February 9th 2016, to many this is just another day but to me it is the day my life changed forever. It is the day that I left the comfort of my family’s home for Basic Military Training. I can still remember the heartache and anxiety I felt leaving my family for an unfamiliar place.
The moment the white bus I rode into Lackland AFB parked in front of the Reception Center my heart started racing, because I could see the Military Training Instructors walking towards the bus. As soon as they got on the bus they started yelling and rushing us off as quickly as they could. I was constantly in a hurry from that moment on, there was never time to just sit. I quickly learned what, “hurry up and wait” meant because we were no longer on our own time but the Air Forces time. The feeling of being rushed on everything I did was hectic as first. I was being rushed on everything we civilians take for granted. Whether it was eating, showering, or even restroom breaks I was constantly being hurried and timed for things I usually did at my own pace and leisure.
BMT was constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone. I was expected to keep my military baring at all times no matter what I was feeling. Having to constantly keep a face with no expression was extremely hard at times for me, because sometimes I wanted to smile, laugh, or even cry. I felt like a robot because we were not allowed to show emotions, especially not in front of my Military Training Instructors. We would get chewed out if we broke our baring in front of them. We were also expected to over achieve in anything assigned to us, there was no such thing as procrastination or failing during BMT. I was expected to meet and surpass my PT tests, and Air Force academic courses.
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The hardest part of Basic Military Training for me was not having contact with my family and friends. It is not like I can just pick up my cell phone and call my family or friends when I missed them. No technology was allowed during the basic training progress, so conversations with my family and friends came from either letters, or the few times we were able to use the phones. Out of the eight and a half weeks I was in training I only spoke to them maybe three times. The phone calls were short and brief, but those calls helped me get through the tough times that were faced. I missed my family so much because I had never left home prior to BMT. Every time that I was able to call home and hear my families voices I would try so hard not to cry, but I failed miserably at it. Even though I cried during my short phone calls home, hearing their voices is what kept me going and wanting to succeed in my training. I knew that those tears that came down form my family and I weren’t tears of sadness, but tears of joy. They knew that I was doing right and that eventually all this hard work would soon pay off.
Even though there were a lot of tough times during those eight and a half weeks, I can also recall having many good times. I made many friends during BMT that helped me get through the tough times and make great memories that I will never forget. My friends were from all over the United States and from different backgrounds. All our differences made it fun because we could compare all the places we were from. It is crazy to think that just a few months ago we were all doing different things with our lives, but joining the military is what brought us all together. One thing that I learned in Basic that I still take with me till this day is that throughout my military career I will continue to meet people from all over the world, and that no matter where they came from that I should try and get to know them.
When I first arrived to Basic the days felt like an eternity, because I was not use to the way things were done or expected to be. Zero week is considered the worst week because no matter what you do the Military Training Instructors yell and put you on the spot in front of everyone. They are constantly saying how we lost our common sense because we could not figure out what they are instructing us to do. But as time went by and the closer I got to graduation time seemed to fly by, because I was adjusting to my new life. I was starting to understand how things worked in the Air Force.
Before I knew it my time in Basic had come to an end and it was April 1st my graduation date. I was no longer the trainee that had stepped off the white bus that Tuesday night, I was now an Airmen in United States Air Force. I was proud of what I had accomplished. I also felt relieved to know that hard work really does pay off. I knew that when I saw my family and friends that they were going to feel that sense of accomplishment as well.
I joined the Air Force because I wanted to make something of myself. I wanted to have a stable job that would not only help me but also allow me to help my family. I did not come from a privileged family, so I had to enlist in the military in order to better myself and be someone my parents can be proud of. I knew that enlisting would mean a lot of sacrificing, but it is worth everything that I have gained.
Going through Basic Military Training taught me many things during my time there, but one thing that I learned and will never forget is to never take the time you spend with family for granted. I will never know when I will be able to spend time with my family, because the Air Force mission will always come first. But no matter how much time I spend away from them I know that they will always be there to support me and wait for me to come home to them. The decision to join the Air Force has changed my life for the better. Though, I had to make many sacrifices with this decision, I can say this was the right decision and I am glad that this decision will help me prosper in the future.
