In Basic (for Army) do they scream and yell at you?

Question

I want to join the army reserve, and am really athletic, but I cant do push ups (I can do like 1).
If I cant do them will they scream at me, or encourage me?
What about overall, screaming and yelling or encouragement?

Answer 1

I don't recall any screaming, but I do recall my drill sergeant putting his nose two inches from mine and talking to me from his balls. You can smell every cigarrette he has ever smoked and his breath and his words beat into your face like a bat to your head.

During PT tests, they were more encouraging. The first time, I was told I wasn't doing my pushups properly and I needed to straighten my back and go down and back up as one unit. Otherwise, they were counting outload and reporting my pushups on my PT record over the course of two minutes. Men had to do a minimum of 42 in two minutes to pass. I think women only have to 17, or some low number.

The hollering generally goes down with time. 1.) Nobody, not even your drill sergeants, can be that hardcore and mean for more than a week, and 2) You learn more about them and slowly begin to stop thinking, learn to listen, and then do as you are told. Questions are usually welcome and permitted.

By about the fifth week, you may think your drill sergeants are the funniest SOBs alive, but by the end of the thing you may also think, as I did, that these guys are outstanding role models and the best men and women the Army has today. The best of the best are training you. That is what I thought, and had I stayed in, I would have liked to be a drill sergeant.

Basic was awesome!!!

And for the final test in Week 9, they put you to bed at about 6 P.M. They let us sleep for 12 HOURS!!!! A guy like me who could not knock out more than 32 pushups the last 2 months, appeared at his final PT test kind of feeling like he was doomed to fail, knocked out 45 in two minutes. Sleep is everything! A year later, I maxed out the PT test in permanent party.

Answer 2

When I left for BCT over a yr ago I couldnt do but 10, trust me you will be fine I suggest getting in the "Front leaning rest position" and just staying there as long as you can because that is the Drill SGTS fav thing to say..
You all will be broken down tothe lowest level but brought back up as a team , you will be ok if I can do it at 34 you can too!

To get to actual BCT from reception you need to be able to do 3 pushups ,17 sit ups and run your 1 mile in 10:30, once you get into actual BCT on your pt test you will of course need to do more pushups, situps and run your 2 miles based on your age...
Good luck and dont worry many have gone before you and many will come after you.
No matter how much you wish you were home think of your reasons for joining.
ANG Soldier and Armywife10 yrs growing strong.

Answer 3

Yep, there will be screaming and yelling.

But, if you want it bad enough, you will learn now, before basic, to do push ups.

Basic is tough because you have to have the skills to perform at your best. Your life, and the lives of those you serve with depend on it. Would you want to be in a situation where someone can't drag you to safety because they were convinced they just couldn't do it?

Give it one more real effort. Ask for help. Don't write it off until you gave it 110%.

Answer 4

You will get screamed at mostly as a group.

You will on occasion get personal attention to the point that you will know what the DI had for dinner the night before.

You WILL pass the PT test. Start them push ups NOW! Then it will not be so much a challenge.

If you are sensitive........you will not be happy.

If you are real sensitive don't join.

If you want to be a useful adult...get over the worries and just do it.

SSG US Army 73-82

Answer 5

No in the army they give you cup cakes, time out cards and nap time in case you get too stressed out. Now in the MARINES they yell. Those examples of what a marine is that we call Drill Instructors will firmly implant in you their knowledge of curse words, derogatory statements and yelling like no other. If you can't do 1 push up you might want to start getting ready to do them. I guarantee you will be required to do more than one. My question is, if you're really athletic and can't do 1 pushup can you really consider yourself "really" athletic. Start working on that upper body strength, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt in that maybe you can run like a cheetah so work out your arms, chest and back, you will want to be able to do at least 50 push ups at one time before you go to basic.

Answer 6

Screaming, yelling, and other verbal harassment is part and parcel for basic training in any organized military force in the world. That said the Army drill sergeants will probably be in your face more than most. Take it with a grain of salt as their ultimate goal is to help and motivate you to succeed not see you fail.

You can help yourself immensely by working on your upper body strength before you get to boot. For pushups you can do pushups from the knees (instead of toes) to build up strength. You can also work it by doing leaning pushups (standing up).

Answer 7

I went through basic about 30 years ago. I've never been screamed at and yelled at like I was that six weeks. But, you'll survive. Good Luck. :-)))

Answer 8

In basic, they break you down, then build you back up in the Army way of thinking. Yes, they will yell at you. And you will survive it.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

You'll learn. They are much more down to earth and less nasty than when I was in the Army. Peace