USAF BMT Graduation Weekend

One thing I remember about my husband being in BMT was all of the questions everyone had! There were questions about literally everything! I also loved seeing photos of the graduations and ceremonies, they got me even more excited about my husband's coming up! I'm writing this post to share my wonderful experience of BMT graduation weekend!

Of course, I will post pictures, daily events, and links to helpful sites. There will also be a list of links to pages that can answer the questions I may have not been able to answer on this!

BEFORE GRADUATION:

Letters- While I know some people aren't letter writing type of people, do it anyways. It really seems to help motivate the men/women going through training to keep pushing forward! When you go to bed, get some down time..whenever works, just write write write! If you don't get one from them or as many as you would like, don't stress. They are okay and are just very busy and really don't have much time to write!

Pictures- Yes you can send pictures, as long as they are appropriate. That means no naked photos and nothing vulgar. Do not send candy and care packages either. JUST letters and pictures :) You can bring candy or care things to graduation!

Children- I had a 2 year old going through this with me, he missed daddy a lot and I simply kept reminding him that daddy was coming back and that he loved him very much! I also showed him many pictures of his daddy while he was gone, especially recent ones I got from him so that our son could try to adjust to daddy's new look.

Phone calls- I got mine either on a Sat. or Sun of everyweek. They started at 15 mins each and then moved up to 30 but that can change at any time. They could not call or call or talk for a short time or a long time. There is no set schedule so don't get disappointed. They cannot discuss certain things and they cannot send phone pictures...no matter how much we ask lol.

The following is my personal checklist that I used to pack and prepare for graduation, you can change whatever you wish. Anything with a star next to it means there is a link provided for it for the sites I used:

-Make hotel reservation at Lackland EARLY ( you can only stay ON base if you or someone you are with has a military ID) ----(210) 671-4277 <-----to make reservation
-Print directions to Lackland AFB*
-Make Reservation for rental car (if you don't do this early, you might not get one and trust me, it's worth it to have a car you can drive and not a taxi)
-Banner for Airman's Run*
-Graduation Present
-Dogtag necklace personalized*
-Camo shoes*
-Airmans run shirts*
-Candy for my husband
-Water bottles for him for after the run
-BUG SPRAY
-Sweaters
-Nametape Bracelet*
-Civillain clothes & shoes (for my husband to take with him to tech)
-His laptop (also for him to take to tech)
-Camera & Plenty of batteries
-Snacks for my son for the boring parts
-Tide Pen (for if he gets something on his uniform)
-Nice outfit (but nothing prom-like) for graduation
-Stroller
-Pack-N-Play (although the family hotels have them already along with highchairs)
-Any other small item he would want for tech
-Small bottles of Shaving cream/cologne for him (travel size)
-MY MILITARY ID (DO NOT FORGET THIS)

ARRIVING:
When- Most people arrive Wednesday since you must be up very early Thursday for the briefings and Airman's Run. If you get a rental car from the airport, be prepared for long lines at the check in for your rental car.

What to do- First, check into your hotel. If you are in Family hotels then the check-in area will be different than where the actual hotel rooms are. They are very nice and have a seperate bedroom and kitchen that is fully stocked and a pull out sofa. The reservation people will tell you how to get to the hotels, there is not a pool.  Once you arrive, do whatever you wish but stay by your phone. Just trust me on this. You may get a surprise call from your Airman. I went to dinner that night with some fellow wives and girlfriends that were there for the same reason! It was a fun night. But don't stay awake too late, you have to get up early.

Thursday THE BIG DAY!!!

Airman's Run- We went of course and got there about 20 minutes early. Don't worry about finding a place to stand, there is plenty of room and you will get to see your Airman run by. Make sure to look out for his squadron, seperated by colored shirts. Mine was in RED! He was in the 320 "Can't stop the rock!" However, if you have a big banner, you might want to get there early because while you may have a place to stand, there may not be enough room for your banner!

Briefings- We went to the 9:00 am one that was after the run while my mother-in-law saved our seats on the stadium. Ask your Airman ahead of time during one of his calls where his squadron will be and where you should sit. GET THERE EARLY AND SAVE YOUR SEAT. If your Airman was awesome like mine and made Honor Grad, there is a special section in the front for those family members.

Honor grads-  The walk out first during the ceremony! There is also a honor graduate reception you wont want to miss at 11:45.

Coin ceremony- Not as long as you would thing it is. This is a great moment in your Airmans career and enjoy every second of it! 11:00 am! Also, they cannot wave and smile at you or anything like that.

After the coin ceremony they will announce when you can FINALLY run down and tap out your Airman! THE BEST PART EVEEERRR! Be careful not to get run over though!

Rules- Your not supposed to kiss them, I did. It was quick and I did not hang all over him but it had been 8 1/2 weeks since I had seen my husband and I wanted to give a kiss so I did. We did not get in trouble, the last thing you want to do is get them in trouble.

-Don't walk in the grass
-Obey anyone in uniform
-DO NOT SPEED THEY WILL GET YOU....trust me...even for 5 over.
-Use the driving bridge to get from one side of the base to the other. There are maps to show you where this bridge is located. GET ONE PLEASE.
-Do not make your Airman LATE to ANYTHING. Bring them back at least 15 minutes early.
-Don't jaywalk
-Airmen cannot push strollers, hold your hand, drink or eat while walking in uniform. They also cannot talk on phones while walking in uniform.
-Listen to your Airman. They know the rules and will let you know. Don't argue with them about it either or get angry with them...its not their fault what they can or cannot do.

Hotels- They have to have permission to go into your hotel. BUT once they are in...it's wonderfuL!  They can be themselves completely! They do whatever they want (with the exception of drugs or drinking OF COURSE)  and say whatever! Since they can't leave the base Thursday, we stayed in the hotel the entire time Thursday and just let my husband relax!!! HE LOVED it. We all did!

Friday

Graduation- 9:00 am. BIG area and LOTS of seats but you STILL want to arrive early and save a seat. Bring your camera. We brought our stroller and parked it under the bleachers when the time came. This one is bit longer. Again, you get to tap them out when announced. Then your Airman can take you to see where they have lived the past 8 1/2 weeks! DO NOT break the rules in that building to save your life...again he/she will tell you what the rules are. Then from 12-8 you get to leave base and do whatever around town...seaworld, the river walk..w/e. The river walk is very nice and has plenty of shaded outside areas to eat. There are also riverwalk boat tours and you could look online to see if there are any events in the area, like plane shows..

My man is third from the left in honor grads!

Honor grad walk

Sat- WOOOHOOO

You get your man from 9:00am- 8:00 pm to do whatever you want! (within the rules of course) and it's amazing!!!!!! This was my favorite fun filled day spent with my husband!

Sunday- Honor grads/honor flight/ warrior flights get an extra town pass for sunday and can leave base again. We got to do this and enjoyed another nice day outside. If not, you have to stay on base like you did Thursday. Sunday night was also when I could give him his civilian clothes and laptop to take with him Monday.

On the Riverwalk steps

Monday- We left for home and he left for tech. He got his phone and was able to call on the bus ride. :)

USEFUL SITES:


http://www.facebook.com/AFWingMoms

http://www.facebook.com/pages/USAF-Basic-Military-Training/157294844292985?ref=ts
(they post pictures here of the men in training...but ARE NOT required to. PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR PHOTOS)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfj7GhjawR0


Checklist Sites:

Directions to Lackland: http://www.lackland.af.mil/questions/topic.asp?id=82
Banner for Airmans Run: http://www.buildasign.com/Troops?pscid=10310&extcid=1389&mtcid=b&ntwcid=g&kwcid=military%20banners&gclid=COSTlsiIzK8CFaRdTAodIyWZcQ
Personalized Shirts: http://www.uberprints.com/custom/womens-t-shirts/2/#ref_1b
Nametape Bracelet: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nametape-Memories/147627051998494
Camo Shoes: http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/converse-olive-camo-womens-chuck-taylor-as-ox
Dogtag necklace: http://www.mydogtag.com/
Air Force Nail Decals: http://www.prettygirlygirl.com/Nail-Decals-By-Genre/Military-Themed/Airforce-Logo

Experience

While I admit that I am new to the military wife lifestyle, and yes it is very much so it's own lifestyle, when I was given a class assignment to write a short story on anything personal to me, this is what came out of it. Enjoy!

Nothing Left Simple

Jane was a simple woman with a simple name and an even simpler phone. It was what everyone called “the DYNO-phone” since it appeared to come from the prehistoric era. It was old and plain. It could make calls and that was all. She did not text, e-mail, or Facebook on her phone and that was okay with her. It wasn’t okay with her husband though, who wanted to text instead of go over minutes.

           

            “Seriously Jane. Just take the phone. Your phone won’t work now anyways since I turned it off and turned on this one.” He said with her glaring at him.

            “I don’t want that stupid phone Jake! I don’t even know how to use those freakin’ touch screen things! They break too easily and I wouldn’t even know how to make a 911 call! What if there’s an emergency and I can’t figure out how to call for help all because you HAD to get me some stupid iPhone when MINE worked just fine!” She yelled.

            “Jane dear, it’s just a phone. I will teach you how to use it. We can’t afford to go over our minutes anymore so you WILL learn the art of texting. Plus, you can check your e-mails on this”. He looked at her with the most calm and content look on his face. Even if she is mad at him, he loves her and cannot bring himself to yell at her.  She reached out and grabbed the phone with a frown on her face.  He had won the phone battle.

            “Fine, but if I die because I couldn’t call for help it’s on your conscious” she told him walking away and playing with her new phone.  Ding!  His phone went off a minute later. He looked down at his phone was surprised to see “Text from Jane” across the screen of his phone. He opened the new text and read “ Tihs fone iz stoopid” and couldn’t help but laugh.  He looked out at his wife who was now sitting on the patio apparently trying out her new ringtones.  As he listened to the variety of pre-loaded ringtones she was playing he sighed. He had something to tell her that was going to be much harder than telling her he changed her phone.

            Three days go by and Jane has successfully mastered text messaging on her new iPhone. In fact, she barely made calls at all anymore because she preferred to text! Jake walked in to the living room and sees Jane texting her sister. She was in a good mood and had mastered the phone. Now was the best time to tell her. Jake picked up his phone, found his wife’s number in his contacts, and called her. Looking confused, Jane slid the little green bar across the bottom of her phones screen. “Hello?”

            “Hey babe. I see you’ve figured out your new phone” Her husband replied on the other line and right next to her.  She wasn’t sure what he was doing at this point.  She looked at him and said, “Why are you calling me when you’re standing right next to me?’”

           

“I just wanted to make sure you knew how to answer calls effectively.” He responded. She could see the look on his face and knew something was up. Afraid of his answer she asked, “why?”       

            He hung up the phone and took a seat next to his wife. “The time has come Jane,” he said softly. He watched as her eyes filled with tears, questions, and doubts. “This phone is the only way I will be able to speak with you,” he continued. He looked at his wife and wanted more than anything to comfort her. He knew she was scared but they both knew there was nothing at all they could do to stop him from leaving. This was something that they both knew would come one day. This was his very first deployment. He would be gone for at least a year, maybe more. They never really knew. 

            He put his arms around a crying Jane and kissed her on her forehead. Together, they sat there for hours. It was the most bittersweet moment they had together. Two weeks later—he was gone.

She stared down at the simple black rectangular device that her husband made her get and told her self  “it’s just a phone”. So what if the battery dies for a minute? So what if she loses service for a millisecond? It doesn’t matter, right? WRONG. This stupid small insignificant device is now her lifeline. It is, as of now, the only link to her husband.  As of six hours ago, the only thing in her life left simple was her name.  Her life was now full of wondering, hoping and waiting.  Nothing was simple anymore, not even—her phone.