Best advice for basic training?

Don't listen to the "barracks lawyers" meaning people who think they know it all yet are in the same position you are

Welcome to the Profession of Arms, and more importantly the Infantry!

Lots of great advice flowing here! Best advice, do not stick out! Stay below the radar, don't be a spring-butt, cooperate and graduate. Be a leader when tasked, but ALWAYS follow when it is your role to do so. Basic will build your character and mold you into the type of Soldier you want to be. Don't be a slacker and always set your standards high. Live the Core Values but always maintain your integrity. Listen to your DI and make sure you know "what right looks like!" Stay the course, it will be over before you know it! Enjoy the ride as a career if that is what you want, my dad told me "You'll never be rich, but you'll never be poor." I had a great 31 year ride. Best of luck, you will do great!

Infantry Leads the Way! HOOAH!

Don't be afraid of hard work. Volunteering for details will get you noticed. Live the suck. Embrace the suck. Love the suck! Start studying early. If you have spare time, whip out a copy of the NCO study guide. Get your NCO's to set up mock boards to prepare you for later i.e. soldier of the month, quarter, and promotion boards. A little work every day is a lot easier than cramming for a board 3 days before-hand. and cut that lowly future soldier crap. Everyone starts out new. No one joins the military as "lowly".

Be proud, be positive, be respectful! Enjoy what you learn. Always do you best to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Fear is common in all aspects of new jobs but failure is never an option. The Infantry is the absolute best! Be the BEST! Thank you for Joining.

There is no lowly soldier in the book, Welcome to the band of brother, Before Basic Training..

Practice Waking up at 0400(04:00 AM) and Do PT.
Push up, Sit up, 1 mile run.
Learn the Army Value and soldier creed.

Also learn Army ranks structure.

Hunter,

Great advise from everyone. I was not in the Army, but was a Marine. Listen to your superiors and do everything that you are instructed to do to the best of your ability. In other words, be a squared away soldier. In addition, be an excellent planner. Plan out your days, weeks, and months so that you are always prepared and on top of things. If you are having an inspection, do not wait until the last minute to have your uniform arranged, weapon cleaned, etc. Discipline, planning, and organization will take you a long ways in the military, and whatever follows military service.

I was a Drill Aegean for 3 years at Ft Benning School for Boys in 1985-1988. Bottom line, NEVER QUIT, GIVE UP or say I can't /won't! You will be told to do things that to you don't make sense or that you fully understand. You will be hot, wet, dirty, tired, hungry, and you'll be yelled at by superiors. There is method to the madness that is time honored and proven. Focus on getting stronger, orienting to military life, helping your buddy, and begin to accept the early stages of Warrior development. Start running/jogging now, start building your shoulders, back, arms by doing modified push-ups to full well elevated push-ups, most of all work on your core strength and hydration now. DO NOT injure yourself. Start slow and build slow. Memorize what they tell you, Soldier's Creed, cyclic rate and parts to infantry weapons systems. But most of all don't ever quit or mouth off to the chain of command or your battle buddy. Oh did I say you' be hot, dirty & tired? Good luck soldier!

There really is no advice to give except listen, don't talk unless talked to, don't fall out, do your best and become part of the team. There is no I anymore. You will figure it out quickly and excell! Welcome to the best thing that you will ever be a part of.

Do your best at all times and don't let other influence you on your decisions and do the best of your life in the military.God bless you.

First, have another meeting with your recruiter and ask the questions necessary to answer your concerns. Second, stay out of trouble before leaving for training. Third, embrace the suck factors of Infantry life outdoors 365 days a year. Not every recruit is qualified for Infantry training let alone life in an Infantry platoon.

Last, remember that Jodi is always glad you left town.