Here is some more info from our insider. I’m switching up the format of this post because there is more content. (SR)
Week 2, Day 1
PT Preparation
Today was literally the first organized group PT that we have done since I’ve been here, besides the PT test. So, make sure you are good for PT when you get here. And I don’t mean just barely passing. Make sure you are hitting 90+. Getting a 90 is not impossible for anyone. Everyone going to OTS is healthy and physically fit enough to work themselves to 90. It may be easier for some than others, but it’s do-able for all. IF YOU FAIL YOUR PT TEST, IT IS 100% ON YOU. PT is one of the very few things that you can prepare for before OTS. If you are in shape to get a 90% you won’t have that added stress on you, and every bit of stress that you can take off of you is a good thing. We have a flight member that failed their PT test. This flight member is allowed to take one more to make sure they pass. So, the entire time that they have been here, they’ve had that stress hanging over them. Next week is their retest as well as the last week of testable academics. I’ve seen their performance suffer because they have been too stressed. TLDR: Be good on PT. This preparation starts today, not tomorrow.
Organized PT
With that all said the organized PT was fun. We did what they called the “OTSMAN” challenge. It was a slow 5K run where during the run each flight member had to answer a question about the OTSMAN. They asked us stuff like, “What time does sick call open in the morning and afternoon?” If you missed the question you stopped and did 60 seconds of some kind of workout. The run was led by flight commanders. I enjoyed it.
OTSMAN
Speaking of the OTSMAN, you’ll have lots of time to read it. I suggest you take that time while you are in lines at OTS, or waiting for your next event, and just pull it out and keep reading it. I’ve probably read through it a couple time now, and I find something new or useful every time. I’d say read through it once before you come to OTS but not really more than that. If you really want to read it more than that, study the dining procedures over and over and over. Imagine them in your head. Think of little tricks on how to remember what to do. The dining procedures aren’t hard, just a lot to remember. The only thing I’ve been “yelled” at about is to remember to keep my heels together while sitting and eating.
Academics
Today was the first graded assessment on the academics. As a class and as a flight, we were all over the board. The test was 35 questions and all multiple choice. You had to get 80% correct to pass the test. The way the tests work is this: There are three total academic tests. You have to average 80% on all of them to pass OTS. The three tests are not cumulative. If you don’t get an average of 80% on all the tests then you are allowed a fourth, cumulative test on all the material. If you fail this then you go home. As a class, we had like 55 failures on assessment 1.
For me I didn’t feel like the assessment was very hard. We had ample time to do the test. Everyone was done comfortably before the timer ran out. For this test you had to pay attention to detail. When you take the test read the whole question and pay attention to underlined or bolded words. The question often had more than one “right” answer, so you had to pick the best “right” answer.
As for studying for the test all test questions come from the SOBs (Samples of behavior). We were given access to the whole calendar for the whole time here at OTS, so we knew what we were learning before we went to class. Make sure you read the material provided before you go to class. After that, listen and take good notes in class. Get a good understanding of the whole concept. When it comes to actually studying of the test, just focus on being able to answer the SOBs. Last, take time before OTS to really do the prereq course. Almost everything they teach was taught in the prereq course. Doing that really well will make OTS easier.
For the rest of the day, we just had more classes. The fire hydrant never closes!
rick
Hi. Been reading some comments and it states if you fail you go home? You mean you basically get kicked out of OTS and go back home for good?
airforceotsguy
It’s a case by case analysis thing that is decided by the training squadron leadership. Generally if you fail a “graded measure” during the course they give you more work to allow you to make up for that failure. In my opinion this is kind of an added assessment on your resolve. For example if you fail an academic test and they give you homework where you have to write an essay or create a study guide, if you knock it out then it tells them you are committed to being an officer. If you say this is too hard and give up then it tells them you give up easily when faced with challenges.
Other failures such as failed PT tests can be less forgiving because if you majorly miss the mark you may not be able to turn that around physically in 8 weeks. Also the guidelines and PT standards are well advertised before the course.