Need advice re friend entering airforce...

TaraSC · Jun 12, 2004

Hello,

I have found that a good place to ask military and basic training type questions is Military.com. There's a specific forum for basic military training http://forums.military.com/1/OpenTopic?a=cfrm&s=78919038&f=65919558. I hope you find all the information that you need.

Cheers,

Tara

ayndim · Jun 12, 2004

My daughter's friend, who comes from a bad home situation, is entering the airforce. I want to give him a cell phone as a gift, the kind that he can use phone cards with, but I am afraid they won't let him use it. He has already told us he will not be able to use e-mail, and I would like for him to feel he can reach out and make contact with home.
Also, what kinds of things make good "treats" from home besides lots of letters that we plan to send?
What is life like in "boot camp?" in the airforce? Is it even called boot camp? What is in store for my "adopted" son? I'm so worried about him.
Thanks

A cell phone would be taken from him when he goes to boot camp and mailed back home. A phone card would be a good idea, as eventually he will have the chance to make phone calls from a payphone. You really can't get treats while in boot camp unless there is enough for everyone in his division. And that is at the discretion of his CO.

He will be fine. They will train him to be successful in boot camp. I find that when a situation seems to tough now I will go into automatic pilot and just get it done. Like when I had to carry 20+ bags of groceries up the stairs in the blazing heat. I had to make so many trips that my legs burned. But when it didn't seem possible anymore I went into this mindset where I wasn't thinking, I was just doing. That is what he will learn. And he will be a better person for it.

As for other gift ideas, the Air Force will give him a list of things he needs. If he doesn't take them with him he will have to get them from the exchange (that's what it is called in the Navy, not sure what the AF equivalent is called). He will get chits (money vouchers) which will come out of his first paycheck. At least that is what they did way back when. Anything on that list would be helpful to him.

steel magnolia · Jun 19, 2004

Thanks so much for your responses. For now, I have decided to just give him a graduation gift, from high school, of cash, and some calling cards. Then, when he graduates basic training, I will send him a cell phone, as long as he is allowed to have it, or more calling cards.

I haven't checked out the forums yet, but thank you so much for the link, I plan to check it out later tonight. You have both been a big help.