AS250 - How do I prepare for Field Training and catch up with my peers?

curiousas250

curiousas250

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Aug 13, 2018
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I'm a AS250 who's joining Air Force ROTC next semester. I participated in a different branch of ROTC my Freshmen year and there, I was on the Drill Team which means I am already familiar with procedures such as Open Ranks Inspection, Facing, and Column & File Movements.

I've spoken with Cadre about my situation and they informed me that I would be attending LLAB with the AS100's my Fall Semester to get familar before starting FTP in the Spring. Unfortunately I'll be taking at least ~19 credit hours during my Spring semester with a probable chance of ~21 credits and applying into the Business School as well which means I'll have my hands full - otherwise I will not be able to graduate on time (And I really, really, want to graduate on time). This class load also means I have to prepare accordingly.

Following the advice of a close friend and mentor who commissioned last Spring as a pilot I've done the following:

- Memorized all the Warrior Knowledge in the 2018/16 Field Training Manuals as well as the officer/enlisted rank structure of the Air Force.

- Watched videos online to understand DFAC and roadguard procedures.

- Watched videos on hospital corners/reporting-in-out procedures/shelves & closet arrangements

- Reviewed an old document about the various regulations during Field Training regarding things like security violations, sunglasses, and jewelry.

- Prepared myself physically so that I would run at least a 93

With the school year close to starting, what else can I do to prepare myself for FTP/Field Training? I know for certain with at least 19-credits I won't be able to dedicate as much time to AFROTC as a involved cadet in say AAS or Silver Wings or participate as much in voluntary PMT, but I'm still determined to stand out in other ways.
 
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I'm a current AS400 and was in charge of FTP for my detachment a few semesters back.

Your friend is spot on. The better prepared you are, the less room you leave for the CTAs to correct you. Having the WK and other training materials as a solid foundation, being in a good place mentally is huge. Give your best this year and you'll be at Maxwell soon enough.
 
Hello curiousas250,

I agree with mil.intel in that you are laying a good foundation for success for FT. If you are truthful in what you said on all you are doing to prepare, you should be well ahead of the game. Even though you are doing everything right to prepare, here are a few additional tips/warnings from a POC to help you more in your preparation.

- Though it's great to learn/memorize ALL warrior knowledge from the FTM, just be prepared for some of that warrior knowledge to change. For instance, take a look at the differences in quotes from FTM 2016 and 2018. Things like mission statements can change too. It sucks to learn a bunch of quotes and then find out later that they aren't included in FTM 2019. My tip would be to learn the big pieces like the Code of Conduct, AF Song, MAJCOMs, ect. as these are the least likely to change.

- Watching video's are great but a video will never substitute actually practicing the procedures for real. I tell the GMC at my det that they can watch video's all they want but unless you get somewhere and actually practice it, you'll never get good at it. The biggest tip I can give you is practice saying and doing the procedures like you are doing them for real. Granted, somethings like parts of DFAC could be difficult to practice but things like stating/performing the Flt/CCs role in road guards, folding clothes, and making beds could all be done in your dorm room. If you're det has a bed, practice making the bed as quickly as possible. Another tip I would suggest is finding a POC at your det who can practice/teach you somethings out of PMT. I know newly returning AS300s are eager to start mentoring so find one you like, tell them your situation and see if they can help you. If can't find a 300, find a AS400. We're better anyways :).

- Don't worry about the old regs. They can change (e.g., candy) and they aren't as important as procedures. Don't get me wrong here, you should know them but wait until FTM 2019 comes out and you're instructed by your FTP Staff to learn them.

- One thing that I don't know if you're practicing but I highly suggest that you start is working on your command voice. mil.intel could testify to this point in that it is extremely LOUD at FT. You have to be loud and confident in your commands otherwise, you're flight will get messed up and it'll just be a bad day if you're the Flt/CC. 2203 has a section with exercises about proper command voice. You may be thinking that because you've been part of a drill team you have your command voice down but I've witnessed cadets at FTwho are prior E who are some of the weakest command callers. This is also a way you can stand out from your peers in drill at your det.

I hope these tips/warnings help you out. If you have any other questions, feel free to DM me.

Also, just curious, what det are you coming in to this fall?

- somerandomafguy
 
somerandomafguy said:
Hello curiousas250,

I agree with mil.intel in that you are laying a good foundation for success for FT. If you are truthful in what you said on all you are doing to prepare, you should be well ahead of the game. Even though you are doing everything right to prepare, here are a few additional tips/warnings from a POC to help you more in your preparation.

- Though it's great to learn/memorize ALL warrior knowledge from the FTM, just be prepared for some of that warrior knowledge to change. For instance, take a look at the differences in quotes from FTM 2016 and 2018. Things like mission statements can change too. It sucks to learn a bunch of quotes and then find out later that they aren't included in FTM 2019. My tip would be to learn the big pieces like the Code of Conduct, AF Song, MAJCOMs, ect. as these are the least likely to change.

- Watching video's are great but a video will never substitute actually practicing the procedures for real. I tell the GMC at my det that they can watch video's all they want but unless you get somewhere and actually practice it, you'll never get good at it. The biggest tip I can give you is practice saying and doing the procedures like you are doing them for real. Granted, somethings like parts of DFAC could be difficult to practice but things like stating/performing the Flt/CCs role in road guards, folding clothes, and making beds could all be done in your dorm room. If you're det has a bed, practice making the bed as quickly as possible. Another tip I would suggest is finding a POC at your det who can practice/teach you somethings out of PMT. I know newly returning AS300s are eager to start mentoring so find one you like, tell them your situation and see if they can help you. If can't find a 300, find a AS400. We're better anyways :).

- Don't worry about the old regs. They can change (e.g., candy) and they aren't as important as procedures. Don't get me wrong here, you should know them but wait until FTM 2019 comes out and you're instructed by your FTP Staff to learn them.

- One thing that I don't know if you're practicing but I highly suggest that you start is working on your command voice. mil.intel could testify to this point in that it is extremely LOUD at FT. You have to be loud and confident in your commands otherwise, you're flight will get messed up and it'll just be a bad day if you're the Flt/CC. 2203 has a section with exercises about proper command voice. You may be thinking that because you've been part of a drill team you have your command voice down but I've witnessed cadets at FTwho are prior E who are some of the weakest command callers. This is also a way you can stand out from your peers in drill at your det.

I hope these tips/warnings help you out. If you have any other questions, feel free to DM me.

Also, just curious, what det are you coming in to this fall?

- somerandomafguy
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Thanks for the advice. I've noticed that the manuals differ by year and so have also memorized the quotes from the FTM16, FTM17, and FTM15 manuals since a few (Patton, Schwarzkopf, Douhet, Rommel, Lemay) don't show up on the FTM18 manual. Heres to hoping that the Holm Center mission statement remains the same, because the past years were significantly longer and would've been a pain in the arse to memorize. I've already memorized the entire Code of Conduct/Airmans' Creed/MAJCOMs/Chain of Command so I'm good there, although my rendition of the Air Force could use some work since I'm not much of a singer at all. If it helps I've also gotten used to folding my clothes in the FTP way so it won't be a huge hurdle once I'm in Field Training.

I'll keep your second point in mind and try to get in as much practice as possible with things like making beds and folding clothes. My main concern is that I'll likely miss the weekend FTP sessions since I work in my hometown (90 minute drive away). I can't quit this job because of familial reasons (One of my parents was injured and needs someone physically capable to maintain the family business). I've talked to a rising AS300 who went through FTP last year about this and I was told that there would be no make-up sessions and instead I would have to rely on my flight mates to fill me in on the goings-on with the FTP flight. For everything I've heard so far, next year is going to be a tough one since I'll basically be self-studying my way through the entirety of Field Training Preparation, but it'll make me a better POC and Air Force officer once I'm through it all; but this also makes finding a POC to mentor me through next year much more important. Funny thing that you mention actually going through the actions and mouthing the commands since I'm actually trying to memorize what the Flight CC says and does when going through a typical day of PT, meals, and marching. My hope is that by the time the Spring semester kicks off and FTP starts for real, I'd be competent in everything enough to pass Field Training already and that everything I learn from there is just icing on the cake so that I not only pass, but perform excellently.

Command voice is also something I'll definitely be working on as well to make sure I don't go hoarse from sounding off all day. If it helps, I'm going to Det **REMOVED**
 
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Hi - tried to PM you but you don't have enough messages. You might not want to identify your detachment - people try to stay anonymous on the board, and depending on the size of the detachment it makes you easy to identify.
 
eljay60 said:
Hi - tried to PM you but you don't have enough messages. You might not want to identify your detachment - people try to stay anonymous on the board, and depending on the size of the detachment it makes you easy to identify.
Click to expand...

Ah bugger. I'll have to contact the moderators about removing that since my post no longer has the edit button. I did post some more to get past the 5-post minimum, so you might want to try again with the messaging.
 
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