PFC Private RallyPoint Member 3371417 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I just enlisted into the national guard as a 19D. I leave for basic on April the 18th. I&#39;m going to fort benning. Any tips or insights would be really appreciated. 2018-02-20T00:11:23-05:00 PFC Private RallyPoint Member 3371417

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I just enlisted into the national guard as a 19D. I leave for basic on April the 18th. I&#39;m going to fort benning. Any tips or insights would be really appreciated.

2018-02-20T00:11:23-05:00 2018-02-20T00:11:23-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 3371425

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Get a hair cut, go run, ruck, do a push up or two.

2018-02-20T00:16:59-05:00 2018-02-20T00:16:59-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 3371463

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do not be afraid of Stairway to Heaven.

2018-02-20T00:47:06-05:00 2018-02-20T00:47:06-05:00 CW3 Jeff Held 3371495

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Clear your head. Do what you’re told to do and do it better and better. If you start feeling down just look around you; everyone there is taking a bite of the same shit sandwich you are.<br /><br />As an E3/PFC you may be called upon to lead. Eagerly accept that and do your very best.<br /><br />Don’t give up and don’t give in. Your team mates will be counting on you as you will be counting on them.

2018-02-20T01:34:25-05:00 2018-02-20T01:34:25-05:00 SGT Christopher Hayden 3371782

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just be glad you&#39;re going in April and not June.

2018-02-20T06:33:44-05:00 2018-02-20T06:33:44-05:00 CW3 Private RallyPoint Member 3374881

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Well, I did spend 2.5 years as a DS on Sand Hill. Keep your mouth closed and your ears open. Do what you are told to the best of your ability. You are going to get yelled at. You are going to be broken down. You are going to despise the retard next to you. But it will be you and your PLTs just to help square away that crayon eating PVT next to you and work together as a team. Get yourself prepared physically and mentally before you go. I had a PVT show up once and couldn’t do ONE sit-up. ONE! I couldn’t understand how he got out of bed in the morning unless he rolled off the side of his bunk and just hoped for the best. You don’t want to be that guy.

2018-02-21T00:48:49-05:00 2018-02-21T00:48:49-05:00 CPT Jack Durish 3376020

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Okay, I know I&#39;m old. Tomorrow concludes my seventy-fifth trip around the sun, and I&#39;m getting cranky, but not much surprises me anymore except this: A PFC in BCT! How can anyone advance in rank without BCT? Please, it&#39;s not my intention to insult you. Nothing personal. No, not at all. A PFC is the lowest level leader in the Infantry and may be expected to lead a fire team. Maybe even step in to lead a squad when no superior is available. Without BCT, would anyone even know what a fire team or a squad is?

2018-02-21T11:29:04-05:00 2018-02-21T11:29:04-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 3376369

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Be more specific.

2018-02-21T12:48:28-05:00 2018-02-21T12:48:28-05:00 SGT Dave Tracy 3376442

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Can&#39;t speak to 19D OSUT at Benning, but I did have the pleasure of knowing 11B OSUT at Ft. Benning, so I&#39;d say the following: <br /><br />-Its hot &amp; humid as hell. Hopefully you&#39;re used to that, if not, you&#39;ll acclimate, but until you do, it&#39;ll suck.<br /><br />-Closely related to the above, is knowing you&#39;ll drink water. Lots of it. Not a drop will come from a bottle. Often it will be warm. Sometimes it&#39;ll be hot. Drink it anyway.<br /><br />-Enjoy the wildlife. They have cockroaches you can ride for free (or for $200 you can convince a guy in your bay to eat one-we did); snakes; Fire Ants which hurt like hell when they bite; Brown Recluse spiders, which again, hurt like hell AND are a medical issue when they bite; coyotes; wild boar; and (apparently) alligators. And no, you cannot shoot any wildlife.<br /><br />-Being a combat MOS OSUT at Benning, expect to live without your cellphone. Give it a hug, and say &quot;good bye dear friend&quot;, and know that by the time you graduate, Apple and Samsung will have released new hardware making your old phone obsolete anyway. ;-)<br /><br />-Run. Work on it now...no, NOW!!!! Stop reading this and get you ass on the road, Time Now! To quote my old Drill Sergeant, &quot;We&#39;re a runnin&#39; Army!&quot;<br /><br />-Work in a ruck march or two as well. You&#39;ll be toting a heavy load and your weapon when your rucking in OSUT, so prepare for it.<br /><br />-While you&#39;re at it, get warm &amp; fuzzy with push-ups &amp; sit-ups.<br /><br />-Learn to eat fast. &#39;Nuf said.<br /><br />-Check your ego at the door. You&#39;ll have a bigger one when you leave OSUT anyway.

2018-02-21T13:06:50-05:00 2018-02-21T13:06:50-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 3377507

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>When the Airborne troops call you &quot;LEG,&quot; it&#39;s just an expression. Those very same Airborne Troops are, or have been called, &quot;Cherry.&quot;

2018-02-21T19:13:22-05:00 2018-02-21T19:13:22-05:00 PFC Private RallyPoint Member 3377534

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Down let anything hold you back. Keep pushing forward and finish strong. I know it’s easier said than done but you can’t let anything back home get in your way because if you do it will be a longer journey than you are hoping for.

2018-02-21T19:28:59-05:00 2018-02-21T19:28:59-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 3378003

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It’s gonna suck, you’ll get the shit smoked out of you, probably contemplate your entire life but don’t let them get to you stay calm and cool make sure you work as a team within your platoon the sooner you figure out how to the sooner things will be easier and not only your platoon but the entire company!

2018-02-21T22:20:15-05:00 2018-02-21T22:20:15-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 3378016

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Take it one at a time and don’t quit

2018-02-21T22:26:29-05:00 2018-02-21T22:26:29-05:00 LTC Tom Jones 3379050

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>When a WW2 vet and neighbor of ours learned I had been drafted, he went out of his way to advise: &quot;Jones, if you want to make it through basic training--don&#39;t volunteer for noth&#39;n.&quot; At the time, I wasn&#39;t too sure I wanted to make it through basic in the first place; but, I generally took his advice.

2018-02-22T09:51:31-05:00 2018-02-22T09:51:31-05:00 LCpl Private RallyPoint Member 3379797

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>How hard can it be? It&#39;s the Army

2018-02-22T13:32:43-05:00 2018-02-22T13:32:43-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 3382083

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Get all your stuff organized before you go. Finances, girlfriends, fiance, whatever. Make sure when you leave that everything you left can do without you for the entirety of your training. I don&#39;t know how many times privates want to quit day one because they are worried about their mother or it&#39;s just not what I want anymore. The fastest way out of basic is to graduate. It&#39;s not hard and in my personal opinion is one of the funniest things you will do in a long time. Think about it. Your gonna shoot your M4, machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, regular grenade launchers, throw Grenades, do obstacle course, learn to repel off the dudes of towers, go through a gas chamber. It&#39;s pretty much every 12 year old boys dream. Have fun and realize what you think is right isn&#39;t what everyone else thinks. Your gonna meet people from all over the world. You don&#39;t have to like them but you will learn to work with them. Enjoy.

2018-02-23T02:10:43-05:00 2018-02-23T02:10:43-05:00 SSG Daniel Brewster 3387154

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I grew up in Georgia, yet I never realized how hot it was there until I spent a summer at Fort Benning as an 11B. As you are going in as an E3, you probably have some college or are an Eagle Scout. Good for you either way. You will likely be selected as a leader - even though you may not really not much about Army leadership. Here&#39;s the key to Army training - keep your ears open and listen 99% more than you talk. Do what you&#39;re told and do it as quickly as you can. Basic Training is all about preparing civilians to be soliders - nothing they ask you to do will be insurmountable. Nothing. Countless men have gone before you and you&#39;ll do just fine. You should already be physically prepared - read up on the APRT and make sure you can max a PT test. You will meet morons in Basic - don&#39;t do what they do. Also, imho, don&#39;t try to save &#39;em - that&#39;s what the Drill Sergeants are for. They&#39;ll make it or not on their own merits. You can learn how to work as a team and help make the weakest link stronger once you actually get to your unit. Basic and AIT are all about teaching you - not you teaching somebody else.

2018-02-24T13:29:17-05:00 2018-02-24T13:29:17-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 3387249

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do what you are told and learn. Don&#39;t take things so serious, even at basic

2018-02-24T13:52:42-05:00 2018-02-24T13:52:42-05:00 CPL Hayward Johnson 3388716

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Try to stay away from victory drive if you get weekend pass

2018-02-24T21:38:35-05:00 2018-02-24T21:38:35-05:00 SGT Aric Lier 3397918

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>if the drill is wearing blue discs on his hat or collar, that means he was a frostbite victim....go ahead and let him know you know about this and will look after him. he will appreciate it and you will get rewarded

2018-02-27T13:16:58-05:00 2018-02-27T13:16:58-05:00 SPC Private RallyPoint Member 3587194

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Count the Sundays, Best post to go to basic.

2018-04-29T18:28:58-04:00 2018-04-29T18:28:58-04:00 PFC Mike B. 4262833

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>How did you do???? Basic??? Hope well.

2019-01-05T22:49:44-05:00 2019-01-05T22:49:44-05:00 SPC Alexander Ortiz 5165260

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do as ur told, stay sharp and away from numbnuts never volunteer, and get ready to hump...Hooah.. Wish you the best, God&#39;s Speed..

2019-10-25T14:36:14-04:00 2019-10-25T14:36:14-04:00 SGT Phillip Tucker 5924404

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Stay motivated, motivation is the key to basic. At times its going to suck, but embrace the suck and keep pushing. Always remember why you wanted to enlist. Drills will get into your face and make life as stressful as possible for a good reason. If you listen carefully, they can be funny. Plenty of times, during an ass chewing, the Drills will crack jokes. Earn their respect, never bow out. Relax, you will have fun and make memories you won&#39;t forget.

2020-05-22T20:34:58-04:00 2020-05-22T20:34:58-04:00 SSG David Fetty 6249154

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>There will be certain things that happen at various times during your training, and at the time will have you convinced that someone lost their minds, or else it will be everyone &quot;showing&quot; their DI they aren&#39;t taking anymore. It may be a DI dropping someone for pushups and the entire squad or platoon will drop with them to show the DI they think the punishment was unfair. Or your barracks being destroyed because someone left their locker unsecure or a mess. You&#39;ll be positive your leaders have lost their mind, and you may even be afraid. <br /><br />Don&#39;t worry, these are actually indicators of progress and a marker of moving to the next phase of your training. Things will be different from those days forward. <br /><br /> Expect the unexpected, cover YOUR responsibilities, then help your fellow trainees. Helping them will help you as well although you won&#39;t recognize that at the time.

2020-08-26T23:17:52-04:00 2020-08-26T23:17:52-04:00 PVT Rocky Susshine 6582789

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>For me . Hard work. The experience was fantastic. I enjoyed what I was thought. Only. Not enough time for sleep.

2020-12-15T16:31:21-05:00 2020-12-15T16:31:21-05:00 PFC Mike B. 7057172

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I did the 13 weeks there + 3 more weeks immediately after graduation “jump school”

2021-06-20T06:30:57-04:00 2021-06-20T06:30:57-04:00 2018-02-20T00:11:23-05:00