Did anyone else keep their "Warrior Handbooks" from Basic or Field Training? Is it still useful?

Capt Brandon Charters — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:25:08 -0500

I'm not sure if the Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard carries this with them during basic training, but thought I would ask anyway. I had a close friend present my original 'Warrior Handbook' to me at my wedding last year and recite "GEN Colin Powell's 13 Rules" aloud. He had the whole place rolling in laughter. Lots of memories trapped in this book. Anyone else have something similar?

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 11:33 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:33:46 -0500

I lost my Basic Training materials, but most of the cadets at my school pass down their LDAC TACSOPs to the cadets they mentor as seniors

Response by MSgt C Madd made Jan 28 at 2016 11:36 AM

MSgt C Madd — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:36:27 -0500

Still have my smart book from Army basic, with green 100 mph tape on binder.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 11:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 11:58:31 -0500

I never received a blue book or any other book while I was at basic.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 12:10 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:10:47 -0500

I still refer to it when preparing classes, just to make sure I have the standards down

Response by SGT Ronald Bacon made Jan 28 at 2016 12:32 PM

SGT Ronald Bacon — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:32:55 -0500

I have mine but its with other items I would not want to throw away but I would only ever get it out if i get a case for it to go in with other items I have from over the years.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 12:46 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 12:46:08 -0500

... I hide it ... my wife don't even want able to smell it ... :(

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Jan 28 at 2016 1:18 PM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:18:08 -0500

Yes I have it for nostalgia reasons.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Jan 28 at 2016 2:36 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:36:18 -0500

No...I don't even remember it. LOL

Response by SrA Andrew McCarty made Jan 28 at 2016 2:42 PM

SrA Andrew McCarty — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:42:30 -0500

Yes, but it got pitched at some point in one of my moves.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 3:05 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:05:06 -0500

Mine fell apart during basic.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 3:22 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:22:29 -0500

I went through AF basic back in late 1984, so nope, I sure don't. But, after I got out in 1988 I went into the Army early 1990. They had a book they called the Soldiers Manual. It tried to teach you anything you needed to know about basic soldiering: setup and shooting the military guns, defensive actions and measures, radio messages, communications, and reports. But, I don't have that one today, either.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jan 28 at 2016 6:07 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 18:07:48 -0500

I still have my original handbook from Basic Training back in 1968. Hell, I still have all of my squad and platoon books of all the men that served with me in my Company, Bravo 1/3, from Nam including maps a grids! I got everyone's Names, DOB, Service Numbers, Ranks, boot sizes, blood type, weapons and next of kin and addresses. Shit, I kept everything!

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 6:58 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 18:58:13 -0500

I once attended a wedding where a groomsman recited lessons from the warrior knowledge handbook- he and the groom were FT buddies. It was a huge hit!!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 11:55 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 23:55:20 -0500

My smart book was an inspectable item when I was in basic. Unfortunately it was a paperback and didn't stand up to the rigors of field training. I covered it in 100 MPH tape to get it through and tossed it as soon as I reached AIT.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2016 12:08 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 00:08:15 -0500

The only book I keep is the Infantryman's Bible, aka "The Ranger Handbook."

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2016 9:21 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 09:21:55 -0500

Never seen that before

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 3:42 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 03:42:38 -0500

I think I tossed that sucker as soon as I left Lackland 3 in 2000. Field Training comes in at a close second to SERE school in activities I made an effort to brain dump.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Feb 1 at 2016 1:55 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 01:55:16 -0500

Called a BMT Study Guide now, or at least in 2012 it was. I still have mine well riddled with doodles and other "art" work sitting in a tub in my apartment. It has seen better days for sure.

Response by SSgt Bob Mobbs made Feb 2 at 2016 1:04 AM

SSgt Bob Mobbs — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:04:27 -0500

They didn't have them in '71. But I do remember the 341

Response by MAJ David Kline made Feb 4 at 2016 9:07 AM

MAJ David Kline — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 09:07:05 -0500

I never had a Warrior Knowledge book. We had "Smart Books". I'm showing my age here.

Response by MAJ Judd Clemens made Feb 5 at 2016 12:00 AM

MAJ Judd Clemens — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:00:44 -0500

I had ten years enlisted and 17 commissioned and had never been to basic training so I never got a handbook.

Response by PO2 John Riley made Feb 5 at 2016 9:03 AM

PO2 John Riley — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 09:03:39 -0500

Response by TSgt Alan Richard "Rick" Thomas made Feb 8 at 2016 11:42 AM

TSgt Alan Richard "Rick" Thomas — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 11:42:18 -0500

It's in an old metal box along with copies of all of my PCS & Promotion orders.

Response by Cpl George Goodwin made Feb 11 at 2016 2:25 PM

Cpl George Goodwin — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:25:17 -0500

Circa 1987

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Feb 23 at 2016 6:34 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 06:34:58 -0500

I'm not sure why though. maybe because I didn't memorize much so I kept it in case I needed a quick reference.

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Jun 20 at 2018 2:53 PM

SSgt Holden M. — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:53:30 -0400

I haven't looked at any of it in years but I still have my black portfolio they gave it to all of us in, but I'm assuming the enlisted stuff was a little bit different then the AF ROTC stuff that you got and probably a little different between spring of 2003 and Summer of 2007.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2019 4:50 PM

2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 16:50:25 -0500

I laminated every single page of my Field Training Manual (FTM). It wasn't smart in so many different ways. It cost me $40, increased every dimension, and weighed about 2 pounds. On the bright side, it survived Maxwell's torrential downpours with ease. As a result, it is staying with me for some time to come. Our detachment switched to using online warrior knowledge handbooks my second semester, so the FTM is the only paper handbook we would have. That said, I'll be keeping it mostly for nostalgia purposes, as well as perhaps to use as a lesson on the dangers of over-engineering.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 16 at 2025 10:00 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:00:19 -0500

Burned it as soon as I got home.