EPISODE · Aug 3, 2026 · 1H 4M
USAF PACERFORGE - Ep 610
from Ones Ready · host Aaron Love, Trent Seegmiller, and Jared "Peaches" Pietras
Send us Fan Mail Aaron and Peaches sit down with TSgt Kaleb Schmidt, a Military Training Instructor working at PACERFORGE, to talk about how Air Force Basic Training is changing and what new Airmen should expect. Kaleb explains what life looks like for MTIs today, how Basic Military Training is modernizing, and why Pacer Forge is more than a new version of Beast Week. The conversation breaks down how trainees are being evaluated through small-team scenarios, squad-based movements, tactical combat casualty care, base defense, nine-line medical evacuation requests, UXO reporting, drone reporting, airfield operations, and decision-making under stress. This episode is for anyone getting ready to ship to Air Force BMT, parents trying to understand what their son or daughter will face, and future Air Force Special Warfare candidates who need to understand that the pipeline starts before the pipeline. The biggest takeaway: show up in shape, be selfless, be ready to think, and be ready to be wrong. Check out Tasty Gains: TastyGains.com Register for Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, and Operator Training Summit 04:04 - Meet Tech Sergeant Kaleb Schmidt 04:44 - What Kaleb Does at PACERFORGE 05:14 - MTI Disclaimer and Personal Opinions 05:39 - What a Normal MTI Week Looks Like 07:19 - BMT Modernization and Building Better Flights 09:23 - Putting Out Fires in Basic Training 10:28 - Red Cross Messages and Family Emergencies 11:21 - Taking Care of Trainees as People 11:57 - How MTIs Shape Future Airmen 12:58 - Basic Training as a Two-Way Job Interview 14:30 - Weapons Training at BMT 16:00 - Immediate and Remedial Action 17:50 - Room Clearing Basics and Muzzle Awareness 18:40 - What Is PACERFORGE? 19:17 - Pacer Forge and Agile Combat Employment 20:15 - Small-Team Missions and Downed Airman Scenarios 21:40 - TCCC, FAST, UXO, SUAS, and Salute Reports 23:37 - Evaluating Flights and Instructor Effectiveness 25:53 - Why PACERFORGE Has Real-World Relevance 27:25 - Defending, Operating, Generating, and Sustaining Airpower 29:47 - Agile Combat Employment and Multi-Capable Airmen 31:52 - What Trainees Should Expect at PACERFORGE 34:11 - Hydration, Heat, and Simple Field Nutrition 36:14 - Communication, Humility, and Feedback 37:32 - Base Defense, Mass Casualty, and Counter-UAS Scenarios 39:41 - Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Security First 41:23 - Use of Force and Escalation 45:18 - Common Mistakes at PACERFORGE 48:32 - Teaching Trainees to Think 50:18 - Why Weather Is Always Wrong 50:41 - How to Physically Prepare for BMT 51:31 - Foot Strength, Plantar Fasciitis, and Injury Prevention 54:56 - Visualization and Battle Drills 56:53 - Planning, Litter Carries, and Rifle Accountability 58:29 - Why PACERFORGE Is Better Than Beast Week 01:00:42 - Final Advice for New Trainees 01:02:47 - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
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Send us Fan Mail Aaron and Peaches sit down with TSgt Kaleb Schmidt, a Military Training Instructor working at PACERFORGE, to talk about how Air Force Basic Training is changing and what new Airmen should expect. Kaleb explains what life looks like for MTIs today, how Basic Military Training is modernizing, and why Pacer Forge is more than a new version of Beast Week. The conversation breaks down how trainees are being evaluated through small-team scenarios, squad-based movements, tactical co...
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USAF PACERFORGE - Ep 610
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