Wait, are basic training and boot camp the same thing?

[johnjohn320]

Or does one come before the other...?

Earlier today, my friend and I were watching a show called "Basic Training" on Discovery channel. But it sure as heck didn't seem like the boot camp I'd always imagined/seen in other documentaries/had described to me by relatives. They weren't shouting, "YES, DRILL SEARGENT!", rather, they were quietly speaking it. The drill seargents seemed to be calmly instructing most of the time rather than shredding apart and killing off any individualism. Nonetheless, when one drill seargent did raise his voice to a soldier, she started blubbering.

Am I missing something here? Was this show documenting something other than what I thought it was?

 

[Chaotic42]

Yes, people use the terms interchangably.

I think boot camp is just an old slang. The USAF calls it "Basic Military Training" or BMT.

 

[Colt45]

same thing

"bootcamp" is the backwards way, imo. haha

 

[NetworkDad]

Bootcamp is where you send kids who dont follow the rules..

 

[PsychoAndy]

Boot camp is usually referring more to the Marines, a blanket term for training. Basic training is the training you undertake before advanced training. Everyone takes basic, whereas your advanced training depends on MOS. So if you were going to be, say, in Airborne, you'd do basic and advanced combat training, but if you were in communications, you'd do basic and radio classes and stuff.*

*Not in the military

 

[Brutuskend]

Basic Training=Army

Boot Camp=Marines

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
Or does one come before the other...?

Earlier today, my friend and I were watching a show called "Basic Training" on Discovery channel. But it sure as heck didn't seem like the boot camp I'd always imagined/seen in other documentaries/had described to me by relatives. They weren't shouting, "YES, DRILL SEARGENT!", rather, they were quietly speaking it. The drill seargents seemed to be calmly instructing most of the time rather than shredding apart and killing off any individualism. Nonetheless, when one drill seargent did raise his voice to a soldier, she started blubbering.

Am I missing something here? Was this show documenting something other than what I thought it was?

This show is being filmed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. These people are not training to be infantry. Infantry Basic Training takes place at Fort Benning, Ga.

These people are taking the pussy training, and will have for the most part non-combat MOSes (jobs). If you want hard core Basic training in the army, you have to see what happens at Fort Benning.

I was amazed at the sillyness they call "Basic Training" at this camp. Where I took basic, we NEVER got a pass. These little cry babies get passes alomst every weekend. It's more of a girls school than a training camp.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Boot camp is usually referring more to the Marines, a blanket term for training. Basic training is the training you undertake before advanced training. Everyone takes basic, whereas your advanced training depends on MOS. So if you were going to be, say, in Airborne, you'd do basic and advanced combat training, but if you were in communications, you'd do basic and radio classes and stuff.*

*Not in the military

Not all army basic training is the same. Those who are going to be in non-combat roles train at different bases and have it a hell of a lot easier. See my previous post.

 

[C'DaleRider]

Basic training, as it known by the Army, is the same as what is called boot camp from the Marines......the initial training a raw recruit gets in basic military knowledge, such as basic weapons handling and shooting, marching, etc.

 

[Pixelated]

What you see on TV will always be different from what really happens at Bootcamp/Basic Training. Although if you were watching a documentary on the Army, it probably wasn't too far from the truth. I was stationed in Virginia with a small Marine force and was able to witness Army Basic Training and it seemed really soft and easy.

Semper Fidelis

 

[burnedout]

This show is being filmed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. These people are not training to be infantry. Infantry Basic Training takes place at Fort Benning, Ga.

These people are taking the pussy training, and will have for the most part non-combat MOSes (jobs). If you want hard core Basic training in the army, you have to see what happens at Fort Benning.

I was amazed at the sillyness they call "Basic Training" at this camp. Where I took basic, we NEVER got a pass. These little cry babies get passes alomst every weekend. It's more of a girls school than a training camp.

Well you know they are gonna be PC at Fort Jackson.

Ah, the memories of basic at Benning in 1980....... the yelling, screaming, bitching, moaning, running in boots for 5 miles in 40 minutes, khakis, fatigues, fire guard...... I think our company had two passes towards the end of the 12 week cycle and those were onpost except under special circumstances. I earned a weekend, offpost pass for maxing AO Eagle and firing expert. Girlfriend's car broke so she couldn't make it down to see me. Jumped on the bus with some buddies out in Harmony Church, went to the Hidden Door and proceeded to get wasted. Heh, was a whole lot different when I went back there for ANCOC in '94.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: burnedout

This show is being filmed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. These people are not training to be infantry. Infantry Basic Training takes place at Fort Benning, Ga.

These people are taking the pussy training, and will have for the most part non-combat MOSes (jobs). If you want hard core Basic training in the army, you have to see what happens at Fort Benning.

I was amazed at the sillyness they call "Basic Training" at this camp. Where I took basic, we NEVER got a pass. These little cry babies get passes alomst every weekend. It's more of a girls school than a training camp.

Well you know they are gonna be PC at Fort Jackson.

Ah, the memories of basic at Benning in 1980....... the yelling, screaming, bitching, moaning, running in boots for 5 miles in 40 minutes, khakis, fatigues, fire guard...... I think our company had two passes towards the end of the 12 week cycle and those were onpost except under special circumstances. I earned a weekend, offpost pass for maxing AO Eagle and firing expert. Girlfriend's car broke so she couldn't make it down to see me. Jumped on the bus with some buddies out in Harmony Church, went to the Hidden Door and proceeded to get wasted. Heh, was a whole lot different when I went back there for ANCOC in '94.

Everything was almost the same in 86-87 when I was there. Except they no longer PTed us in boots (They finally figured out how much harm that caused ) and had banned smoking. Oh, and Sand Hill was being replaced with new brick barracks that didn't burn down with the slightest spark. The new ones are built like freakin' prisons.

Yeah, you can attest that infantry basic and basic for other MOSes are as different as night and day. What you're seeing on that TV show is pussy camp. And my-fscking-gawd do those idiots WHINE! If any of us had whined like that we'd be the proud recipient of a blanket party.

 

[Cyberian]

Yeah, you can attest that infantry basic and basic for other MOSes are as different as night and day. What you're seeing on that TV show is pussy camp. And my-fscking-gawd do those idiots WHINE! If any of us had whined like that we'd be the proud recipient of a blanket party.

I guess that things have changed somewhat from when I was in. I took basic training in Ft. Jackson, and as far as I know basic was the same for everyone. We didn't even find out what our advanced training was going to be until basic was over. I ended up being a Medic (X-Ray tech), and was in basic with guys that ended up in Armor, Infantry, Airborne, whatever.

FWIW, I was drafted in 1965.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Yeah, you can attest that infantry basic and basic for other MOSes are as different as night and day. What you're seeing on that TV show is pussy camp. And my-fscking-gawd do those idiots WHINE! If any of us had whined like that we'd be the proud recipient of a blanket party.

I guess that things have changed somewhat from when I was in. I took basic training in Ft. Jackson, and as far as I know basic was the same for everyone. We didn't even find out what our advanced training was going to be until basic was over. I ended up being a Medic (X-Ray tech), and was in basic with guys that ended up in Armor, Infantry, Airborne, whatever.

FWIW, I was drafted in 1965.

Yeah, A LOT has changed since '65. No infantry are trained at Jackson now. It's all non-combat MOSes.

 

[olds]

Everyone sing
I saw an old lady walking down the street...

 

[Cyberian]

Yeah, A LOT has changed since '65. No infantry are trained at Jackson now. It's all non-combat MOSes.

Amused, Amused One, or whoever?
Is basic training today actually geared toward a 'soldiers' eventual job?
If someone is going to be a computer specialist, doesn't he have to go through the same grind as the guy that's gonna be a grunt?

 

[KMurphy]

...had a chute on her back, jump boots on her feet...

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: KMurphy
...had a chute on her back, jump boots on her feet...

Only one I can remember - but I am too old for this discussion.
This was (I think!) for the 82nd or the 101st.


Bo Diddly, Bo Diddly have you heard,
we're gonna jump from a big iron bird.
Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door
Jump right out and count to four.
If my main don't open wide
I got another one by my side
If that one should fail me too
Look out ground I'm coming through!
Hit the drop zone, feet apart
Legs in my stomach and feet in my heart
If I die on the old drop zone
Box me up and ship me home

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

Originally posted by: KMurphy
...had a chute on her back, jump boots on her feet...

Only one I can remember - but I am too old for this discussion.
This was (I think!) for the 82nd or the 101st.


Bo Diddly, Bo Diddly have you heard,
we're gonna jump from a big iron bird.
Stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door
Jump right out and count to four.
If my main don't open wide
I got another one by my side
If that one should fail me too
Look out ground I'm coming through!
Hit the drop zone, feet apart
Legs in my stomach and feet in my heart
If I die on the old drop zone
Box me up and ship me home

Pin my medals on my chest
Tell my girl I did my best...