[Gay State Conservative]

When I went into basic training {age 18} in the Air Force in 1976, I GAINED 23 pounds in 4 weeks {went from 123 to 146 pounds}...

Hmmm...curious.I was 165 pounds (6 feet tall) when I finished Army BCT.Does Air Force Basic Training focus on PT (marching,running,push ups,etc,etc) as does the Army?

My late brother-in-law told me that Navy recruit training had some of that (late 1960's) but we decided that his wasn't nearly as bad as mine (PT-wise,at least)

[I Drive Too Fast]

We had PT 3 times a week and had to run 1 1/2 miles in 12 minutes {if I remember correctly} in combat boots for our final test. The day of our final test it was raining and we had to run in place {under the barracks out of the rain} for 30 minutes instead grrrrr. I would have preferred running in the rain. We did 6 count burpies, push ups, sit ups etc along with the running.

I was 5' 10 inches tall and we were told, you get 3 square meals a day and no opportunity for snacks {at least for a while}. I ate good, got 8 hours of sleep a day except when I had dorm guard duty and my shift was 2:30 A.M - 4:30 A.M {Ouch!!!}.

[I Drive Too Fast]

We only marched to get to various areas, get shots, the px, the obstacle course, the firing range, etc. I don't think we had to march in front of any brass for review other than the squadron commander.

Now when I went to tech school at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, our squadron won the "best of the base". Our prize was getting to march in a parade in downtown. It was in the low 20's with snow flurries, brrrrrrrrrr. It was a nice experience, but it was COLD!!!!!!

My next base was Malmstrom in Great Falls, Mt. There were MANY times when I would wish it would be 20 degrees there. Sometimes there would be two weeks where the high was below zero. The coldest temperature that I saw was 38 below zero. It was butt cold in Montana, but great summers and the scenery in the state of places to visit was something I will never forget.