t-minus 12 days.

Wow!  It's getting so real.  Today, I had my 15 day briefing, because my recruiter was busy these past few days.  It was pretty uneventful.  Signed my usual briefing paper saying I'm not pregnant, newly tattooed, a new felon, etc.  I found my sheet from MEPS that has all the jobs I qualified for, and I has highlighted all the ones in my aptitude area to consider.  She went over the good ones with me and circled some, and crossed others off that were below me/boring.  Currently, I'm torn between a medical job and an intelligence job.  I originally wanted Operational Intelligence, but now I'm leaning more toward the medical field.  I'm super torn, and probably will just go with my gut when the time comes to fill out what jobs I want.  I'm not picky, I'd be happy doing most anything on the General Aptitude list of mine, but those are the two I really wish I could just do both!  Anyways, we just chatted mostly about what's been new with both of us, cause my recruiter is super cool.

These next 12 days feel so busy and so empty at the same time.  I have so much to do in a little amount of time, but really not many plans.  The fair is in town til Sunday, so I'm trying to get my friend to get time off of being on EMT call so we can go one night and ride some rides! (: Hopefully someone will have a heart and cover, because I've been looking forward to this since April.  Other than that, I think we're doing dinner/coffee/something tomorrow since he's been so busy I haven't seen him in 2 weeks!  Then this weekend, my mama and I are going to see a movie - either "Paranorman" or "Hope Springs" and get some dinner or something.  Saturday, I'll go to the fair with my little sister to ride the kiddie rides and such, and Sunday/Monday I have my Uncle and Aunt coming to town.  We'll BBQ/going away party for Labor Day on Monday, and then Wednesday we're having a faux-Thanksgiving meal since I'll be in tech school for Thanksgiving. (:  Friday is my final briefing with my recruiter, and a haircut, and I'll be out the door the following Monday to Lansing to fly out!

It's going so fast and so slow at the same time.  All I want is a nap. (:

t-minus 14 days.

Wow, okay, so I kinda spaced that I had a blog for a while!  Failure on my part.

Anyways, what's new with me? Not a whole damn lot. I'm enjoying all the luxuries of being a civilian for the next two weeks, that's for sure!  A lot of crazy people are starting waking up at 04:00 hours and working out in the morning and cutting out snacking and all this crazy shit... and I just don't get it!  I'm going to eat all the oreos and junk food I can in two weeks, sleep in til noon, and sit on my ass.  When's the next time I can enjoy this?!  So, I'll just expect the crazy culture shock when I get there, because no way am I doing all that crazy stuff now!

Other than being super lazy, all the time, I have been studying quite a bit.  I have the ranks down in order, and now I want to learn them to where I can see the insignia or hear the rank and know what it is off the bat.  I have the Airman's creed down, but haven't started on the song yet.  I've been working steadily on PT, running either 1, 1.5 or 4 miles every other day.  I've been slacking on pushups, and it shows.  I really need to work on those!

Basically, I'm just chilling.  I'm finding out who my real friends are, because I've been talking to my friends from the ship group we have for September on Facebook on the daily, whereas my "close" friends from town haven't made any effort to make plans or see me.  I'm going to go see some movies with my mom in the coming weeks, and eat a faux-thanksgiving meal because I'll be in tech school for it.

Since my last post, I've had my 30 day briefing, and it wasn't much. Just filled out the form saying I've had no run in's with the law or new body modifications, and I got my sheet to fill out to get my family into Lackland for graduation, as well as my direct deposit form.  We just chatted mostly, and it was my last DEP call that day too, but we didn't do/discuss much.  I have also opened a shiny new bank account with USAA, as well as keeping my local credit union.  I was able to use USAA to link it to my credit union, so I can seamlessly and easily transfer money back and forth for free!  I'm excited, I'm using USAA for direct deposit, and once I'm in, I'm going to start planning for retirement financially early and such "responsible" things to do.

I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye so soon.  My momma is driving me down to MEPS to ship off that Monday, and we'll get some fancy coffee and make a day out of the trip, but it's going to be hard.  I've never really been away from home, I don't know how I'll deal.  I don't have many (any) friends at home really that I see frequently or am close with, so I am looking forward to meeting some of the people from our Facebook group and starting new bonds, but leaving my one close friend will be really hard.  He's my closest friend, and has been for a very long while.  He's been one of my many supporters throughout the ups and downs of the enlistment process, and has kept me strong for it all.  There's been a serious mental breakdown or two that he's carried me through, and it's going to be super hard that he's not going to be a call away in such a trying time such as BMT.  Letters will definitely be the only thing getting me through.  I remember even just at MEPS, it was so stressful and scary and new that I was calling my mom and boyfriend at the time crying and freaking out and stuff, and I was still in the state!

I guess only time will tell how I do.  But, I will never falter, and I will NEVER fail.

packing list

Okay, so I'm probably pretty weird in that I'm pretty much already all packed for BMT, and have been for a while.  I've been sort of trying to start prepared to leave at any moment, because if someone dropped out or got DQ'd, I'd love to leave early!

Anyways, I know a lot of people freak out about packing.  Do I need this?  Will they take this away?  So, here's my packing list, and comments/descriptions on the stuff I bought product-wise.  There will be a video to follow someday soon if I can make the video upload!

• Toothbrush
• I just bought a cheapy 2 pack of $1 toothbrushes from the Family Dollar and I'll bring one with me already in my toothbrush case.
• Square toothbrush case
• I had a hard time finding one, because Walmart didn't have one the first time I looked, but a week or so later they got in square ones.  I got dark blue rather than clear because I figured it would be easier to make look clean for inspection.
• Travel size 2-in-1 hair
• I bought 2 bottles of Pert 2-in-1 initially, but I recently chopped all my hair off, so I'll only be bringing one!
• Travel size body wash
• Travel size Caress body wash because it was somewhat clear and not colored.
• Deodorant
• I got a twin pack of Secret Clinical Strength Marathon Fresh deodorant and I love it! They are so strong I could go every other day with deodorant probably (but I wont!) (:
• Brush
• Dollar brush from Family Dollar, all black.
• 2 Conair bunmakers

• Don't need them, I have short hair! Best decision ever!
• Brown hair ties
• Again, best decision ever!  However, for other girls, they need to closely match your hair color. (:
• Brown bobbi pins
• I do need these, however.  I got a big pack of golden-ish ones from Walmart for like 3 bucks, and i twist back the hair that hangs on the sides of my face back and pin it to the hair in the back that's stacked short to my head in the back.
• 6 white sports bras
• Yanno, I don't know if I'm the only one, but I don't feel like going broke over BMT! Sports bras are expensive!  So, I have one black, 2 grey, and one white one that are old that I'll bring and if I need more or my MTI wants us to be uniform and buy new ones, I didn't waste $60 on sports bras!
• 1 regular bra
• Haven't bought it yet, but I'm just going to get a chincey one from Walmart for a couple bucks.
• 6 pair white/plain undies
• I got Gillian OMalley 2 packs of seamless undies from Target for 11.99 each because someone who went through BMT already said they're a dream to fold. (:
• 3 pair clothes
• 2 pair jeans, 3 plain tee shirts.
• Compression shorts
• I got one pair of Under Armor Heat Gear comp shorts online for like $40 bucks, and one $15 pair for Target.  If I need more, I'll get them their.  Again, no reason to break the bank!
• Shoes
• I have grey New Balances that are minimal, and love them!  I have them in pink and white too, and I'm bringing those for back up just in the case that the ones I bring break in the later weeks or something.
• Address book
• I just used a mini-memo book and wrote addresses and phone numbers.  Less frilly looking and cheaper.
• Notebook
• Cheap $1 notebook with 70 pages from Family Dollar.
• Pens
• Pack of $1 black plain pens from Family Dollar.
• Manilla folder with birth cert, college transcripts, High School diploma, SS Card, routing info, ID, debit card, BC w/ scrip
• Got everything paperclipped in the folder.
• Prestamped envelopes
• 20 of 'em with stamps already on them.
• Shower shoes
• Black $1 flip-flops from Family Dollar.
• Sunscreen
• Travel sized sports sunscreen.
• Lipbalm
• Blistex! I'd die without it.
• Nail Clippers
• Little ones to keep your nails short and trim strings on your clothes.
• Makeup
• I have a little black makeup thing with mascara and eyeliner in it for graduation.
• Tampons
• I have a gallon bag with tampons and panty liners because I'm so lucky that I'll be on my period the day I get to BMT! ):

Basically, everything on the packing list, and some other add-ons.  Don't spend a ton of money, because your MTI may make you re-buy matching stuff anyways!  I'm also packing a bag with my laptop and other clothes and stuff for my mom to bring to graduation so I can have it all for tech school. (:

memory work

As we all know, BMT is not just working out and getting yelled at.  Yes, there is a lot of both of those, but there are also actual classes that trainees take, and things we all have to memorize to pass.  I realize BMT was designed for people to go in not knowing jack shit and pass, but it makes it all that more less stressful to know a little of it before you go.  I wouldn't walk into training singing the Air Force song or anything crazy, but just keep the stuff you memorize stored in your brain.

For instance, the reporting statement.  If you know it, don't let on until after your MTI formally teaches it to you.  Walking in, reporting like you know what you're doing, draws unwanted attention.  "Sir/Ma'am, Trainee Smith reporting for duty." Super easy, right?  Keep it in mind, instead of freaking out when you get there not remembering the order of the words.

Another thing is the Enlisted and Officer ranks.  We have to know them ALL, along with their respective pay grades.  Before tonight, I hadn't looked much at any of them, but reading my Air Force Guide Book tonight, I recited them for like half an hour and now I pretty much know them.  Easy right?!  Here's what I can immediately conjure from memory:

Enlisted:
Airman Basic - E1, no insignia
Airman - E2, one chevron
Airman First Class - E3, 2 chevron
Senior Airman - E4, 3 chevron
Staff Sergeant - E5, 4 chevron
Technical Sergeant - E6, 5 chevron
Master Sergeant - E7, 5 regular chevron, one inverted chevron
Senior Master Sergeant - E8, 5 regular chevron, 2 inverted chevron
Chief Master Sergeant - E9, 5 regular chevron, 3 inverted chevron
First Sergeant - E9, 5 regular chevron, 3 inverted chevron with diamond
Command Chief Master Sergeant - 5 regular chevron, 3 inverted chevron with star
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force - 5 regular chevron, 3 inverted with US seal

Officer:
Second Lieutenant - O1, one gold bar
First Lieutenant - O2, one silver bar
Captain - O3, 2 connected bars
Major - O4, gold leaf
Lieutenant Colonel - O5, silver leaf
Colonel - O6, eagle
Brigadier General - O7, one star
Master General - O8, two stars
Lieutenant General - O9, three stars
General - O10, four stars

That's all from half an hour of reading something.  Imagine memorizing all of that under the stress of BMT, though - that would be super hard with all of the adjusting your mind and body will be doing.  It is possible to pass knowing nothing, and I'm sure a lot of people doing it, but I'm saving myself a little stress with memorizing small things for BMT. (:

the ultimate basic training guidebook

Hello again!  I got this book from my Dad quite a few months ago, and my mom read it right when I got it, but I've been saving this gem for the month before I ship out so it's fresh in my mind and it can reassure me in my time of doubt and get me all pumped up to ship out!  So, tonight I start this book, and it has come highly recommended by, oh, I don't know... everyone?!  So I'm hoping it's good.  I'm not one for informational books, but anything Air Force gets me pumped up! (:

I'll update with parts that I like and such later!

t-minus 30 days

So I leave for Air Force BMT in a month, and I've decided to start a blog to document the journey from here on out.

I processed and swore in at Lansing MEPS in February, on Valentines Day.  For everyone who's recruiter has ever told you how horrible and terrible MEPS is and how much they want to DQ you - this was not my experience at all!  The people at Lansing MEPS were fantastic and very friendly and I had as good of a time I could possibly had on a very, very long day.  The day started at 4:30 AM, when we woke up and went and ate breakfast on Tuesday.  Then we were scooted onto a bus to go from the hotel to MEPS.  Once there, we were briefed on what to expect that day, and were directed to our respective branches office.  From there, they gave us a folder and we went to the front desk to get all our paperwork to put into it.  We brought the paperwork to medical, where the majority of the day is spent.  They test EVERYTHING you could possibly imagine, from ears to eyes to looking at your asshole.  For real - they really do that!  Medical really isn't bad, just a lot of hurry up and get to this checkpoint station and wait.  Hurry through it, and wait.  About noon, we got probably the best lunch ever (mostly because I was so tired and hungry, but it was freakin' good!) of a super huge sub sandwich and cookies and chips.  I took forever to get through medical so they gave me a break around lunch time and let me leave medical even though I wasn't done (which is generally a huge no-no, but I was knee deep in medical til about 3pm).  After medical and picking the jobs you prefer, you get your finger prints done and they record who you would want to get your remains if you were to die in war, etc.  After this, finally, you get to swear in! They brief you on at attention and at ease and your oath and such and then you're in a dreamy room full of red, white, and blue being sworn in my the head of your respective MEPS stations.  I didn't get out of MEPS til about 5pm, because they were cleaning my ears for honestly an hour or two (excruciatingly painful, holy crap), but it overall was NOT a bad time, like everyone prior had told me!  Everyone had me terrified of people at MEPS as if they were terrorists out to get you, and it's so not true!

Now, since February, I have been in DEP (Delayed Entry Program), which is pretty much just a monthly meeting with your recruiter and all the other shippers waiting to leave.  When I picked my jobs at MEPS, I picked mostly intelligence jobs and "open" as my category.  In April, I got my job as Open General, so I'll be receiving my job at BMT.  I've heard going in under an Open contract like I have is a huge mistake, because you won't get a good job, but I'm not super picky and I'm having faith the Air Force will use my strengths and give me a job I'm good for.  If not, we'll find out. (:  DEP's pretty fun, my group has been running and timing situps and pushups like a pretend PT test for a few months, and if you could have seen some of the sad people in my group, you would know not to worry about being in shape for BMT - one guy seriously could not do one pushup or situp at his 30 days!

When I go for DEP this Wednesday, I'll be getting my 30 day briefing from my recruiter, so I'll post about that soon!  Oh and - for all the people who think recruiters are horrible liars, there ARE some human ones who do want the best for you. Personally, I know my recruiter's job is to sell the Air Force, but she has never once done that.  She never pushed me to join, just gave me info and helped me make a decision.  She even told me to check out other branches to find where I think I fit best (and I chose them!), and colleges even.  People rag on recruiters a lot, but they aren't all horrible liars!

That's all I have for now, if there are any questions, feel free to comment!