What is Basic Training like?

Question

What are things we'll do? Will there be any competitions? What kinds? What happens if you do very well or very poorly? I'd just like an overall gist of Basic Training....oh. For the Guard if it matters.

Answer 1

You will learn the meaning of "Hurry up and wait."

You wll learn the meaning of "There's 3 ways of doing things, the right way, the wrong way, the Army way.""

You'll experience fine dining. You'll learn to appreciate SOS at 6AM, and you'll wonder if the Army is looking for a way to screw up cereal and milk.
You'll find there are 2 sizes of clothing," you'll lose weight" , and "you'll grow into it."

Like astronomy?, You'll enjoy getting up at 5AM to watch the sun rise.

If you do poorly, everybody pays. Most effective way to learn teamwork.
Help each other. You'll be driven to do well, out of the spirit of teamwork.
You'll think the drill sargent's ambition in life is to be the PA system at Yankee Stadium.

When you graduate, you'll feel you could whip King Kong, and you will never be prouder of yourself.

.

Good luck.

Answer 2

First of all BCT will be what you make of it. It's 80% mental and 20% physical, if you make an attempt to always stay motivated and put your platoon above yourself you'll never go wrong. Also if you're in the Guard you should be going through a recruit sustainment program. They'll show you everything you need to know about Basic. Most of the competition is between each of the four platoons in your company. And they compete over just about everything. If you do well you'll usually be rewarded with a position of platoon guide (platoon leader) or squad leader. If you do poorly, corrective training usually entails push up or some other form of exercise but can be more severe depending on what was done. The main thing to remember is that the Drill Sargeants are there to help you. They mess with you alot but it's to help you. BCT is tough, but as long as you remember to put your buddys in front of yourself and remember that it's only 8-10 weeks and not forever you'll do fine.

Answer 3

It's what you make of it... Expect to be worng all the time (USMC anyways). It's hard to explain what Basic Training is like because every training company is different and every Drill Instructor is different. When I look at boot camp today, it was a joke even though I almost died because of a fever and pneumonia. I had a 104.1 degree fever and still trained refusing to seek medical help.

Expect the worst.

Answer 4

Boring. You'll spend most of the day waiting to train. Don't do anything too well, and don't do anything too poorly. The gas chamber isn't that bad. My mask didn't seal, so I breathed the crap for about ten minutes. But you're gonna hate the guy who refuses to take off his mask because he's too scared. You'll hate a lot of people there.

Answer 5

basic traing is going to be tough for the first few weeks. basically they are breaking your old habits and getting you accustomed to the military life. Expect to be running alot and doing physical training to get you in shape. They will also be teaching you military knoweledge and customs. Also you will be making your bed a certain way from now on. Once you get thru the first three weeks just set back and cruse to the best life you will ever have.

Answer 6

Basic training is an exercise of physical and mental chalenges. To see if you can stand the pressure of military disipline and phisicaly measure up to the job. I speak as an ex marine> 16 weeks of hell. But it's worth it when you get out of basic>things are good. Semper-fi

Answer 7

my brother went through basic, for the guard. its very physical (they sent a video that showed the group he trained with doing all the exercises) they ran obsticle courses, they shot guns, etc. one of the things they did that i didnt know about was gas mask training. they have a room that is filled with this kind of gas, im not sure what kind, but its nothing that can kill you, it just smells HORRIBLE from what i gatherd, and it was to see how long it took them to get the gas mask on properly and all that. they also had compititions between their drill teams for proper marching technique and that, like, is your group in perfect step with each other, are banners being carried properly, etc. he also got awards for marksmenship with both a rifle and grenades.

Answer 8

I went through Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego in 1956. In those days a D.I. would not hesitate to knock you upside the head for any screwup. However, that said, boot camp should consist of strenuous physical exercises, drill, understanding commands and responding quickly, and shooting straight.
Especially, shooting straight.

Answer 9

Having said all of the above, its cool, you learn things no one else
knows, but you dont realize its cool stuff till you hear your self
talking about it, like weapons training, or basic survival training.
just be quick about what they tell you, relax, learn as much as you
can, as it is supposed to be a learning experience, nothing more.
no one in there will be after you, no matter what you might think,
and if you dont laugh while youre in it, two months from the time
it starts, you will definately laugh, and will for sure feel like
freaking Superman.....believe it or not.

Answer 10

Just so you know.... I asked my husband who served in the army this question and all he basically said, 'Oohh. Tell him to not tell anyone that he is going in the Guard.' Apparently several were tormented until they quit, like the drill sergeants and other guys in training were really really bad to them.

He found it challenging though, physically and mentally.

Good luck!