Trying to get a better idea of life in the Air Force.

Question

This first question is really random so please bare with me, but when i pack for basic but I've read over the list of things to pack for basic, but i didn't notice anything about pajamas...would it even be worth bringing them or should i just sleep in the shorts and shirt we work out in??

Ok now serious stuff..when you first get to the dorm at the tech school your assigned, i think i read that for the first month or something you have to wear your uniform but then after those 30 days you can go back to wearing civilian clothes?? And i believe i read that after a year or so after living in dorms for a year on the base your stationed at for your job your then allowed to get on base housing?? I'm just trying to get a better understanding of what to expect so that I'm somewhat prepared ahead of time as much as i can be...i don't expect a play by play of events just little details. thank you.

Answer 1

This isnt really an answer but i think its awesome that youre joining the air force!

Answer 2

You won't need PJ's.  You will sleep in your PT gear that they will issue you.  After a certain point in Tech School you will be allowed to wear civilian clothing.  That is only during your OFF time.  You still must wear your uniform to class.  If you are single you must stay int he dorms until you reach the rank of E-4/E-5.  If there happens to be a shortage of rooms, they iwll allow you to live off-base and give you BAH.  That is only if there is a shortage of rooms and it rarely happens.  

Base housing is for Married members or single members with children.  No E-4 live in base housing.  Over 20 years and countless countries, I've never, ever seen a single military member in base housing.  Sorry, I don't know where that other person is from but it doesn't happen.  Go to the housing office and ask.  They will say NO.  When you reach E-4/E-5 you can ask to live off-base and will receive BAH to help you cover rent and utilities.

Answer 3

First things first.  When you go to basic training take only the basic necessities with you.  Your recruiter should give you a list and you should not deviate from that list.  You will acquire a lot of new stuff at basic training.  (Uniform, Boots, PT Gear, running shoes, etc etc.)  You will not be wearing pajamas to bed, rather you will be wearing your USAF PT gear.  This is the best thing because if you do PT in the morning you will wake up, brush your teeth, shave if you are a man, and run downstairs to form up for PT.  After PT you will come back and shower, change, and get into your uniform.  (you get your uniform the 2nd week I think)  

After completion of basic training you will move to wherever your technical training is.  You will have to pack up all of your things into your ruck sack and either fly or take the bus to your new school.  This is why it is good to pack light.  Once you arrive at your tech school location you will in-process and begin your time in phase 1.  Throughout tech school you will go through different phases.  There were 4 phases while I was in tech school but I heard there are only 3 now.  Regardless you do your time in each phase, and depending on your behavior and coursework you will continually phase up.  At phase 2 you can wear civilian clothes and at phase 3 you can go off base but will have a curfew that you need to be back to the dorms by.  

Upon completion of tech school you will go to your first duty location.  Trust me when I tell you that this is nothing at all like basic training/tech school.  You will have all of the freedoms you had before joining only now you have a little bit more responsibility.  You are also now bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice so you should always be on your best behavior.  Any one not in the military should be on their best behavior anyways so this should be nothing new.  Once you achieve the rank of e4 you can move out of the dorms and into base housing/off base housing.  You normally achieve the rank of e4 at your 3 year mark.  (3 years from day 1 of basic training)  Time flies and you will be there before you know it.

Basic training is tough becuase you will be very tired and it can make 6 weeks seem like 16 sometimes.  Just remember, millions of people have come and gone through there and you can do it too.  You will be pushed to your limits but you can handle it.  The military is a sort of fraternity and if you need help you can always find a member willing to help you.  If you have any questions let me know and I will do my best to answer them for you.

Active Duty USAF Member

P.S.

Base housing is not only for married members or those with dependents.  I know many e4 members who live in our base housing units.  Members with dependents get priority for housing over those without dependents but you have every right upon reaching e4 to have a base house.

Ok, just because you are a military dependent hardly makes you the expert on this.  Next time you are in Massachusetts you are more than welcome to stop by Hanscom AFB and tour the very homes which our E4's live in without any children, spouse, or dependent of any kind.  h**l, most of them don't even have a dog.

Do you really expect the military to tell eligible people they are not allowed to live in base housing because they don't have a dependent?  You can't force people to live in the economy, especially in a place like Boston where the cost of living is high.  People with dependents have first priority to get base housing but if they have available homes then the next eligible people can have them.  Once you reach the rank of E4 you can put your name on the list for base housing.  

Don't try to discredit me.  I have helped young airman move out of the dorms and into base housing on numerous occasions.  I am not a dependent and am an actual active duty member.  I have been in numerous homes of people without dependents on numerous bases.  Again, if they have homes available then those people are eligible.  Next time someone who is joining the military asks a question you should let an actual member who serves answer it.  You dependasauruses think you know so much because you hear your spouse talk about stuff at the dinner table but you really have no idea.