DS is a college soph. Type 1 scholarship and is now looking to prepare for field training. I remember reading a great post,can't find it now, thinking it may have been PIMA, about what to have ready if chosen for field training. They get their list, are there any other suggestions? Thank you for all the great info. posted here.
AF Field Training
- Thread starter Bluebird
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Pima
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That was me.
The selection list comes out and within a few short weeks they will need to do not only a bag drag, but also a physical, including updating shots.
Bag drag is where they are required to have certain items for SFT. I can't remember all of it, but I can remember what he quickly scurried to get.
Bag drag will be a part of their SFT score, so do not take it as OH WELL, I will have it before I leave.
Things I remember; they will state the amount needed:
1. Razors...disposable
2. Shaving cream
3. Soap
4. Shampoo
5. Deodorant
6. Sun Block
7. Bug repellant ---not positive
8. Towels
9. Brown/Camo tees
10. Brown/Camo socks
11. White socks
12. White tees
13. Underwear
14. Moleskin (can be found at CVS)
15. Laundry pen
16. Blue Pens
17. Mechanical pencils
18. Spiral notebook (blue I believe)
19. 3 ring Notebook (I think)
20. Zip lock bags gallon/quart (can't remember)
They will require that laundry pen because on all of their undergarments the cadets must place the initial of their last name and their last 4 SS number because they launder their clothes.
The physical can be done at their college, but remember some college health clinics will have limited hours and may not do shots.
The physical was a typical school physical. Eye/ear/PB etc.
The shot issue we had for our DS was he did not have a Swine Flu. They also required the menoccocal (Sp?).
DS was selected and had about 10 days to get this in order. Fortunately for us we only live 75 mins away and so we drove to his campus with everything.
Once the bag drag is done, at least for our DS, they were handed back the bag. My suggestion is to buy extra ziploc gallon bags. Take their blues shirts and place them in sep. bags. It will keep the shirts from getting wrinkled.
Additionally, buy envelopes and stamps for them to take. Upon signing in their phones will be confiscated and they have no internet access. Their only communication is snail mail, and as much as you love them, they are known to ask friends to write to them, they will want to write them back. Nothing worse in the world when it is mail call and your name isn't called.
The system at least in 10, was:
They are assigned a class Maxwell 1-6.
First few days they are not in the field, but in classroom. They will than go to the field, and come back for a few days before returning. DS was allowed to make phone calls a night or two before returning. Otherwise it was silent.
Good luck.
The selection list comes out and within a few short weeks they will need to do not only a bag drag, but also a physical, including updating shots.
Bag drag is where they are required to have certain items for SFT. I can't remember all of it, but I can remember what he quickly scurried to get.
Bag drag will be a part of their SFT score, so do not take it as OH WELL, I will have it before I leave.
Things I remember; they will state the amount needed:
1. Razors...disposable
2. Shaving cream
3. Soap
4. Shampoo
5. Deodorant
6. Sun Block
7. Bug repellant ---not positive
8. Towels
9. Brown/Camo tees
10. Brown/Camo socks
11. White socks
12. White tees
13. Underwear
14. Moleskin (can be found at CVS)
15. Laundry pen
16. Blue Pens
17. Mechanical pencils
18. Spiral notebook (blue I believe)
19. 3 ring Notebook (I think)
20. Zip lock bags gallon/quart (can't remember)
They will require that laundry pen because on all of their undergarments the cadets must place the initial of their last name and their last 4 SS number because they launder their clothes.
The physical can be done at their college, but remember some college health clinics will have limited hours and may not do shots.
The physical was a typical school physical. Eye/ear/PB etc.
The shot issue we had for our DS was he did not have a Swine Flu. They also required the menoccocal (Sp?).
DS was selected and had about 10 days to get this in order. Fortunately for us we only live 75 mins away and so we drove to his campus with everything.
Once the bag drag is done, at least for our DS, they were handed back the bag. My suggestion is to buy extra ziploc gallon bags. Take their blues shirts and place them in sep. bags. It will keep the shirts from getting wrinkled.
Additionally, buy envelopes and stamps for them to take. Upon signing in their phones will be confiscated and they have no internet access. Their only communication is snail mail, and as much as you love them, they are known to ask friends to write to them, they will want to write them back. Nothing worse in the world when it is mail call and your name isn't called.
The system at least in 10, was:
They are assigned a class Maxwell 1-6.
First few days they are not in the field, but in classroom. They will than go to the field, and come back for a few days before returning. DS was allowed to make phone calls a night or two before returning. Otherwise it was silent.
Good luck.
Pima
10-Year Member
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- Nov 28, 2007
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- 13,900
Glad to help.
One thing to realize is if there are multiple airports he can fly out of they can choose any of them.
Additionally when he comes home from school prior to SFT, he will be sent with sealed orders (manila envelope) do not open it and do not lose it.
If you are not in the south have him run in the heat of the day. Run, run, run
When DS went it was over 100 degrees with high humidity. Acclimation to the weather will be a factor.
One thing to realize is if there are multiple airports he can fly out of they can choose any of them.
Additionally when he comes home from school prior to SFT, he will be sent with sealed orders (manila envelope) do not open it and do not lose it.
If you are not in the south have him run in the heat of the day. Run, run, run
When DS went it was over 100 degrees with high humidity. Acclimation to the weather will be a factor.
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Stop it. You're killing me. I would want to open it even more. Hope my future Marine never comes home with such an envelope. I would have to move out.
do you know if the brown camo tees can be the wicking material? They sell them @ military clothing and the AD can wear them.
Does the underwear have to be white...can they be boxers or do they have to be the "whity tighty" brief
Does the underwear have to be white...can they be boxers or do they have to be the "whity tighty" brief
Pima
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I don't know about the camo tees, back at that time they did not have it in the military clothing stores.
I am on the fence on that because white under armor was out, but if I am correct they cannot wear them under their blues. My gut says that if they allow it under their ABUs than the answer is yes, but that is more expensive than the cotton tees and I wouldn't invest in it unless the det says yes. 300's usually wear ABUs, so he should be able to see if it is just by those in the det that wear ABUs.
DS does not own any tighty whities. He wears boxer/briefs.
Beware it is exact numbers, can't remember the number, but can say it had to be around 5, because he has 6 camo tees. Again if you go for the wicking tees that is a lot of money for something that they will only need for SFT.
If you want to get in front of this, feeling it is a sure thing they will be selected. Start getting the personal products. Shaving cream, razors, shampoo, etc. The ziploc bags are to be used to protect any explosion from shaving cream, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc. when packed in the duffle bag during transit to Maxwell. Again it is a number required. I recall that IMPO it was high...i.e. like 6 disposable razors. What guy goes through that amount in 30 days?
If they are already back in school, send them all of this and tell them to not use it because when they do the drag, they will dump it all out and follow the checklist of what is needed.
As I stated they will get a score and that score will become part of their SFT ranking.
The one thing I will stress is make sure you get quality moleskin, I can't remember what they said they could have, but we opted to get the higher product. They will be in boots, in the field, and blisters will occur, so if you get the higher quality you reduce the risk of blisters.
They will also be issued their ABUs and boots, have them break them in prior to going.
As I stated earlier when they come home for summer break they bring that bag back with them. This is the time you can to do this.
One last thing I forgot, which was an issue for us. If your child has a vision issue they must have 2 prs of glasses. Contacts are a no-no. So get that done. It is not a bag drag issue, but it will be when they arrive.
I am on the fence on that because white under armor was out, but if I am correct they cannot wear them under their blues. My gut says that if they allow it under their ABUs than the answer is yes, but that is more expensive than the cotton tees and I wouldn't invest in it unless the det says yes. 300's usually wear ABUs, so he should be able to see if it is just by those in the det that wear ABUs.
DS does not own any tighty whities. He wears boxer/briefs.
Beware it is exact numbers, can't remember the number, but can say it had to be around 5, because he has 6 camo tees. Again if you go for the wicking tees that is a lot of money for something that they will only need for SFT.
If you want to get in front of this, feeling it is a sure thing they will be selected. Start getting the personal products. Shaving cream, razors, shampoo, etc. The ziploc bags are to be used to protect any explosion from shaving cream, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc. when packed in the duffle bag during transit to Maxwell. Again it is a number required. I recall that IMPO it was high...i.e. like 6 disposable razors. What guy goes through that amount in 30 days?
If they are already back in school, send them all of this and tell them to not use it because when they do the drag, they will dump it all out and follow the checklist of what is needed.
As I stated they will get a score and that score will become part of their SFT ranking.
The one thing I will stress is make sure you get quality moleskin, I can't remember what they said they could have, but we opted to get the higher product. They will be in boots, in the field, and blisters will occur, so if you get the higher quality you reduce the risk of blisters.
They will also be issued their ABUs and boots, have them break them in prior to going.
As I stated earlier when they come home for summer break they bring that bag back with them. This is the time you can to do this.
One last thing I forgot, which was an issue for us. If your child has a vision issue they must have 2 prs of glasses. Contacts are a no-no. So get that done. It is not a bag drag issue, but it will be when they arrive.
DS has been given "Field Training Manual" and as a Det they all use this. This manual has a very detailed list of what to bring. It is very specific,lengthy and helpful to have ahead of time. Your cadet should be able to get this list. There are items issued but there are additional uniform specific items required at personal expense. Are these items only available at an AFB BX? We are not near an AFB,but would travel to one if need be.
Pima
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AAFES has an online store you can get things through, for those that are not military, I am almost 100% certain you can not use their online services because I believe to register on the site you need to give your ID number.
The only thing that I recall purchasing extra of were a pair of blues pants, maybe the shirt too, but I am also positive we elected to do this knowing that eventually he would need them anyway. I recall the det giving the cadets selected the 2nd set. The name tapes for the ABUs will be given to them too.
One thing to remember is the pants will not be hemmed and if you do not have a seamstress near you that deals with military uniforms, have them take it to somewhere near the college because they will be more accustomed to how it is hemmed, re: the dip in front and lower in the back.
The only thing that I recall purchasing extra of were a pair of blues pants, maybe the shirt too, but I am also positive we elected to do this knowing that eventually he would need them anyway. I recall the det giving the cadets selected the 2nd set. The name tapes for the ABUs will be given to them too.
One thing to remember is the pants will not be hemmed and if you do not have a seamstress near you that deals with military uniforms, have them take it to somewhere near the college because they will be more accustomed to how it is hemmed, re: the dip in front and lower in the back.