Forum: Future F-16 crew

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or last minute tips for basic or tech school. I leave at the beginning of June for basic, and then after that I'm headed to Avionics Tech School for the Viper (2 months at Keesler and 6 months at Sheppard). I really hope it doesn't feel like like a that long...anyone been through it? After Tech School I'll be back at my guard unit for 2 months working on the flight line. Thought I'd post now and give you guys some time to think about it and let me know, anything will help.

Thanks in advance!!

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Try www.afforums.com

There is a wealth of information there. Be sure you use the search function because the chances of your questions already being answered are pretty good...

remember "sir, airman yourname reports as ordered" Can i have some pie sir Smile

Whenever asked "why did you join?" The only correct answer is "to serve my country".

Just be a face in the crowd

cutlassracer wrote:

Whenever asked "why did you join?" The only correct answer is "to serve my country".

if i had to do it over again i would now answer "SIR TO LOOT PILLAGE AND DESTROY THE ENEMY AND ALL WHO OPPOSE ME SIR" and "SIR, I REQUEST ANOTHER PIECE OF PIE SIR"

Oh it would be so much fun to go back now with what you now know huh Smile

badger115fw... where you from? I see you are joining the 115th in MadTown. I am from wisconsin. I am going to join the 115th when my active duty time is up. I went throught Keesler and Sheppard for Viper avionics training.

There is a lot of advice I can give. DO NOT STAND OUT,once the TI's or MTLs (military training leaders in tech school) know your name or you do something stupid to get in trouble you are going to have a hell of a time. Basic will seem like a bad memory once it's over but it is NOT fun while you are there. Remember your reporting statement and your customs and coutisies.

Also, study the enlisted and officer rank structure and memorize it before you get there. The TIs will quiz you on this the whole time you are there. The first couple weeks you are there are gonna seem like hell but it does get better. I went through in June and it gets VERY hot in San Antonio in the summer. Keesler is cool cuz it's on the ocean but after the hurricane there isn't much left there. Sheppard sucks. The MTLs think they are TIs. It was a running joke while I was there that they all failed out of TI school and were pissed off about it and that's why they treated us like crap. That's obviously not the case though. MTL is a special duty assignment that they volunteer for it (poor bastards). It can be fun though IF you make the best of it.

I had a good time in tech school partyin with my buddies and getting really drunk on the weekends Beer

If you are of legal drinking age couple bars to check out are Fast Eddy's, Stage West, and Outskirts. If you don't try to have a good time it will be the worst experience of your life.

The schooling is very intense and extremely fast pased. You have to learn all of the systems in 6 months. Not an easy thing to do trust me. If you are a slow learner you will struggle. If you don't study you will have a good probability of failing. Tech school is a very abreviated familiarization with most of the systems so when you get to your first base don't think you know everything because your knowledge will be VERY limited and your troubleshooting skills will take time to develop.

After it is all over and you get to your first base it will all seem like a bad memory. All in all I am glad I did it and extremely proud of what I did (even got top grad graduated with a 97%). It's awesome to be working on the Viper too.

Welcome to the ranks of the "pointyheads" and good luck.

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

Do they still make you do pushup's in basic? When I left for basic I had absolutely no idea what it would be like. I made it tho, and yeah it's hot as helllllll. Do as your told, remember your reporting statement. Oh yeah, when you're on dorm gaurd, pay attention. Wink

Hey guys thanks for all the quick replies, I really appreciate it.

Eggroll thanks a lot, that's a great website. I spent a few hours on it last night answering most of my questions.

ViperTomy...Thanks for taking the time to reply and letting me know about basic and tech school...I'm from Waukesha, just west of Milwaukee about an hour away. When's your active duty assignment up? Maybe I'll see you on the base sometime. Also...I was just wondering if Tech School itself, working on the viper, or ANY of the classes were fun or at least interesting, it can't all be bad right? Finally, how do you like being an avionics tech, I hear its a hard job but pretty fun. Anyone else feel free to give your two cents here too. Thanks again, you guys are a great help!

badger115fw.......yes you do work on vipers in tech school but they are not flyers. Your first time on the jet will be in block 4 when you do safe for maintenance. I thought school was very interesting except for the firtst three blocks cuz all you do is learn about safety and TOs and boring stuff like that. The rest of the blocks (there are 10 total) I thought were both fun and interesting. Pay attention in class and do not fall asleep. You get A LOT of info in a short time. As they say it's like "drinking from a fire hose". Use your down time to study. I used to study 2 hours a night. Yes I enjoy being an avionics tech. It is a very technical and enjoyable job. Most of the time it's just swapping boxes but sometimes you will get to tear into the jet to find broken wires and what not. It is fun to troubleshoot but it can get frustrating. I don't know what the work schedule is at the 115th but here at Luke we usually never work less than 10 hours(damn swing shift carries everything over to us). it also depends on the day. Somedays all of the jets will fly code 1 with no red balls. Other days it seems like everything on every jet is broke. Also study up on your flight controls. The 115th flys block 30s which means analog flight controls

I agree 100%, be a face in the crowd at BMT. If the TI doesn't know your name, That's a good thing. Also don't volunteer for anything. You will have to do base details, and they (TI's) ask who wants a nice cush job in an air conditioning building. The next thing you know, you're cleaning out Johnny on the Spots!!!!

Don't worry, the time flys by, you'll do just fine. We know this because you took this serious enough to research.

When the TI's ask things about you a few days into it, they are handing out jobs for the dorm. I think stairwell cleaning was the best gig. Laundry crew was not bad either. DO NOT get on the latrine crew. If you get a chance to volunteer in the kitchen - do it. You'll be able to eat whatever you want, and you're not rushed eating. In general, don't volunteer for anything. If you played in HS band, don't tell them that or you'll be in the boot camp band. You better know your reporting statement before getting there, and no sir sandwiches. You will be pushing Texas - a lot.

I went to tech school at Keesler. Down fridays are great. New Orleans (about an hour drive) is a lot of fun on any weekend. Drink the hand grenades in New Orleans. I don't know how it is there post-hurricane though. Don't hang out at 'the V' unless you want to feel like you're in high school. The fishbowl can be a good place to kill time in between an appointment and going back to the MTF. I wasn't a rope and don't regret it, but there are definitely advantages to being a rope - especially if you make it to yellow rope. My roommate was a yellow rope, which helped during room inspections and such.

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

I was a bed aligner union local 204. Jk, it sure was a pretty damn easy job.

I was fire and watr monitor mself...also did KP duty about 6 six times

badger,

Just stay focused, keep your eye on the prize and it'll all be over before you know it Wink

If you have any questions about basic, tech school, or our job just shoot me a PM and i'll get back to ya as soon as possible.

Best of luck to ya man, and welcome to the Air Force!

Salute.

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Any last minute tips for Basic/Tech School?