I think I am going to basic training this summer. I need some advice.?

Question

Hey, I am in the process of signing up for the national guard. I am trying to make it so I can go to the basic training this summer. Does anyone have any advice on what I should be doing to prepare and what I should be looking foward to. I am not in shape at all. In fact, I am very much out of shape. I am a lesbian and I really don't know how that is going to work out. I heard about the whole don't ask don't tell thing but most people that meet me can just tell that I am a lesbian. It's probably a mixture between my boy clothes and short hair. So... any help would be nice.

Answer 1

Your sexuality shouldnt be a problem, cause even if it is obvious they cant come right out and say are you a lesbian its against the rules. As far as getting ready for basic you should probrably do more running than anything. You will be doing a lot of push ups and sit ups but the hardest thing for me to get used to was the running. You will also have too get used to eating fast cause you wont have much time to eat. I know a lot of les, or bi females in the military period and it doesnt matter its all good. Just realx be yourself and work hard and you will be fine.

Answer 2

There are a lot of lesbians in the Army & the National Guard- but the rule is "don't ask don't tell" (that is, they're not allowed to ask and you're not allowed to tell anybody about your sexual orientation).

Apparently, gay men are more likely to be court martialed for beign gay - but there have been cases where female soldiers who complained about sexual harassment have been retaliated against by being charged with being lesbian.

As for your short hair and wearing male clothes - you'll adjust well to the National Guard, where most of the uniforms are basically the same for men and women (except for the dress uniform) and everybody has short hair.

I'd be very worried about the physical fitness thing!

The military expects it's soldiers to be in tip top physical condition and drill instructors are known to be very harsh on out of shape recruits! You also might be pushed to do physical activity that's beyond your capacity - even to the point where you could be injured or worse!

I'd start hitting the gym NOW - at least 3 times a week 2 hours each time! I'd also start running every day and doing at home exercises every night as soon as possible. If you can afford it, get a personal trainer to help you at the gym and have her design a personal fitness plan - you only have FIVE MONTHS to summer, so you want to get started TODAY!!!

Also, get used to doing outdoor stuff - start going camping or fishing as often as possible so you're used to living in a tent and sleeping outdoors. Do lots and lots of hiking when you go on these trips (once you're a national guardswoman you will find yourself going on 20 mile marches with 70 pounds of gear and a loaded rifle - so get used to it NOW!)

Good luck (and I hope they don't ship you to Iraq)!!!

Answer 3

The first thing you need to do is get in shape. Start exercising and going to the gym. Be prepared for "head games".....that's used a lot in basic training. My son went through Air Force basic in 2002. He knew to expect that so he took it well. Don't take anything personally. All their methods are meant to "toughen" you up. Once you get done with basic, everything eases up tremendously.

As for your sexual orientation, I don't see a reason why it would even be important for them to know. It's not like you're going to go around raping other recruits or anything....and fraternization is highly frowned upon anyway. If it were me (which it never would be because I'm famous for defying authority) I'd keep it to myself. If something is my own personal business, there's no reason to make it anyone else's business.

You'll have an easier time with short hair (less care), and everybody will be wearing "boy" clothes there.

Answer 4

Try to get yourself in as good a shape as you can between now and then. Push yourself to your limits, even if it's unpleasant. Better to push yourself now under your own will-power and self-discipline than to have to do it with someone yelling at you and with all the other stresses that come with basic training. If you find that you are simply unable to do this on your own in these months between now and summer, then perhaps you lack the commitment necessary to complete basic training successfully. Better you find that out now than after you've signed the dotted line and sworn in.

Don't worry about your sexual orientation or even whether people will know you're a lesbian. If you can do the job and do it well, no one will care whether you look feminine or not. But get yourself tough before you go.

Good luck to you.

US Marine Corps, Cpl E-4

Answer 5

I've been active duty 8 years myself. A few ground rules to help you get through with the least amount of pain.

Start working out. Basic training involves alot of physical training, and if your body isn't ready for it your gonna be suffering for most of it. Just start jogging, do a few push ups and sit ups each night. Basically just get your body into the habit of working out. Then when you get there it will be just a step up to a higher intensity rather then starting from scratch.

The don't ask don't tell policy basically makes it so that regardless of what people might think or suspect about your sexuality unless they catch you actually having relations or you tell them point blank what your preference is they can't do anything to you. As long as your lifestyle doesn't interfere with your work and you don't openly flaunt it in front of everyone your safe. Regardless of what people might think the percentage of homosexuals in the military is about the same as the percentage outside the military, they just have to hide it a bit more.

When you leave for basic training don't wear anything that calls attention to yourself. Plain t-shirts and slacks or jeans with simple shoes. The more you blend in the less stressful the first few days will be. Once you get your uniform and go through the real processing your basically forced to blend anyways.

The real key to basic training is understanding that its meant to test your physical and mental breaking point. They will push your body and also try to stress you out to push your emotional and mental limits.

A simple workout plan helps with the physical part, and to help with the stress part as well as learning to deal with the yelling that you'll face from the Drill Instructors try having a friend or family members scream at you while your standing at attention. Keep a straight face and have them try anything they can think of to get you to smile, or piss you off. Basically its an exercise to help you control you emotions. It helped me immensely when I went through.

Answer 6

try a little bit of everything!!

Try some running/jogging, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, swimming,breathing.....you need to run a mile within a certain time im sure....

i dont know too much about the national guard, but my brother went to Navy basic training last year and that is what he had to do.....the running is what got some of the ppl....some were held from graduation...i dont get that...

Anyway....im sure you will do fine....they would never turn you away...especially during war, and you will be trained how to be physically,and mentally....

There are Plenty o' gays in the armed forces....dont worry!!!

Answer 7

You will be fine. Many other lesbians are in the armed forces so you clothes and hair won't be an issue. They will get you into shape fast. You might want to start jogging and exercising so that it's not too much of a shock to your system.

Answer 8

I'd suggest stretching exercises now. Find a gym and go for it. Eat healthy and the rest will come to you. I wouldn't worry about the whole gay thing. Just be yourself and the wonderful you will meld with what the National Guard is looking for and you'll be aces!

:)

Thank you for your service.

Answer 9

Don't say a word about your sexuality and be prepared to spend the next year or two after graduation in either Iraq or maybe Korea if you're lucky.

Answer 10

Practice push-ups, sit-ups, and running two miles. Get used to the color green. Get used to very limited meal choices. Don't tell them you are gay or it is a bus ticket home. The same goes for sexual desires.