BMT vs. Service Academy training

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acecreator71

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Does anybody have insight as to how BMT (specifically, Air Force) compares to the summer training prior to the service academies? Wondering which is more difficult and how the two compare. (I have one child in a SA and one thinking about enlisting in the Airforce and they are comparing the two. ) Thank you.
 
I can answer this, sorta. As an ALO I work with all manner of candidates. Several years ago (more than that, the guy is a junor captain now) I had a candidate that enlisted in the AF, did a superb job as a young airman, went through the LEAD (Leaders Encouraging Airman Development) program, was selected for USAFA's prep school, did that, and then went to USAFA.

I asked him one time: which was harder, BMT, PS BCCT, or USAFA BCT? He hemmed and hawed and said for him, BMT was because he was right out of high school and didn't know what was coming. He knew after that and found that the PS and USAFA, while challenging, weren't really "tough" for him. Of course he was in pretty excellent physical condition by then too.

That's the only example I have for you; if others have experiences to share, I hope they will!

Steve
USAFA ALO
 
Some things change over time, so might be a bit off.

USAFA BCT focuses more on team efforts and does not give a lot of individual taskings, as there are always cadet cadre around to train/supervise (ratio of 5ish basics per cadre). BMT focuses a little more on individual taskings and only has 1-2 Sergeants around to train 40-50 trainees.

Also realize, this is basic level training. No individual tasks are particularly difficult. The total pressure of all the new tasks is what stresses people.
 
I actually had a few guys in Army Basic Training in 1985 who had the option of jail or join the Army. These dudes were nuts with their stories while we grinded it out.
 
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