im leaving for army basic training in roughly 3 weeks mother of 3 what should i expect?

Question

im am anxious about leaving my 3 children behind for basic training plus not knowing what to expect for a female in the military..im going to ft jackson so anyone whos been there can help?

Answer 1

Congratulations on joining an organization that cares about its own, and the families more than any other in America. Your children will grow up proud of you. I know my wife will not allow me to retire, simply because she feels all giddy every night when she sees me come home in my uniform.

As far a what to expect, I helped a friend's wife join the Army (he was a Navy Recruiter by the way). Only the Army could guarantee her the exact medical job she wanted. Her reply to my "How was it?" was to say, "After being a mother of two toddlers, it was the easiest two months of my life." She enjoyed the break and was awarded Honor Graduate after Basic Training.

Answer 2

Stardust792004:

I am not female, and I went through Basic Training a long, long time ago so I can't be too helpful on what to expect. What I remember most is that on either the first or second early A.M. there will be a "Shakedown Inspection" where they will search EVERYTHING you have looking for contraband, so don't take anything that will get you in trouble, and after the first week of eating meals containing the same portions and at very specific times, most of the guys had a problem with "regularity" if you know what I'm getting at. If you are going to Fort Jackson, you will probably learn to sing the "Fort Jackson Boogie" (it's a craaaaaaaazy song) Good timing, you won't have to train during the extreme heat of summer.

But with that silliness aside, I would like to say "Thank You" for your sacrifice and service to the country. My family and I sleep safe and sound at night because there are so many fine young men and women, such as yourself, willing to keep watch over the country.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Best thing you can do is leave your kids with a person you what trust your life on so you don`t have to worry about them when yo are in basic.(i don`t know if you married)
You will not have any contact with your children i think in the school part you can make phone calls i`m not sure though.
Because you can`t have any contact make sure that person has a medical power of attorney and enough money think about for the next 3 month are there any fees come up from school,enough diapers do they get wic?then you need another power of a. so that person can go there too.
Ft Jackson is beautiful.in basic you probably can not enjoy it though.
try to get station there if you can.
If you are a single mum it will be hard with 3 kids and the military.
a person who you trust with your kids when you deploy go to the field is the most importnat thing.

Answer 5

Greg your a jerk
Listen to Mark. He's a regular here and knows his stuff. If you have not started getting in shape? Start NOW!!! Jog every day & do some push ups and sit ups. Basic is physicaly draining. Lots of running and activity. Next, take only the things they tell you to bring. Basically nothing.... A change of clothes, $100 in cash, a toothbrush, your ID, orders and not much else. Every thing other than that gets shipped home in a box till basic is over. So skip the Ipods, makeup, and Victoria Secret. You will have to learn to deal with strangers and living with them. Every been to Summer camp? Basic is a lot worse. Follow instructions and pay attention & you will do fine. As the weeks go by and you adjust to things, it will get easier.

Answer 6

Just remember that basic is a mind game. They have to break you down so that they can build you up again as a soldier. Just remember to pay attention and do everything they tell you without complaining. Also, do not fall asleep in class. You may stand at the back of the room, some of the classes are long and boring. I did basic at Jackson and I loved every minute of it. Thank you for joining and God Bless you and your family.

Answer 7

don't worry. Jackson went soft about a year ago. They have to say please and stuff now. Your kids should be fine. This is going to sound sexist as hel, but they are easier on the females. I recall a specific incident in which a male and a female got into a fight. It wasn't much of a fight, but they both took a swing. The male is the only one who got in trouble for it.

You can write letters as much as you have time. You'll get one phone call for the first three weeks (roughly) and should get bumped up to one per week after that.

Reception sucks. You stand in line all day at parade rest. Unless they changed it.

Answer 8

Be ready to be around women younger than you who are not prepared for the real world. When I was in Navy boot camp, we had one woman in our company who was 36, and the rest of us were 18 or 19. She did better than many because she understood how to take an order, and do what you are told.

As far as your kids, if you are worried about not getting to write to them or call them, leave notes behind for them before you leave. Have whoever is caring for them while you are gone give them these little notes from you. If you have school age kids, notes in their lunch or backpack will remind them that mom is coming back, and loves them.

You can find the military as an exciting and rewarding experience - I did. Just follow orders and you will be fine, but if you haven't already start getting in physical shape before you leave or you will be in for a few nights where your whole body will ache.

Thank you for being willing to serve your nation. And thank your kids for allowing you to do so.

Answer 9

The food is really good! You will hear alot of eat or through it away when you do go to eat very limited amount of time-make sure you can do three real push ups or you have to stay behind and do this conditioning thing which is alot of cleaning and bull. Don't show weakness to anyone they will use it against you. It is still a good ole boys network. I would have gone air force or navy they are better to woman!!! You will do fine it is a lot of isolation so make sure people write you, you will need there support

Answer 10

well you'll have to look forward to gruelling intensive physical hardship in the field and off, you'll have to fall in a routine very quickly because the first two weeks are the worst, if you don't fall into a routine you will get burned out very quickly, but there is an upside to basic training you get to eat ( I.M.P.'s or Individual meal packets in Canada, or M.R.E.'s or meals ready to eat in the U.S.A. ), you'll learn to love field rations. Plus at the end of basic training you'll be in the best shape of your life and that will be good when you see your kids, because the better you feel the more energy you have.