That was pretty good.. but a couple of things.

when you get to base, right at the entrance of the BMT reception center there's a "honor grad" list. Check that. He might be on it.

If so, after the retreat there's an honor grad ceremony where they get their coin. Therefore, don't go looking for him in the mass of airmen. You won't get "pinned" like all the other parents/spouses. They line them up to go into the reception center for the ceremony. So just head in and find a seat. Your airman, once inside the reception center, will be allowed to sit with you during the ceremony. A little advice on this, they must sit at attention at the start of the ceremony. Don't whisper to him until they release them from attention. It looks really bad and there's a gaggle of TIs at the back of the room so he may get in trouble.


ALSO: the video the airmen are given an option to order during BMT is DIFFERENT than the video for sale during graduation. The video they order (first off is only 20 or 30 dollars) and is them during their training. The graduation video is all the graduation ceremonies (retreat, honor grad ceremony, airmen's coin ceremony) and is $50.

Be prepared to spend quite a bit on various memorabilia. My husband went a little crazy and with videos, pictures, t-shirts for everyone it ran me around $500. No lie.

momandbrat: thanks for doing this thread.
(sorry about my English)

I'm a female trainee leaving on Dec. 19; although I'm not an Airman relative anymore (my uncle was in AF from 1990-98 and I was too little to understand what he was doing), but I'm a woman, and I can feel the same things you feel. I was raised by my mom and my grandmother, and although I don't get to see them as much (I live with my sister), I'm starting to feel sad because I'm leaving on Christmas (holidays in PR are a time to tighten up with family). I called my mother on Tuesday and she started crying! I wanted to cry too, but I just shed some tears (Mom told me to cry so I don't get sick at BMT). She's always saying how proud she feels that I joined the Air Force, but sometimes I don't know what to say to make them to feel better (there are times that I also feel afraid and insecure about the choice I made and don't feel strong enough).

It's very nice to know there are family women supportive to their relatives, to the Force and to each other. Keep it up!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: NomadLeesa,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I got my 1172 Form. I have already got my ID and sent off the paperwork to be enrolled in Tricare Prime and the Dental. My husband isn't even in Week 3 yet and I have received one 7 minute phone call and 2 letters from him. They all have been very uplifting. He is the Dorm Chief and seems to be doing very well. He hasn't recieved any of my letters as of December 1st (last letter I received)which was the end of his first week. I heard that they don't get mail until week 2. Any one know anything about this?

wow there's a lot of good info in this post. I'm a woman leaving for BMT in March and I'm getting married in Jan. I told my boyfriend he needs to sign up on here and read this stuff. This kind of support system seems like a good thing to have when i'll be gone, even if he's not a mom, wife, or girlfriend. LOL

KSC2pa- thanks for the advice about the video and the honor sheet...The trip to Lackland is our Christmas present and vacation all in one. I am going to buy a good pair of walking shoes and break them in this weekend. It sounds like I am going to need them. Thanks so very much for all the inforamtion...if anyone has any other thoughts about the trip to Lackland, please write. I only have 4 more days to read your comments before I leave.

HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS FOR EVERYONE: I have changed my AOL location to the Lackland zip code. Now the weather for Texas shows up each day and not the weather for PA. Our loved ones are marching each day and if they are going to be in Warrior Week (week 4) you will know if it's cold, raining or sunny! You will also have another thing to write about - the weather!

A NOTE TO NOMADLEESA: Dear sweet girl, let me tell you that you are going to have second thoughts. I went down to see my son being sworn in and when I got there he wanted to go home. He still could have changed his mind but I was strong and told him that he made his choice and had to do it. He signed all the papers and even signed up for 6 years. He was sworn in and left on a bus to the airport. He did not say anything to me except that he would never forgive me for making him do this. I cried all the way home. For 2 weeks I was a basket case. He called his girlfriend with the mailing address and not me. NOW 5 weeks later and after a few calls and a letter - he thanked me for being a great mom but wishes I was harder on him growing up. So you see, you are not the only one with second thoughts about joining. It will be hard for you not in be with your family for Christmas so why not have Christmas before you go? Invite everyone/have a Christmas Dinner/Open your gifts/and maybe go to church with your mom, Aunt and grandmother. PS A GREAT GIFT FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WOULD BE A BOOK OF STAMPS AND SOME NICE WRITING PAPER! Best of luck and never forget - your family is proud of you. The service is your choice so think about it and read some of the other postings in the discussions. Someone out there maybe able to help you with your doughts.

i am new to this site and was checking out some of the previous post. found many of them very helpful. my husband left on nov 21 for bt. his graduation date is set for jan 5. he got to call me last friday and we talked for 9 minutes. sure did go by quick though. sounds like there is alot of walking to do while on base for graduation. i'm 5 months pregnant right now, so i am really thankful for the warning. i will be sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. if anyone has any advice please feel free to give it!

The walking is dependent on a bunch of things. I really didn't do any walking on base because my husband was in the 324th which is right next to the BMT reception center. We also lucked out and he never lost any town pass time and since he was an honor grad he also got sunday off base.

PLUS --> I was always about an hour early, so I always got GREAT parking spots, the first buses , seats next to the door during the briefing, and so on. I knew the schedule well, I knew what was going on and I basically "scooted" around everyone else. The mini mall is right next to the BMT reception center too, which has food / BX / and so on. I'm not really sure about the other squadrons.

And word of advice, the gates do back up. Keep that in mind. My husband was a HUGE stickler and wanted to be early to begin with, so we'd always be back around an hour early and sit and talk at the BMT reception center. That way he was never late. If they're late, they may loose privileges or worse.

quote:

Originally posted by SEREwife:
I heard that they don't get mail until week 2. Any one know anything about this?

When they get their mail depends on their TI, but I noticed my letters were always a week behind. From what I understand, also, mail call is not everyday.

Hi, as I read these posts, I became more and more nervous. You see, my boyfriend is about to take his ASVAB(I'm helping him study =) ) and he's planning to go down to Lackland for his BMT shortly after Valentine's Day. He's looking forward to the yelling and the confidence chamber, but I can't help but be scared/worried for him. I'm afraid he'll change too much, or maybe I don't even know. I think I'm freaking out about this more than he is. It's selfish, I know because he is going to be going through a lot more hardships than me but I can't seem to calm myself down. I knew this was coming, but suddenly it seems more real. If anyone could tell me more about it, I would really appreaciate it. And however silly this sounds, he has long hair and maybe I'll miss it... and I'm making myself paranoid about everything. Anything to calm me down will be HIGHLY appreciated.

moose555-
I promise you the MTI's do not give personality altering drugs (if there is such a thing).

jessnb8702:

My husband also left November 21st. Have you recieved your paperwork to enroll in tricare yet?

moose555 - As far as the ASVAB goes, neither one of you need to stress too much over studying for it, mainly concentrate on the English and math portions. I'm leaving for BMT in April, and have already taken the ASVAB...I knew absolutely nothing about mechanics, electronics, or shop, but scored higher on those three than I did in math How'd he do on the practice one in the recruiter's office?

My boyfriend just graduated from BMT last weekend and I had been scared like you are. Your boyfriend will change, but not in a bad way. When he graduates, you'll find that he's much more responsible, respectful, organized, and has this neurotic attention to detail. Keep in mind that he is not leaving to go become a different person, he is going to become a better version of the person he already is. I was a total mess before my boyfriend left, and I apologized repeatedly to him for crying - I really tried not to, but I couldn't help it. It's normal, I think, because you aren't used to having to be strong without him. I promise you won't miss his long hair when you see him in uniform

I get paranoid too, and sometimes I just have to take a second and realize that I'm so caught up in things that *might* go wrong, that I forget to be happy in the moment. I'm finding that many, many things (especially with regards to the military, haha) are beyond my control, so why worry about that which you cannot change?

There are many other helpful people on this forum that you can talk to, many have husbands, boyfriends, fiancees who are deployed for A LOT longer than 6 1/2 weeks. When I get sad, or concerned, I just think about how trivial my worries are in comparison to theirs. Military life isn't easy, but I bet if you ask the majority of them, they'll all say their significant other is worth it.

Cheer up. If you need anything, please let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by KJA06:
. . .but I bet if you ask the majority of them, they'll all say their significant other is worth it.

It's not only that I feel my DH is worth it, I believe in what he is doing. I understand the importance of the AF mission and am proud to support my husband's contribution to the mission.

MTIwife...you were missed...hope things are ok on the homefront...To all of you, my son had changed for the best! He is truly a man now not my little boy. He still will need me to tell him how proud I am of him and be there if he needs to talk. I will keep writing to hom at Tech School and send Care Packages. I said goodbye to a boy almost 6 weeks ago and in a few more days I will be hugging a man. We have to be stong for our loved ones and support them. We may have to change with them. Let them go to be the best they can be (ARMY SAYING but true of all parts of the servie). We may think that we need them but the world needs them too. My son told me that if every mom did not let go of their sons and daughters we would not have anyone to protect and service our county.

momandbrat-all is great. My husband had a few days at home after he graduated his flt. He's now pushing through Zero week again, so I don't see much of him. Hence why I'm here. . .trying to keep myself from becoming socially inept by the lack of adult conversation-LOL.

SEREwife: i recieved my tricare papers a few days ago. i have yet to recieve a letter from my husband. no news is good news but i would still love to hear from him. i'm really nervous about going down there in january. sounds like you can get confused and lost pretty easy! i agree 100% about the boy turning into a man part. my husband was so immature and selfish before he went in. when i talked to him on the phone for those few minutes, i can tell he has grown up! (thank God-lol)

MTI_Wife - Haha, thank you, it's very comforting to know that they won't slip him some of those personality altering drugs =)

KJA06 - Thank you! I found your response very helpful. I'm also worried because he wants to enlist for 20 years... I don't want to be separated from him for too long. I have a lot more years of school/college/etc ahead of me so I'm stressing about not seeing him enough. But, I'm getting more and more used to the idea. I guess, just like you said, I should stop being paranoid and be happy in the moment. I'm planning to take extra classes to busy myself while he's gone... so that I won't have time to wallow and all. Once again, thank you!

quote:

enlist for 20 years...

No worries about that. They don't have 20 year enlistments. 4 or 6 years, then your honey will be up for re-enlistment.

About the mind altering drugs. . .I'm sure if my DH had access to them, he'd have secretly slipped some to me long ago! Just joking! He's gotten awfully good at rolling his eyes and shaking his head though. . .

It's funny but my dad was in the service for more than 30 years. Reviewing his paperwork from the service I found all the 4 year enlistments very interesting. So things haven't changed-you reinlist for 4 years at a time. Make sure you keep all your hubands paperwork in a safe place!I loved being an Air Force Brat and MTIwife loves being an Air Force Wife. Go to show that they must be doing something right. Note to JESSNB8702: I will post somethings about my trip to Lackland when I get back on 12-19. Are you going by yourself? Do you have to fly?

that would be very helpful. i wont be traveling alone. my mother in law and my little girl are going to be going with me. we live in arkansas so we are going to drive. its going to be a long 8 hour drive though! LOL my daughter is going to drive me crazy on the trip (she's 4). she took it real hard when he left. every night she has to kiss his picture before she goes to bed. its so sweet and sad at the same time. so i am really looking forward to the "are we there yet" question (over and over)...LOL