Who is an ARMY Combat Medic 68W and went to AIT?

Question

My boyfriend is in basic right now (well, we're on a little break at the moment) but i have a few questions about his AIT. thank you all for all your time to answer! i dont live in the states, so, communication is a b**ch. haven't heard from him AT ALL.

1. he is a 68W combat medic. will he get time off after graduating from basic training before going to AIT? if so, how long?

2. if he ends basic before christmas, and goes straight to AIT, will he get christmas leave?

3. phone call privileges? internet? when are they allowed to use them, and how long?

4. Going out, or "partying"? weekends?

5. on the WEEKDAYS, how long is class, and when is the start of their free time, ex: 5am-5pm?

6. WEEKENDS, no school at all?

7. spending the night outside the base or barracks?

9. **just a minor worry...hehehe, im sure every girlfriend does** "infidelity?" hehehe.

**i hear that combat medics to go san antonia, or..at least somehwere in texas and heard that the party scene is pretty high. aaaaaaand, i've heard it from ALOT of people, and the fact that we're on a little "break" does not ease me one bit.

Answer 1

My boyfriend is in basic right now (well, we're on a little break at the moment) but i have a few questions about his AIT. thank you all for all your time to answer! i dont live in the states, so, communication
is a b**ch. haven't heard from him AT ALL.

Hey Specialist Page here, I just came out of AIT about almost 2 years ago...So I believe the rules and regulations are pretty much the same. 68w's get a 50/50 chance to see combat, the identifier is actually "Healthcare Specialist," or if ya get lucky like me and actually get to an Infantry unit it's "Line Medic." Just to clear that up, it's a common misconception that turns a lot of the "medics" out here the wrong way, but onto your questions...

1. he is a 68W combat medic. will he get time off after graduating from basic training before going to AIT? if so, how long?

In between basic and AIT no...it's a straight shot. And reporting to your next duty station that day or the day after.

2. if he ends basic before christmas, and goes straight to AIT, will he get christmas leave?

I was pretty fortunate that I graduated basic training just a few days before christmas. The Command TRADOC that organizes training for the ARMY shuts down all the bases that support basic and AIT training and call it EXODUS, otherwise known as "Block-leave." You sign out of your command fly home (wherever that may be) and return after 15 days or so anywhere between the 2-5th of January that year.
If your situation is where he is doing AIT through Christmas once again TRADOC stops training for EXODUS, and then resumes once the leave is over.

3. phone call privileges? internet? when are they allowed to use them, and how long?

In AIT during the class time, or work day between 0400 and about 1800 there was to be no cellphones in sight or on said person. The cadre sargents were pretty hardcore on this, as well as instructors...because of cheating, distractions, texting, pictures, etc...the schedule is pretty mandated on what happens between those hours so I will almost assume he won't get to use his phone at all during that time.

4. Going out, or "partying"? weekends?

I'd say that depends on the responsibility of your significant other really. However San Antonio is a pretty rowdy town, your right but due to all the mess-ups people not being accountable, underage drinking, drugs, etc...those privileges were lost for most of the weekend with my class. There is a strict no alcohol policy in our living quarters.

5. on the WEEKDAYS, how long is class, and when is the start of their free time, ex: 5am-5pm?

USUALLY its 0400 to 1800 or 6pm that depends if he's needing some extra help with the study hall, or the cadre sargents have him doing some random bullshit accountability stuff.

6. WEEKENDS, no school at all?

Nope, not unless you fail a test...then you lose your weekend privileges and that's pretty common.Your then restricted to  the company and have accountability formations every x amount of hours throughout the day, and the restrictions really depend on the company. The fail-out rate for this MOS is one of the highest in the ARMY, I think my class about 40-60 percent graduated. (it's pretty ridiculous)

7. spending the night outside the base or barracks?

Doesn't matter if Jesus himself came into town, your a*s was not staying overnight at a hotel with him. However there is someone who manages to pull it off, somehow someway or another. Very, very, very few cases.


**i hear that combat medics to go san antonia, or..at least somehwere in texas and heard that the party scene is pretty high. aaaaaaand, i've heard it from ALOT of people, and the fact that we're on a little "break" does not ease me one bit

So I hoped that helped you out a bit, I was part of Foxtrot "setting the standard" or something like that...AIT is a joke and it really gives you a foundation for medical knowledge but no application to the real trauma based scenarios that actually happen in combat. There's a big difference between a 450 page book, and a screaming 250 pound dude who got his legs blown off, and on top of that whizzing bullets past your head, because that IED (bomb) was the start of an ambush. You'll be fine, hopefully. Just trust in him, and if he needs any help or either of you for that matter email me. dokpage#gmail.com