A cake-walk in the Air Force basic training?

Question

I've heard that Air Force basic training is really easy. They don't have to run if they don't want to and if they get tired, they just raise their hand so they can alert the training SGT's that they need to rest. Is this true or is this AF person making this up? He actually was upset that it wasn't as challenging as he'd hoped

I am referring to Today's standards, as in 2006. I think ALL the services basic training was hard in the 50's.

Answer 1

I went through Air Force basic training a little over 2 years ago. It was by no means hard, but if your not used to taking orders from people or doing physical activity it could be the most excruciating time in your life. I had done cross country and track in high school, so by the time I went into the military I was fairly in shape. Your not allowed to not run if you dont feel like it. Short of passing out or actually throwing up your not allowed to stop running. If I remember right, I believe they are going to put more combat training into basic.

But to make a long story shorter, basic training is no cake walk. however if you get your **** together and can fold a T-shirt into nice even squares you can do fine :-).

Answer 2

In the 1950s A.F. basic training was no cake-walk!! The reason was that up to the Korean War A.F. personnel were considered to be "technicians" rather than "soldiers". And when the North Koreans over-ran Kimpo A.F.B., A.F. personnel were worse than useless in defending it. There was little discipline, the troops didn't know how to use their weapons, and the officers were clueless as to how to organize a defense. After that, everything changed. The idea that "you don't have to run if you don't want to" is ridiculous. No question that Marine basic is physically tougher, but I can't believe that A.F. basic has deteriorated to the extent your friend says. At least I hope it hasn't.

Answer 3

I joined the U.S. Army in 1991, and the BT at Fort Jackson was no 'cake walk.' I can't speak for the AF, but I've heard its the easiest, but I don't know how easy. Personally I don't think being told what to do 24/7 for weeks is easy for anyone.

Answer 4

Well it wasn't that easy, but not as hard as the other services from what I heard after I went through it. Army and Marines are definitely much tougher basic than Air Force was back in the days I was in it.

Answer 5

I can't speak to how it is now but I would be highly surprised and embarrased if it was as easy as you heard. I went through Aif Force BMT in July-August of 1988 and it was not a cake-walk. Not that it was terribly tough, it wasn't, but neither could we simply raise our hands and wimp out.

Answer 6

There is nothing cool about being in the front lines with your so called cool guns and camo. War is nothing fun and is not a game. It should be taken seriously because the person next to you depends on you to watch their back and the same to the others. You life is at stake as well as others. People die and there is nothing cool about it. You kill people and there is nothing cool about it. You should think about being in the front lines before you join andy braches. When there is war, no branch is ever excluded from danger.

Answer 7

Yes, the only hard military area to join is the infantry. They are on the front lines and they have to go through serious training. They are also put on the worst places in iraq.

Answer 8

Do not join. Do you want your life to depend on someone who got there by finishing a "cakewalk"? Neither do I. Try the Peace Corps or the Salvation Army. They love your sort.

Answer 9

Wasn't that easy, wasn't that hard.
If you are a wimp and in poor physical shape, or can't follow directions, it will be hard.

If you are physically sound and can do what you are told, it wont be all that tough.

Answer 10

ours had his dog follow us and growl very loudly if you started to fall behind. And I guess 5 miles a day was not really running compared to other services.