Best advice for basic training?

PVT (Join to see) -
1. The good news is, you have three really good basic training names that will get abused from day one...take it from a VanAss(e)

2. I was stationed at Ft. Benning (albeit as an Air Force 'grunt') for all six years of my enlistment minus time spent in the sandbox. I think someone summed it up nicely - embrace the suck.

3. Take a right regardless of the road from Ft. Benning to Victory drive...if you see Ranger Joe's, you are somewhat safe (avoid the Denny's if it is still there) - I will say again...don't go left - you'll be wrong.

4. When buying a vehicle in or around Columbus, GA - don't.

5. The small ponds you see around have big bass in them. Take SGT (Join to see) 's advice and avoid the cliques. Fish instead...but not too close to the ranges...when they are live-firing...

6. Don't celebrate Monday night football at Cheddar's (if it is still there), drive back onto base drunk (so stupid), and try to hit deer on the golf course or Infantry Hall's front lawn. You won't hit them.

7. If she says her name is Peaches...it isn't really... (see number 3)

8. Volunteer for everything...why not get as much experience as you can (but don't be a suck up)

9. Don't show up to basic in orange parachute pants (do people still wear them?) and a wife-beater (tank-top or sleeveless shirt if I offended anyone) and think you'll fly under the radar...

10. Enjoy

Here's some advice based on my mistakes:

- Save (and invest) your money.
- What money you don't save, spend wisely.
- Know the difference between love, lust and loneliness.
- Not everyone is your friend and everyone is not your enemy.
- Volunteer, but don't volunteer for everything.
- Shut your mouth and open your ears.
- Keep track of everything you sign for and don't sign for everything.
- Trust, but verify.
- Tango Romeo Double-Echos exist.
- Grid squares come in various sizes, so verify the size the Specialist wants before you go looking for them.
- 100 MPH Tape has that name for a reason.

Lastly, always remember the Soldier's Creed:

I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

As to Basic:
It passes quickly, no matter how long it may seem at times. Afterwards, especially after you eventually return to civilian life, a lot of it you'll remember as the best time of your life.

Hang in, keep a positive attitude and remember the Drill Sergeants are there to help you.

As for the rest of military life: It is what YOU make it. I cannot offer any other advice than that.

Welcome to RP and the Army family. Only a couple pieces of advise from me:
1) some people are trouble. Stay away from the obvious ones
2) you will pay for others mistakes.. Just accept that it's gonna happen
3) absorb, retain and use the knowledge both good and bad

This is an excellent question, Private.
1. Do not ever be afraid to ask questions. That is how you learn.
2. You will always have shitbags no matter where you go. The key is to keep them at arms length, and do the right thing, ALWAYS. Learn to spot the good people and learn from them, but you can also learn from the bad people as to what NOT to do!
3. No matter how bad the job sucks, it has to be done. Do it, and move on. Everything you do in the army is an experience, good and bad.
4. Do not be afraid to stand up or what is right.
5. Bad leaders are a part of life. You will encounter them in civilian life also, not just the army. Learn to deal with the good AND the bad, and you will be successful.
6. Seek opportunities for experience and learning. Schools, assignments, everything. It all helps in the long run.
7. No matter how much things suck, believe me it can ALWAYS get worse. Embrace the suck, learn what you need to learn, and be positive. It wont suck all the time, I promise you.

Most importantly, embrace your battle buddy, and your squad/team mates. They will probably save your life, or give you a chance to save theirs. Never forget them. NEVER.

HooaH! Infantry leads the way! Queen of Battle!

My top 10 Things that helped me through USAF Basic:
1. This to Shall Pass
2. Know your reporting statement 100%
3. CONFIDENCE- keep it and show it
4. If you are wrong or make a mistake OWN IT
5. Meal to meal- How I lived through BMT I believe the Good Colonel said day to day and that is all on the individual and what will work for you and my advice was meal to meal.
6. Hydrate
7. Never pass a chance to piss of STFU- advice from a friend and it has served me well beyond basic. Listen and comprehend, and when there is down time make sure you are ready to go and not have to slow things by restroom breaks
8. Work as a team, sure at first it wont work but once everyone realizes they can't do it by themselves the team will come together.
9. Be the example- be squared away and strive to achieve
10. Self awareness and be aware of your teammates

Sure there is a lot more but I hope these will help and it looks like there are tons of others in here that have experienced the ARMY Basic training and have different perspectives. Just remember they will outline what is expected of you and do your best all the time. The DS is there for you, to help you become the best soldier you can be to continue to have the best Army on the planet! Good luck!

If there's any one single piece of advice I'd give you, it would be to tell your family to decorate the mail they send you as much as humanly possible. The drills on Sand Hill LOVE decorated mail.

In all seriousness though - Keep your eyes open, your attention to detail sharp. Be motivated, show initiative and let the craziness roll off your back. The drills' and the environment's job is to tear you down and reforge you into a soldier. Embrace the suck.

Stay humble, but don't play the mediocrity game the group will try to play. Get it done, get it done better than right and if the drills need volunteers, don't get voluntold.

Be teachable. If it seems stupid, do it with a positive attitude anyway and absorb the lesson. Some of it will be honestly stupid, but nearly all of it will have a purpose.

Oh yeah, and get in shape now. Life on Sand Hill is way easier if you're in shape.

Be positive. If an order sounds stupid, don't second guess it. There is a reason behind it even if the reason at the time isn't clear. Be a team player.

Outside of everything that everyone else has said, just have the best positive attitude you can have. Always try to see the good in the bad. Example, I was out in the field and every night the tent would build up moisture and drip on our cots. Didn't matter where we put them, we got dripped on. One of the Soldiers simply looked at me and said "Well SSG, we have indoor pools to go swimming in, now." Have that positive attitude thru BCT/AIT/Deployments. It all boils down it that it will be what you make of it.

Soldier is always capitalized and it is spelled differently from what you have above. My advice: pay attention to detail, stay motivated, volunteer for everything, especially leadership positions. Lastly, never forget that we are all the same. We have more in common than not in common and we all bleed the same way.