Before you go to Basic Training, you may want to become familiar with the following basics that will be required of you.
- Air Force Ranks (both Officer and Enlisted)
- How to Perform the Military Salute
- The BMT Chain of Command
- The Air Force Song
- The Air Force Core Values
- The Airmen’s Creed
- How to Report
HOW TO REPORT
When reporting to a superior, say, “Sir/Ma’am, Trainee (your last name) reports as ordered.”
HOW TO PERFORM THE MILITARY SALUTE
The purpose of saluting is a courteous exchange of greetings when outdoors. Saluting indoors is only required if formally reporting to an officer. As a junior member, you should always salute first. To salute, you must be either standing or marching at attention. Turn your head and eyes toward the officer, salute and extend a verbal greeting (“Good morning, Sir” or “Good afternoon, Ma’am”).
- To salute, raise the right hand up the center line of the body.
- Form a straight line from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow.
- Tilt palm slightly toward the face and keep it flat with the thumb along the forefinger.
- Upper arm is slightly forward and parallel to the ground.
- Tip of the middle finger touches the appropriate contact point.
THE BMT CHAIN OF COMMAND
President
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of the Air Force
Chief of Staff
Air Training Command Commander
Lackland Training Commander
Basic Military Training Group Commander
Squadron Commander
Training Superintendent
Section Supervisor
Team Chief (This is your head Military Training Instructor)
Team Member (These are your Military Training Instructors)
THE AIR FORCE CORE VALUES
Whoever you are and wherever you fit on the Air Force team, the Core Values are what you will live by and learn to cherish. The Core Values are much more than minimum standards. They remind us what it takes to get the mission done. They inspire us to do our very best at all times. They are the common bond among all comrades in arms, and they are the glue that unifies the Force and ties us to the great warriors and public servants of the past.
The First Core Value: Integrity First
The Second Core Value: Service Before Self
The Third Core Value: Excellence In All We Do
THE AIRMEN’S CREED
I am an American Airman.
I am a warrior.
I have answered my nation’s call.
I am an American Airman.
My mission is to fly, fight, and win.
I am faithful to a proud heritage,
A tradition of honor,
And a legacy of valor.
I am an American Airman,
Guardian of freedom and justice,
My nation’s sword and shield,
Its sentry and avenger.
I defend my country with my life.
I am an American Airman:
Wingman, Leader, Warrior.
I will never leave an Airman behind,
I will never falter,
And I will not fail.
THE AIR FORCE SONG
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At ’em boys, Give ‘er the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell of a roar!*
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew! (God only knew!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before and bombers galore.
Nothing’ll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Here’s a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow’s pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you’d live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue!
Flying men, guarding the nation’s border,
We’ll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on.
Nothing will stop the U.S. Air Force!
