Warriors are not born with all the skills, qualities and training they need to go into combat. They need training to develop skills and qualities to become warriors; they must practice and hone their skills and qualities to become better warriors.
Some of you may already possess a few warrior qualities (e.g., discipline, fairness, honor, loyalty and self-confidence), and you will have to build upon them.
Discipline is crucial for warriors. Discipline is a safeguard to help you act lawfully. A person who kills without lawful authority is a murderer and is subject to criminal charges and punishment.
All warriors MUST follow lawful orders and laws of your Nation. You need discipline to help you with the noble cause of giving your solemn oath to preserve justice.
A warrior must possess self-confidence. Would you be willing to trust your life to someone who didn’t believe in themselves? Self-confidence is an integral part of surviving and thriving on the battlefield.
It is what gives a warrior the courage to confront evil, to carry on when life becomes difficult and to accomplish the impossible.
Training, in Basic Military Training (BMT) and the AF, may push you harder than you may expect or have ever experienced. It can often be extreme and may cause you to question your purpose.
Use all of your experiences to prepare you for the pressures of deployment and the stresses of combat. The best way to be prepared is to train hard for the unexpected so if it happens, it is neither too hard nor too unexpected.
Use it to build as many skills (tools) as possible. As you go through this challenging time, here are a couple of strategies to help you succeed. Practicing and referring back to these strategies can help you make it through BMT when times in your training get tough.
Strategic Thinking
- Identify what is positive and what is negative about adverse events (e.g., getting yelled at or being away from home); all situations have both positive and negative aspects
- Think about your purpose (e.g. why you joined the AF)
- Stay positive about a situation and keep your sense of purpose in mind when times are tough; this increases your ability to tolerate frustrations
Mental Rehearsal
- Imagine yourself doing a new task; walk through the process in your mind the way athletes visualize a movement or make a shot (e.g. think about yourself Passing-In-Review in your service uniform at Parade – like thousands before you have done)
- Mental rehearsal will help you improve accuracy and performance on skills and tasks
Remember, you are not alone on your journey. If you feel challenged, know that your fellow wingmen may be feeling just as challenged and stressed. Go through your training together; be a wingman.
If it seems like someone around you is depressed, step in and talk to that person. They may just need a friendly ear or reassurance that they aren’t the only one who feels overwhelmed. If need be, accompany them to get help.
Take every aspect of your training seriously, as it may end up saving your life or the lives of those around you. Excellence In All We Do means you are not training for just yourself; you are training for your wingmen as well.
You are not just seeking to just better yourself; you are seeking to incorporate your skills to better the overall AF mission. DO NOT train by doing just enough to make it through. Make the most of your time and set yourself up for success.
Treat every situation as if it were real and if real lives were at stake (e.g., when you deploy to Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training or when you qualify on the M16). You never know when it may be your mission to bring your fellow Airmen back.