Best advice for basic training?

Take all the Army values, Soldier's Creed and warrior ethos seriously, and remember that those who think it's a joke or a cheap words will run afoul of their own cynicism soon enough. Don't be part of that crowd. Make your mission about your fellow service members (past & present), but also be sure to do the personal maintenance to keep yourself mission-ready. Take each day as it comes, as a constant learner who can find something worthwhile in even the most mundane or downright dirty task.

First be proud for your commitment to your Country, Second congrats to you, Third enjoy the moment and stay out of trouble, respect your Drill instructors and follow the buddy system the greatest thing you will see is making it to graduation date knowing you are now part of the greatest gang in the world. "The United States Military "
God blessed and God speed.

Define what you want to do, and work toward that. The Army is a great decision, and you will be amazed at how many people are not taking advantage of benefits like tuition assistance (hint: you can get some financial aid on top of TA. )

Three things: Shut up and listen- your drill sergeants are going to be the biggest dick heads in the world but they are your dick heads for the next 9 weeks + and they will teach you more than you can handle and then some; show up 15 minutes early for everything- even "balls watch" shift of fire guard (that's the midnight to 4 am) this will only benefit you, and keep you out of trouble; no matter how much you need that "fatty cake" (any snack cake or candy) or "sugar jizz" (whatever is not water or milk) STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!!

additionally PT every chance you get, once you are out of red phase most DS will let you go outside and preform PT on your own. do this it will help with your PT score and turn you into a stud!

best of luck!!

PFC MASON
OIF OEF

As a private, just do what your told! Listen to your DS and when you get to your duty station take initiative and start taking college classes and work on keeping a high PT score to get promoted faster

Never give up or question your drill sergeant unless you feel it is unethical. I was told to never volunteer for anything and to keep quiet or you will be the drill sergeant's example to other soldiers. I followed those rules and my drill sergeant's expressed how much they liked me and that I was a good soldier. The bad soldiers don't do what the drill sergeant's say or think they don't want to be there anymore and will do anything to get kicked out so stay away from those people. You can volunteer for things but do so cautiously, you are there to train to become a good soldier and everything you learn in basic you will use in your military career.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. And try to lead your peers. Leading teaches you great lessons about how to handle all kinds of situations.

Very simple, Young Private. Understand that everything your Drill Sergeant(s) do is very carefully calculated to teach you to have confidence in yourself, your teammates, your unit, your Army, and your country. Drill Sergeants are here to educate and train you in a very different way of life -- you are NOT being trained to man the hamburger grill at the local fast food place. Instead, you are being trained to defend yourself, your teammates, your Army, etc., etc. ... . In reality, you are being trained to defend your country and all that entails.

Embrace the concept that many, many years have gone into developing this training program and it works! Don't like being screamed at? Don't like doing pushups because someone else did something wrong? I'm not sorry at all about that... I went through myself and didn't "enjoy" it. I pushed recruits through it at Ft. Benning for more than two years -- still didn't "enjoy" it. On the other hand, I wasn't there to enjoy the experience -- I was there to be trained and there to train others. Being a Drill Sergeant was a very grave responsibility -- I was training young men to fulfill a role in our country's defense, and training them to accept a grave responsibility that they would do so willingly, even at grave risk to themselves. And guess what? The training worked, even if they didn't enjoy a "Summer Camp" experience.

You are being sent to the best school in the world. It is not there to make your experience a pleasure. It exists to teach you to stop thinking about yourself, and to instead think about a much higher responsibility to the others you are sworn to defend. It exists to teach you to THINK before you act, but with the experience of understanding what the situation is, how to accomplish the goal of resolving it, and with the least harm to yourself and your teammates. Good luck.

Get a good pair of running shoes and start doing PT now.

Hunter,

Simple, physical fitness is job 1 but even more important is to go in with the right attitude. Ears and eyes open, mouth shut except when spoken too. Pay attention and do what your told.

Good luck,