What is basic training like?

[Ness]

I'm seriously considering enlisting in the Army and I wanted to know what basic training and a bit thereafter is like, until you get used to it, I suppose. It's the only real worry I have about enlisting, not that I'm afraid of it... I guess it's more of an uncertainty.

I know some of you guys have been in the service before and I was just wondering what I should expect, should I go for it.

I know some movies tend to be dead on with what it is like, but then some blow it way out of proportion. I was reading the journals of some recruits at goarmy.com, but I can't exactly expect them to tell all the rough parts of it.

Any words of wisdom, advice or general things you guys can say about this?

 

[vi edit]

I haven't been through it (health condition prevent me from joining) but I've got several friends that did enlist. What I've noticed is that the emotional impact on it is harder on people right out of high school than those a few years older and have been out of school for a bit.

So, when you get comments and feedback on it - take age of enlistment into mind.

 

[Ness]

well... I'm 21 years old, I've spent some time in college and I took a term off because I didn't think I could afford to go... which is what got me thinking about it originally...

Aside from that, it just seems that following the education route may just lead to a dead end... I mean, I'm happy going to school and all, but I just can't see myself 5-10 years down the road working in computer graphics... not at all. I could see myself living somewhere a good distance from home, doing the whole military thing. It just seems right.

 

[MystikMango]

I went through Boot Camp twice... once for the USAR and once for the Navy. Army was harder (13wks vs. 10wks), but that might be my bias since I went through twice, and knew what to expect the second time through.

Boot Camp is mostly a mind game, but also physical. They try to break your personality down, instill the Team mentality into you, then build your confidence back up.

Boot Camp is very restrictive, no smoking, no drinking, no socializing, no nothing. After BC, you either go to your duty station, or on to AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) or some Tech School. Here, they are less strict, but far more strict that going to your duty station.

Life at your duty station can vary greatly. You can either have a fairly normal working day, or very long hours. It depends on what MOS you qualify for.

 

Would you be okay with killing other human beings? I think that's the primary question people should ask themselves when getting ready to enlist. The point of a military is to protect its nation and also to defend against insurgent and outside forces. To do such a thing, you may have to kill other people.

Are you ready to do that? It's not "doing the whole military thing," it's potentially ending other human lives.

That said, BT is basically a conditioning process where you're taught to not think in dangerous, pressure filled situations. You're taught to act, and protect yourself. That may include committing murder.

 

[vi edit]

I've just noticed that of the people that I know, the ones that enlisted a few years into college, or after they had already graduated took it a lot better and didn't have the horror stories that the the people that entered 4 days out of high school graduation did. This is strictly from an emotional standpoint though. If you've moved away from home once already because of college then it won't be as rough.

 

[Jesta]

Did my 4 years and got out, not because it was a bad experience but just not for me. Basic isn't nearly as bad as I had expected it to be. Moderate to severe physical activity with some discipline from the DI's. Personally I think it is an experience everyone should go through at least once.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Would you be okay with killing other human beings? I think that's the primary question people should ask themselves when getting ready to enlist. The point of a military is to protect its nation and also to defend against insurgent and outside forces. To do such a thing, you may have to kill other people.

Are you ready to do that? It's not "doing the whole military thing," it's potentially ending other human lives.

That said, BT is basically a conditioning process where you're taught to not think in dangerous, pressure filled situations. You're taught to act, and protect yourself. That may include committing murder.

My brother went through it...worst mind games you can imagine especially if you are a leader/alpha/extroverted type. They knock you down as far as they need too....everyone's time is different, but in the end you are turned into the beginnings of a single unit, single thought, single force.

Killing is not the issue and trust me I have talked to alot of soldiers now that were my buddies since Desert Storm -> this Iraqi crap and you learn to do what it takes and not think about the life you are taking. They couldn't explain it (and really didn't want to talk about it), but basically you become a machine without regard to the enemy's life.

Å

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Would you be okay with killing other human beings? I think that's the primary question people should ask themselves when getting ready to enlist. The point of a military is to protect its nation and also to defend against insurgent and outside forces. To do such a thing, you may have to kill other people.

Are you ready to do that? It's not "doing the whole military thing," it's potentially ending other human lives.

That said, BT is basically a conditioning process where you're taught to not think in dangerous, pressure filled situations. You're taught to act, and protect yourself. That may include committing murder.

Not all the positions in the army require taking other people's lives. Aside from that, I'd have no qualms with killing someone who for some reason or other thinks I should die. I would do whatever it takes to protect myself and the people I love just the same as the guy I'm up against.

 

[DeadByDawn]

Lotsa work, lotsa discipline, little sleep, something to be proud of if you make it....

We lost 50% of the people in my basic in the Army to health problems, injuries, couldn't hang, etc...

But mine was a bit different. Had the same DI's all through basic, then through the AIT part because of my job. You forget what the outside world is like. But it makes you grow a pair.

 

[TheAudit]

Went through boot camp and into the reserves (helped to pay for college) and I didn't think it was that bad at all. Like someone mentioned before it is mostly mind games. And you are probably better off being in some kind of shape before hand so PT won't be a problem for you. Don't try to stand out because once someone gets your name into their head they will always pick on you. Do what you are told, don't act up and you'll be fine. Keep in mind that if you do enlist that boot camp is the worst it will get, every thing else is way better than that.

 

[Beattie]

Originally posted by: ness1469
well... I'm 21 years old, I've spent some time in college and I took a term off because I didn't think I could afford to go... which is what got me thinking about it originally...

Aside from that, it just seems that following the education route may just lead to a dead end... I mean, I'm happy going to school and all, but I just can't see myself 5-10 years down the road working in computer graphics... not at all. I could see myself living somewhere a good distance from home, doing the whole military thing. It just seems right.

Join the ROTC. They will pay for college and when you graduate you will be an officer and then do that for a few years. It's a guranteed job, so there's no threat of a "dead end" and you can get the education for free so some day if you dont make a career from the military you will have the option of doing something.

 

[DeadByDawn]

Good advice. Try for ROTC, take it if you can get in.

 

[SP33Demon]

Ask Kroze.... he was in Iraq...

 

[jemcam]

Not all the positions in the army require taking other people's lives.

^^^^^^^^Wrong. In the Army, everyone's secondary MOS is Infantry.

Back to your question though, the culture shock was pretty severe, sleeping in a big room with 40 or 50 guys, no privacy, you even have bathroom breaks orchestrated for you. You just have to go with the flow and always expect it to get worse. That's how I made it through Basic. OCS was much harder though.

 

[MystikMango]

Also, don't trust the movies... that's all fantasy. The Drill Instructors can't even use harsh language anymore, let alone touch you physically.

But don't think you can get away with things either, as they can still make your time with them hell.

I disagree with whoever said it's bad to be the Alpha Male. By all means show your leadership potential, and show it early (I am not saying to be a brown-noser). It could mean the difference between eating pizza and watching the Super Bowl with the DI's or being on some lame detail picking up trash or painting rocks with Q-tips.

 

[TheAudit]

Originally posted by: MystikMango
Also, don't trust the movies... that's all fantasy. The Drill Instructors can't even use harsh language anymore, let alone touch you physically.

But don't think you can get away with things either, as they can still make your time with them hell.

I disagree with whoever said it's bad to be the Alpha Male. By all means show your leadership potential, and show it early (I am not saying to be a brown-noser). It could mean the difference between eating pizza and watching the Super Bowl with the DI's or being on some lame detail picking up trash or painting rocks with Q-tips.

I liked picking up the cigarette butts, that's a lot better and easier than some of the jobs they could dream up for you on weekends.

I didn't think Basic was that bad. It was a bit of a shock at first but you'll get used to it. And it's over soon enough.

 

[mcveigh]

don't be a pu$$y join the marines.

 

[dquan97]

What about Air Force basic training?

 

[MystikMango]

The purpose of all the basic training is the same, just different levels of intensity. However what they train you on is going to differ greatly between the services. While in the Army BT, we did a lot of running and shooting... in the Navy I had to tread water for an hour. It depends on the service. I would rate them from hardest to easiest as:

1) Marines
2) Army (includes Reserves and National Guard)
3) Navy-Coast Guard
4) Air Force

Being in the Navy, we always used to joke harshly with and about those in the Marines. I will say I commend anyone that want to hit the beach first... I'd rather sit back in the A/C, drink my Mountain Dew and launch Tomahawks.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Would you be okay with killing other human beings? I think that's the primary question people should ask themselves when getting ready to enlist. The point of a military is to protect its nation and also to defend against insurgent and outside forces. To do such a thing, you may have to kill other people.

Are you ready to do that? It's not "doing the whole military thing," it's potentially ending other human lives.

That said, BT is basically a conditioning process where you're taught to not think in dangerous, pressure filled situations. You're taught to act, and protect yourself. That may include committing murder.

mur·der - The unlawful killing of one human by another, especially with premeditated malice.

Killing other soldiers in the act of war or combat is not murder.

Army basic training is only 8 weeks for most MOS