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Steve_A's avatar

Best way to prep my self for BMT?

Asked by Steve_A (5130points) February 4th, 2010

I was wondering since I got a good bit of time(about 6 months) to get ready for BMT are than any specific things I should do or start learning now?

My recruiter told me, just start working out now because the rest will be mental, and they WILL train you their way so don’t worry about that.

I suppose he is probably right, would you agree?If so what kind of work-out or routines should I be doing?

I already assume MANY push-ups,sit-ups and running but maybe a certain amount I need, or any other exercises?

Thank you.

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33 Answers

Blackberry's avatar

Just run….lol. You will have to run a mile and a half in about 11 minutes, depending on your age.

Kokoro's avatar

Work out! Yes, definitely good advice. If you don’t pass the standards for the practice dates, they will “recycle” you into weeks behind. That isn’t fun. I am so glad people pushed me to exercise before I went to BMT, otherwise I’d be in a lot of pain. Practice your running, sit ups, flutter kicks, push ups.

If you want to be super stellar and run through it easily, look up the Air Force BMT at about.com. You can memorize the chants/songs and reports ahead of time, because they will call you out if you don’t know it by the time you need to. Get ready to be treated like everyone else, and being called “trainee” all of the time. Don’t take the insults personally, they are just trying to toughen you up. Have you been selected for a job yet?

Tip: Sign up for KP Duty or Laundry Duty when you get the chance. It’s awesome. :) If you need any more advice feel free to ask.

Steve_A's avatar

@Blackberry I guessed as much, thanks lol

Steve_A's avatar

@Kokoro Good idea I will look there.

stranger_in_a_strange_land's avatar

Work on your general fitness, strength and endurance stuff. Your chosen service branch will have an equivalent to the Army’s “Soldiers Manual” or the Navy’s “Bluejackets Manual”. This will give you a basic overview. If you can find a vet who is willing to run you through the manual of arms (in my case, my grandfather), that will give you a bit of a leg up. Remember that your function in Basic to to obey and absorb, not give opinions. Each service has its own “system” and is time-tested to produce the finished product they require, ready for advanced training. Brushing up on your marksmanship skills is also helpful, but even if you are expert, they will insist on you doing it their way, at least initially. Conform and don’t buck the system.

Snarp's avatar

A buddy of mine who was a distance runner joined the Marines. I don’t know what they did to him mentally in boot camp, but I know that the running didn’t bother him. They changed him anyway, he came back a very different person (and not in a good way).

Snarp's avatar

Your recruiter should be ready, willing, and able to help you with a work out program.

erichw1504's avatar

@Kokoro Well, the only good part about KP duty is all the food you can eat at your own pace, but it is very tiring.

erichw1504's avatar

@Steve_A What branch are you joining?

Kokoro's avatar

@erichw1504 I thought it was well worth it, always! Stuffed myself up good every time. ^_^

stranger_in_a_strange_land's avatar

@Steve_A As @erichw1504 says, everybody gets a shot at pot-walloping at latrine detail, so don’t grouse about it.

Steve_A's avatar

@erichw1504 I am joining the Air Force. I was thinking about marines at first, but after I talked to some people maybe it won’t be for me.

I talked to a Vietnam veteran, he was in for 20 years and all told me some things, just wow….

erichw1504's avatar

@Steve_A Good choice! It’s the best branch. Trust me, I’ve been in for 3 years now and it’s great. For BMT they will run the shit out of you, so I would do a lot of running. Although, they’ve added two more weeks to it since I joined so it may be a little different.

CMaz's avatar

“he came back a very different person (and not in a good way).”

Sure, he came back trained to kill. He came back a killing machine.

Dr_Dredd's avatar

Hmph. For me, BMT=Bone Marrow Transplant.

Somehow, I don’t think that’s what you have in mind… :-)

Steve_A's avatar

@Dr_Dredd

Basic Military Training ;)

CMaz's avatar

Subway makes a BMT.

erichw1504's avatar

@ChazMaz Mmm, now I’m hungry!

Tropical_Willie's avatar

@Steve_A Not to change your choice but have you considered the Coast Guard.

If you don’t get seasick LOL

Steve_A's avatar

@Tropical_Willie I looked at all the branches a fair share, I was going to do the Navy at first but it was not the sea that bothered me but rather they said I might get stuck on a boat….it ain’t for me. Hah.

gtreyger's avatar

Learn how to shower in 40 seconds. Also, how to shave. It may sound like something insignificant, but you’d be amazed by how many people couldn’t get their faces shaved without slicing themselves! And, of course, run, push ups, sit ups, flutter kicks. Learn to stretch really well. And, if you want to get a distinguished grad award (can only be received in BMT or OTS) you’ll need to do some pull ups as well.

Snarp's avatar

@gtreyger Huh, pull ups make you distinguished?

erichw1504's avatar

@gtreyger The Air Force Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon was established in April 1976 by order of the Air Force Chief of Staff, General David Charles Jones. The decoration is awarded to graduates of Air Force basic training who have obtained an honor graduate designation and demonstrate excellence in all areas of academic and military training.

From Wikipedia.

judochop's avatar

If you want to be able to finish first, which I do not recommend because you will just get more, do this.
Be able to run 2 miles. I do not mean jog, I mean run. If you are going to jog then jog 8 miles.
Pulls-ups, palm facing outward, 20 times.
Push-ups, flat, palm on the ground, 50 times.
Sit-ups, 100 times.
Jumping Jacks, 100 times.
Jump, squat, push-up, 50 times.
You will do many knds of sit-ups and you will run different PT on different days.
The best thing you can do is be prepared, no one will let you fail if you do not fail yourself. Basic was easy.
Learn to get yourself ready faster in the AM and learn to sleep standing up with your eyes open in 5 min. intervals. You are going to be tired.

erichw1504's avatar

@judochop “learn to sleep standing up with your eyes open in 5 min. intervals”

Hah, interesting strategy there.

Yes, you will be extremely tired but busy 99% of the time so you won’t notice it much.

Steve_A's avatar

@judochop Thank you for that I will make that my personal goal to meet those hopefully by the end of 6 months or so, I imagine I can right?( I can do the push ups almost around that number, oddly though I hate sit-ups I like doing push-ups more)

also what did you mean exactly by “If you want to be able to finish first, which I do not recommend because you will just get more,do this” you mean when I am done they just make you do more?

judochop's avatar

@Steve_A you will do fine man. Keep your head up. I enjoyed Basic. Just don’t Fu*k off and you will be golden. When you line up off the bus and you see the guys you are there with you will feel better just knowing that you can even do push-ups.

Steve_A's avatar

@judochop Haha, alright got it, thanks! :)

gtreyger's avatar

@Snarp @erichw1504
To even be considered for Honor Graduate, you must achieve the “Thunderbolt” physical fitness level during your final AFBMT physical fitness test. Otherwise, you’re out of the running, no matter how well you performed in other areas of basic training.

honor grad requirements

AF BMT Fitness Standard

erichw1504's avatar

@gtreyger I know, I went through it 3 years ago.

gtreyger's avatar

@erichw1504 It’s been 11 years for me :-)

Arisztid's avatar

@Dr_Dredd That was where my mind went first as well.

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