Best advice for basic training?

I am currently a Drill Sergeant at Ft Benning. If you want advice then too easy.
1. Leave home prepared and have your family prepared. Financially, emotionally, ect.
2. Realize that everything is a test and you are always being watched... ALWAYS!
3. Volunteer all the time eventually we will tell you to go away.
4. Prepare yourself physically now and you will be better off later.
5. Know the standards of the army physical fitness test, the soldiers creed and the infantryman's creed.
6. Be everyone's battle buddy but not everyone's friend.
7. Never lie to your DS.
8. If we ask you a question 9 out 10 times we already know the answer.
9. Don't get complacent, you will get a dose of reality real fast.
10. If you have a legit problem your DS will take care of you don't be afraid to ask. If its not legit, you will know.
Good luck and success.

Be prepared to be challenged. Times will not always be easy. You'll meet bad people in, but you'll meet great people in. Have heart. We can teach you everything else. But you have to make sure your heart is in it. There will be times that you will want to quit or go down a different path. Fight the urges. Good luck. Lastly. The harder the road, the tighter the comraderie. Ranger, SF, etc. Volunteer early.

Be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there (actually about 15 minutes early), in the right uniform and motivated to execute the task at hand.  Good luck!!!

Get ready to be smoked by your Drill Sergeant. That means he will PT (exercise) you until you are steaming and sweating sooo bad you will be smoked. It is a proud tradition in Basic Training. You will make it. Think positive. Many of men and women have gone through this and have stayed the course to be successful and graduate and become one of the greatest professions in the world, A Soldier! You will be removed from society as you know it, you will be indoctrinated and immerssed into the Army Life. Learning Army terms, general orders, how to PT, march, shoot, move, communicate, and most important as a young Private in Basic Training "Quick and immediate response to orders". Basic training will be easy, you do what you are told when they tell you to do it. You will accomplish more than you can imagine, and you will be proud of what you earn as an Infantryman, the Infantry Blue Cord. The very baddest toughest roughest Soldier our Army has trained to confront our enemies. The entire Army is built around you in order to support the Infantryman in his mission. There are plenty of great advice offered by Rally Point members, be smart young man, and know that your entire three or four years in the Army will not be like Basic Training. You will go to a regular unit, nothing like basic training, more like a regular job with field time and deployments. Do not sell your car and your belongings, entering the military is not the end of the world. You will need your car, your TV, cell phone, etc. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy your interests while you are in the Army such as cycling, motorcycling, climbing, sports, or whatever. While you are in the military, try to take college classes. That is so important, there is a life after the Army and college will help you land a good job. Good Luck and enjoy your time in the Army, I hope it will be as good to you as it was for me. I'm going to be Old School and say it "Hoo-Ah!"

I remember basic like it was last week. I was an E-1 when I went to basic, and those were a special time in my Army career. Sometimes I miss those days, but as with anything else you have to keep it moving. You'll remember that experience forever and there will be characters that you'll meet and Drill Sergeants that will give you stories for days. Your about to join a band of brothers and sisters that will always have your back and will welcome you with open arms.

Be smart, Be respectful, Be you, and Be awesome.... Congratulations Troop, Welcome to the United States Army!

I'll give you a practical tip for basic training, though I'm sure Marine and Army have differences. 1.Don't be an overachiever or an underachiever, being middle of the pack keeps you from being noticed, being noticed can mean more reindeer games for you.

2.Also eat as fast as you can when you go to the chow hall and remember never look around, eyes forward.

3.Talk as little as you have to when talking to your DI's, the more you say the more ammunition you give them to use against you.

4.I don't know if the Army teaches Army history, i'm sure they might, but knowing some history is good, just don't brag about it.

5. I'm sure the Army teaches drill, learn some of the drill ahead of time, being the guy who can't do the steps right when everyone else is gets you really noticed.

6. This might be the most important thing, do not take anything that is said to you personally, its all business, its all part of the process. The DI's probably don't really care if your mother liked you or not.

You are already doing it... asking for advice is far more than most. That is good evidence that you are open-minded and determined to go beyond success.

Keep your chin up, listen, learn, and lead.

Understand that you will be entering a new environment with people that were raised different ways and lived different lifestyles. It will be a struggle trying to get everyone on the same page, even though the Drill Sergeants tell you exactly what to do. You all have to work as a team and help each other out to achieve the common goal of graduating basic training. I promise you that the moment everyone learns to come together and help each other out when some may be unsure, things will still be tough but smoother from that point all the way until graduation day.

Great advise from everyone so far. Let me add a few.
1- The Drill Sergeants will know your name for one of 2 reasons, you are a top performer, or you are a screw-up. You are the one that gets to chose which one that will be.
2. I see a few posts here that say don't chase badges or schools. My advise would be to do just the opposite. I don't care if it is Field Hygiene School, HazMat School or Ranger School. Be the guy that tries to get any education you can. Your leaders will recognize that you take on the not so glamorous jobs around the unit, so when that Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger slot does come around, you will be at the top of the list.
3. When you get to your unit, don't hang around the soldiers that bitch and moan that the Army, their unit, the leadership, the post you go to, or whatever, are the worst thing ever. Find the group that enjoys the Army, enjoys going out on weekends to hike, fish bike, or whatever the community and the area has to offer. Don't get caught up in spending your paycheck at the local bars. Instead, get your buddies together and spend your time off taking weekend trips and seeing what your current duty assignment has to offer. Post have outdoor recreation centers. Check them out.
4th and final, keep your head up and no matter how dark it may seem during basic, have fun. If you always look at everything as an opportunity to have fun, you will.

Welcome aboard PVT. Though I cannot specifically speak on behalf of the Army I can speak about the profession you are about to join. We, whether Army, Navy, Marine or Air Force, are a fraternity like no other. A life long faternity that only those who choose to serve will ever understand. You are joining a brotherhood and sisterhood larger and more sophisticated than any high school or college can understand. Being a soldier for 4 years or 40 doesn't matter. No mattet what service you go into we have each others back. Embrace it. All of it. The good, the bad all of it. Be humbled, be proud. After all only 1 % of the US population serve. Understand though, every service is unique and take stabs at each other, but when the chips fall, we support each other like no other. God speed on your journey. Thank you for writing a check with your life in defense of our crazy way of life, but enenjoy. Welcome to the newest, greenist, know nothing soldier! Now get your lazy a$$ moving PVT!