if some of those dummies can do, y'all will have a walk in the park! Tonight and tomorrow are the last times we'll really get to speak (aside from letters, of course!). It's sad to think about, but I'll be there in 55 days, y'all!! Hopefully in the few days y'all will have left while I'm there, we'll spot each other! I absolutely cannot wait to serve our country alongside each and every one of you. You will all become great Airmen, and I'll see you on the other side of the Blue! 

Counting Down

Okay everyone, I feel so bad for just leaving y'all hanging with my post about my ship date! It's time for me to elaborate a bit more haha!

So on 19 Aug I had something crazy happen to me, which I'll explain later, just know it was pretty life-altering. Well, that was a Sunday night, around 10 p.m. and the first thing I did on that Monday, 20 Aug, was go to my recruiter. I explained my situation to him, and that I would be ready to go at a moment's notice if he could get me a date to leave. I've been hardcore working out! I'm running 2+ miles a day, 6 days a week. I even got my 1.5 mile time down to 10:12!! It's crazy! I can even do 11 push ups now! It just kind of happened one day. I went from being able to do next to none, to 5, to 11 withing a few days time. I've also dropped a tremendous amount of weight, putting me way below my max! My sit ups are fine, I can 34, and the minimum to graduate is 38. I told my recruiter all of this, and he said he would be more than willing to make me his number one priority. He could see all of my hard work and dedication, so he wanted to help me out.

Well, that next day, Tuesday, he got the call from his boss that there was a slot available for Open General (I think the higher one) leaving 6 Nov. He almost flipped. He was so surprised since I had just come in asking for something! Well, of course he couldn't call and let me know right then. He needed to make sure paperwork went through, and that it was actually available rather than calling me and getting my hopes up, in case it fell through. On Wednesday, I was working a 9-5 shift. I had to go run a few errands on my lunch break, and then stopped at Sonic just to get a drink. I pulled back up to the mall parking lot, received a text and was replying to it while I was getting out of my car to head back in. I was mid-text when my phone rang and I saw my recruiter's name. I kind of had a "Holy crap, this is it" moment, then decided to not get my hopes up and just figured he was calling to check in. I had been keeping my phone on me at all times at work just in case he called to tell me I would be leaving soon, and I didn't want to miss the opportunity to say "Yes"! But, as my recruiter informed me, if it were that, and I wasn't answering my phone, he would just come over to my work (His office is literally right across the street).

So, I answer my phone, and he asks me how I was doing, where I was at with weight and everything then my heart skipped a few beats. I stopped dead in my tracks in the middle of the parking lot and had such a major girly moment of OMG's and doing a happy dance. It was almost embarrassing. But not quite =] He said, "Starr, I have some news. I got you a date for Basic Training." I barely heard anything he said after that for a few minutes. So he had to tell me again =] I'm leaving in 65 days (64 for MEPS)!!!

My life just feels so...right...now!! I cannot believe it. I lucked out getting to leave so soon, however, I wish it would've been with my September shippers (Preferably the 11th =])!! The 11thers will graduate TWO WHOLE DAYS after I get there. It sucks, but they're all excited for me. And we're all excited to catch up in Tech School. Since I have a General Aptitude, I have no idea what job I'll get, or even where I'll be going for Tech School! I'm pretty much okay with that, though. I got a ship date, so I can deal with the unknown =]

I've become more active in the November shippers page, but it's just not the same as September. I've known these guys since April, when I first went and met with my recruiter and started the whole process. I've had 5 months of getting to know them, and developing a bond. I know that sounds almost creepy and strange since it's online, but you can always tell when you've made [a] friend(s) for life. I'm hoping to develop a relationship close to this with some of my fellow November shippers! BMT is one of the toughest things you'll ever go through, and having a good wingman or two will make that process a bit easier. And if I can get to start those friendships sooner rather than later, it'll make a world of difference! I'm just happy to have people, regardless of what month they're shipping, that can understand how I feel. Sure, you can explain to it civilians, but they'll never truly understand why you do what you do. An Airman always will.

With that, I'm signing off. I've gotta get up and get ready for work, and do a little more BMT shopping! Yay for coupons! Everyone have an awesome Air Force Day!!

Interview With An Airman: Round Two!

Hello again, everyone! Today is my second interview with an Airman!! I met this awesome guy through the September shippers Facebook page! He's been a GREAT help to all of us, and we appreciate him a lot! He has very valuable information, so if you're looking for any answers, this guy can most likely tell you! He has a Weapons job, so if you're interested in that area, he can tell you about that also! You should be able to find him in all of the BMT shippers pages on Facebook, but if you can't, feel free to comment, and I'll make sure he gets it! Thanks for reading!

Q: What is your AFSC?

 2W1X1-Armament Systems Technician. 

Q: RES/ANG/AD? 

Active Duty

 Q: When did you go through BMT/Tech School? 

BMT: November 2008-January 2009
Tech School: January 2009-June 2009

Q: What was your dorm duty?

Fire crew-Took trash out.
House Mouse-Organized, cleaned, and took care of the MTI's office. I also fixed his cabinets once he found out I had worked at a cabinet factory previous to joining.
Road Guard-Stopped traffic for the formation to cross roads. If you need help on running, or like to run, do this.

Q: Compared to the list on this blog, what would you recommend/not recommend packing for BMT?

Look for red "suggestions"
-Glasses Prescription/Contact Lenses Prescription Don't bother even bringing contacts. Get some glasses before hand to get used to them, and save some hassle.
Clothing
-3 Days of Civilian Clothing (Ex: 2 pairs of jeans, 3 T-Shirts, 3 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of underwear for men, since you are issued yours.)* For clothing, try, and bring crew neck shirts, and long shorts or pants. For various reasons tight fitting clothing or any v-necks should be discouraged especially for women. You will be tucking in your shirts also.
-Shower Shoes (Cheap Plain black rubber/plastic, no cloth/leather flip flops from Wal-Mart, Target, or Old Navy will suffice)
-Running Shoes (Wear these down there, your MTI may let you keep them) Depends entirely on your TI. You can always use them after BMT.
-Watch I suggest a cheap watch. It will get abused, and you don't want to risk it disappearing.
-Toothbrush holder Square tube style, not the one that fits on the end. 
-Q Tips Can buy them there so not too big of a worry. 
-Brush/Comb Guys, don't worry about this one, you won't need it.

Q: What did you do to prepare yourself for BMT? 

I really didn't do much. I made sure my finances were in order, and that all my stuff was taken care of. Other than making sure you are in okay shape, they will teach you everything you need to know at BMT. It is designed so that you can come in, and not know a thing, yet succeed. 

Q: What's your name and rank? 

Name: L. Smith 
Rank: Senior Airman selected for Staff Sgt.

 Q: What's operational life like compared to the world of BMT?

 It's much different. It's much more laid back as long as you remember your customs, and courtesies. You are treated like an adult for the most part. If you do get in trouble though, some supervision does make your life (in my opinion) more miserable than you will ever be in BMT. They can do it a variety of ways such as you having an escort at all times, a check in schedule, random blues inspections, ect.

Q: Did you ever have a 341 pulled? If so, for what? 

Yes, one. I honestly don't remember. I think I was in the DFAC, and said the wrong thing. It ended up getting trashed by my TI. 

Q: What is PT like at BMT?

 It wasn't that bad. The hardest part was the pyramid pushups. I will say that since I've been in the requirements have changed. Not sure if they are harder or not.

 Q: What was the best thing/experience that happened to you while there? 

The best part(s) were completing the Obstacle Course, which is also called the confidence course for a reason. Don't chicken out, try your hardest, and don't take the easy wall, and graduation. Knowing that I managed to make it that far through everything, and getting to experience what I did was worth it.

Q: What was the worst thing/experience that happened to you while there? 

The worst part was getting sick. I ended up with a nasty flu, and tested positive for the adenovirus. While I was there, the norwalk virus ended up spreading like wild-fire. There is nothing you can really do to prepare yourself, just make sure to hydrate, and stay healthy. If you are really sick, then say something. It's not worth risking pneumonia like one guy in my flight or worse.

Q: What is the best advice you could give to any future trainee to survive BMT?

They will yell, and scream, but don't take it personal. Do as you are told with a sense of urgency. 

Tell us a little about yourself (why you joined, etc.)

I'm 26, joined when I was 23, which was an experience, but was worth the wait. I'm the 4th in my family to spend time in the Air Force, and hope to make it a career. So far, I've deployed to Guam which was fun, and participated in weapons loading operations for Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Thanks again for reading, everyone! Remember, any questions at all, feel free to comment! He's here to help you through the process!!! =]

(Props to my friend Britt for the picture!)

T - 73 Days.

Hello all!! I know it's been a while since I've last posted. I've had a lot going on in my life this past week, and haven't had access to the Internet through my laptop. This is coming from my phone today, so if it's a little unorganized, you know why =]

Anyway, what's been going on with me? Well, this past Monday I went to my recruiter and told him I wanted out of here ASAP, so if he got something to keep me in mind. He said he was going to put me as his #1 priority!! Well, just 2 short days later, he called on my lunch break to tell me that I HAVE A SHIP DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be leaving for Lackland on 6 Nov with Open General! (See my previous post about Aptitude Areas to discover more!)

Anyway, I just really wanted to share this, because I'm BEYOND happy!! I will post more later on this topic when I can use my laptop again! Also, stayed tuned for another interview with an Airman! My friend Lee who is currently operational was nice enough to provide some insight Ito the world of Weapons and being a male through the BMT/Tech School process!! Have a great Air Force day, everyone!!

Marriage in the Military

Hey guys, I've been wanting to post about this for a while. It's something I'm going through, and I'm sure some of you are. If not, you probably will eventually!!

Whether you're in the DEP, operational, or a milspouse, you know this is a big deal. Joining any branch of service is a life-changing event. Once you're in, you can't get out just because your spouse doesn't want you to be in anymore. There's a lot more to it than that. But, if you're lucky enough to marry someone who is in the Military, whether it's your branch or not, they'll understand what you're going through. They understand the need you feel to serve your country, and they definitely understand Service before Self. It's hard, but with the right people, you can make it work.

When you initially make the decision to speak with a recruiter, you're probably already pretty set on joining. It was that way with me, I researched everything I could for a few weeks before I spoke with mine, and I talked to my husband about it. He said he was fine with it, so a few days later I called my recruiter and we got it started. Over the course of my enlistment process, he's gone back and forth on whether he's for it or not. Please remember in this post, I'm not trying to make my husband out to be a bad person. Every person is entitled to their opinions, he just doesn't want to leave his family and everything behind. Don't get me wrong, my husband loves his country, and is very thankful to all those serving. I mean, his sister and his brother-in-law are currently serving! He's had other family members in various branches, so he knows. He wanted to join the Marines for the longest time. I was always a selfish person, and didn't want him to. Granted, he wanted to do something along the lines of Infantry, and surely you all can understand why I felt that way. A wife worries about her husband constantly, and the fact that he was wanting to do something so...dangerous...at a point where we were right in the middle of this current war, was terrifying to me. But, around the end of last year/beginning of this year, a friend changed my mind. I have a former co-worker who is in the National Guard, and he was deployed to Afghanistan for a year not long ago. I think he returned home about a year ago. Well, we spoke for a while on this, and he went so in depth on everything, and really made me understand what it's like. You'd think that would scare me more, but actually knowing what's going on, made it better. So I told him I'd be okay with it. I asked if he wanted me to look into everything for him, and possibly contact a recruiter. He said sure! So I got it going for him, and even went to speak with the recruiter myself (since it's the Marines, and we know that they're known for being smack dab in the middle of a combat zone). We set up a time for my husband to go speak with him alone, and was done. Oh, I should mention my husband knew about that beforehand, haha!

Well, when the day came for him to go talk to him, he flipped out. He decided that I was trying to push him into it, and he didn't want to. I said okay, that's fine. I was kinda pushing him into it, because I thought it was something he really wanted to do, but I was wrong, I guess. So I let it go. That was probably mid-January. Well, I realized several months later, I really wasn't going anywhere with my life, at least career-wise, so I started looking into Cosmetology School, and other different jobs. Well, when I was doing a job search through Monster, I think, I noticed the National Guard had actually listed jobs! I though it was cute! But it got me thinking.....my SIL is in the AF, and we're almost the same person. She's stubborn, independent, and a go-getter. I figured if she could survive basic training, then so could I. That wasn't meant to be derogatory in any way, haha!  So I talked to her about it first, then started doing my own research...and now, here we are. I officially swore into the DEP 1 month ago today. The things it took to get here were ridiculous, and I can't imagine backing out now. I want this so badly, I want to make a difference. I want to serve my country. This is my calling in life, as cheesy as that sounds. I never felt so...right about something.

So where we are with is, is here: I'm in the Air Force (minus the important stuff like BMT, Tech School, you know =] ). My husband doesn't want to move, and isn't going to move. Therefore, we're stuck. Unless I choose to switch to Reserves, then I'll have to move. I don't want to be RES, it's great for those who do, though! I just feel my calling is to be AD. I don't know where to go from here. He doesn't want to leave his family, which is definitely understandable, but when we got married, we agreed to be each other's number 2 (God First). In a Christian marriage, you enter into it as one flesh. You agree to leave your father, brother, sister, mother, cousin, aunt, uncle all of them behind. Well, not behind, just farther down your list of priorities. As a non-married person, you probably put your parents before your boyfriend/girlfriend, and that's fine. But, when you get married, your spouse is your everything. You are supposed to support them in all they do, no matter what. I've always supported his every decision, even before we were married. I know I'm asking a lot, but I just feel he should have given it more thought before deciding against it. So, it looks as if it's coming to an end, and I hate it. It makes me sick.

I love him more than life itself, but what do I do? Do I deny this calling I have, or stay in my small town, resenting the fact I didn't get to do what I was meant to do?

You have to be a very strong, united front, to be able to survive a military marriage. With the imminent chances of deployment (not just to Iraq or Afghanistan, but anywhere), the strenuous work, the strict rules and regulations, and the hard core values of the Air Force (primarily, Service Before Self), it's a very hard thing to cope with as a civilian. You can't really understand the need or the want to do it all.

My advice is this: be 100% sure that this is what you want. Getting to the point of swearing in, then the arrival at BMT, you have to want this more than anything. Yes, anything. My recruiter has always said this. You have to want it more than your spouse, your parents, school, work, all of it. You can't go into BMT not being 100%, or you're destined to fail. Before talking with a recruiter, you should be at least 75% sure this is what you want. After, you should be 100%, or just don't go on with the process. You won't make it. And if you're married, you have to make sure your spouse is at the same level as you, in regards to going through with it. If they're not, you'll be where I am: a crossroad. It's definitely not a fun place, and it's hard to choose. You have to do what is best for you, and follow through. You won't always have the opportunity to join, with the cuts all the branches are making, and the constant chance of getting injured, aging, etc. You have to act now. It's kinda like having kids; you're not getting any younger.

If you have any questions, suggestions, advice, anything, feel free to post. This is a very sensitive subject, and it always requires full attention. Don't go into marriage, the military, or anything half-heartedly. They're all serious commitments, and breaking that commitment has huge repercussions. Not just on you, but everyone around you. Thanks for reading!

"Sometimes bad things happen in life to open up your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before." ---- I saw this on my friends FB status just now, so I thought I'd add this in =]

Interview With An Airman

I decided to conduct this interview with my sister-in-law, Jessica, to give a little insight into BMT/Tech School/Operational life. If you're on any of the FB BMT groups, you've already talked with several people that are operational. I like hearing from multiple people, because everyone has a different experience. Also, she's my sister-in-law, I trust her. She knows me, and knows how I'd probably handle a lot of the situations that arise during the course of my training. I have to say, she's been incredibly patient with me! Before I went to MEPS, I was calling/Skyping/messaging her all of the time. I swear, she must've been ready to kill herself haha! But, without her (and her hubby!) I wouldn't have been anywhere near prepared mentally for MEPS. I Skyped them that night at the hotel, and they just told me to relax, it wouldn't be that bad. She's a wonderful person, and can offer more information for those of you wondering about enlisting, BMT, Tech School, or life as an Airman and a mom/wife. (Shoutout to my super adorable, brains-eating nephew, Misha!! Auntie loves you!) Read away!!!



Q: What's your name and rank? 
Jessica, A1C (Airman First Class/E3)

Tell us a little about yourself (why you joined, etc.)  
I am 23. I live in Japan with my husband who is also active duty and I just had my first son, Misha. I am going to school and I just finished all my credits for my Community College of the Air Force degree. I am also just a few classes away from my Bachelors in accounting. I joined because my husband and I wanted to raise our family in a military lifestyle. Also, I like change.

Q: What is your AFSC?
1P0X1, Aircrew Flight Equipment



Q: RES/ANG/AD?
Active Duty

Q: When did you go through BMT/Tech School? 
Basic: March 8, 2011-May 6, 2011 
Tech: June 9, 2011-August 28, 2011

Q: What was your dorm duty? 
Latrine crew

Q: Compared to the list on this blog, what would you recommend/not recommend packing for BMT? 
Pack make-up, real bra, comfortable underwear, flat iron, good razors, watch, stationery, NO GUM, stamps (lots of them), and definitely shower shoes.

Q: What did you do to prepare yourself for BMT? 
I watched a lot of videos, talked to my sister and cousin who were both in the Air Force.

Q: Did you ever have a 341 pulled? If so, for what? 
Not in basic, but I did in tech school for not stopping my SMU (small marching unit) at a street. I did get in A LOT of trouble in basic for writing letters before they said we could. Don’t do that. =]

Q: What is PT like at BMT? 

It’s a lot of fun. You run three days a week. You run thirty minutes together, then thirty minutes of continuous running/sprints. The other days, you do push-ups, sit-ups, and other calisthenics. 

Q: What was the best thing/experience that happened to you while there? 
The best thing was seeing my husband (he was three weeks ahead of me). Other than that, the O-course was amazing. It was the funnest thing I have experienced in my life. 

Q: What was the worst thing/experience that happened to you while there? 
Getting sick was horrible. Everyone gets sick, but you’re already tired and rundown – it just makes it worse. Also, I didn’t pin my hands while doing a left face and I had to stand in the middle of the squadron by myself and do a left face while everyone walked by and looked at me. Also, my flight forgot about me and another MTI took pity on me and told me to go back to them. 

Q: What is the best advice you could give to any future trainee to survive BMT? 
Do what you’re told. Don’t be annoying. Be quiet. STUDY! Never assume that an MTI is talking to you. If they yell, “Hey You!” walk the other way.

Q: What's operational life like compared to the world of BMT?
It’s way different. Laid back; I bullshit with my boss (MSgt) all the time. NCOs are less scary. I do miss BMT a lot. It would be a lot of fun to go back.


Again, another big thank you to Jess for taking time out to answer these questions! If you guys have any more, feel free to comment, and she'd be happy to help you out! If she forgets to check, I'll remind her ;] Thanks for reading!

Tattoos In The Military

Hello again, everyone!

Let's talk about tattoos. They're pretty awesome. I have two, myself. But, they can be disqualifying if you want to join the military. From what I gather, the Air Force and the Marines are the strictest with their tattoo policies. Which seems to be the case for everything haha!

So, you have a couple of tattoos, you're worried. I get it. I had no idea that it could affect anything! When I initially called my recruiter (all recruiters do this), he did a mini-interview. He asked basically if I was in good health, married, kids, and tattoos. They just want to make sure you meet the basic requirements before wasting their time, and yours. I actually was able to meet up with him about 2 hours later, where I showed him my ink, and marked it on a chart. It's the standard anatomy picture, where I drew X's on where my tattoos are (left shoulder, right shoulder blade). I think drew a picture of them, explained what they meant, and what they meant to me. It generally takes at least a week for them to be approved, or denied, but it only took mine 2 days. The main reason they take so long/want to know all this info on them, is to make sure they're not gang-related, terroristic, etc. They also need to know where they're located at, because it could present an issue for wearing the uniform (ABU's or Blues). Some things aren't appropriate to see while in uniform, while other things don't cause worry. Here's the official AF policy on tattoos. Just scroll down to the table of contents, then click on the tattoos section. Easy peasy.

Anyway, there's the regulations for tattoos in general, but now, what about getting more? While you're in the DEP you cannot get a new tattoo. This includes a touch-up, or fill-in. Tattoos are considered open wounds for a year, so that'll get you DQ'd real quick. Wait until Tech School or after before you get another one. You'll probably have more money then, anyway! The MEPS personnel go over your tattoos again when you head back there the day you ship out. So, there's no way possible that you can get away with hiding it or anything. You're in your skivvies, remember?

If you have any more information, specific information, that is, related to this, please feel free to share!! =]

Getting Ready To Go? Check Out This Packing List!

So, you're packing for BMT? Did the list your recruiter gave you have a date of several years ago? Well, lucky for you, I have access to people who have been through already, and have given great pointers on what to pack, and what not to pack! (See www.aimhigherin.com for even MORE useful tips on BMT) I created this list for my good friends on the September shippers group on Facebook (USAF BMT September 2012 -- Search it!), and shared it with the October shippers group there, too! (USAF BMT October Shippers 2012) So here we go! (Keep in mind I directly copied and pasted it from there!)

This is just a rough draft, that I mostly just copied from aimhigherin.com! If you see things that should be added/removed, go ahead! Just leave a comment of why you decided to add/remove that item, that way we're not all wondering =] Try to keep this in some sort of order, that way it's easier to understand! **Keep in mind that Erin is Reserves, s

o some of these items may be specific for RES/ANG members, and not AD.**

Paperwork

-Twenty copies of orders/Enlistment Contract (Reserves/ANG item)

-Unit Personnel Records (Reserves/ANG item)

-Social Security Card

-Driver's License/ID/Military ID (Military ID is for Reserves/ANG, AD are issued theirs at BMT)

-Birth Certificate

-High School Diploma

-College Transcripts

-Marriage License

-Glasses Prescription/Contact Lenses Prescription

-Medical Prescriptions (To include Birth Control)

-Dependents' Birth Records 

-JROTC/ROTC Certificates

-Civil Air Patrol Certificates 

-Naturalization Papers

-Alien Card

Clothing

-3 Days of Civilian Clothing (Ex: 2 pairs of jeans, 3 T-Shirts, 3 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of underwear for men, since you are issued yours.)*

-6 pairs of underwear (Females)*

-6 Sports Bras (Females)*

-3 pairs of compression shorts/spandex (Black)

-1 "Regular" Bra in nude or white for Blues (Females)

-Shower Shoes (Plain black flip flops from Wal-Mart, Target, or Old Navy will suffice)

-Running Shoes (Wear these down there, your MTI may let you keep them)

-Watch

 -Cell phone and charger

Toiletries

-Shampoo/Conditioner**

-Body Wash**

-Shaving Cream (Males)**

-Toothpaste**

-Toothbrush (full size)***

-Toothbrush holder

-Tampons/Pads for one cycle (Females)

-Deordant**

-Hairspray (Females)**

-Gel (Females)**

-Razor(s)***

-Q Tips

-Brush/Comb

-Hair Ties/Bobby Pins/Conair Bunmaker(Females; this MUST match your hair color)

*Keep these in neutral colors, just in case (Black, White, Gray, and Nude)

**If you're flying there, these items MUST be 3 oz or less! Buy them in a clear/white color if possible. Aerosol products are also a no-no.

***Non-electric! These MUST be regular, disposable type products.

Keep in mind, pretty much all of these items are optional, and WILL be available to you at the BX/Shopette/Mini-Mall. However, you need to bring at least 3 days worth of these things, because we don't know when our first trip to these places will be. Males MUST bring shaving equipment, as you will be required to shave that first night, and every day thereafter. If you choose to only bring yourself, and nothing else, that's your call. You won't be kicked out. However, I will state again to bring a minimum of three days worth of these things. It'll make your life a bit easier.

Most importantly, do not stress out because you can't find something. I know it's difficult not to stress, but they have the things you need there! The most common stresser is the rectangular toothbrush holder. Just put your toothbrush in a Ziploc bag or buy a cheap, round holder to get you through until you make your first trip to the BX/Mini-Mall. It's important you focus on your PT regiment, and spending time with your loved ones relaxing before you go! Don't sweat the small stuff! =D

The Forbidden: Aptitude Areas (More Commonly Known As Open Contracts)!

I said I was going to post about this, so here we go!

Within the Air Force, we have such things called Aptitude Areas, otherwise known as Open Contracts. These occur frequently. Some of you may be wondering what they are exactly, while others know exactly what I'm talking about! When you go to MEPS, you have an interview of sorts with your liaison in which you make a list, and essentially, pick your jobs. When doing this, you list a maximum of 10 jobs, and 1 Aptitude Area. Before you even leave for MEPS, let alone talk to your liaison about jobs, know what jobs you're interested in! Make a list, and bring it with you, and number them (1 being your top pick, and 10 being your last). They are more than willing to accommodate this for you! While you're listing your jobs, be thinking about what aptitude you want to list. If you're open to pretty much anything, ask which jobs drop most frequently within your squadron. For mine, it's Mech. and Elec.. But, if you're a bit more choosy, look at what jobs you picked the most of. Or, if you will only take a medical job, for example (which I strongly dis-advise) then list a Gen. Aptitude.

When you get back from MEPS, you and your recruiter should talk about what you listed, that way he/she knows what to look out for the most. They can see your list already, but by talking to them you let them know what you're most interested in, or what have you. I just added about 6 more jobs total to mine, but had to eliminate one of the original ones I listed, because I ran out of room. If you're like me, and open to basically anything, let your recruiter know!!! I can't stress that enough. I'm, fortunately, a favorite of my recruiter's because I also do what is asked of me, show up to the DEP CC's every month, and get back with him in a timely manner. This will work in my favor when the monthly job drops occur! He knows to lookout for something I may like, and get me shipped out faster!

Okay, back on topic of the open contracts. There are so many bad misconceptions about them. Basically, you won't get "stuck" with something you don't want. The one and only way this could happen is if you don't qualify for anything else on the list.

                                                      (Lies!)

When you accept an open contract (Let's say it's a General one), you accept the fact that you won't know what your job is until around 7WOT in BMT. From what I've been told, around 4WOT, you will go and view what jobs are available under the General area (since that's what you chose, remember?!). Let's say you made a 92 on your ASVAB, with a score of 85 in General. Well, you have your handy dandy list you made of jobs you'd like, and you're cross referencing that list to what's available. List as many jobs as you can! But, be aware that if you list something you don't really care for, or don't want at all, there is a great chance you may end up with it. So don't list something just to fill up space, make sure you'd be okay with it! Anyway, let's say your most wanted jobs are Public Affairs, Cryptologic Linguist, Loadmaster, Diet Therapy, EOD, In-Flight Refueling, and SERE. (Granted, these all range dramatically, but just go with it =]) You absolutely do not want Security Forces, which is the most popular job, I believe, to be given on an Open Gen contract. Now, let's say you didn't qualify for the Loadmaster and (I think) In-Flight Refueling, because you're 5'3", and to qualify for any airborne job, you must be a minimum of 5'4". So, there's 2 of your 7 jobs automatically gone. You didn't list Security Forces, so you're in the clear. You scored well enough on the ASVAB, that you definitely qualify for the other jobs for that aspect. You also have to take into consideration Security Clearances, vision, depth perception, etc. We'll say you passed them all with flying colors!

Since you're more than qualified for all the jobs you listed, you should expect to get one. The difference between listing jobs at MEPS, then waiting around for months for you to get a particular job, and going Open to BMT, is that you get first pick! While you're stuck at home, waiting around for a job, the trainees at BMT are picking over your jobs! Essentially, you get sloppy seconds. You have a better chance of getting the job you want by going Open, than you do waiting around for months on end. You could've already graduated BMT and Tech School, and be at your first duty station by the time your 1 year DEP contract expires. Think about it that way. Another difference, however, is that not every job in the General aptitude area are going to be on the BMT list. Only the spots they have open within the entire Air Force.

I hope I've thoroughly explained this, and have answered any question you all may have. If I think of anything  that I left out, I'll make sure to update! Feel free to comment! =]

Update

Hello everyone! Quick post tonight. Just figured I'd give an update!

Yesterday my recruiter told me he would be viewing the job drop today! We hoped I'd be getting something, so I was anxious all day at work. Then I got busy running errands, and working out.

Well, after I got done working out, I found out the news about my job/ship date.....................................



It's still non-existent. =[ Boo!! We were both really hoping I'd get something, but alas, I did not. It sucks, but it's expected. Rarely does anyone (at least within our squadron) get a job/ship date on their first job drop. There's still next month, though!! Hopefully I'll get something soon. I really hate the waiting game. I'm more than willing to take an Open Contract (Aptitude Area)! Even quick ship! Well, I need to work on PT a bit more before I'm ready for that.

I actually hate that I've become so close with the people on the September shippers Facebook page. I've gotten to know them all well, and have bonded with them! I (along with them, too I think!) really hate that I can't ship with them. Here's to hoping I get stationed with them though!

Everyone please send good vibes my way that something comes up really soon for me! I'll keep updating, and I'm thinking of doing a whole post dedicated to Open Contracts, since they seem to be taboo to some people. Have a great night!

Progress!

So, I just managed to do my FIRST "real" push up! Woot! I talked to my recruiter the other day, and he gave me some pointers (he even got down on the ground and did some!). I was keeping my hands too close to me, so he recommended I put them just outside my shoulders. I did, and I've been attempting it the last hour or two on commercials. Well, my last try (approx. 5 mins ago) I actually did one!

I have a big problem with keeping my body flat/straight, and not sticking my butt up when I go down. But, I managed the straightness, 90 degree angle of the arms, and looked forward and not down! As soon as I pushed up, though, I collapsed. Still. 1 is better than 0!!!

I haven't done any running these past 2 days, however. Yesterday was going to be my off day, and I intended to get back at it today. Well, my back had other plans. I worked 9-4 today, and hadn't had any problems whatsoever. Then, roughly 15 minutes before I left, I bent over to grab a bag from under the counter, when it hit me. It's not like a searing, piercing pain. It's just super sore. And it's my lower back. I ran a few errands after I got off, and then came home to rest for a bit. My husband and I usually leave at the same time to work out (he goes to the gym, while I brave the heat and run outside), so I was going to wait for him to get home and exchange a "How'd your day go?". Well, he left, and I decided to get up and change so I could leave. But, when I got up out of our recliner, I knew there wasn't a chance in Hell that I would be running. I didn't want to injure myself further. But then around 7:30ish, I thought I might go ahead and try. After all, the MTI's at BMT won't care if my back is a little sore, I'll still have to PT with the best of them. Nope. Still wasn't happenin'.

That's when I decided to attempt some sit ups/ push ups. Well, I decided against the sit ups, thinking if I can't even run, I definitely can't do sit ups. So that's what led me to the almost 2 hour session of attempting push ups. And I'm still UBER excited I did one!!

Anyway, that's the highlight of my day. Feel free to share yours! Although, I highly doubt you'll be able to beat that. Hahaha!! ;] Have a good night!

Furthering the Enlistment Process!

So, I had planned on posting sooner, but due to my husband's incessant Xbox playing, that didn't happen. =] Anyway, it actually worked out in my favor, because I stopped by my recruiter's office this afternoon!

Nope, no ship date yet. He informed me that he submitted my job updates, but he went to check if they had been accepted, but not yet! We were both a little angry, but in the hour that I was there, he emailed them 3 times! Ha! I guess he's just being sure =] Anyway, he had to take one of the jobs off that I added, because I maxed the list out. But he said the job drop has happened, although he hasn't seen it yet. He did say I'm definitely at the top of his list to get a job first, though! It's because I've made it to every single DEP call since I started the process, I'm open to almost anything, and I'm not hard to get ahold of. Every time he calls, I answer or call him back immediately, same with texts. I've done my part, so now he's doing his =] I would hope all recruiters are like this, but I know they're not. But, if you're lucky enough to have one like I do, be sure to do everything they ask of you. Not only will it help you out for a job/ship date, it'll help you out in BMT and even being operational. People see that you're more than willing to do what needs to be done, so you could be chosen for numerous things over others! You also help out your recruiter doing this!

Being a recruiter is no easy task -- it's basically a 24/7 job. You have so many recruits to keep up with! You have to make sure they're staying qualified, submitting their forms/waivers, pushing to get them jobs/ship dates. There is so much that goes into being a recruiter, and it takes a special person to be able to do it. Regardless of how crappy your recruiter is, or how fantastic, take a moment to just say "thank you"! They've probably helped you out in ways that you don't know. They have to pull strings a lot! In one of my friend's cases, she was slated to go to MEPS, and she was 1 week out and had been telling her recruiter she was at weight. Well, at that 1 week mark, she was still 9 lbs over her max. Let's just say he wasn't a happy camper. He did everything he could to make sure she made weight, and she did! But she had to end up going back two more times for various waivers. She graduated BMT last July.

Anyway, I went for my run when I left my recruiter's office. It was at the place I do a lot of my runs, and we always have DEP calls. It's a "forest" type of park, with a lake in the middle of it. There's a path going around the lake, which is roughly 2.5 miles. It usually takes me at least 30-45 minutes to get all the way around. I don't run it all at one time. I usually run the first half mile, walk for 1-2 minutes, then run a minimum of .25 miles each time. But I don't normally make it to the full .25 haha! Today, though, I did! I ran it in about 26 minutes!!! This is a huge accomplishment for me! Now, I've gotta finish the rest of my workout (pushups/situps). If I actually manage any pushups tonight, I'll post!!

Have a good evening!!



Check-In!

Happy August everyone!

So I figured I'd write a quick post today. I went and met with my recruiter the other day for my weekly check in (he requires we do this after swearing in, I'm not sure about other recruiters). As I mentioned in my last post, we discussed a ridiculous financial situation that came about recently. We talked about my sister in law and how she's doing (since he was her and her husband's recruiter also!), and about her baby she just had about 3 weeks ago. Her job is Aircrew Flight Equipment. We had actually discussed me listing this on my job list, and he thought I did! Our monthly job drop within our squadron is comprised of about 98% Mechanical and Electrical jobs, which is why he was encouraging me to list it. Well, I told him I did not in fact put it down, so he immediately added it to my list (which I was more than okay with!) haha! He also handed me the book of job descriptions he has, and told me to read through every single mech. job. I was there for about an hour and a half just doing that.

I was fine with doing this, because the more jobs I list, the better chance I have of getting a job/ship date sooner! I ended up listing about 6 more jobs total, and I think we added on the Admin and Mech Aptitude Areas. I also think we removed a job, I can't remember.

Anyway, I highly encourage everyone to do this! Especially if you want to leave rather quickly, but don't want to sign up for quickship. But remember, don't list anything you don't really want to do; you could end up with it, and be mad. It falls back on you, though!

I've still been trying to improve on PT, and it's slowly coming along. I ran my mile today, and did some situps. The way I'm trying to improve on pushups is by doing them on the wall! My boss actually recommended this. I was doing "girl" pushups, which is the standard form for a "real" pushup, but you're on your knees. I wasn't getting anywhere with it, so I've been doing about 4 sets of 20 per day, or as often as possible. I can definitely tell I'm getting stronger, and kind of did one real pushup today! Every little bit counts!

I'll end this here, it's almost my bed time! Good night all, and Aim High!

The Road Thus Far

Why, hello all! It's been about a week since I last wrote, so I figured I'd go ahead and update!!

Since my infinite posts about MEPS, I've not been up to too much. I mostly work. My husband decided to get two new puppies (black labs). TWO!!! I thought I'd kill myself...however no such luck. Hahahaha!! Anyhow, I've gotten to where any time I go to any store, I'm on the lookout for deals. Not like, extreme couponer deals, like travel sized deals.

My recruiter told me that if I see anything that has a good sale on it, to buy it for BMT. You never know how much things can sky-rocket in the future! So since it's back to school time here, we have zillions of backpacks at all the stores. I went to Target after work a few days ago, and decided to look for a backpack for BMT/Tech School. Keep in mind the AFI when getting a bag for Tech School. Anyway, I was strolling through the backpack aisle, not seeing much. I saw a few, but I didn't want to pay $30-$50 for a bag that really won't be used too much. I saw two that were the same brand/style but differed slightly. There were $25, but were on sale for $19.99 so I gave them a look. I had almost decided on one (decent size, relatively plain). It had these elastic things around the zipper, I guess as a handle for pulling. They were neon orange. EEEKKK! Then I realized I could take them off. Okay, that works. Well, I threw it in the cart, and started off. At the veryyy end of the aisle, they had COMPLETELY PLAIN black backpacks!! I flipped! And they were only $10!!! You better believed I grabbed it! I looked it over first, though. It's a little small, but my thought process on it was that it'll prevent me from over-packing. I'm that kind of a girl. I'm not uber girly or anything,  but I'd rather be over-prepared. Even for BMT! Well, this one will ONLY fit the essentials, which is good!

I went through the rest of the school supplies, and found two pretty nice notebooks for $.59 a piece. I grabbed about 4 (you can never have too many at home!), thinking I'd just take one with me down there. I also grabbed a basic pack of black ink pens (remember the military only uses black for official documents, and they just prefer it haha!) for about $2. I want to say it was the BIC brand with about 4-8, I can't remember. Anyway, you should only need one or two, but you'll have the opportunity to go to the BX and mini mall while you're at BMT. Then I headed to the travel sized items aisle. SO. MUCH. STUFF. I just wanted to buy it all! Haha! I didn't, though. I grabbed a 5 pack of make up remover wipes for $.97, some Tresemme hairspray for $.99 and Qtips for $.99. Then I went and grabbed a fresh pack of bobby pins/hair ties, which ran about $6 for both. **Note to ladies: these have to match your hair color, or be really close** I also grabbed one of the Schick Intuition razors with the built in soap, which I think was $6-$7. I plan on getting everything waxed before shipping, that way I can concentrate on getting clean in the shower, rather than shaving. It'll be slightly expensive, but I think a good investment! I also got some black flip flops from Old Navy for shower shoes, since I don't know when I'll be shipping, and where I live, we don't sell flip flops all year long haha!

That's all I've got in my BMT bag for now, but I'll slowly but surely be adding to it. Just in case I get a call one day from my recruiter telling me I'm leaving in one week. I'd rather not panic and forget things haha!

I also had a random financial issue come up, which caused me major stress from Thursday until today. My recruiter was on leave last week, so today was the first day I was able to talk to him. He told me it won't affect (or is it effect...?!) anything, just get it taken care of. So I did! Easy peasy. But all weekend, I was freaking out thinking I'd be kicked out! Ahhh! All that stress for nothing. Hmph.

Another random note: I went for my run today, and we've been having some extreme weather. Our temp was about 103* today, and the heat index ranged from 110*-118* all day. Yikes! And it was peaked at the time I went to run. Of course. I usually do at least a mile, but today I only did a half a mile. I wanted to be safe, and not suffer from heat exhaustion, and I hadn't drank enough water prior to that so I didn't want to dehydrate either. I only had about half a bottle of water, so I figured better to be safe than sorry! My PT regiment is struggling. I still can't do any pushups at all. My situps are fine, though. The last time I timed them (about 3 weeks ago) I had 46 in 1 minute. The standards for women on pushups is 18 in 1 minute and 38 situps in one minute, I believe. My recruiter said that as long as I can do at least 3 (ha!) by BMT, I'll survive. It just seems physically impossible for me right now. I need some encouragement. I wish I could just magic myself into doing them! That'd be nice!

I'll end this post here. Hopefully, there will be more to come soon! I think we have a job drop this week, so *fingers crossed* I get a job/ship date! Highly unlikely, but one can hope! =]