Best advice for basic training?

Do Your Job, Have Fun and Enjoy. I'm jealous they won't let me Play anymore. That Crap about Never Again Volunteer Yourself (Navy) Pfffttt. Do Anything and Everything, Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer. If you don't they will probably volunteer you anyway. I wouldn't have gone to Desert Storm or Fiery Vigil if I hadn't volunteered (Also was a Great Way to get Away from a Crappy Chief). I would have never fought a Forest Fire if I had not Volunteered. Did I say I'm Jealous of you!

Don't be a kiss ass and don't be a smart ass.
Be the first finished and help the slowest.
Make friends and have fun.
Never lie.
Learn and live the Army values.

Helped me start my near 36 year military career with being awarded Distinguished Honor Graduate and Trainee of the Cycle.

PVT Abbit, Congratulations on the choice to serve your country. It takes a lot of self-pride and commitment to do this. I'm a commander for a basic training unit and my advice to you is to keep positive at all times. It will be challenging for you at times because BT is designed that way. Remember you are not the only one going through BT. Your entire company will be doing the same training required to be a mechanic. You will do the same tests just as your battle buddy to your left and right. Be motivated and eager to learn from the cadre instructors and the drill sergeants. They are there for your benefit. Like I mentioned, BT will be challenging and you can complete your initial entry training. There is nothing that will stop your training except you. While others give up, you keep your head in the game and do what your told. You will be fine. Message me anytime if you have any specific questions. If I can't get them on the spot, my unit will for sure know the answer. Good luck and do great out there in your career.

cool ty for the info. and yea i'v got the common sense thing down lol. my first drill i got to meet a few guys that are going to Fort Jackson with me i ended up jumping there ass because they couldnt make a straight line and i was getting tired of random pt because they couldnt look left or right and line them selves up. 

"Don't be first - don't be last - and don't volunteer for anything" LOL --- Advise my Dad gave me before I shipped.
"Admit nothing, deny everything and immediately make counter accusations..." --- Advice from my CMOBC small group leader LOL

Once you get to your unit, get with your Team Leader and ask him what your OMPF is. Make sure he teaches you how to use it. Make sure you save ALL of your paperwork that anyone gives you. Immediately create and I Love Me book. This book will be a 3' binder full of document protectors. You will put all of your certificates, orders, 1059's, and all other important stuff in it. As a new private, your military discipline and PT score is what is going to set you apart from your peers. Address individuals by their rank, render the proper courtesies.
99 percent of the time, your unit PT is not enough. You must do physical training on your own. You need to make it a personal MANDATED GOAL of yours to ensure you get a 300 on your PT test EVERY TIME. If you don't make that score, you should be emotional about it. Figure out how to get there.

Once you get to your unit, go to ARMYSTUDYGUIDE.COM and print yourself and ENTIRE board study guide. Put this in a 3' binder with document protectors. Find the "quiet" guy and befriend him. STAY AWAY FROM THE "COOL KIDS" THEY ARE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. STUDY STUDY STUDY. Inform your Team Leader that you want to go to the Soldier of the Month board. He SHOULD give you a pre board before you get one from your PSG and 1SG.

WIN

After you win that board continue going up to Soldier of the Quarter and so on.

Let your Team Leader know you want to go to Ranger School.

GRADUATE.

Go back to your unit with a Ranger Tab, and you will be going to the E5 board very soon. Make sure you know how to do a Right Face.


THEN GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR TEAM LEADER AND LET HIM KNOW YOU ARE TAKING HIS JOB.

ANY QUESTIONS??

Move quickly and with a purpose. The guys that hesitate pay for it. This translates to all aspects of your job later on, from combat to garrison. Your leadership will notice.
You will learn much more by taking initiative and leading the group rather than following it.
Discipline, discipline discipline. Have some. Don't talk unless you have something to say. Don't just talk to hear your own voice.
Remember that your civilian accomplishments don't have anything to do with the army, and no one actually needs to hear about them. Be the best you can be. The best things you did as a civilian aren't going to help you here.
It's too easy to do the right thing. Just do it. It doesn't matter if that's the cool or popular thing. Integrity is the most important thing to have.
Buy extra socks. Don't wear underwear until it gets colder. Hydrate every night. Hydration starts 2-3 days in advance, not right before or during activity. Drink water even when you don't think you need it.
STAY AWAKE. You will pay dearly if caught sleeping or dozing off when you're supposed to be paying attention. DO NOT fall asleep on any type of guard duty or on security. Doing those types of things when you get into the big army will have grave consequences.
Above all, just don't quit. It's not hard. Clearly you want to take some kind of initiative, or you wouldn't have asked for help. Keep doing that. You will never get in trouble for asking for help.

Check your ego at the door... DS's looking for mentally tough and morally straight soldiers, and do their best to weed out argumentative, self-serving attitudes. Blue Falcons (Buddy Fu@k&rs) still make it thru basic training, but have a hard career if they don't shape it up. You will be able to tell the difference in attitude between a soldier and a Blue Falcon, so will everybody else. Like everybody else said, do what you're told to do, ask questions when the mission is done. The best way to become an outstanding leader is to look after fellow soldiers and civilians, put others first, never your individual self. When that little voice inside says 'man this is tough, can I actually do this?' Find another soldier to motivate; the act of motivating others helps you put aside your own pain and that ability to put yourself aside makes more room for doing what is right. Your future leaders can teach you the technical aspects of your job, but it's much harder to teach attitude and ethos to people when the foundations aren't inside them. Based on your display of humbleness and humility when asking for advice here, I would have you on my team in a heartbeat because I could trust that you're teachable. I have no doubt that you have the attitude of success. Keep asking for advice, and teach junior soldiers what you already know, and you WILL go far. Best of luck, God speed. You've already made us proud.

As I read through the comments posted to your question I was awed by the amount of knowledge and expertise that has been written so far on this subject. I can only add a few things that came to mind as I was reading through the postings. They are: Train your mind and your body to succeed. Never quit regardless of how hard it gets. Give up your prejudices and biases. Especially the ones pertaining to race and religion. You will find that when you are between a rock and a hard spot you will not care what color or of what religion the man who has your back is or has. It is best to get this biases out of your system early. Seek responsibility and leadership. Help those who are slow to learn but are trying. Remember that a unit is only as good as its weakest link. If you make a mistake learn from it. Always train and retrain. Stay away from the barracks lawyers and trouble makers. If you have a question or don't understand something ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question. If you are to be deployed overseas learn as much about the country you are going to as you can. Try to learn some of the language. Remember that as a soldier overseas you are a reflection of you country. Always lead by example.

1) you can't afford that car
2) You don't need that tattoo.
3) that stripper DOES NOT LOVE you.

I was once a Chaplain for a basic training unit. When you arrive at your first duty station, you'll have a bank account full of cash. That does not mean you can afford a Mustang 5.0. It does not mean that you need that ink (I have ink, mine is meaningful) AND most importantly, sexual predators will target you for income, childcare, and medical insurance for kids that are not your own.