Posted on Jul 28, 2016
College Graduates, when you enter basic, what are your thoughts on somebody yelling at you instead of actually training you?
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Basic Trainee
College
Cadet
ROTC
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 50
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I was a 36 year-old man, and was a Corrections Officer prior to enlisting. I had worked in a prison where the people in the prison actually had murdered, raped, stole, sold drugs, etc. So a guy in a hat didn't really intimidate me. Also, my Dad is a retired LTC, and I grew up hearing stories from Vietnam Vets who had recently returned from Vietnam. Not much intimidates me these days.
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I laughed it off.....in my head of course.
I grew up in the Army....and I'm not talking career progression...I mean I literally grew up in the Army. I was surrounded by field grade officers my entire life. So I already had a good idea of what to expect in basic and I also understood the rationale behind it.
I grew up in the Army....and I'm not talking career progression...I mean I literally grew up in the Army. I was surrounded by field grade officers my entire life. So I already had a good idea of what to expect in basic and I also understood the rationale behind it.
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Why just college graduates? I was extremely mature at even 5 years of age; and had a very high IQ. My parents were poor and I couldn't afford to go to college; but I read every encyclopedia from cover to cover many times over. So, someone who graduated from college is better than I am? I would love to hear the explanation on that theory...
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I actually listened to the yelling, Mind over matter, the yelling were instructions.
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I enlisted while I was in college. When I got to basic at Fort Benning (11B) OSUT it was interesting. There were individuals who thought it was the worst thing in the world. They hated their Drill SGTs. For me, it was like HS football to-a-days. The DSgts were coaches. Nothing more.
While the training was strenuous, I endured the mental aspect a lot better than others. I'd say nearly 1/3 my platoon was comprised of college students enlisting in the guard after 9/11. Despite the non college PVTs and the DSGTs doing their best to divide us by trying to make it seem as if the college students would somehow be inferior, we pretty much lead our platoon in everything from the APFT to shooting, etc. Not saying that college students make better Soldiers by any stretch of the imagination, just my observation. Though that might have to do with discipline and that college students already are disciplined to learn, and soak things up. Who knows.
All I know is that for some, basic was the worst time of their life. I had no issues other than the August Georgia heat.
While the training was strenuous, I endured the mental aspect a lot better than others. I'd say nearly 1/3 my platoon was comprised of college students enlisting in the guard after 9/11. Despite the non college PVTs and the DSGTs doing their best to divide us by trying to make it seem as if the college students would somehow be inferior, we pretty much lead our platoon in everything from the APFT to shooting, etc. Not saying that college students make better Soldiers by any stretch of the imagination, just my observation. Though that might have to do with discipline and that college students already are disciplined to learn, and soak things up. Who knows.
All I know is that for some, basic was the worst time of their life. I had no issues other than the August Georgia heat.
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LTC Paul Labrador
Yup. Most folks who played physical team sports (football, wrestling, etc), would have already been accustomed to being smoked or yelled at. Nothing new there.
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I for one am thankful for the "yelling" that took place during basic training. I am thankful that the experiences we go through helps to groom out the entitled, self righteous attitudes that come along with some. (although some unfortunately continued after with these) College experience has nothing to do with your experience in basic training, rotc or AIT. Plus, yelling should be the least of anybody's problems... What is the worst case scenario here? You get your feelings hurt? In training you don't and shouldn't have feelings. There are far worse things that you may encounter in real world military than yelling. Is a POW seated at a table with coffee and snacks to have a soft spoken conversation? If someone is offended by yelling during training, I would hope they would realize the military is not the best option. IMO harden up and realize what does not kill you indeed always makes you stronger.
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What makes you think that the yelling is not part of the training? Maybe after all that college the trainee still does not realize that the goal for one is to provide an opportunity to perform in a stressful situation, and for two to break down the individual to build up them into the team? Do you think they would coddle you, or treat you better with that college degree?
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I don't agree with the "yelling" all the time! "Locking Heels" and talking in someone's face for correction, guidance and direction are fine and builds character as do push up and jumping jacks for discipline.
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MSG (Join to see)
How do you know that PVT Bresch when you were never trained in a stressful environment? You really have no idea how you will react during the stress of Battle ever. Even those that have completed Infantry training as I have don't always successfully react well under the pressure of combat. That is the intent of the way they do basic training. It is to help you be prepared to work in the stressful situation of combat and focus on the mission. The honestly can't shoot bullets at you so this is the best they came up with. As a person with three degrees including as Masters degree I fully understand the need to do things this way. it is uncomfortable but it eventually develops a skill set that allows a large portion of the military to deal well under pressure.
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PVT William Bresch
SFC Stevens, your right.
1. Checking your car for explosives every day .
2. Can't go out at daytime and being cautious at night wondering, who is trying to kill you, for the bad guy you just put away.
3. Cant talk to family or friends, because they are not on your level.
4. Can't have a social life, for fear, the bad guy you are after just might find them and kill them, to get back at you.
5. When you do go out, you check every window to make sure a gun is not pointed at you.
6. Wondering if the car behind you, is actually tailing you for information or checking to see where you go.
7. Phone calls out of nowhere.
8. Helicopters following you.
9. People who you do not know, showing up asking questions, even as you are out shopping.
10. Meetings all hours of the night and the people you meet aren't exactly friendly.
11. Wondering if the people your working with have been bought off.
and the Number one answer of all time, finding your best friend murdered by his own family, because he didn't want to do Drug Trafficking and he is bloated, head smashed, chained to cinder blocks, was dumped in a lake by his own brothers and only age 9.
I learned early on and that's why I can honestly say, if anyone was ever in trouble, regardless of race, sex, creed, no matter where, Protect the Innocents at all times. I never went overseas, this happened in the United States.
1. Checking your car for explosives every day .
2. Can't go out at daytime and being cautious at night wondering, who is trying to kill you, for the bad guy you just put away.
3. Cant talk to family or friends, because they are not on your level.
4. Can't have a social life, for fear, the bad guy you are after just might find them and kill them, to get back at you.
5. When you do go out, you check every window to make sure a gun is not pointed at you.
6. Wondering if the car behind you, is actually tailing you for information or checking to see where you go.
7. Phone calls out of nowhere.
8. Helicopters following you.
9. People who you do not know, showing up asking questions, even as you are out shopping.
10. Meetings all hours of the night and the people you meet aren't exactly friendly.
11. Wondering if the people your working with have been bought off.
and the Number one answer of all time, finding your best friend murdered by his own family, because he didn't want to do Drug Trafficking and he is bloated, head smashed, chained to cinder blocks, was dumped in a lake by his own brothers and only age 9.
I learned early on and that's why I can honestly say, if anyone was ever in trouble, regardless of race, sex, creed, no matter where, Protect the Innocents at all times. I never went overseas, this happened in the United States.
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