Getting Fired or Recycled at Air Force BMT 

One of the biggest things you can do to help yourself at basic in any service is arrive in good physical shape. Find out what the standards are to graduate and then be able to pass the test BEFORE you arrive. Even better, be able to exceed the standards. Don't show up expecting that you'll gradually get in shape as training progresses. Trust me, that's not a good plan. There is so much going on at a mental level that you don't want to deal with the physical side if you can possibly avoid it. Show up at basic having the physical side whipped and you've already have half the battle won before you even start.

I got a 103+ degree fever (bed rest for a few days) and was on a running waiver for a little bit for twisting my knee in BMT (separate incident). I still made it through with my original flight. If something happens, it's not a guaranteed recycling, guys. Not that this vid says it is; I just wanted to encourage everyone. You can often push through. That's one of the biggest lessons of BMT, actually.

LOL am I the only person who thought of the Jelly Doughnut scene from Full Metal Jacket??

I got my 6th week interchanged with 7th week because I got pneumonia and an anxiety attack at the same time. Like most other trainees who got pneumonia, they were stuck in med hold or got recycled. When my flight commander called me up to talk about getting recycled, I straight up told him I don't want to be held back and I'll be healed enough to run the 7th week pt test. We agreed that if I didn't pass my 7th week pt test , I'll be recycled . I didn't do regular pt or ec shift for 3 weeks because of waivers. I did my personal pt by my bed while everybody was in BEAST and I was attending 7th week classes during my 6th week. I worked alot on my burpees because it's the closest thing I can get to cardio for running. By the time the 7th week pt test came up, I was off my waivers, but I still had some liquid in my lungs from pneumonia. My flight already did the pt test so I was on my own doing it. My flight commander was personally there to see me fail. I proved him wrong. I did 86 pushups, 78 sit ups, 24 pullups, and a 10:46 mile 1/2. For you kids going to BMT..goodluck! Do not let sickness or injury stop you from your goals.

Thank you for your honesty. Its helpful because we feel that we are not the only person in the world that has messed something up. Great video. You're a great guy.

Another fine and informative video. I enjoy hearing about how things are done now. When I was in Boot Camp in 1971 , it lasted 6 weeks. We didn't do a number of things you do now with the M16 training and your over night camp outs.Keep up the fine work young man. It's encouraging to me to see a fine young like you serving in our military.

Thanks for sharing your experience as Dorm Chief. Staying focused and following a regimen will help greatly. You stayed strong and persevered, now look at you, the experience has made you the airmen you are today. An EXCELLENT ONE that will succeed to the top.

Dont feel bad about loosing dorm chief. I think we went through 3 dorm chief's. the dorm chief's have a lot of weight on their shoulders. I feel for them

I'm shipping off to BMT July 26, and your videos help with the confusion and stress I have about it so much, thank you!

Thanks for sharing your experience. There's so much responsibility placed on a Dorm Chief....kudos to you for being one...even if it wasn't for the entire duration. My son was recycled due to an allergic reaction to the penicillin injection. They thought he had a stress fracture and he had to wait 4 days before he could get an MRI to prove them wrong. If he could have gotten the MRI sooner, he could have RTT'd back to his original flight, but no, he got pushed back one week.

I was a squad leader in basic, did great until I injured by left leg (slipped on the confidence course over the water hazard and wrapped my leg around the rope and made it over). While marching back to the dorm, I was limping and the TI put me in the back of the squad. When we got back to the dorm, I went to medical and the doctor said no running. They took my town pass and had me do "dorm guard" duties while everyone else went downtown.

The very thought of getting recycled and having an extra 2 or 3 weeks of Army basic with strangers was excellent motivation for me to do my best. Sadly we had a couple of guys that had been recycled 2 maybe even 3 times for failing PT tests. What sucked was we could tell these 2 recruits really wanted to become soldiers. One of them even started crying when he failed his last PT test and was getting discharged. It made us dislike the slackers in our platoon intensely. The ones who needed extra PT to pass were sent to 'FTU' or 'Fitness Training Units' which we dubbed 'Fat, Tired and Ugly'. Yes, I know it's not 'socially acceptable' but I still find it funny. The military loves using acronyms and it's members like twisting their definitions even more.

Hey brother. I just wanted to drop a note and first tell ya thank you for serving. I am an old guy, that went to BMT in 1979. I have enjoyed your videos on how things are done these days. A little different, but a lot the same. I retired in 2000. Keep up the videos. I wish we had RU-vid to watch before hand when I first went into BMT so many years ago.. ;)

Hey man want to thank you for all of your videos great advice and help !! I actually ended up joining the Army as a small arms artillery repair. I'm off to fort Jackson on May 17 for basic ! Woo! Super excited !!!

Your videos have helped so much! I will be shipping out this Tuesday and I believe in ready! I'm thankful I could watch videos to somewhat get me ready!

That music reminds me of the sims 2

You give such good information, thank you for helping others. I sure wish I could be my son to watch more videos. He is in the dep now and I think he could really use all the info you and others are offering. You seem like a great guy and smart too. Someday some girl is going to be very lucky.

I originally went to basic training in the Army. When I went to basic training in the Air Force I was their for about 3 1/2 weeks. Their where 3 other airmen that were in the same status. I was the only one that was prior infantry. Even though the TI was on a mission to attempt to make us go through the entire 6 1/2 weeks he initially looked at my paper work and under his breath muttered a compliment to me. I was the only one in that group that made it out in 3 1/2 weeks. The other three screwed up by getting too many 341s being pulled for things such as incorrect reporting statement, security violations etc. When you are in the prior service mode the intensity they watch you is quadrupled. You have to watch every movement you do. You will have to: pass the Air Force airmans test, uniform inspection, TI Evaluation and PT Test. The last day I was their and had passed everything I was surprised my TI actually shook my hand and wished me luck. My secret was I watched all of my military actions as close as I could. It was not easy.

The worst case of recycling I ever witnessed, way back in 1993 Our father flight's dorm chief & 1 element leader were sent back to day 2 , the day after graduation, one had a vehicle pass the other didn't, both were seen getting into the same car and when returning to Lackland My Ti was waiting for them " he was their Ti until week 3 then he got moved to our flight" 6 weeks of permanent dorm guard since all their classes and tests had been completed.

This is a great video because I'm sure a lot of people don't feel comfortable talking about getting fired or recycled out 👍👍

NOTE: They yell about being recycled more than they actually DO it. Also, if you're Guard (I was), they're more reluctant to recycle you because of the red tape with your State (that doesn't mean it's impossible, just less likely!).

That's the stock experience of recycling. In theory, the main reason any trainee gets recycled is because said trainee had a progression issue. I failed the 4th week inspection, so that's how I got mine. No big deal, really. I only had to repeat 4th week. But the dirty little secret is that any fault or defect is considered a "scarlet letter" and you do wear that for the rest of your first term. In plain English: the training gets harder because you were recycled, which mean you are a dirtbag. Dirtbags don't belong in the Air Force, so you have to bust your butt harder than the ones that do belong. The 331st was "hard mode" as far as BMT goes. They had a sadistic taste for blood. Even if you're doing things right, that doesn't mean they won't try and find something you're not doing right. Then you have the cutthroat nature of dorm chiefs and element leaders running things behind the MTIs' backs, since MTIs may or may not be so committed into doing things "by the book". Troop drawdowns didn't help all that much for me either, so don't be surprised if MTIs aren't going to have a mutually helpful interest in seeing you succeed. Any trainee they can wash out for x-y-z reason would be success to them for keeping a "leaner" force. But I graduated by the skin of my nuts... *Do your job and do it right, and never trust the system!!!*

"The more advanced ass rippings" 😂😂😂

Graduated Flt 199, April 83, (That's not a typo). Anyway, I left my security drawer on my bed stepped two beds away from it and the dorm guard confiscated it, so I feel your pain.

In the Coast Guard there is required knowledge that you can apparently fail or get recycled for. Can you get recycled if you fail memorizing the Airman's Creed?

Thanks for the tips. I recently signed up with the Air force, and take my asvab sometime next week. Iam nervous and excited at the same time. Anyways thanks a whole lot for the videos!:)

I loved being at the bottom of the chain during basic. less BS lol

i'm in afjrotc and a got fired from flight sergeant because i wasn't letting them mess around so this girl told my sergeant that i was yelling at her for no reason when i never yelled at her and that i was calling her names so ya i'm no longer flight sergeant and i have 4 more high school years hopefully i don't have in any other years.

I'm sorry you got fired, but at least you did't get recycled.

great video, you are very well trained and motivated. youtube is the stuttering brigade.

I got recycled for total B.S. I had an inspection tag in my pocket of my dress blues and my underwear wasn't folded correctly. I was in basic for 9 weeks.

Very Informative. Good job!

We had a guy when I went to boot amp in 83. Prior Amry, as we sat in reception. Most of us asking ourselves. What did I get myself into, the prior army guy said. Look guys. After 5 th week. We can get Sunday off. Well. That wasn’t even close. We never got a day off. After awhile he wouldn’t shut up. Our platoon was thrashed all the time, finally at second phase, the sent him to pcp and recycled. Last I heard he is still there

If you get recycled you have to try to get recycled. Folding your shirt a little wrong will not get you recycled or booted. But breaking major rules like maybe smoking in the bathroom or sneaking out at night will. BMTI's are going to smoke you for minor stuff, that is the game of basic training. If you go outside the rules on purpose to circumvent. Then yeah.. ALSO depending on the job market and how hard it is for recruiters to bring in new blood, the bar to get you recycled or booted can go up or down. When the economy is hurting and jobs are hard to find they are less likely to put up with alot of BS as they can easily bring another recruit in and recycling becomes less an option and just booting you does.. When recruiters are not making goal as easily they will recycle you over booting.. The goal is to put qualified recruits through training and weed out the undesirables. In a war zone is not the place to have someone with discipline problems.

They stopped MTI Tools for just about every TRS .. At least when I was in BMT (almost a month ago)

I got an Air Force ad before this video

2:26 lmfao sounded like u were about to sing

I forced myself to complete the whole 8 weeks after absolutely destroying my legs during a run. The only thing that I could take was bengay, I refused sick call because that was almost an immediate recycle.

Can you make on demerits and How to keep your bed & locker

Can you make a video on how to handle each and every job in basic

*ASSRIPPINGS*

Do you recommend being a green rope at tech school? Currently at tech school

hey man, how long have you been in the airforce? liking it? planning in joining here this year

What if they take extra stuff, eat it, and place the evidence in your bed or locker?! 😱

Bruh i knew you looked familiar. I see the Flag. Im from Md. I leave November 3rd

If u get hurt or recycled do u get paid for that extra time u had to spend there?

Can you qualify as an honor grad even if you didn't volunteer for like dorm chief, chow runner etc. Just wanna know.

Question. If 3 Superiors are in your face, which one do you listen to? Or if all 3 how do you listen to 3 people at once?

so are you still enlisted? and if so, is that what the dorms look like? just curious.

Thanks for your response but how can you graduate BMT with honor guard? Also what is the benefit of being honor guard?

Hi there(: one question, how do you graduate with honors?

If u fail beast week u and ur squadron go back two weeks.

great video. I ship july 7th

Is dorm chief like ring a supervisor or big brother?

Will the family get notified if an airman basic gets recycled and therefore have a different graduation date? Does the answer change based on being recycled for disciplinary reasons vs. injury reasons? Thanks. Love the videos. My son is seriously considering joining after completing 2 years of community college.

How did you get 2 stripes?

You’re talking as if they would’ve recycled/demoted your for accidentally leaving your drawer open...

Hey bro what part of Maryland are you from I'm from greenbelt Maryland, Prince Georges County, and I'm in the airforce haha

Is there any yelling in medhold

Do you have a video on the rules in BMT?

Why do you call Airman, soldiers?

I'm leaving May 24 😁 Join Facebook Group Air Force BMT 2016 to meet people that leave with you

Defac? You mean chow hall?

do you have to have a job at bmt

I am 22 yrs old and I would like to go back to school for my Bachelor's degree. I am very much interested in joining the Air Force but I'm torn between Active Duty and Reserve. If I were to join the Reserve is it easy to switch over to active duty after a while with the same job? And what are the education benefits like? Does it cover 100% of tuition like active duty? And how quickly would this benefit become effective? Do you get health care as well?

Basically stuttering again

Hey did you get active duty or reserve thx if you do answer

Who else ships out on August 11, 2015?

why "my soldiers" when you're an airmen......

what was being dorm chief like?

Don’t salute indoors

How can you get honor guard?

Hey man what's your job?

Lmfao a guy in tech school who just graduated Bmt is trying to give Air Force advice. BMT is easy do your damn job and leave same with techschool

First comment

I make military videos! Check em out