Air Force basic training is one of the most difficult challenges anyone can undertake. The Air Force prides itself on excellence, perseverance and has extremely high standards it expects recruits to rapidly start meeting.
Recruits are tested physically, mentally, and emotionally. Your morals will be tested and your character scrutinized.
You will be pushed harder and further than you have ever been pushed before. This is because the Air Force is trying to simultaneously find out if you have what it takes to join, as well as teach you the information, skills, and attitude you will need to thrive.
The adjustments that recruits need to make are vast. It is an entirely different way of life, led by discipline, improvement, and a robust attitude towards every aspect of life and military service.
The lack of freedom can be a challenge for many, as well as the physical and mental challenges of disciplined military life.
Air Force basic training is very difficult, however, it is not impossible and with the right attitude, it will be one of the most formative and rewarding experiences in your life, leading you into a prosperous career with one of the finest military establishments in the world.
What is the hardest part of Air Force basic training?
The hardest part of Air Force training will differ depending on the particular recruit. Some people will struggle with the regimented lifestyle of military life. The lack of freedom and focus on humility and discipline can be hard to adjust to initially.
However, some people will find the rigorous physical training overwhelming, particularly if you haven’t adequately prepared yourself for the demands of BMT.
There is also the mental and emotional struggle of being away from family and friends, having to start again with a group of totally new people with whom you will be forced to spend a lot of time.
All of these things are typical difficulties however there is one week during training which is notorious and dreaded.
Week five, also known as BEAST week is widely regarded as the most difficult phase of training and with good reason.
BEAST stands for Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training and is essentially a mock deployment, putting into practice all of the training and skill that you have learned up to this point. It is physically demanding and will require recruits to ensure long hours of physical training, combat training, and tactical training.
This phase of training also includes Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM), as well as a fighting exercise that pits recruits against each other, wielding pugil sticks.
The cherry on the cake of BEAST week is the Field Training Exercises or FTX, capping off the most rigorous phase of basic training.
How do I train for Air Force basic training?
There are several ways to prepare yourself for basic training, and it is wise to prepare well in advance to ensure you make things as easy for yourself as possible.
There are certain aspects of training that can be done in the comfort of your own home, such as learning the rank structure of the Air Force, becoming familiar with military time. These will ensure that you don’t make simple mistakes and honestly, it's far easier to learn these things without an instructor screaming at you for messing them up already.
If you’re really keen to get ahead in this department you can also learn other things such as the Airman’s Creed, the Air Force song and practice correct etiquette when required to give your BMT reporting statement, which is a sort of verbal salute that instructors will try to catch you out on.
Understanding the Air Force values can also help you understand what is expected of you and if you will be a good fit for the service.
Beyond this, it’s also a good idea to get into shape. Reducing the physical stress of training will make your life a lot easier and help you to deal with the immense pressure of basic training. Being in shape will also prevent you from injuring yourself or washing out due to lack of fitness.
The best thing you can do is practice running several times a week to build cardiovascular endurance, and get used to doing push-ups and other bodyweight exercises that are common in military training.
How do you mentally prepare for Air Force basic training?
Mental preparation for this undertaking is just as important as learning ranks and getting into shape and is arguably the most difficult thing to prepare.
The best thing you can do is to commit yourself to the process. Tell yourself you are going to complete the training, and push all thoughts of quitting out of your mind. You signed up for a reason, so keep this reason in mind and focus on it when times are tough.
It will also serve you well to develop thick skin. Don’t allow shouting to upset you, don’t take offense to things, and be proactive when it comes to learning.