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Tuesday » May 13, 2008 

Glossary of Terms

AB

Airman Basic, the rank of your airman while in basic training. The term Airman is a title given to all men and women in the Air Force. There is no gender assigned to this noun and therefore you do not separate men from women like Air-Man and Air-Woman, because there is no such thing in the Air Force.

AFSC

Air Force specially codes/ Enlisted Jobs in the Air Force.

Base Liberty

Privilege granted by Instructors to visit on-base facilities and enjoy free time away from the training environment. It is up to the Flight Instructor on when the Airmen will be released and what time they have to return to their dormitory. The hours an instructor my grant base liberty are between 5:00pm and 8:00pm. Base Liberty Does Not Equate to Visitation Rights. Liberty can be restricted or revoked at any time.

Bed Aligners

Makes sure each row of beds is in perfect alignment, one to the other.

Bowling Team

Cleans the bathroom, led by the Latrine Queen.

Chain of Command (CoC)

Sequence of individuals used to resolve problems within an organized from lowest to the highest levels of authority.

Chow Runner

Airman who announces that a flight is ready to enter the dining hall.

Conservation

Preservation from loss, injury, decay or waste.

Core Values

The Air Force's Concept of ethnical standards; i.e., integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.

Courtesy

Written guidance to ensure proper respect for individual in the chain of command as well as all military members whether officer or enlisted.

Custom

An act or ceremony that stems from tradition and is enforced as an written law.

Derogatory

Any language that belittles or injures ones reputation. Negative comments unfavorable, unflattering, or uncomplimentary.

Disrespect

Discourtesy, rudeness. To regard or treat with contempt or rudeness.

Esprit-de-Corps

A sense of union and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons associated together.

Events Briefing

Detailed one hour orientation explaining all events that take place during the graduation week. Without exception, all visitors must attend one of these sessions.

Field Training Exercise (FTX)

Simulates a deployed Air Force site under attack conditions. Airman undergoing simulated chemical/biological attacks, during both day and night, have to rapidly don chemical gear.

Flight

A group of airmen that are in training together, consisting of approximately 45-60 trainees.

Followership

The ability and willingness to follow properly constituted authority.

House Mouse

Schedules people for Dorm Guard (standing at the door and not letting anyone without proper ID in).

Latrine Queen

Airman in charge of making sure the bathroom is spotless.

Laundry

These are the folks who get to gather everyone's dirty clothes, launder them, then return them to the owner.

Liaison-Connection

Go-between, mediator.

Military Bearing

An ability to maintain verbal, physical, and emotional composure under any circumstances.

Military Ceremony

PARADE: Friday - The Commanders review troops, formal graduations take place, and sometimes retirement ceremonies are held.

Objective

Something that one's efforts are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; goal, target.

Operational Risk Management

A logic-based, common sense approach to making calculated decisions on human, material, and environmental factors before, during, and after Air Force missions activities and operations.

Permanent Party

Air force members who are permanently assigned to an Air force Base (duty station).

Profanity

Any language that degrades or slanders the character, religion, sex, color, or ethnic background of someone.

Professionalism

The standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from and amateur.

PSC

Postal Service Center (a.k.a., a branch Post Office).

Regulation/Instruction

A written defective (rule of order) prescribed by authority to set and control standards.

Reporting Statement

The "reporting statement" is "Sir (or Ma'am), Trainee Jones Reports, as Ordered!"

Retreat

Signals the end of the official duty day, and serves as a ceremony for paying respect to the US flag.

Reveille

A musical signal for the start of the duty day.

Road Guards

Individual chosen to protect the members of a formation while crossing streets or intersections.

Shoe Aligners

Aligns ALL the shoes to make sure they are in a perfect line.

Specifications

A detailed description of requirements dimensions materials, etc.

SQ

The Squadron (unit) that your airman is assigned to while in basic training.

Teamwork

Cooperative effort by a group of persons working as a team to achieve a common cause or goal.

Town Pass

Airmen allowed to go off base within the San Antonio city limits between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday Only: Airmen are allowed to go off base but only within San Antonio city limits, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Because delays in their release can occur, please be patient! Airman have been instructed to meet you at the Reception Center.

Visitation

Airmen in the last (6th) week of training are eligible for visitation beginning on Thursday. Monday - Wednesday: There is NO visitation allowed. The Reception Center is closed but they will answer telephone calls. Thursday: Base Liberty only -- begins after 5:00 p.m., and may be limited due to potential training requirements. Friday: Visitation begins immediately after the completion of the Graduation Parade.