Tips for Surviving Air Force BMT Graduation
Knowing What to Expect at Boot Camp Ceremonies at Lackland AFB
May 5, 2009
Air Force BMT graduation ceremonies are a milestone in the lives of the young men and women who have dedicated their life to protecting our country. Families travel from across the United States to Lackland AFB in Texas to participate in these events and spend time with their family member.
Knowing what to expect during the activities goes a long way towards making the trip pleasant and eliminates confusion. The Lackland AFB websites has a document highlighting the events as well as offering advice.
What to Expect at BMT Graduation
Advice from an attendee is usually the most helpful advice, as they have been to the ceremonies and know what is to be expected each step of the way. These tips are a good road map to navigating through the events and the military base in general.
Arriving in Lackland and at the Base
The San Antonio Airport is approximately 20 minutes away from Air Force base, depending on traffic. There are hotels in the Lackland area or in the downtown San Antonio area. Staying closer to the base is helpful in avoiding traffic congestion.
When going to the Air Force base make sure to have the pass sent home by the trainee along with driver’s license and proof of auto insurance in hand when arriving at the gate. Security doesn’t like to wait on drivers to gather the paperwork as it slows traffic.
Arrive early if possible to get a better seat and better parking. If handicapped, arriving early insures finding a handicapped parking spot.
Pay attention to speed limits on base. Unless posted, the speed limit is 30 MPH, not 31 MPH. If there are military personnel jogging along the edge of the road, the speed limit goes to 10 MPH and it is enforced.
Be Prepared for Events
Be prepared, especially during the first 2 days, to stand in long lines and to sit in straight-back chairs or on bleachers for a long period of time. A few items and suggestions to make the day a little more pleasant:
- Pack a seat cushion, the type used at sporting events. This will make the sitting much more comfortable.
- Wear flat shoes. Heels look pretty but there is a lot of walking during the events and it is not all on pavement.
- If there are health issues that prevent walking, taking stairs or excessive heat, skip the barracks tour. There are flights of steps to climb and it is very hot when hundreds of people are cramped up in those quarters.
- Take bottled water; other liquids are not allowed in some of the areas.
Finally, listen closely to the briefing on the first day. A lot of valuable information will be given that is important for both families and the trainees. Families would be disappointed to learn that they caused their trainee to be disciplined due to something they did wrong. Some infractions can even result in the trainee having to repeat the program. It’s best to know up front what families can and can’t do.
Having some knowledge to help get through the day’s events can be a wonderful asset. Crowds tend to cause confusion and people quickly forget what they were told. Listen to the men and women in charge of the events, they are also valuable assets and will answer questions.
Days one and two are the two most rushed days, on day three and if earned, day four, the airman and his family are able to relax and spend quality time together before he or she is shipped off to tech school,
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