Tuned to Houki Kumo by Rythem (Yakitate! Japan OP)
It's been about a week since I started the life as a PTE in a totally new environment. Currently on a course in a school... The Air Force School. A whole new experience of what a military organisation is like. Unlike BMT where most training is conducted outdoors, the need to march from location to location, high level of regimentation and adheration to military standards, use of variant languages and dialects in lessons and instruction dissemination, a large population, a gather of majority of NSFs inclusive of the commanders and instructors, AFS provides a different image and impression.
Looking at the people there, many are already specs, CPLs and groups of PTEs going through various courses in the school. Warrants and junior officers are plenty for both gender, senior officers are seen occasionally (if you are lucky). A refined place that is as the language used to converse and interprete is in english. Made by the OC AOSS clearly stated only english is to be used during training hours 0800-1730. Instructors are usually regulars of Staffs and above, experienced with the organisation for almost a decade at the minimal. My class is a mix of people, from regulars to NSFs, 3 ladies forming the minority of less than 10% of the cohort.
Facilities can be used by all, trainees and perm staff. That includes the mess, sports facilities, and you name it. As compared to BMT where privileges are limited to instructors and officers only, AFS serves to be different which gained my recognition. Main places I visit after the day's activities would include the mess where a light drink can be accompanied with the viewing of tv programmes. Pool tables and a few arcade game machines are available too. The chicken cutlet served there is tasty and enjoyed by most personels there. What's more is that there's a karaoke lounge to engage group gatherings and beer sold at a low rate as well.
So from the time of after dinner (in some cases after CAI at 1930), it's ur free time to do self study, personal administration and whatever you wish in the compound. Flexibility of lifestyle is just what I had wished for a orgnisation like the armed forces. Uninterupted when it's your own personal time which is so unlike BMT where at any point of time from 0545-2230, you are subjected to orders and instructions to perform tasks of various nature.
Personally the lessons are not of an easy level for me to grasp as it tend to be of a science nature. I have return most of my science knowledge as well as the level of observation with a scientific mind to comprehend is very weak. Radar, comms systems with references to soundwaves, EM waves (what we been through this week) had not been an easy feat. Try try try...
Would be suspending my Wednesday of nights off to a nights out. This is because it's a hassle to travel to school back and forth as the distance is pretty far. Thus it would be more feasible to be staying over in AFS instead of staying a night at home and reporting back the following morning. Gotta try to awake during lessons and do some occasional revision from time to time so that i will not lag behind...
