Well I only spent the mandatory 12 months in French Air Forces. And I don't even remember even being issued a kit !
That was for grunts (I guess that means infantry soldier ?)
WE, In the Air Force, were propeller's pumps (= literal translation of "gonfleurs d'h?lices).... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I spent 10 months in Germany, in an "Air Base" (a - previously (?? ) - psychiatric hospital...) where the only flying object was the colonel's copter, landing once a week on the soccer field !!!