The Real Deal

Image by US_Air_Force via Flickr

OTS was the "real deal." We were being prepared for war and for a future in the big picture of the Air Force. The idea was to tear our little egos into shreds, wash them away in perspiration (remember officers don't sweat - they perspire!) and rebuild them from scratch as steely-eyed killers. Newly arrived future officers were given the haircut, issued the uniform, run ragged from dawn to dusk (actually from 0530 until 2359) and expected to excel in academics, marching, sports, physical exercise, wear of the uniform,personal hygeine and to never make any mistakes at all. Everyone that went into the military, regardless of branch of service or expected rank pretty much had the same treatment; but our trainers were not allowed to yell at or swear at us. We were to be "young gentlemen." If you think for one moment that you cannot be mentally abused by someone who doesn't swear or yell, you have some thinking to do. OTS was mental abuse starting with the first day and never ending. I still get the "horrors" when I think I'm being late for something or if I'm not sure what I'm wearing is the correct "uniform."

Apparently, the best way to get a youngster to stay and play at OTS was to not only make it easy for him to quit, but to invite him to do so as many times as possible per day. Quitting was referred to as "SIEing" or Self Initiated Elimination. The way to SIE was to find an officer and tell him that you wanted to quit. He would provide you with a form letter that all you had to do was sign and the Air Force would "dissapear you." People who left OTS had their bags packed by someone else when the other trainees were not around. They left the area without ever being seen again. Supposedly, they were put on the next plane home and their names given to the draft board for super-quick selection. In truth, most of the SIE folks were moved to the other side of the base where they were placed on casual status and never allowed to get near Officer Trainees again. Later they were allowed to go to Air Force Basic Training and become enlisted personnel. They even had a name for them - they were called OT General's!