What about Boot Camp?

Question

If you sign up for boot camp, what happens after 6-9 weeks is over? Don't you get a choice to go further in a military career or go home?

Answer 1

Nope: after BMT, you're sent to specialty training to learn how to perform your military job.

You can quit during BMT and get an administrative discharge; if you wait until it's over, you get something else -- "medical," "general," "honorable," "other than honorable" (aka "dishonorable").

Medical discharges are not easy to get: you've got to be both (a) unfit to perform your military job AND (b) unable to be trained in a career field that would allow you to remain in the service.

In the old days, certain severe allergies could disqualify someone from military service (to bee stings, for instance) -- but the military thinks it's got the ability to handle all those problems nowadays.

AF BMT tries to get rid of psychos -- 1/26 got tossed for being SERIOUS nut cases when I was in; 1/26 got tossed for homosexuality (caught wearing each others' underwear); 1/52 got tossed for a mysterious physical illness.

Additionally while I was in AF BMT, 104 (52M, 52F) got tossed for having a sex orgy one night shortly after training began (they were maybe close to the end of their first week). I still have a hard time imagining how they ALL got the idea they wanted to do that, AND didn't care that the others were around, etc., etc.

But then, I was reared to be a prude. I'm not judging those people, but I agree they would have been a risk for security: AF BMT only lasts 6 weeks -- who can't go that long without getting laid?

I advanced at minimum TIS/TIG, but unlike Seraph, I wasted 6 years of my life in the military. Being an honorably-discharged veteran hasn't in any way benefitted me in life, and I'm ashamed for the policies I helped to effect.

Seraph is 100% correct about the waiver of your rights while you're in the military. At the time, I didn't fully appreciate how big a deal that would be.

My post-BMT school was 329 days long, plus 60 days OJT at my duty station; I had 42 days BMT plus 3 days AFI during IADT -- so I kinda chuckle when someone talks about a 6-month school being "long." No offense to Seraph or anyone else.

Not everyone can handle the stress: despite my efforts to maintain good morale, one of my student subordinates lost his mind and was discharged; he had less than 4 weeks remaining. Another fellow killed himself at school. I could relate perhaps 100-150 similar events that I witnessed during my time there.

My squadron mates and I worked 20 hours per day, as we were moving from one squadron to another, and were required to keep both in inspection order "at all times." That, in addition to our schoolwork, physical training and other essential activities.

During my 6 years in the military, I could count on one hand all the other persons, imho, worthy of real trust -- one to whom I was subordinate; the others were subordinate to me. Most could be trusted to do their military jobs, but were in my estimation of grossly inferior moral fiber.

Oh, and Uncle Sam promises the GI Bill, but it's administered by the VA -- and they never paid one cent of the college money I was promised. Moreover, I only got HALF of my enlistment bonus, AND during my first 3 months at KAFB, I wasn't paid at all!

It took almost a month to resolve the pay problem (the AF said it had lost my contract and couldn't verify I was really in the USAF! i said, "fine; pay me or let me go home" -- they paid me.) Fortunately for them, the Col that had sworn me in kept a copy of the paperwork of each person he swore, plus we had video.

TWICE in 6 years the AF lost my shot records; fortunately, I had made a good impression with someone in my gaining command's medical facility, and the nurse in charge of my case worked tirelessly to re-compile my shot history so I didn't have to get re-injected with God-only-knows what.

I had a supervisor all but confess to espionage against the US; when I called him on it, I became unpromotable despite consistently having exemplary performance reviews (best in my section and never worse than second-place base-wide (3 squadrons).

In retrospect, I regret having backed-down when he threatened me: I should have pushed for a formal investigation. If I'd had the creativity of the guy with the CD that broke the Abu Ghraib scandal, the media could've protected me -- but there was a lot of heavy-duty crap going on, and I felt isolated and vulnerable.

Don't join. If you're a decent person, you will either be corrupted or you'll be persecuted until you quit. If you're not a decent person, you'll simply make a bad problem a lot worse.

Answer 2

No. Don't do it. Do not go into the military. If you need money for college get loans! I wasted four years of my life, that I will never have back. You loose all your rights in the military, no free speech--you don't even have the right to wear "civilian clothes" they can MAKE you wear your uniform EVERYWHERE. If you're late to work, you can go on restriction, and they can take half your pay for a couple of months. The military is evil. I did everything I was supposed to, made rank faster than most. Do not, waste your life in the military. There are better things, you don't have to settle.

BTW-- You sign your contract to a specific branch of the military, you already know what your job and everything will be. Then you go to boot camp (which can be as long as 13 weeks) then you go to job training, which can be God knows how long... up to six months. Then you fill out the rest of your obligation wherever the hell they want you to.

Answer 3

if you a goof-off in boot camp they kick you out !
long ago the military was forced upon citizens and non citizens alike, today it is voluntary ! That's awesome !
They don't get so many rejects and losers in today's military !
It's loaded with winners and guys and gals that I'd like to trust

Answer 4

After your basica training, you will be sent to your AIT school. That is where you will learn how to do your job that you are supposed to do in the Army.

If you choose another branch of the military, it is basically the same. You go to your basic training, and when you graduate from that, you are sent to where your job training will be held.

Answer 5

Aw sweetie you are not in Kansas anymore Dorothy. After Boot camp then you go to school and then you go to your duty station which will be your home for however many years they suckered you in for. Hopefully it wont be in sunny, funfilled Iraq.

Answer 6

the only way you get to go home is your medically unfit for the military, otherwise its off to whereever they need you.