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Week 1, Day 4
PT TEST!!!!!
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
Up until this point there has been no formal PT besides lots and lots of marching. If you wanted to do any type of PT, you’d have to do it in the evening with a buddy.
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
The 1.5 mile paperclip is interesting to run. Most people that practiced said they ran about 30 seconds slower on it the first time they ran it. That was consistent with my run as well. When I ran it for the test, I was closer to my normal time again. So, I suggest running it at least once so you know where the ¼ mile markers are, as well as getting used to how it works.
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
Our class PT average was over 91% and I think we had 14 failures. They will get to retest in about 10 days. If they fail the retest, they leave.
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
More classes. Things never really let up during the week, it’s go, go, go all the time.
- I remember this from while I was there. After 9.5 weeks (now eight?) it was go, go go. It was exhausting but I really felt like after the course the impurities of “me” had been burned off and I was a purer form of myself. (SR)
We had a test on the OTSMAN. I don’t think this is a graduation requirement, but I think it does count for honor grad if you care about that sort of thing.
Week 1, Day 5
We had an exercise called TBEX. It’s where they throw your class into four different scenarios (in classrooms) with a team leader, and see how you do. Each exercise was an ILO for that team leader. This was very fun, and challenging.
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
By the way, I’m not going to give you any hints or suggestions when it comes to things like the above exercise. That’s part of the process, to learn on your feet as you go.
- This is good advice. I created my blog for the purpose of giving you all of the background information. There is a huge difference between the words on this site and actually being faced with the real-life experiences. (SR)
After lunch, we learned about the requirements for the first briefing that we have to give (topic is the same as the first paper).
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
Today we took a class photo and the pennant test failures re-tested. Everyone passed this time around, then we had study time for the rest of the day.
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
Week 1, Day 6-7 (Weekend)
Very relaxed again. It was time to do laundry, catch up on sleep, finish the paper, and study for the first test that counts towards graduation (coming on Monday).
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
Had a volunteer blood drive with the Red Cross. You’ll have to do at least two different volunteer things while you are here. And, I don’t think the blood drive counted either.
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
There has been a cold traveling around the wing. Bring cold medicine, hand sanitizer, and multi-vitamins to try and stay healthy.
- When I went to OTS I brought a giant bottle of Airborne chew-able vitamins. I had four per day and it kept me healthy for my entire time at OTS. I also slept most of the weekend away so that helped as well. (SR)
Tip: walk around in your boots a lot before OTS. I thought I had done it enough to break them in and I was wrong. I started getting a little bit of a blister on the back of my heel on one of my feet. Tip 2: bring mole skin.
- No questions or comments yet. (SR)
My morale: overall, I’m actually really enjoying it here. Sure, there is a bit of yelling and hurrying up, but I’m digging the experience. Things will start to get busier and such, but so far, I’ve actually had fun. The only thing that has sucked has been the heat. It’s been crazy hot, way more than is normal for September. However, the forecast looks like it’ll start cooling off soon.
- I can genuinely say I loved my time at OTS. I was tired while I was there and I got worn out toward the end, but I loved every minute. (SR)
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tornadowarning33
Without spoiling too much of the surprise (:D) can you give a basic explanation of how the pennant test is conducted? Is there a list of maneuvers that the flight has to perform correctly, or do you just march around until the staff is satisfied that you know what you’re doing? Is the flight leader for that day the cadet who calls cadence, or does the flight get to pick the flight leader for the test?
airforceotsguy
Have you seen my post on this? https://airforcejourney.com/?s=Pennant+test
Basically there are a bunch of commands you have to execute without marching the flight outside of the boundary.
tornadowarning33
Thanks for the info!
Davidw
This is more for PT and PT test….I wear a compression sleeve on my knee due to knee surgery several years ago. I consistently score 90s and above every year. But are people allowed to wear these at OTS?
airforceotsguy
I’ll ask and see if he replies to see what he says.
airforceotsguy
Yes my source is saying this is allowed at Det 12. I see no reason why it wouldn’t be allowed at the 24th too
Adam Baker
class average was over 91% with 14 failures…how? What is considered a passing score? I am over 30 and don’t get 90s on my PT tests, could I pass the test with a run time of 13:30? I’ve never failed an Air Force PT test.
airforceotsguy
I’m not sure, I’ll ask this cadet. There are the minimums for each component so event a score of 83 or something could be considered a failure. Perhaps that is how. It’s an AF test so you you can reference the pass/fail criteria from the AFI.
Lucas
Hi quick question. I know navy OCS first week for the most part but im not sure about the other weeks run Sunday-Saturday. Is OTS usually Sunday-Friday and Saturdays off or Monday-Friday, weekends off? also how is the class settings are we mostly lectured and have to memorize things or we have class discussions to answer questions and if we get them wrong there is punishment? Thanks
airforceotsguy
OTS official training day is M-F. The training day includes classes, leadership exercises, lectures, LRC, combatives, basically everything on the syllabus. On Saturday and Sunday there is no staff around but they will usually give you things to do on Saturday to include marching practice, volunteer opportunities, etc. Sunday they try to leave you alone.
The most common punishment at OTS is taking a negative mark called a “demerit.” They add up and you get counseled if you have too many. If you mess up with MTIs around they will usually yell but it isn’t too bad. They try to make the auditorium lectures more lecture style like college and the flight room classes very informal and interactive.
trent
If I’m prior service and take a PT test right before going to OTS, do I still have to take another one there?
thanks!
airforceotsguy
Yes you will have to take another one because the PT test itself is a graduation requirement.
trent
got it, thanks!
Maria Vidacovich
Is there a 6 mile run at some point?
airforceotsguy
This will depend on the leadership at the time, it would be best to ask this question to the most recent graduates via facebook or another forum. The longest run will likely be the commander’s run and they won’t do that until well after the PT tests. I doubt they will do six miles though. I would estimate 3-5 as a max. It will likely be a slow paced formation run or something similar.