What to Expect During Air Force Basic Military Training | BMT Explained

Road Guard, I don't know what you're doing. Earlier you're adjusting your backpack, now you're cricking your neck. Who told you to put multiple pans on your pocket? And I don't know what you're looking at. Get your cover behind the train in front of you. I've made like three rounds around this dormitory and you're still getting drunk. You guys 12, how about you wake up, wake the crap up. Since being established in 1946, the gateway to the United States Air Force has gone through Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Over 70 years later, a lot has changed. The bus ride from the airport, however, remains the same. It's in these moments that the soon-to-be trainees question their choice. You know in the back of your mind all this is done to break you down, to build you back up stronger than you were. But it's different when you have someone yelling at you, just in your face yelling at you. And I believe in this branch and I'd love to be a part of this branch and so I'm not gonna quit. And I expect to have bad days while I'm basic. I expect to have moderately good days. Upon arrival, the bus pulls up to the Finkston Reception Center, known as the PRC, the official gateway into the Air Force. Inside, staff members issue the first essential items of training, a backpack, water bottle, study guide and other gear, marking the official beginning of Air Force basic military training. Early in training, recruits are issued their initial set of uniforms, marking the first visible step in their transition from civilian to service member. From that moment on, strict standards govern how each uniform is worn, maintained and inspected. Before ever setting foot at basic training, every prospective recruit must first pass a medical screening conducted by a physician at their local military entrance processing station, commonly known as MEPS. Upon arrival at Lackland Air Force Base, trainees undergo their first official weigh-in. Those who fall below the Air Force's height and weight standards are placed on double rations, referred to in basic training as skinnies, while those who exceed the limits are assigned to a controlled diet program. Military training instructors or MTIs oversee nearly every aspect of Air Force basic military training. Instantly recognizable, MTIs wear the iconic campaign cover, often called the Smokey Bear Hat, which is dark blue, setting them apart from the green and brown versions worn by Marine Corps drill instructors and Army drill sergeants. Each year, around 26,000 to 30,000 recruits graduate from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the sole location for enlisted basic training for both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force. Within the first few days of arrival, every trainee receives a regulation haircut designed to promote uniformity and hygiene. Male trainees are required to keep their hair short, clean, and tapered on the sides and back, following official Air Force grooming standards. Female trainees may maintain longer hair, but must keep it neat and professional, ensuring it doesn't interfere with equipment or uniforms. Licensed civilian barbers on base provide these haircuts, which are typically repeated every two weeks to maintain grooming standards. During basic military training, recruits live inside dormitories modeled after the Airman Training Complex, or ATC. These facilities serve as the center of daily life, where trainees live, sleep, and train alongside their squadron in flight. Each dormitory includes a day room, used for flight meetings, evening briefings, and discussions. Inside laundry rooms allow trainees to wash and dry uniforms throughout their time at BMT. Nearby, a utility room stores cleaning equipment used to maintain the dorms. Every ATC also features a latrine, a restroom area with multiple toilets, sinks, and showers designed for shared use. The recruit living area bays house rows of beds and lockers, where trainees keep their issued gear and personal belongings, from uniforms to letters from home. Living spaces must remain in inspection order at all times, a standard that reinforces discipline and attention to detail. On the ground floor, the Charge of Quarters, or CQ, serves as the central command post for the dormitory. Staff members here monitor accountability, requiring recruits to sign in and out for appointments or off-schedule activities. The Dining Classroom Facility, or DCF, is where trainees eat and attend war skills and military studies classes. For medical support, the Independent Duty Medical Technician, or IDMT, provides on-site care. Basic military training operates under strict rules, and a wide range of activities are prohibited from day one. These include insubordination, the use or possession of tobacco, e-cigarettes, or alcohol, consuming food outside designated mealtimes, possessing contraband, neglecting assigned duties such as entry control watch, going absent without leave, or engaging in fraternization. When a trainee violates these rules, a military training instructor may recommend that the commander impose non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Penalties can include restriction to specific areas for up to 45 days, extra duty that replaces personal time with work details, forfeiture of up to a month's pay spread over two months, reduction in rank with a corresponding permanent pay cut, or a formal verbal or written reprimand. Within the first few days of arriving at basic military training, trainees are allowed a short, tightly controlled phone call home to confirm their safe arrival. The call is brief and scripted, serving as a clear signal that personal communication is now limited as recruits fully enter the highly structured world of military training. All trainees receive three structured meals each day known as chow time. Meals are served at the dining facility or issued as meals ready to eat during field training. Get your jackets off! Hurry up! Trainees are guaranteed a minimum of 10 minutes to eat once seated and cleared to begin. Much of the remaining time is spent waiting in line as designated chow runners report in and trainees remove, secure, and redon their equipment before returning to training. At Air Force Basic and Officer Training, all recruits receive required vaccinations, including measles, unless immunity is confirmed. Medical eligibility is carefully reviewed at MEPS, where conditions ranging from prior injuries to vision correction surgery are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Candidates with ADD or ADHD must meet strict documentation and stability requirements, while aspiring pilots face rigorous standards in vision, physical fitness, academics, and age. Height, weight, and prior flight experience are also considered, ensuring each recruit is fully qualified for their role in the Air Force. Military training instructors are known for their relentless yelling, but every shout has a purpose. It's not just discipline, it's designed to instill focus, build resilience, and prepare recruits for the high-pressure challenges of military life. Let me ask you again, do you want to be here? Yes, sir. So prove it. Can you do that? Yes, sir. What's your last name? Roman. That's right, Roman, we had this conversation yesterday too, didn't we not? Yes, sir. I'm glad to see that you've improved. Each morning at basic military training begins before sunrise, when trainees assemble for physical conditioning. The sessions include a mix of running, calisthenics, and strength exercises designed to build endurance and resilience. Instructors closely monitor form, discipline, and teamwork, ensuring every movement meets Air Force fitness standards. By graduation, most trainees improve their run times by over a minute and exceed minimum standards, reflecting the transformation from civilians to airmen in peak physical condition. So the CIT program is a cardio interval training, and it encompasses a whole body workout. Currently right now, the 323rd training squadron was the start of the whole program, so we've been implementing this for now two flight cycles for roughly about four months. We're actually getting a full type of workout, so you're feeling like every type of muscle will get worked out in this program. It's easy as far as, yes, you can do it at home and stationary, so it's not a requirement for you to go to the gym or have these type of equipments. So in that aspect, yes, but otherwise, the workout, if you put work into it, you're going to sweat, you're going to feel it, you're going to know that you actually got a good workout from it. Basic military training trainees face one of the most challenging experiences of their first month, the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training at the MASC Confidence Training Facility. Commonly referred to as the gas chamber, this training is a core part of the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense course. Why are we still talking? Round your gear. When it comes to the gas chamber, I was extremely nervous about it. I was excited because it was a change of scenery, which was great, but in reality, it was a change of scenery, but it was also very scary. It was the type of change of scenery where it's also a change of comfort level. You know, you're safe at the dorms, you're in your OCPs, it's easy. You know, you have a routine, and then you get out there to seaburn with the gas chamber, and you're having to put on mop gear, which is chemical protective gear, and you have to put on a gas mask, and there's just so much stuff that goes into it that you don't realize, and so many different procedures. During week four of BMT, trainees are instructed to don protective masks and ensure a proper seal before entering the chamber. Once inside, a non-lethal chemical irritant is released, forcing recruits to perform marching drills, equipment checks, and basic task exercises while managing the stress and discomfort caused by the gas. The exercise develops confidence, composure, and proficiency with protective equipment, ensuring every airman can operate effectively in hazardous conditions. By the end, trainees emerge with a clear understanding of CBRN defense protocols and the ability to maintain readiness under extreme environments. After exiting the gas chamber, trainees keep calm, avoid rubbing their eyes, and follow decontamination procedures, letting the irritant dissipate while instructors ensure safety and proper recovery. Basic military training may look familiar to veterans, intense, disciplined, and as challenging as ever, yet change is constant. All new trainees are issued the operational camouflage pattern, replacing the older airman battle uniform. The Air Force adopted the OCP for its improved fit, comfort, and durability, while also aligning with the Army's uniform standard to enhance interoperability with joint forces. This update ensures trainees not only meet the demands of BMT, but are also better prepared to operate alongside other branches in real-world missions. Basic military training is implementing a training tablet pilot to provide airmen with a personalized and adaptive learning platform. Instructors use it to identify knowledge gaps, update lessons instantly, and track progress in real time. The data collected from the pilot helps leadership optimize the curriculum, making training more efficient and effective for every recruit. During weapons training, trainees are taught the fundamentals of firearm safety, maintenance, and marksmanship, reinforcing discipline and accountability long before they ever fire a live round. Today is very important because when Tony the Terrorizer finally starts shooting at you, if you go downrange and you deploy, Uncle Sam calls your name to head downrange. Here, Senior Airman Robert Allure, a combat arms instructor with the 37th Training Support Squadron, steps in to teach trainees how to handle the M16A2 rifle. So what's our first step? Everyone charge. With five years in the Air Force and a background in security forces, he spent the last year and a half training recruits on the fundamentals of marksmanship. Put your weapons on semi. If you say the steps and you tell yourself what to do, you can't fail. I love instructing and being here, specifically Lackland, having the opportunity to instruct basic trainees is outstanding. My biggest thing out here is safety, safety, safety. So as long as they're doing everything that they're supposed to be doing as far as safety is concerned and they're getting the material as far as their loading procedures, their command to fire, their reloads, that's the best thing I can hope for. Instructors, is the line ready? We are ready left, ready center, ready right. The line is ready. Fire. For many, this is their first time firing a weapon, a milestone moment in their Air Force journey. I want you guys to be very loud, understand? Show me that you know what you are doing. Allure is driven by purpose. His goal is to become a military training instructor, shaping the next generation of airmen who will follow in his footsteps. Each evening, trainees tackle meticulous cleaning duties, maintaining dorms to meet strict Air Force hygiene and appearance standards. So you're making your own decisions. I'm going to give you an RLA time. Stop being selfish. When the flight is doing details, you're going to be doing details. Chores rotate daily, covering mopping, sweeping, surface wiping, and disinfecting communal areas. Hey, who's singing? I said, who is singing? Hey, look at this. Don't even pretend you're going to pour that one on top. While every recruit is assigned a role, from fire guard to latrine detail, to reinforce accountability. Beds are remade with precision, pillows centered and facing away from the door, ensuring readiness for early morning inspections. Yes, sir. I was originally trying to be a wingman to the men down there, sir. Do not bring that rag up high and throw the dirt around. It's going to go on your bed. Keep it close to the ground. Dust off. Floors are spotless, boots and shoes aligned with heels together, toes outward, and lockers arranged so uniforms hang evenly. And folded items meet exact dimensions. If you're done, help a buddy out. Help a wingman out so they get done, because everyone needs to go in there. Every detail is scrutinized, instilling discipline, attention to detail, and pride in the spaces trainees call their own during basic military training. Get in bed. Let's go. Right now. Pacer Forge is a 36-hour deployment exercise that pushes trainees to their limits. Come on, Jones. Come on. It's designed to test how they perform under pressure, evaluating teamwork, discipline, and problem-solving in a simulated combat environment. Held during week six of basic military training, this exercise marks the final step before trainees earn the title of Airman. Out here at Primary Agile Combat Employment Range Forward Operation Readiness Generation Exercise, there's a trainee-led environment where they're expected to complete exercises for their culminating event. They're setting up the DFP. They're setting up the base defense with little instruction from the cadre from the start to finish, and then cadre start to probe their defenses. It's not to point out any flaws. It's to really let them see, like, hey, this is what translates from the classroom to real-world scenarios. And we stay in the scenario as long as possible. We guide them by offering the expertise that we pulled from either our career fields before becoming MTIs or from our various experiences deploying in many different locations. This empowers the trainee to think, act, and decide on their own. A start break from where in the BMT curriculum where the trainees just do as if they're told. At this point, they get to make some of these decisions themselves and have to think about where their decisions lead to. Our job is to help the trainees to think critically, to understand the attempt behind the mission so that they can execute with precision. Essentially, if they face these real-world challenges where it might be high stakes, might be stressful, we want them to be better prepared so that they can get the mission done and execute and meet those challenges and rise to the occasion. If you get through today, what makes you think you can't get through tomorrow or the next day or the next week? And as each and every day goes by, you're one day closer to graduation and seeing your family and moving on to tech school. So when you look at it, BMT is just a blink. And it's the two months that you have to do to get into the world's greatest air force. And at the end of it, you have completed something that one percent of our country chooses to do. And that is something to be very proud of. From this moment forward, you and I, we are teammates. You are my brother, you are my sister, you are my wingman, and you are an Airman. Congratulations. Military training instructors, you may now proceed. Each week at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, between 600 and 800 trainees complete Air Force Basic Military Training, transforming from civilians into Airmen. Over 245 hours of physical conditioning, discipline, and combat training lead up to this moment. Of which this parade is a vital part. All graduating Airmen will also march over the enlisted heroes walk. They will lead the way for thousands of Airmen. The two-day graduation features the Airmen's run, retreat ceremony, and a formal parade at the Finkston Reception Center. Families from across the nation gather to watch their loved ones earn the title of Airman. Joining the 35,000 recruits who graduate from JBSA-Lackland every year. 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