This series is the perspective of a prior-enlisted 24 TRS cadet who is attending TFOT. I have been hearing rumors of changes to TFOT and COT. The gist of what I am hearing is that TFOT and COT will be a merged into a course taught by both 23 TRS and 24 TRS, and Det 12 will be absorbed into 23 TRS. Here is the perspective.
Cadet Profile
- Prior Enlisted
- 24 TRS
Arrival Week (Zero Week)
Arrival
Show up squared away. Your laces should be tucked, your watches off, and you should look presentable. I showed up in a t-shirt and jeans but many others showed up in shorts and a t-shirt, just don’t show up in flip flops or sandals. We were told to drop our bags and stand outside. Then we were cycled into a building and were issued our CamelBak, OTSMAN, a MRE, and we signed in.
AAFES
After that they taught us some basic drill movements then we were marched down the street to AAFES. It is best to get as many items as you can before you arrive. The more you have when you arrive the less you have to ruck back to the dorms from AAFES in the heat. Bring in-soles!!! Dr. Scholl’s gel comfort, or lower back pain ones worked great for me.
Marching
You WILL spend a TON of time marching in zero week. You will be outside a lot, so hydrate. They will teach you almost all facing movements during this week and you’ll be expected to practice them as a flight and perfect them. I can’t stress enough that having good insoles will save you a lot of pain this week. Event with them, I’m older so my lower back was always throbbing the first week.
In-Processing
We did a urinalysis and blood work on day 2 or 3. Also we in-processed with personnel and finance… if you’re prior service, don’t expect them to be any different than they are at any base.. they will lose your stuff, you will be pissed, and you will have a hard time fitting returning to their office into your busy schedule. They will take your transcripts and orders from you so have those ready with all amendments.
Procedures
Focus on working together as a team and perfecting your DFAC procedures. Until you get here and see it, reading the OTSMAN will only help so much. Memorize your positions and roles and the hardest part is done for you already.
Week 1
Blue Line Ceremony
We started this week with the blue line ceremony. Ours was not what we expected due to speaker issues. We could barely hear our commander so it was a lot of muffled speech, then a FORWARD, HARCH and we all marched across the blue line.. kind of a massive letdown compared to the YouTube videos or prior experiences we heard about, but nonetheless it was a cool experience. After this we did more drill practice and the MTIs and instructors were VERY directive.
Flight Commander
We met our flight commander shortly after the blue line ceremony. We memorized the procedures to open and close a classroom both with and without our instructors. They met with us one-on-one in their cubicle to conduct our first interview and get a feel for you, and vice versa. This week we focused on marching a lot, as in week 2 you’ll have your pennant test which if you pass, you can march yourselves and don’t need MTIs with you to move about.
Academics
Academics started this week as well, get ready to write a paper and build a PowerPoint off said paper. Also you need to STUDY A LOT for these tests. They are Air Force tests with questions akin to Course 14/15 or ALS test questions. Memorization does not always help you pass, and all tests require an 80% average. Focus on academics first and marching second, but spend a few hours this week as a flight preparing for the pennant test. Use passing that test to ask for coffee privileges… You’re going to need so much coffee…
Physical Fitness Baseline (PFB)
We completed our PFB this week. BE PREPARED!!! If you fail, you will have to take a second test roughly 10 business days later. If you fail the backup test, you’re gone. If you fail the PFB bad enough, you’re gone. You will NOT get enough time in your day here, so staying in shape is a challenge. The PT you do as a group is… largely like most organized PT, take it for what its worth. If you get over a 90, you’ll PT on your own.
Week 2
Academic Tests
This week we did our first academic assessment and OTSMAN test as well. The Academic Assessment counts toward graduation, the Student Publication Test (SPT) does not, but you can use the SPT to ask for privileges and you should strive to do as best as you can as a flight.
Pennant Test
This week we did our pennant test. If we passed as a flight you get your guide-on flag “pennant” and are left a bit more on your own to march about to and from. However, the MTIs and instructors are going to harass you on the way to, from, and during chow until at least week 5. They will harass you slightly less each week but IT DOES GET BETTER!!!
Leadership Reaction Course (LRC)
We did LRC this week. This was an Introductory Leadership Opportunity (ILO) which is not graded for graduation for all of our flight as well. We needed two ILOs and 2 Graded Leadership Positions (GLP). GLPs can be flight leader, wing leadership, or just being the lead on an exercise or some smaller wing positions as well. LRC is an obstacle course style thing.. I cannot really explain much as that would ruin it. If you are afraid of heights or want to avoid falling into dirty water up to 3 feet deep, you’re going to have a bad time. Some of the obstacles are actually fun and you will grow a lot as a team. Your teammates will surprise, worry, and terrify you all at once in every exercise. We had fun, but we were glad this 2 days of events was over and we had one more milestone under our belts.
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