i am joining the Air Force in August of 09, and i want to know what it is like to live in the dorms after boot camp and a way from you parents, what was it like for you

Miketrunda

I'm the Air Force right now and let me tell you boot camp may seem bad at first because they make it seem like you will go to war and die. Well at lest my Training instructor did and it scared the hell out of me. Got through basic and went to text for 6.5 months and I had fun actually as long as you know how to stay out of the lime light and know how to kiss a little bit when it is called for. If you take anything out of anything anyone said on this post, that is, MAKE SURE YOU PICK A JOB AND GET IT!!!! Do not go in open general and do not except any job you are not sure about cause once your in the Military there is no getting out (well there is but it is not good) and once you have a job there is no changing it for a long time. Make sure you pick something you will enjoy and look forward to doing. Me I had a job I hated and I couldn't quit like a normal job, I had to wake up every morning and do it all though I hated it so so much. It will make you go insane so take it from me and do something you will enjoy. The AF has so many jobs and a lot of them are technical and awesome with strong civilian employment opportunity. The Air Force can make a wonderful life or it can hurt you, so just do something you want to do and don't except anything but that. Trust me!! Good luck and thanks for stepping up and wanted to serve our country, that only takes courage! God speed.

hjpan

Sophiekins

In the Army's case what the Air Force calls dorms the Army call barracks. And in basic training status and AIT status you will be required in most cases to stay in the barracks unless you have prior approval from your command to stay elsewhere. While you are in a training status your job will be your schooling and as far as the Army is concerned that will be what your life revolves around. But like I said if you get an AIT base where they let you take college courses while in a training status then you've got it pretty good. Good luck.

hjpan

I talked to ROTC & enlistment departments.

Sophiekins

When you say enlistment departments do you mean the recruiters office or something else? How are they going to ensure that you are able to continue your studies while in AIT? And are they going to allow you to continue your studies while in basic?

hjpan

When I say enlistment departments, I mean the enlistment office and the recruiter.
It is not the enlistment papers that ensure me that I can continue my studies while at AIT. It is the ROTC contract that will keep in my school.

For basic, I will sign my ROTC contract first so I would not be drafted and then go to BCT.

Sophiekins

So you will return to your school after you complete your training? And I wasn't aware that they instituted the draft again; when did that happen? Or was that just worded incorrectly?

hjpan

The ROTC papers over-ride the enlistment papers

Sophiekins

I see. Interesting. I think you are first I have ever heard of that will be allowed to go to school while you are going to school for the Army. When I went through we didn't get that luxury. In fact we weren't allowed to go anywhere in Basic unless it was a scheduled appointment or we were sick. And in Tech (Air Force)/AIT (Army) we were not allowed until we were done with our training and had been sent to our next base and if we were within a year of being at our first base we had to have commander's approval. We were told that our first and only priority education wise was to the Air Force/Army and when we had done our training for them then we could think about pursuing other areas of study beyond our job description. It's nice to know that they are bending a little on that. So you will be allowed to do this in Basic and AIT or AIT only?

hjpan

I was told that I can do basic training first, finish another year of college, and complete my AIT when I have time.

But, I have to show up to drill once a month.