Best advice for basic training?

First of all, thank you for choosing to serve. Second, the best thing you can take to basic training is a positive attitude. A positive attitude will take you farther & keep you motivated. Remember, basic training is as much mental training as physical. Understand that the drills are there to help you. Best of luck, thank you again.

Right time, right place, proper uniform. Stay under the radar in basic. follow orders and make sure you push yourself 100%. Basic training isn't difficult as long as you do the right thing. I spent 6 years in and loved every minute of it. It isn't hard to progress and its a great opportunity for you and your future family. I'm out now and utilizing my GI benefits to attend college. I hope this helps. As SSG Lanning said, don't second guess your decision and don't down yourself. Good Luck and stay strong.

SPC. Joshua Adams

There is a lot of great advice for you to follow in this thread, always remember that your family at home loves you, there will be a time during basic when you will ask yourself 'why am I here? why did I do this? will I make it out of here?' the answer to those questions will be answered by yourself in time. it is an honor to graduate basic training, and after it is all over, you WILL be a different individual, you will also think to yourself ' I would do basic again in a heart beat'. Also remember to drink lots of water, buy yourself a big bottle of motrin. take some before a PT test, and make sure to take extra socks on your ruck march. and lastly Thank You for writing that blank check!

Push harder then the guys around you, keep your sights up, don't overthink things, remember that though it will be painful at first it'll seem like the blink of an eye when it's done, and always remember to be proud of what you're doing!

First off, there's nothing "lowly" about a recruit. We all started in exactly the same spot as you are in now. It requires some degree of testicular fortitude to make the commitment and sign the dotted line.

My advice for basic training is as follows:
a. pay attention
b. think teamwork- what can I do to help my teammates succeed?
c. listen first, seek to understand the meaning, don't say anything unless asked
d. it's a game, designed to stress your mind/body- it's not personal
e. enjoy it- you only go through it once

Best of luck, but luck really shouldn't play much of a part if you really want to succeed. Take the initiative and own your experience.

The best thing I can tell you is to stay out of trouble. You'll probably never see the people you're with again after you graduate. Just take it one day at a time and remember that it's nothing personal. Avoid officers at all costs and remember to salute when approached by one

Don't think of yourself as a lowly soldier. You are important to the army as a soldier and future leader. Remember this and keep your head up high during training, and do your best.

The simplest answer to that is this: Mouth Shut & Eyes/Ears Open

Everyone has learned this one way or another. There are always people who talk big or mouth off or just in general never know when to keep their mouth shut and causes them to get in trouble with the DS or other soldiers. Like I said, the lesson gets learned somehow. I did way too many times.

Definitely stay alert to everything that is going on. Everything is going to be thrown at you rapid fire so expect that. Take in what you can when it comes at you and be prepared to learn from the mistakes for what you couldn't understand. You're never going to have a perfect experience and you'll never right each time so you will fail. The key is to not let that failure happen again.

Ultimately with keeping your eyes/ears open is not only when the DS is around, but with your brothers/sisters in arms. Learn from them not only as a soldier but as a person. Each of them have a story and come from a multitude of backgrounds. They all have a reason as to why they joined and what drives them. Listen to them. Watch out for them as they will watch out for you.

Be smart and be safe. You'll be a soldier soon. Take pride in that when the day comes that you can pin that "rainbow ribbon" on your Class A's.

Hunter, I've been stationed at Ft Benning, had a lot of Infinity buddies and did 20 years in the military. I'm not at a place right now that I can talk do to a lot of them things you will one day soon call civilians. When I get back to my house or away from them (lmao) ill let you know some of the good, bad, and boring times I had and I like the attitude of not wanting to read any propaganda put out by people that are as fare as we know (fake, never served a day to anyone but them self or fiction writer want-a-be's).

There is nothing to feel lowly about soldier. If you raised your right hand and swore this oath..............

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

You are an important part of a vast minority of Americans estimated at only 7% of the population who have taken it upon themselves to protect the majority of Americans who have elected not to serve their country in the military.

You will join a group of soldiers, sailors and airmen who have gone before you and have taken that same oath........this sets you way above the other kids you attended high school with in my book.

My advice to you is to listen and listen closely to everything your DI or Instructors tell you in Basic. Do the very best you can in everything you do. If you are going to be at Basic or AIT, you will be there for a pre-determined amount of time. Be the best that you can be. It sounds like an old ARMY advertising cliché and it is, but its true. If you do the best you can in everything they ask you to do, you will turn out to be a fine soldier and will be proud of the man you see in the mirror.... Dig deep and you will surprise yourself at what you can accomplish. Be a leader and ask for every opportunity to lead.... the management skills you learn will be invaluable to you for the rest of your life.

In our world with open borders and the constant threat of Radical Muslims, Foreign Dictators and extremists in other 3rd world countries, your job will be so much more important in protecting not only your friends and family but your country as well. Take every skill they teach you and excel at it. Encourage others around you to be the best that they can be too.

Avoid the one's that think they know it all and listen to your DI. Build your own team, squad or company. Help them to be the best that they can be. Share your talents at map reading, land nav, and other basic soldier skills, seek others who are better at some things than you are and learn from them as you share your knowledge with them.

The last thing you want to do is enjoy your time at Basic Training and eventually AIT. It will be the hardest thing you have every done but one of life's most rewarding accomplishments that you will always remember. You will make friends in Basic as you move through this crucible of training that will last a lifetime and others you will meet along the way during your career if you so choose to stay in. What you will find is a new found confidence in yourself that will be unshakable. Good Luck young man!