Basic military trainees prepare to begin an obstacle during Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training Nov. 21, 2019 at Joint Base San Antonio-Medina Annex, Texas. The obstacle develops physical fitness, motivation, leadership and teamwork. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Katherine Spessa) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
By: FEDweek StaffNew Air Force and Space Force recruits will encounter a different regimen during their first seven and a half days of boot camp than their predecessors. The Air Force has reorganized the curriculum for that time frame – known as Zero Week – to better prepare newcomers for service.
During the first five days of Zero Week, recruits will encounter training aimed at fostering resilience, performance, lifestyle management, physical training, basic drill and organization of their living areas.
“These efforts are a strategic up-front investment to ensure trainees acquire the skills necessary to manage and adapt to stressful environments,” said Col. Lauren Courchaine, commander of the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Such training, Courchaine said, will provide future airmen and guardians with the skills they would need in order to manage and adapt to stressful environments – and ultimately prepare them for combat.
“Resilience results from combining problem-solving skills with lifestyle habits that power them,” said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Daniel Cassidy, the wing’s director of human performance.
The change entails a return to the way recruits were trained in 2020 and earlier, before the Covid-19 pandemic compelled the service to move all recruits through basic training at the same pace.
Once the initial five-day cycle is complete, new trainees will be assigned to flights and moved to one of seven training squadrons. They then would complete their training there. The first recruits to undergo this new change will arrive for duty sometime next month.
“The changes in BMT [basic military training] will make our force stronger, more capable and better prepared for future challenges,” Courchaine said. “We need airmen and guardians who aren’t just physically and mentally prepared but are profoundly motivated to be highly productive members of the Air and Space Force.”
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