THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT API
Before API:
Find something fun to do. Don’t worry about studying before you start. While I was there, it was changed so you could only pick up your pubs within two weeks of your start date. That’s more than enough time. Put them in your bathroom and flip through them while you’re in there. Do that and you should be prepared. If you try to pre-study or make flashcards or anything, the problem is that there may be six or eight paragraphs talking about one learning objective and you don’t know what to focus on. Just wait until you get to class and you’ll see what’s important.
During API:
If there’s anything I can stress, it’s this…IT’S NOT AS BAD AS PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE.
People like to get all wrapped up in the daily schedule of API before they even get there. Here’s what you need to know about the schedule:
First four weeks: academics, swimming
Last two weeks: physiology, survival training
Worry about start times and class lengths break times and which classes are in what order once you start. There are six tests (in alphabetical order):
Aero 1
Aero 2
Engines
FR&R
Nav
Weather
Five of them are pure memorization. No high level concepts you need to wrap your brain around, just memorize the definitions. For nav you actually have to know how to work the problems. It’s nothing complicated, it’s simple math (with a few definitions thrown in) but the math is done on the flight computer. Just make sure you know how to estimate and use the CR-3 (all of this will be taught in class.) For the nav test, make sure you cut your chart the right way. If you cut it wrong there's a good chance one of your points won't be there anymore. Work the problems, ask questions if you have help. For the other tests, memorize. I went through and made sure I could spit out the entire answer word for word for every learning objective. I probably spent 2-4 hours a night studying, that time included being quizzed by my wife. The only gouge I used was a couple of NavyGouge practice tests (which had several wrong answers) and I had an average in the 90’s.
For swimming, just do what they tell you to do. If you’re comfortable in the water, you’ll be fine. The mile swim is not hard, it’s just boring. Thirty-six laps in the pool. I took my time and made full use of the glide and still finished in just over fifty minutes.
Around the end of the third week you’ll get your gear. DON’T be a tool and start wearing your leather jacket the next day. DO make sure you IP your flight suits before you wear them. DON'T forget that even though it is a working uniform you shouldn't be a slob. DO wash those things once in a while.
The last two weeks is pretty easy. You do have a physiology test but it’s pretty simple and there’s a thorough review the day before the test. Physiology and survival were pretty fun. Just try not to get hurt during parachute training. People make the dunker out to be this blood thirsty student-eating machine. It’s not. If you pay attention to what you’re told and apply it in the water, you won’t have any problems. The days you get in the bay if the water is cold, wetsuits are available for you to use. Or bring your own if you don’t like smelling like an asscrack.
Take pictures.
Try not to fail anything.
After API:
Good luck.
Hopefully this will answer at least a couple of questions for some of you.
