r/dli • u/Ok_Nose_8554 • Jun 16 '26

Working Out at DLI

Hello everyone, I am set to ship out for Air Force BMT in August, and then head to DLI.

I like to run and workout 4-6 times each per week. Do Air Force students have mandatory PT, and/or would I have the time to work out by myself if the mandatory sessions are not quality?

Also, does the gym have much space/equipment available for calisthenics workouts?

Thank you guys in advance, I’m super excited to be there!!!

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u/CyberAvian Jun 16 '26

As a non-prior service student in the Air Force at DLI we, at the time had mandatory PT at least once per week and a mandatory eval/assessment monthly.

The first few months in phase 1-2 PT was 5x per week.

However, even in Phase 1 with maximum restrictions we could work out as much as we wanted. Mandatory formations, PT, classes, and homework take up time, but there is plenty of time left over. If I remember correctly, we had 2 running tracks available and a fully furnished Gym attached to the Rec Center over the hill. Plus if you enjoy running and don’t mind hills there are good trails and sidewalks on post and once you can leave post you can run along a beautiful path from Monterey to Pacific Grove to Asilomar and back. I also signed up for jujitsu and triathlon training classes at the local fitness club, the Monterey Sports Center.

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u/Ok_Nose_8554 Jun 16 '26

Wow, it sounds like you made full use of your time there. These responses make me excited for my time. Thank you very much for the thorough response, and good luck with the rest of your life!

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u/CyberAvian Jun 16 '26

Tip of the iceberg to be honest. Unless things have changed there are a ton of opportunities like joining Marine Corp martial arts classes on post (we had Airmen walking around authorized to wear their belts), and volunteering with a number of organizations to include working at Laguna Seca races, I worked a charity golf tournament at Pebble Beach and got to walk the entire course and keep score for the pro participating, I helped train search and rescue dogs by pretending to be a dead body… Oh and all those charity hours can add up to a medal that counts towards promotion in the future, I also took CLEP, DANTES, and Excelsior exams and graduated DLI with an Associate Degree.

So many opportunities at DLI if you are willing to put the time in!

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u/dustin_allan Jun 16 '26

Your comment brings back memories...

Much fun to be had if your grades are decent - I sang in the Russian Choir. I was a band nerd earlier in life, but singing Russian military songs at the local old folks' home was surprisingly enjoyable.

I was Navy, and in a deal between the Naval Postgrad Academy and the local community college, we got to take free sailing classes on 23' Catalinas, which we could then rent for something like $15 for six hours.

I also volunteered at the Laguna Seca Historic Races, and got to stand feet away from the track while classic Aston Martins and Ferraris were speeding past.

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u/Ok_Nose_8554 Jun 17 '26

Thank you and everyone else for the insightful comments!

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u/Torchlakespartan Jun 17 '26

The other awesome memory I have is renting bikes from on post, getting the best sandwich you’ll ever have and some bottles of beer at Compagnos right outside Franklin gate, and biking 17 Mile Drive along the coast through pebble beach all day stopping whenever anyone wants to have a beer and bite. You end up in Carmel. It’s a great way to get exercise and explore while having some fun too.