Air Force Technical School Training Restrictions

Air Force Technical Training is where an airman's career begins. Once he or she has completed Basic Military Training (BMT), enlisted airmen go to technical school to start training for a career, earning credits toward a degree from the Community College of the Air Force.

To progress from one phase to another, an airman must remain in the phase for the prescribed number of days, must pass the prescribed fitness test (except phase I to phase II), and must be rated by their Military Training Leader (MTL) as at least "satisfactory.” They must also adhere to a number of restrictions through each phase.

Here are the restrictions an airman can expect in each phase during technical training.

Phase I Restrictions

Phase I runs from arrival at the training site through the 28th calendar day. Airmen in Phase I are transitioning from a strictly controlled BMT environment into a structured technical training atmosphere of military discipline and academics. As such, these Airmen require close supervision and continuous reinforcement and inspection of standards.

During Phase I, airmen:

• Will remain on station
• Will not purchase, possess, or consume alcohol
• Will wear appropriate uniforms on and off duty, except when they are in their dormitory rooms
• Will adhere to a daily curfew of 2200 (10 p.m.) to 0400 (4 a.m.)—airmen assigned to afternoon-shift training will adhere to a daily curfew of 0130 (1:30 a.m.) and a curfew of 2200 (10 p.m.) on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays
• Will eat three meals per day, Monday through Friday, in a base dining facility
• Will not operate a private motor vehicle (they may ride in one, but not during duty hours or to and from school)
• Will have their rooms inspected on a weekly basis, but not on the same day every week
• Will make their beds with issue sheets and a bedspread or blanket (personalized bedspreads or comforters are not authorized)
• Will not hang pictures of any kind on the walls or lockers (pictures in a frame, no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches, may be displayed on the airman's desktop, but it must not be of a sexually explicit or degrading nature)
• May have an alarm clock or radio alarm clock on the nightstand or desk
• May not possess or use a television or stereo in the dormitory room, but may use televisions or stereos in dayrooms or common areas

Phase II Restrictions

Phase II runs from the 29th calendar day through the 44th day. Phase II airmen are expected to have increased their performance, appearance, and self-discipline. They still require reinforcement and inspection of standards, but are expected to be more responsible and are held to higher accountability.

During Phase II, airmen:

• Will continue to have room inspections and the same curfew hours and restrictions against alcohol consumption
• Will remain in uniform and on station during duty hours (if airmen go off station, they will wear the appropriate blue uniform combination and may travel up to 25 miles)
• May ride and operate a private motor vehicle, but not during duty hours or to and from school
• Will eat at least two meals per day, Monday through Friday, in a base dining facility
• If married and the spouse resides in the local area, may move out of the dormitory with a successful PT (physical fitness test) evaluation and the written approval of the squadron, detachment, or MTF (military treatment facility) commander

Phase III Restrictions

Phase III runs from the 45th day through the 180th calendar day. Phase III airmen have achieved a high level of knowledge and proficiency and are expected to act as role models. However, with greater privileges come greater responsibilities. Airmen are expected to professionally correct minor uniform, bearing, and general citizenship discrepancies. They will be held accountable and supervised commensurate with their time in service. Super performers who possess a 90% or higher academic average and have a fitness composite score of at least 90 points could be accelerated into Phase IV on the 120th day of training.

During Phase III, airmen:

• Will remain in uniform and on station during duty hours (they can travel as far as 150 miles away on weekends and holidays)
• May consume alcohol if they are of legal age, but not between 1700 (5 p.m.) Sunday and 1700 Friday or at least eight hours prior to duty, and not in the dormitory or immediate surrounding area
• May ride and operate a private motor vehicle, but not during duty hours or to and from school
• Will adhere to the same curfew as previous phases
• Will eat at least two meals per day, Monday through Friday, in a base dining facility
• Will have rooms inspected at least twice a month and keep their rooms in accordance with local base guidelines

Phase IV Restrictions

Phase IV runs from the 181st calendar day through completion of Air Force specialty code (AFSC)-awarding training and departure for a duty assignment (aircrew member students will remain in Phase IV until successfully completing initial qualification training).

Because Phase IV airmen have been in the Air Force for more than six months, they are expected to be responsible mentors for newer airmen. They should require very little supervision and only random spot checks for adherence to standards. Their knowledge and proficiency should rival that of a permanent party airman, and they will be afforded privileges as such.

During Phase IV, airmen:

• Will remain in uniform and on station during duty hours (they can travel as far as 300 miles away on weekends and holidays, with longer distances needing approval)
• May consume alcohol if they are of legal age, but must refrain at least eight hours prior to duty, and they may not drink in the dormitory or the immediate surrounding area
• May use private motor vehicles how they please, but may not drive to and from school
• Are exempt from curfew, but they must reside in the dormitory during the duty week
• Have no restrictions on the number of meals they must eat in the dining facility
• Will keep their rooms neat, orderly, and in accordance with their local base guidelines (with inspections once per month on a random basis)
• May frequent the airman's club for professional, social, and entertainment purposes

Phase V Restrictions

Phase V only applies to airmen in AFSCs 1N3XX and 1A8XX, and airmen at locations with unique situations who have received written approval.

The group commander may grant Phase V after completion of at least 180 consecutive days in Phase IV. The phase will last through completion of all AFSC-awarding training and departure for a duty assignment.

The decision to progress to Phase V will not be based solely on time—airmen must achieve a passing academic grade, not be on academic probation, and meet all physical fitness requirements. The Air Force expects these airmen to take on greater roles in leadership.

During Phase V, airmen:

• Will remain in uniform during duty hours (they can travel as far as 300 miles away on weekends and holidays, with longer distances needing approval)
• May consume alcohol if they are of legal age, but must refrain at least eight hours prior to duty, and they may not drink in the dormitory or the immediate surrounding area
• Have no requirement on the number of meals they must eat in the dining facility
• Are exempt from curfew
• Have no restrictions on the use of private motor vehicles
• Will keep their rooms neat, orderly, and in accordance with their local base guidelines (with inspections once per month on a random basis)
• May frequent the airman's club for professional, social, and entertainment purposes
• Will be housed separately, when feasible, from Phase I through IV airmen by the most appropriate means (such as a different floor or wing of the building)
• Are exempt from military training formations, except for a weekly physical fitness session, monthly fitness evaluation, monthly room inspection, and one-time formations directed by the squadron commander
• Will participate in an airman’s council facilitated by a military training leader (Phase V airmen are encouraged to assist MTLs in mentoring airmen)

Remedial Military Training (RMT)

Those with discipline problems get assigned Remedial Military Training (RMT). It's a 12-hour session conducted on Saturday, Sunday, or another non-training day. The goal of RMT is to rehabilitate airmen in technical training who need to be motivated or “re-blued” and to return them with a positive outlook and strong desire to succeed.

Airmen in RMT have limited free time, additional military training, and are reinforced on the importance of following directions and maintaining standards. A portion of this experience will be tailored around individualized counseling and mentoring with a focus on core values, character building, discipline, and the aerospace expeditionary force (AEF).

In RMT, airmen start in Phase I and stay there until successful completion. MTLs will conduct this program and be present for the entire RMT session.

At a minimum, RMT will consist of the following: two different uniform inspections, room or bay inspections, open wall locker inspections, a physical fitness test (a run is not required), march to and from all activities, and sidestep through the dining facility servicing line. During inclement weather, a drill may be replaced with academic study and PT will be conducted in the gym, if available.

RMT airmen may perform normal squadron duties, but they will not be the charge of quarters (CQ) or charge of quarters runner (CQR). They also will not answer phones or perform security checks.

After successful completion of RMT, airmen will return to the previous phase. Airmen who fail RMT will remain in Phase I until successful completion of the next scheduled RMT.