Air Force pans Marines with new recruiting ad

[CommunityEditor]

Call it the recruiting video sure to be heard ’round the world.

Developed by the Air Force to promote its basic training program and physical training standards, the new video claims there is a misconception that the service is the “easiest” in the Defense Department — and that its new airmen graduate from basic training “in better shape than most Marines are.”

For Marines, long known to needle airman about fitness, that may come as a surprise. But the video is promoted on the Air Force Web site to help explain what occurs during the 8½-week Air Force Basic Military Training program, held at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

“The recruits wake up at 0445, and they start exercising around 0500,” an Air Force military training instructor says during the video. “The biggest misconception is that the Air Force is the easier of the four services, when actually, we are the hardest when it comes to PT standards. Our standards are higher, and we don’t have the 12 to 16 weeks to get them there like the Army and Marines do.”

The claim may allude to the Air Force’s new physical training standards, which will be put in place Jan. 1. Airmen will be required to take their PT tests twice a year instead of annually with a new weighed scoring system requiring faster run times and more push-ups and sit-ups to record a perfect scored. The Corps currently requires PT tests twice a year, but will cut back to once a year in 2010, with a Combat Fitness Test also held annually.

Early results for the Air Force tests have been mixed. The 31st Maintenance Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, recently tested its 370 members to the new standards and found that 163 airmen, or 44 percent, scored an 80 or below on a 100-point test. To pass, an airman must record at least a 75 on the test.

A Marine source said the issue was brought to the attention of some senior Marine leaders, who in turn contacted the Air Force about its content.

Marine Corps Recruiting Command, based at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and Air Force Recruiting Service, based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, could not immediately be reached for comment.


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...iting_101509w/

[Ordnanceless]

I am in the Marines, I have been for some time. My sister enlisted in the Air Force before I did. I think it was the best for her. It challenged her mind but didn’t put a strain on her body. I have to agree, there are different types of physical fitness that the Air Force offers that we do not get in the Marines. For instance, the "challenge card arm stretch" or the “pass the remote for movie time” relay race. She told me all about basic training and as much as I would like to believe that those guys are putting on a mean face, (good for you btw), they aren’t holding themselves to a Marine Corps Standard because, well, they don’t have to.

[OlSkoolRaven]

WTF!
People need to know when to keep their mouth closed.
Trying to compare our PT in basic to the Marines is like trying to compare Peewee Herman to the Hulk. We (the Air Force) should take pride in what we are good at and that is Aircraft Generation and putting bombs on target. You don't have to be a hulk to do that but you need to be able to think with a high degree of technical knowledge. I am not saying the Marines do not have that (I do not want to poke the Hulk with a stick) but high tech stuff is what the Air Force is known for. Know who you are and be proud of it.
If I wanted to be high speed, kick ass, take names and leave the pencil at home, I would have joined the Marines. Thats not what I wanted so I joined the branch that was the best fit for me. I am proud of and love my Air Force.

Now where is my remote? Dang this sucks.

[TJMAC77SP]

They must have changed the video. All I heard was a voice stating "the biggest misconception is that the Air Force is the easiest of the four services"

As sick and tired as I am of the cult rhetoric, I agree with the Sgt Maj. No service should recruit at the expense of a sister service. Each potential recruit looks for something particular from whatever service he or she selects. They are each unique and valuable in the total force doctrine.

[bravohotel43]

Originally Posted by 1HardDI

I wonder who the PFC's emailing the SMMC are, first of all. But awesome job by SgtMaj Kent, defending his Marines without disparaging our sister service. I'm sure that senior leadership in the AF was unaware of the video, I doubt they have time to listen to every recruiting commercial that's put out. I know I don't.

I've met Sgt. Maj. Kent only once, but I know plenty of junior Marines in my job field who he recognizes and actually asks for e-mails from. I don't know if it was any of them specifically who e-mailed him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he recieved an e-mail from a PFC who he had talked to before.

As for the recruiting videos, as PA, I guarantee someone in senior leadership saw the video if it went on the website. Hell, there should have been a PAO at that interview making sure the TI or whatever they call them didn't say anything jacked up.

[RM2SWUSNRETKIRBYTX]

This kills me. my son went thru marine corps boot camp, and it was not easy. the DI's get them ready to go fight in wars. they have to run 3 miles to get our of mcrd san diego. they teach these kids in the corps how to stay alive when they are on a patrol. I do not know where this guy is getting his info from he is full of it. the corps is the hardest boot camp over all. yes they ahve 13 weeks but it is hard as hell. they train these young marine recruits to be a combat ready marine. then they go to infantry training cause depending on there mos all marines are a basic infantry trained marine, this means anyone who is called to do so can lead a partrol. become a squad leader and fight the enemy. So no the air force is not the best boot camp. go to mcrd san diego sometime and see how the DI's run there platoons.

[Michaep]

First of all, the AF already got "made fun of" with that joke "The pilot from 30K feet looks down with his ponytail and says man that must suck down there" which was made publicly at the M.C. Ball I believe, or something like it

So quit your crying "tough guys".....makes you look as "bad" as the AF did when we "cried" about it

With all that is placed on physical fitness nowadays, we SHOULD be fighting eachother as to who is the most in shape, not tattle tailing about it to the top enlisted or top Marine officer

Once again, it goes back to the outdated 1970's thinking that Army and Marines are the only ones who fight in the wars

I have older family members who served in ALL branches of the armed services, even theyre completely uneducated as to the JOINT FORCE CONCEPT

.....no, we dont have stress cards, nor does the navy have a stress card. No, the bike test was gotten rid of years ago. No, we dont all sit in a chair in an office and NO we dont all fly airplanes

Odd, I read that you guys are going to test ONCE a year now while were going to now test TWICE a year

Will it make ya feel better if I run around a few zig zag cones, lift a 30 lbs ammo can and run 880 yards? Ok, i'll put that on my list for PT tomorrow on top of my normal routine if it makes ya feel better

ENOUGH of the decades old they'll physically abuse you and give you a black eye the first day of the Marine Corps and on the first day of the Air Force they'll bring you out to Baskin Robbins 31 flavors for some chocolate mint ice cream.....give me a break

The Corps has rules and standards, as does the AF

The Corps wont physically beat your a** for messing up hospital corners and put you in the hospital, once again, this isnt the 1970's anymore, as much as you old timers would LOVE to physically and mentally abuse your own troops for the fun of it

Dont hate that the AF is more efficient and can get their people up to speed in a shorter time than 13 weeks

All your extra time just means further brainwashing and less ability to question their personal rights

The AF trusts their people more, the AF places a lower ranking individual in a HIGHER ranking position of responsibility compared to other services

An AF E-4 can do what an Army E-6 does

[Smeghead]

Air Force BMT minimum graduation requirements:
1.5 Mile Run: 11:57
Push ups (1 minute): 45
Sit ups (1 minute): 50

USMC Recruit Training Final PFT requirements
3 mile run: 28:00 (age 17-26)
Crunches (2 minutes): 50
Pull ups: 3

Not an exact correlation between the two tests, but PT at Air Force BMT is definitely no joke.

(1HardDI, correct me if I'm wrong on the Recruit Training PT requirements. That's all I could find online)

[DevilDog0519]

Ok now really , that little TI has no intensity , obviously not volume and definitely not enough speed in his body to say such a thing like that ..come on the Chair Force ?? nah not even close lol we all serve under the United States Armed Forces but you can't compare an airmen to a devildog not neva !! .and yeah how hard is it to run 2 miles do some push ups, and talking about our Drill Instructors ?? talking about the 10 percent hell no ! big difference between that TI and Marine Corps Drill Instructors if not go enjoy yourself at MCRD Parris Island or San Diego and get some !! ..

[WOJO0369]

OK Well it seems as though the Air Force has forgotten who fights. Aside from their pilots, JTACs and Para what the hell do they do? Who gives a crap about what some retard TI stated in the video. I was side by side with several different AF dudes in Afghanistan and the only ones who are worth anything are their JTACs and Para rescue dudes. I saw with my own eyes AF dudes run and hide when the bullets started flying. Go run your PT. I'll be running toward the enemy along with my Marines. And to those who commented on the Marine Combat Fitness Test. You have an open invintation to come try it. I will guarentee that any Marine unit would be willing to host you.