You're drawn to the U.S. Air Force by a spirit of patriotism and adventure, and you're ready to soar - if not literally, then to the height of your abilities. But first, you have to take care of one thing: training.
You can choose between two paths to join the Air Force: enlist, or get a commission as an officer. Your first stop if you enlist will be Basic Military Training, which is eight and a half weeks of physical preparation to serve in the Air Force. If you take the officer path, you'll go to Officer Training School, the U.S. Air Force Academy or Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
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What you need to know about Basic Military Training
You'll go to basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
What happens during Basic Military Training?
New recruits arriving at Lackland are assigned a military training instructor. You'll get your flight assignment, individual duty assignment, equipment and uniforms during orientation. In the next eight weeks, you'll learn:
- The basics of military life
- How to handle and fire a weapon
- Basic defense
- Combat life-saving skills
- Countering threats to national security
- Airmanship skills
In the sixth week of training, you'll be tested on everything you learned during field training exercises and combat scenarios. This assessment is called Basic Expeditionary Airmen Skills, or BEAST.
What happens after Basic Military Training?
You'll move on to technical training to learn the skills needed to perform your specific Air Force job.
What do I need to know about pursuing a commission as an officer?
There are three ways to enter the Air Force as an officer:
- Attend Officer Training School after earning your bachelor's degree
- Attend the Air Force Academy after high school
- Join the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in college
Additional details regarding all of these programs are available on the U.S. Air Force website.