U.S.A.F. Training, Learning a new way of life

Squadron Pilot   Preparation for War   The Big One

Introduction

My initial Air Force training was conducted in three distinct phases. First, the Air Force had to convert a very civilian and somewhat naive young man into an Air Force officer, or at least something which appeared to be an Air Force officer. This difficult task was conducted at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas in an intense three month period known as Officer Training School (OTS). Next, the Air Force had to take a brand new Second Lieutenant and attempt to teach him to operate flying machinery without causing damage to either the machinery or the surrounding terrain. This second monumental effort took place in Undergraduate Pilot Training at Webb Air Force Base in beautiful Big Spring, Texas. Finally, the Air Force had to take a new graduate from UPT and try to cram in enough additional knowledge which would actually allow him to perform useful work in his new profession. This last phase was carried out at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and is covered in the Squadron Pilot section.

Revised: 26 July 1999