Will my boyfriend have any free time after Air force basic training graduation to spend with me?
My boyfriend is leaving on March 3rd for Air Force basic training. I live in southern California and we are trying to figure out if it is worth the money for me to fly to San Antonio for his graduation. We don't want to spend money for a flight to Texas only to spend 30 minutes together. We can't afford it right now. So i guess what I'm getting at is will my boyfriend be able to go off base with me at all or will he have to go to technical training immediately after graduation? If so how many days will he be allowed to go off base? Thanks everyone you were a lot of help :) I really appreciate it.
Military - 6 Answers
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1 :
There was no ceremony or time off when I completed basic and was put on a bus for tech school in Biloxi.
2 :
Thursday Orientation Briefings (7:30am, 11:00am): Attend either of the briefings at the Reception Center. Sign-In (one time, Thursday-Sunday): Beginning on Thursday and throughout the weekend you'll need to sign-in. This will help your Airman as they will check the sign-in rosters prior to starting base liberty or town pass. PLEASE DO NOT SURPRISE YOUR AIRMAN--parents have missed their Airman an entire day because their Airman departed on pass not knowing they had visitors Airman's Run (Summer 9:00am, Winter 9:30am): Cheer the Airmen as they run by singing 'jodies' in flight formation Airman’s Coin Ceremony (1:30pm) followed immediately by Retreat – in which we pay tribute to the flag – then Honor Graduate and Top PRT ceremony conducted in the BMT Reception Center auditorium. Meet with your Airman immediately afterwards. Most Airmen are released for Base Liberty immediately following the ceremonies. (Some Airmen may have limited visitation due to training requirements.) Buffet Dinner Opportunity (2:00pm-7:30pm): At the Gateway Club, Airmen pay half price for the buffet at the Gateway Club. Visitors pay full price. Ala carte Menu also available from 4:30-8:00pm. End of Liberty (7:30pm): Airmen due back in their dormitory. Your Airman's commander or military training instructor may impose an earlier return time. Friday Orientation Briefing (7:15am): Reception Center. You do not have to attend Friday's Orientation Briefing if you have already attended an Orientation Briefing on Thursday. The same topics are discussed during Thursday's and Friday's Orientation Briefings. Transportation to Parade Ground (7:30am-8:45am): Buses depart Reception Center for easy access to the parade grounds (we recommend taking a bus due to limited parking at the parade grounds) Graduation Parade (9:00am): Watch Airmen "Pass In Review" and reaffirm their "Oath of Enlistment" at graduation parade; Airmen are released for base liberty and may take photographs by historical aircraft positioned around the parade field Return Bus (9:45am): Buses depart the parade ground for the Reception Center; Airmen may ride back with you Squadron Open House (10:00-11:00am): Visit your Airman's dormitory; parking in squadrons is prohibited Lunch Opportunity (11:00am-1:30pm): Visit the Gateway Club for a wonderful lunch buffet. Airmen pay half price while their Visitors pay full price. Airman, Spouse and Parent Orientation (12:00pm & 1:00pm): This orientation, which takes place at the BMT Reception Center Auditorium, provides information on tech training, pay, entitlements, benefits, and available services. Town Pass (2:00pm-7:30pm) Note: Airmen must remain in the San Antonio metropolitan area, but may visit Sea World, Fiesta Texas and family/friends near local military installations to include Randolph AFB. Airmen must coordinate exceptions to this limitation through their Training Squadron Leadership. Airmen are also prohibited from visiting the 'offlimits' establishments discussed during their Town Pass briefing. A listing of these establishments is also displayed on their dormitory bulletin board and is included in the Visitor’s Guide document. End of Liberty (7:30pm): Airmen are due back in their dormitory. Saturday Town Pass (9:00am): Airmen begin arriving at the Reception Center to start Town Pass. Note: Airmen must remain in the San Antonio metropolitan area, but may visit Sea World, Fiesta Texas and family/friends near local military installations to include Randolph AFB. Airmen must coordinate exceptions to this limitation through their Training Squadron Leadership. Airmen are also prohibited from visiting the 'offlimits' establishments discussed during their Town Pass briefing. A listing of these establishments is also displayed on their dormitory bulletin board and is included in the Visitor’s Guide document. 737th Training Group http://www.lackland.af.mil/ Page 3 of 3 End of TownEnd of Town Pass (7:30pm): Airmen are due back in their dormitory Sunday Religious Services (6:30am-4:00pm): If you and your Airman plan to attend religious services, you must attend your Airman's designated service for their denomination. Town Pass (9:00am-6:00pm) Note: Awarded to Top Physically Fit Airmen, members of Honor Flights, and Honor Graduates ONLY. Base Liberty (9:00am): Airmen are released from their squadrons for base liberty Sunday Brunch (9:30am-1:30pm) The Gateway Club is open to all visitors. Trainees $8.95 and family & friends of Graduating BMT’s pay $12.95. End of Liberty (6:00pm): Airmen are due back in their dorms. Your Airman's commander or military training instructor may impose an earlier return time. i know its a lot of reading but it really is worth it to see your airman
3 :
Not sure how it works for the Air Force but in the Army you get a family day where you have a day you can spend with your family before graduation.
4 :
Of course you will! I actually went through this with my husband in dec 2008. They might send you a letter in the mail, if he put you as a contact. But graduations are always on fridays. So on the thursday before the graduation, you get to see him run by in squadron formation, and they have the coin ceremony. after that, from about 1pm to 6:30-7p, they can hang around on base with you. They cannot leave the base on that thursday. Then friday, after the graduation, they show you their dorms, and then they have a town pass. while i was there, my husband had a town pass until 7pm, on that friday and saturday. Town pass starts at 9am on saturday and he gets to hang out off base all day. He also had a town pass on that sunday from 9am until 7pm, but i left on sunday morning. But in all, yes you will have time to spend with him. (unless he did something wrong and his TI takes his town pass, but im sure he'll behave.) And to give you a heads up, I stays from the weds before the graduation and i left that sunday morning, and i spent about $600, and another $200 once i got there for food, shopping, etc. And that was just for one person! let me know if you have any other questions... im more than willing to help :)
5 :
Generally, yes. He will have his Airman's run and coin ceremony that Thursday. This is where he actually recieves the title of Airman, no more Trainee! Then he'll be released for base liberty. This means you guys can spend time together on Base. Friday is Parade in the morning (the actual ceremony), and then he is released for the day and must return by whatever curfew he is given. Then Saturday, most people receive a town pass. This means he can finally leave Lackland with you! Sunday is usually base lib like the other days with an earlier curfew (usually between 3-6pm). Now, there's a few things to take into consideration. This is the military, so nothing is promised or set. His TI has the power to restrict his base lib or town pass time if he or his flight screws up. Mine took 2 hours away of Sunday base lib from our flight because one of our element leaders was flirting with an Airman from our brother flight. Also, with the new 8 week schedule, there may have been some changes to the exact schedule. He will have the oppurtunity to send a Graduation schedule along with Vehicle passes for anyone visting after he arrives at BMT. This should be what you go by. Another thing to consider, he will have the opportunity to gain extra town pass time by either achieving Thunderbolt or higher on his physical fitness evaluation, or by his flight doing well and earning honors. My husband and family were fortunate enough to get lodging on Lackland. So I was happy even if we didn't get town pass because I could spend all day with them at the hotel and not stuck at the PX or bowling alley like everyone else. Also, lodging is very affordable, BUT you must call and make a reservation ahead of time, AND they usually only take reservations 3 days in advance (this was as of August last year). Soooo, it really is up to you. It feels GREAT to see the people you care about after going through basic, and while even 30 minutes with each other seems worth it after such a stressful accomplishment, if it's not financially appropriate for you, then hopefully you can arrange a visit while he is at Tech school (this also depends on his AFSC and what kind of training he is in for it to be worth it). But coming from someone who went through just the 6 week BMT, I know I would've given anything for even just a minute with my family and for them to be there to see me graduate. It is such a proud feeling. He's made a great decision to join the Air Force, wish him good luck for me. BMT is over before you know it!
6 :
the day of graduation, you two will be able to spend the whole entire afternoon together as well as the day after/before graduation. [im pretty sure, thats what i read since my boyfriend is at Lackland AFB for basic for the Air Force too...graduating March 6th!!] you two will definitely spend more than 30 minutes together, but keep in mind that after those couple of days you spend with him he has to leave for tech school. he is allowed to have "town passes" and thats pretty much where he can leave base until a certain time then he has to report back to his barrack and you two can either be together on base, or in the san antonio area. [i heard the san antonio river walk is awesome] i hope i helped <3
