what is basic training like?

Question

yeah i am going into the army next year and i need to know what i am going to have to do, yeah i have herd its pretty tough

Answer 1

Always remember that the Army motto is "Hurry up and wait" Seriously, a lot, if not the majority, of time spent in the Army is waiting. I know that you don't have a clue what I mean, but you will soon enough, trust me. Here's an answer I shared with somebody recently, it tells what basic training is like at Ft. Jackson:

The first place you'll go to is the 120th reception battalion. It's where all new soldiers go. It'll last anywhere from 3 to 7 days. For me, that was the worst week. I say that because the one thing that you'll be doing the most is waiting. You know have no concept of what waiting in a line means by Army standards. Your 'company' will probably have about 600 soldiers in it. You will wait in that line, no talking, all week. Wether it's for chow, hair cut, medical, dental, eye exam, financial, whatever. You have to understand that if it was just one person doing this, it'd only take an hour or two, tops. But they have to process between 1 to 2 thousand soldiers that week. It takes forever. Don't worry, they give you reading material. It's honestly not that hard, just do what they tell you, when they tell you, and don't say anything except yes and no drill sergeant. It really is too easy. Then, usually on a friday, your boot camp drill sergeants will come and pick all of you up. Their goal for your first impression of them is for you to be nothing less than terrified of them. Be expecting this. And no, just about nobody there is going to be nice to you, get over it. I know it sounds mean or whatever, but thats just how it is. After that first week of reception comes the nine weeks of BCT. These nine weeks are divided up into three phases. Pay attention, this is useful: The three phases, in order, are red phase, white phase, and blue phase. Red phase is the first three weeks of training, these are the toughest weeks. During these weeks are when the drills are going to smoke you the most. Make no mistake, you're going to get smoked the entire nine weeks, but red phase is when they really lay it into you. During red phase, you'll go to pugil stick training, bayonette assault course, Victory Tower, confidence courses, and the gas chamber, called the NBC chamber. (Nuclear, biological, chemical, I think). White phase is a lot better than red phase, you get more priviledges and the drills lay off a little bit more. These weeks, however. are considered the most stressful. This is because you'll be qualifying on your M16 A2 rifle. It's stressful because most of the privates won't be able to shoot very well at all right off the bat, it is very frustrating. Often times most of the stress is shown when the privates fight amongst themselves. But as long as everyone keeps their cool, it'll all be OK. Then blue phase is the best phase. The drills start to treat you a little better. Understand that you all will feel a little like cattle, the dirlls always herding you around and treating you like crap. But blue phase is a lot better, and a whole lot of fun. During this phase, you get to go to the grenade range, fire a whole lot of really big weapons, and you'll go to victory forge, a week in the field. It really is a whole lot of fun. Then the last week is clean up, outprocessing, family day, and graduation day.

The thing to remember is, it is NOT as bad as it sounds. It'll take a little adjusting, but chances are that you'll have fun during the whole thing. In order to ensure this, you have to follow this philosophy: Your goal is to not have the Drill Sergeants notice you AT ALL. If it's been 5 weeks in, and the drills still don't know your name, then youre good. The less you stick out, the more enjoyable of a time you'll have. This works both ways; don't do anything to get in trouble (don't talk), and never, never volunteer for anything.

So, have a great time becoming a Soldier in the United States Army. And remember during all the hard times that'll come, remember this; It's worth it.



P.S. go on goarmy.com and look up Basic Training, they have video recordings of it, it was really helpful for me.

Answer 2

Don't be so worried about basic training. Different posts have different operating procedures for training. All I can say is to expect a lot of yelling and push-ups for about the first three weeks, after that, it's almost all down hill per say. Just do what you're told and don't complain about orders given to you. Make sure you help your battle buddies, the drill sergeants like that, unless you are given a direct order not to help them, then expect to be doing what they're doing with them. Try your best to work as a team, that's what really makes the drill sergeants happy, the more you work as a team, the more they will be able to trust you. Basic training is more a course designed to break you down, weed out the soldiers who are unfit for duty, then rebuild, and to ensure that each soldier is trustworthy, and that they could trust you with their life when the bullets start flying.

Answer 3

Basic training is a wonderful vacation...... hahaha yeah right. Man basic is a place that brakes you and rebuilds you right back up to make you ten times stronger. Just picture this. You just start the shower and some mean ugly man or woman in a big hat comes running in saying you have 2.3 seconds to finish your shower but you just started the shower and you are covered in mud from the wonderful exercise that you did because jimmy or who ever didn't do what he or she was suppose to. Get ready for stank breath, lot of yelling and little to no time to eat, shower or even sleep. Remember all you need is four hrs of sleep. Have fun it is an experience.

Answer 4

I thought basic training was very similar to a crappy summer camp. We went camping. We went hiking. We shot guns. I was tired. I was hot, and dirty. But, I knew before I went that it was going to be work.

It's all about your attitude when you go. Make the most of it, and pay attention. What you learn could save your life in a combat zone. And, if you can follow directions, then you should do just fine.

Answer 5

Indoctrination of the young to perpetuate elite control for the haves versus the have nots! The "training" is basic don't you see?! Are you one of the haves? You serve no one but your family and the constitution. Do not be deceived! We need you here not overseas!

*I pity you Morgan J! I got buddies over in Iraq and Afghanistan and they absolutely agree with me. Hell they're the ones who told me about the indoctrination. As far as calling me a F*****g Socialist. Think again. I'm an American who believes in the Constitution and our Bill of Rights. I suggest for once in your in your life, use your brain. Unprotected spinal marrow is not a quality to be proud of. Incidently, the very men who taught me this are Colonel Donn de Grand Pre United States Army and General Benton Partin United States Air Force. Please Morgan, do us all a favor and deprogram. Or better yet, keep quiet! One more thing. I noticed that your to chicken to put your email up. Mine has been there all along. Put your email up if your going to spew pablum or better yet, meet me in New York and we'll talk man to man!

Answer 6

depends on what training post your going to and what time of year it will be. do you know yet? the worst part is not knowing how it will be. it was like a roller coaster ride for me and the top of the hill for me was being picked up from the drill sergeants at reception and taking the bus to our basic training site. but it's all downhill from there, you'll probably be so busy doing training time will fly by and you may not even remember a lot of it.

Answer 7

Good for you fella. Basic training is designed to stress you out, install teamwork with your fellow soldiers, get you in better physical shape, and to teach how to use the rifle. It is tough, and it is easy to take a "take this training and shove it" attitude about it.

Answer 8

Most people gave you good answers (except Clayton, ignore his college-spawned,socialist pap). Basic is the first big challenge in a career likely to contain many challenges. You'll work harder than you ever worked before, be pushed to your emotional breaking point and most importantly, learn to care about things greater than yourself. Things like your buddies, your unit, your country and community. Things people like Clayton will never learn. I pity him, but salute you. I did 20 years in the Navy so the anti-war loons can crowd the streets with hate-filled speech directed at those of us who face danger in their place.

And I'd do it again.

Answer 9

It's not that tough.
Early to bed, early to rise.
3 squares a day
lots of exercise and detail
It ends up to be what you make
it.

Answer 10

Lots of harassment, mind games, and sweating.