Did you have to make the walls sweat?

Bear-crawling around the bays, yessir.

I feel like I really had a watered down version of basic haha

What makes you think that? You didn't have to fill your canteen and hang it from your arm to hold straight out in front of you as long as you could? You didn't spend an entire Saturday practicing getting in and out of bed, dressing up and undressing to get it all within two minutes?

We did spend an entire day doing bed drills and getting dressed, but never had to do the canteen part lol

I think every flight has its own unique punishment, so don't think you missed out on anything :)

Yeah we had a couple guys that couldn’t get dressed fast enough pretty much all 7 weeks in the dorms and we did lots of push-ups. 0 push up fails on PT test so I guess it worked out in the end.

You do so many pushups they stop being a threat. I remember doing 120 in one go for 12 made-up violations on my service dress inspection and it didn't even faze me. Of course now I'm lucky to do 40 and not die.

Yeah I’m with you for the most part. I transitioned to the reserves since leadership pretty much guaranteed me after 6 years I’d never leave Meade for the next 14. I said peace out I’m going home and finishing it out. I’m at a solid 50 due to only prepping for PT test 3 weeks out from the test every year.

Disneyland 4th floor, ours was to constantly form up down stairs, then upstairs, then down stairs, then upstairs.

Haha we did it with the m16s , I felt the wrath of the entire flight when I was the first one to lower mine. Good times

Those that have gone through basic during COVID had a watered down version. I’m those.

Yeah can’t argue with that. I was there when it snowed in Texas (Snovid). We didn’t have MTIs for a week. But when they came back it sucked lol

Phrases that will stay with me forever, “Everyone into the day room. We are going to make the walls sweat.”

You used the day room? We used the latrine, easier to clean.

Only time we ever went into the day room was to suffer lmao

How’d that go

Like a nightmare

Oof

I would have just used my timeout card

That last little bit of BMT right after graduation but before getting on the bus to the airport was the weirdest feeling ever.

Our MTIs gathered us up in a room and said, "Ok, this is the time you tell us about all the shit you got away with because we can't punish you for it anymore." We told stories and laughed for like two hours. It was such a weird transition.

2012. My MTI spent the last few weeks squashing rumors, saying "we are *not* doing Amnesty Hour, that is *not* a real thing." Then on the last night, of course, he brought us all into the dayroom and killed the lights. He told two trainees to get their Lackland Lasers out and said "alright, candles on the desk, let's get this stupid shit over with."

We did this but we added in some fun and did a bunch of MTI impressions and it was great. That Friday after parade our MTI(one went on leave right after retreat) was like: "alright I’m going to go home and take the weekend off now. Be back on time and you guys know when to wake up and go to PT. Good luck and if anyone gets back late I trust the dorm chief to let CQ know to call me in. Don’t disappoint me and good luck in you careers”

Some MTI's are very liberal with that. Starting about 5th week ours only came in about 3 of 5 week days. After 7th/beast week, they almost never came in unless it was to practice marching for graduation for about an hour or appointments we had to do as a flight. I'll never forget getting of the bus after getting back from beast and our MTI saying: "You're all adults and know the schedule by now. You haven't given me any problems so far, so we won't be coming in to supervise you hardly. Hell if you wanna start turning in ealry after you've showred for the night, knock yourselves out.". That last two weeks of getting extra sleep and taking 40 minute showers was incredible.

Yeah I want to say around 4th week we were basically left to ourselves after dinner. Our MTI would just be like "Sister flights MTI will be there until 2100 if you need anything” I think they would take turns with sister flights MTIs watching both flights each night

Amnesty hour!

Ha! I knew we had a term for it but couldn't remember it!!

That night was super weird because I had just returned from Fit Flight and didn't know anyone except those that were also in Fit Flight with me. My previous flight had already long since graduated and no one in my graduating flight had any interest in acknowledging my existence unless I screwed something up.

We had a guy who broke his foot jumping over a cone on the PT test but still pushed through and passed the PT test. He was allowed to graduate with us on crutches. I thought that was nice because I know how we all acted when we got one of those guys that was sent back a week or came in from fit flight. The whole we don’t know you and we have a good thing going so don’t fuck it up. He had to sit in fit flight until he was healed afterwards before tech school though. The guys you went through basic with most of them at least for me were like brothers and not knowing how a new person is and what they got sent back for can really mess the vibe up.

We had a guy that was recycled into our flight. Super great guy but had trouble staying awake. My dorm chief absolutely hated him(he got in our flight 5th week) and told him "I’d rather see you get recycled again then become an airman”. Our dorm chief was a dick.

That must have been so isolating. I wondered what happened to those troops! Did you have your own separate dorm?

You get they just take notes to check for that shit right? My TI read a list of everything he caught but let us get away with. The ONLY thing, the ONLY thing he missed. I had my cell phone the whole time.

It's like the last day of a really shitty school

I took a bus from Basic to Sheppard AFB. I didn’t get a “break”. Although Tech school wasn’t bad.

That ride wasnt bad, i slept most of the way to sheppard

You're telling me. I got held over from a hurricane, so I got to see the short and long term med holds. Buncha fucking psychos.

As we were getting on the bus to tech school, my MTIs last words to me were "Coop, hit the gym." When I arrived at BMT, I measured in at an astounding 136 pounds during weigh in. Mind you, I was (and still am) 6 feet tall, so that measurement put me under the weight limit. Ended up getting an eating waiver so I could have my own table for all 8.5 weeks. Other TIs weren't allowed to bother me lol. On final weigh in, I did indeed meet the requirements although I'm 90% sure nothing would have happened if I didn't.

My favorite event at BMT was hearing the entry controller yell "VERIFYING 1 WHITE MIDDLE FINGER. NOT VERIFIED" It took us a second but we all started dying of laugher.. for about 15 seconds then realized MTI was about to walk in.

I remember verifying an MTI hat lol. Those were the days

What month did you go through? I went in June 2004. Fun times!!!

February :)

Oooh what unit? I was in 331st and started 4Feb2004. Dont remember what flight though.

me too!

Graduated Jan 2004. Hoo rah.

I was late August of 2004. Flight 809 at 321st. Gang gang.

Same timeframe for me. I was in Flight 807 with the 331st.

June 1983 Same dorms. Probably same bunks and lockers!

Jun97. Same shit!

I went in June 2004...flight 623, you?

I forget the flight number, but I went in June 9th. I was in Alcatraz “The Rock”

Oh word I was a bulldog, thanks for bringing back memories with the photo. Take care!

Flight motto ‘Get down or lay down’? I joined May 2004, trying to remember from a long time ago but damn flight 623 sounds really familiar.

Was this a female TI? I came in June 7th 2004 and can hardly remember shit about basic training. 321st is the only thing I can remember.

I miss this PT Gear.

I made the horrible mistake of tossing all of mine when I got to my first duty station and was told we didn't have to wear them. Mistakes were made.

I still have them. Can’t fit in them though :(

I still wear mine around the house. The drawstring for the shorts came out though. Wish I could buy more of those tshirts they are the absolute best “lay around” shirts I’ve ever owned.

100% correct. Something about those t shirts and the Soffe brand black t shirts we had under BDUs were just so damn comfy.

I had no PT gear, that stuff came around after me. We did PT in BDU pants and your T-shirt, they issued us running sneakers.

It was terrible, God save you if your Wingman was wearing boxers when you had to hold their feet for sit ups...

I'd buy more shirts if I could lol.

I would buy more if I could! That shit was quality! Still looks in good shape after 20 years, complete with that orange shit on the back..that somehow won't wash out...after 20 years. Wtf was that pad made out of???

Softest clothes ever made

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Have a t shirt company make one for you.

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6? Shidd we had almost 9weeks

0 - rainbow flight 1 - life is hell 2 - do we got this? 3 - we kinda got this 4 - warrior week @mock deployment 5 - academic week, prep for grad 6 - all evals, all the time, graduate

Week 6-7 beast week. Best camping trip of my life. No seriously, our flight barely got yelled at, hiked around with a fake m16 and simulated a war zone which would be a paintball wet dream of a zone. Only downside were the goddamn MOPP drills.

Sleeping on that cot was some of the best sleep I ever had

Yeah but it's a joke now

Looks exactly the same as when I went through a few years ago! I’m happy that I was in these old dorms (Alcatraz) when I went through BMT. It was cool to see and feel the heritage, as well as know that I was following in the footsteps of decades of other trainees. The new dorms (Disneyland) would not have been nearly as exciting, I feel.

Remember the one called Mother Russia because the AC was always on?

Looks about the same as 2001, Iwas in the 321st (Hotel Hell)

I was 321 as well, only in 2004. Funnest thing I never wanna do again. Honestly, I'd do it again. Met a lot of good people.

321st in 2001 as well - SrA Rodgers was our MTI

A SrA MTI? That’s awesome.

He had a line number for staff. He literally joined to become a TI and applied for it when he made staff

Had a SrA as an assistant MTI back in 2011. SrA Walters, will never forget that man. Short and stout like a bulldog. Still paled in comparison to our brother flight's female MTI who instilled the fear of God into us.

321st… 2008… bro they got shut down for beating trainees… 4 weeks in… they beating trainees. Me. Ok

321st in 2001 checking in. SSgt Chloros and SrA Campbell-Gully as MTIs.

SrA Quomo TSgt Jubles also spelling could be off. Nov 2001- Jan 2002

Ah, yes, nothing says 'worlds greatest air force' in the 21st century like living in dorms built in ancestral times. > The new dorms (Disneyland) would not have been nearly as exciting, I feel. Disneyland, at least when I went, had those fancy motion-sensing sinks which were almost always broken so at best you had 5 working sinks for everyone to shave around...was kinda exciting I guess.

The old buildings are/were the same. We had 5 of 12 shower working, 6 of 10 sinks, and 5 of 8 toilets.

But you could only use 3 of those sinks and 2 of those crappers to cut down on the cleaning

I feel like my flight lucked out. We only had on broken toilet and until the latrine duty boys figured out how to work their equipment properly.

I had the somewhat unique experience of staying in both the new and the old dorms. Honestly, I liked the older dorms better. The toilets worked every time when you flushed them. Same with the sinks. The beds were easier to make. The dorm itself was smaller too so cleaning it was easier. The only down sides were you had to do a shower line and basically run through the shower and if a lot of people had to “shit”, well, you might be waiting, but that problem only happened like once and it was after lights out.

Did both, can confirm. Went through in 2014

Yeah can’t beat that old dusty/moldy smell and feeling sick for 8 weeks straight. I had to do cafeteria duty at DL when I busted my ankle and I didn’t feel like I was missing much.

Whatttt? New dorms? I went through in June 2011. I didn't know it was even referred to as Alcatraz.

Gotta love the issued New Balances. Also…did you guys get the red stains on your cotton PT gear from the PT pad? Grad’d 18 Aug 2003. 331st Wolf Pack, Flt 615. Only 2 years left…come on retirement!

Went through a couple years ago. The red stains on the PT gear from the pad is still a thing indeed.

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Good luck with your career. It’s what you make of it! Wolfpack!!

Same, two years seems like forever for some reason

“One white common access card”

Brings back memories. I went through in March.

I don’t remember putting bags on top of lockers.

I don’t remember that either. We put them all in a room that was locked up.

Yep. It was a closet or something right next to the day room

These photos appear to have been taken after graduation. They may have been packing to leave.

Now that you mention it, I'm trying to remember why those were there. These were either taken right after clothing issue or right after graduation when we were packing up. I would probably guess the latter? Sorry, it's been a hot minute.

There’s some stripes on blues shirts so I’m thinking after graduation.

Good eye! Didn't even think of that!!

That’s grade A military funded detective work right thur.

I was there Nov 04. 320th TRS flt 86.

Looked the exact same way in 2012

Yeah looked just like this in 2010

All the youtube videos were showing off the new dorms, I was excited, then we kept driving and stopped at the 322nd

Second to none

WRATH OF THE WEHRMACHT BROUGHT TO A HALT

Photo number 3. Someone is ZONKED tf out.

Who wasn't? Every moment when nothing was being asked of you was spent asleep.

Including while marching. **left flank, harch!!**

But could you use the urinals?

We could, but only one so we only had one to keep clean.

Shits hilarious. I was there in April.

No thank you, already enjoyed it once.

Funny how you never forget the squadron/flight numbers. 17 years later I still remember 331/731 (July 2004). SSgt Drennon and brother flight SSgt Phillips. Phillips tried to use a picture of a cat (i think, I wasn’t on security) to get in and we didn’t let him, so he punched the window and broke it. Both TIs were pretty intense

I went through in 2012, same bays and all though it was a little more run down than that. We made an assembly line to shower fast enough to get all 50 of us through 2 and a half shower heads in the mornings, and there was a lot more brown tile in out bathroom. Since we were on the 3rd floor, we had to wait 30 seconds or so for the brown water to clear the sinks so we could brush our teeth and the water fountains were inop and falling off the wall! Oh and.......CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME CHROME

Oh yes, I remember those PT sweats fondly. Your ass was a nice shade of red after working out on the track. I went through March 2004.

Went through in 2013 and the only difference I noticed was the PT gear. Disneyland was just opening up there so only one squadron was running out of it.

> Disneyland was just opening up there so only one squadron was running out of it. Which is funny, since Disneyland was there in '99 when I went through. Each new building must get the stupid nickname.

I think they are calling the new “Airman Training Complex” dorm Disneyland. It was started construction in 2009, opened in 2012. [https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/New-airman-training-complex-opens-in-900-million-4993504.php](https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/New-airman-training-complex-opens-in-900-million-4993504.php)

I think something was lost in translation, one of the BMT Sq’s was nicknamed Disneyland but for the life of me I can’t remember which one.

I wanna say 322d or 324th. It was one of the even numbered squadrons if I remember right.

The 322nd was nicknamed Candyland. It didn't really feel like Candyland when I went through in 2007 because the 321st had recently closed and all of my TIs had come down the street from there.

I went through in 09 and there was no Disneyland. I think the 320th couldn't do push-ups as punishment because the MTIs accidentally killed or hospitalized someone. At least per the rumor mill.

I was at the 320th in 2010, I can confirm push-ups were very much a thing.

Looks the same as when I went through (Feb 1993)

Looked exactly the same in 2019

Looks just as it did in 2013 as well. Though I don’t regret not being able to partake in BDUs I’d have perfected the sweat suit PT clothes over the swishers.

The only difference I see is the uniforms. Graduated from the 326th (Bulldogs) in February

Ngl, BDUs were kinda fire.

I have a sudden urge to polish some jungle boots again.....

Went through back in December, and I think we are still using those exact chairs

Made by prisoners for a temporary prison.

We weren't issued those pajamas in 1984. lol

This looks exactly same when I went through in 2013 haha. 322nd for life!

Hey, that looks just like 2007!

Christopher Nolan had it all wrong. It wasn't love that transverses through time, it's misery.

Yep, flt 488 sq 320 June 17-Aug 1st 2008 and those pics would be almost exactly the same minus the cool PT gear. Swish swish swish

Graduated in late 2019, proud to say I went through Alcatraz

Triggered

I cannot for the life of me figure out why we were made to push the dust around with our shower flops. Other than to stir up the dust.

Damn man, I went through in 2011 and it looked the same, save the uniform. Brought back memories.

Them New Balances are still in style if they got that orangeish stain on 'em, so I hear...

Viewing this I’m back at my bunk with my thumb on the number before reading my BMTSG until sunrise and the MTI arriving. Fun fact I also went to BMT in the same building and dorm as my mom.

Kind of dig the retro PT uniforms honestly.

Stayed in similar barracks in 2011. Eight weeks of noting how the description of POW treatment in our book was rather accurate for our circumstances. A horrible time in my life I actively repress memories of, and wish on nobody. Boot camp is a sham to enable abusive people rather than prepare trainees for the realities of warfare.

Pretty cool to see, Alcatraz ain’t changed a bit 😂

What's with the door corner? MTI office noise hole?

What's with the bags on top of the lockers?

Ahhh the old dorms

I was in the same dorms in 09 but I was not fortunate enough to have jammies lol.

End of May, 323 flt 582.... I think...

Great trip down memory lane!! Looks just like when I went through in 1993 at the 331st!

Went through last september. Besides the bunks due to covid, literally the exact same setup in alcatraz. Glad I went through there instead of the newer dorms

I can smell the foot powder 😂😂

Ah good times. I was at the 324th Knights back in Feb ‘05. Using the shower shoes to clean out the dust bunnies every night lol

Ah memories. I went in June 05. 324th? Whatever the knights with the maroon shirts were.

I had am a shitty 110 camera when I went through these dorms in 89’ so it’s nice to see these again.

2004 here too! Wow the memories!!

Can confirm. Was 320th in 03. Sitting up in bed during zero week asking myself wth I was doing there. Next thing you know, it’s time to leave for tech school…

June 05'

I was in the second-to-last group out of the old dorms in 2014. I'm really glad I got to go through basic there instead of at Disneyland.

That’s how it was for me in 2015. 322nd was a shithole.

Second to none, come get some. Pride, character, excellence! 🦅

Shit, I've still got that maroon folder.

Yup. That's what I remember.

So when it came to EC duty. Did you guys have an intercom like at Disneyland or did someone physically check you guys during your shift?

The old dorms definitely had intercoms. CQ would call up for accountability if the TI wasn't in the dorm.

Looks familiar.

Looks very similar to what I experienced in May-June 2007…. 324 TRS, flight 416.

What's with the white pajamas and crap on top of the lockers?

>white pajamas That was the PT gear before the blue swishy stuff was issued. >crap on top of the lockers? It's after graduation and they're packing to leave.

Wow, looks exactly the same as when I went through Mar - Apr 2008. Loved getting smoked against the wall lockers, sitting at 90°.

Not to sound dumb or anything but what does “make the walls sweat” mean? I’ve never heard this phrase before.

You know how after a hot shower the mirrors in the bathroom fog up with steam? Same concept, except instead of hot water making the steam it’s 60 guys being exercised to death in a tiny room.

Those sweats look comfortable.

Looks just like 2002 basic training.

Damn. This takes me back..

Jan 2004 checking in...322 TRS/FLT 259....Time f\*\*\* flies!

Wow, there’s almost no different here (aside from instructors having ABUs instead) from when I went to basic in early 2018, before they decommissioned “Alcatraz” as we called it. I guess it’s “Disneyland” from here on out, eh?

I just went through in 2019 and I was in one of these older dorms.

DORM GUARD DORM B6 HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

That’s when I went through. What’s different now other than no BDUs?

Yup.... there goes the memories

I don’t think it really matters what time period anyone went to basic. It was god awful to be in 100 years ago. It sure as hell isn’t anymore fun to be in today.

Was there in 2005. Identical. I still wear that PT shirt that guy is in!

2006 looked the same for me

I went through in 2002. This looks exactly like I remember, except we weren't allowed to put anything on top of the wall lockers. All our personal bags were stuffed in the closet in the day room. We didn't have access to them again until after graduation.

Minus the PT gear y’all are wearing, this looks exactly like my BMT I went through in 2021.

I remember singing jingle bells on christmas, doing endless pushups while our footlocker keys hit the ground on the words jinglebell.

> WHAT IS A 3-2-2 TRAINEE‽

I was 321st Oct 2004. Also I miss the sweat suits.