I'll try to post an entry with all the tips I have for future OTs that I've learned in the last 5 weeks at Basic Officer Training (you will see me referring to the program as OTS and BOT. Both are correct. BOT is the program at OTS that commissions air force officers). A few that I can think of now are below. They will be random and not organized in any logical manner. Maybe some day I will organize them.
-Live out of your laundry bag. Dont waste time folding, rolling and displaying clothes when you only have to have one of each item in your drawers/closet for room inspection. No one will look inside your laundry bag.
-Don't go without caffeine for longer than you need to. Know what the OTSMAN says. Also know that OTS commissionsed staff (namely your flight commander) can't approve caffeine for you until two weeks have passed. Conclusion: do something good as a flight, and get caffeine privledges early.
-Shirt garters- get the ones that only clip once to each sock. Dont get the ones I got that reqiure two for each leg. Worst of all, dont get none. You will look like a slob.
-Keep DIRTS towels handy in your dorm room so you can use them to wipe things clean before leaving , and as a shower bath mat. You can't put them in the laundry bin in the morning because if the laundry room gets inspected your entire floor will get a demerit. They can be stored during the day by hiding them under your laundry bag, or you can shove them behind the desk hutch thing. Just make sure they dont hang down to where they are visible through the holes that the cords for your computer run through. I suppose you could also hide the above the ceiling tiles in your room, but we've never had the need to do that. Also, if they ever looked up there you would have a hard time convincing anyone that they've been there for a long time if they are still damp.
-Taco Bell at the base exchange closes at 3pm on Sunday. Get there before that.
-You won't have much time for meals. I tried to make all food into a sandwich. This let me eat enough food to survive in the short period of time you are intially given to eat.
-If you bring food with you, like I did, you might be told you can't have food in the dorm past TD-2. I don't think this is true. Read your OTSMAN and figure it out, OT. I just put my food in my civilian luggage, which gets locked up in a storage room, and got it later when we reached phase 2.
-DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, unless you really like ants, put open food or food wrappers in your CamelBak at any field excersizes, to include the confidence course, BELPS, blue thunder, ropes course. They will find your food or empty wrapper (complete with tasty snack residue) and they will colonize the inside of your CamelBak. They are everywhere.
Tips for the first few days:
-Lights on is 4:30. Get up before this, put a towel under your door to block the light, and shave and get dressed. You door WILL be pounded on at 4:30 and you will be expected to be outside almost immediately.
-Your room wont be inspected the first week. Don't waste time trying to set it up. Wait until the weekend for that. Also, only make your bed once. Sleep on top of it. Often times you won't have time to make it in the time you have between physical training and breakfast and/or class. This is true for all of OTS, not just the first few weeks.
-Make sure to know chapter 1 of the OTSMAN and Section 1 of the 24TRS supplement to the OTSMAN by TD-3. If you don't know it fully by then, know it by TD-6. Trust me. You will be tested on it. Also know your knowledge that you are required to memorize out of The Hawk. Know it cold. Trust me on that one too. You will be asked to recite that, and it wont be in the clam setting of your dorm room.
Other Tips:
-Demerits don't mean that much. Don't get too upset when you get them. Just don't get more than 150% of the flight average, or 5 or more if the flight average is less than 5 or you will lose privlegdges. (also, know that rule- you will be asked about it).
-OTMRs on the other hand, you don't want. Too many in one category can get you recycled.
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