Did you enjoy Basic Training?

In retrospect, I can honestly say yes, I did enjoy it. At the time? Well, not so much! LOL!

Although at the time I would say no, Marine Corps boot camp is not easy. But it was the only time in my career where I didn't have any worries except graduating. They told you when to eat, shower, sleep, you didn't have to make any decisions, how easy is that! Man I wish real life was that simple and easy!

No! It was cold and dirty! They were always yelling at us and making us do push ups. The boy's bay was disgusting but us females got smoked every morning even though you could lick the floor because it was so clean. They wouldn't let me wear makeup, eat candy and I know for a fact those drill sergeants with the blue ring in their hats hated women.

Lol heck no I didn't enjoy basic training.

I had a blast at basic. I got to do what I was doing anyway, but now getting paid for it! Plus I got to see a couple people pee their pants, someone vomited so hard at the CS gas chamber that they crapped themselves, we got to go to the Soldiers Show because it was in town and another dude crapped himself, saw someone shaving someone elses butt, naked man buffing the floor, and someone peed themselves in fear of the drill sergeant because the dude left his wall locker unsecured. The DS found it unlocked and then secured his round brown inside... imagine the privates surprise when the DS has him open his locker while "searching" for the hat! On the last day before we went to AIT, one of our DS gave us a pep talk and as he left the bay he said "goodnight troops" and someone yelled " GOODNIGHT DAD! " and he proceeded to smoke us all for a good while lol

SGM (Join to see), my basic training may not have been all that (what you describe), but I did enjoy it. I learned a LOT and it was fairly well run. Overall I did enjoy basic training. As I've written before, I was quite apprehensive going in (I had zero military experience and really had almost no idea what to expect), but it turned out to be a good learning experience on many fronts.

There are times when I thought I had a big mistake, but now I realize that it was helping build on the foundation that was already established before I joined. I honestly think boot camp helped break me out of my shell. It was there where I made some very good friends and learned a lot about myself as well.

All right Sergeant Major, I'll bite. From a private's point of view... getting smoked for someone else's stupidity... no; having your locker tossed for getting one thing wrong... no; marching all day... no; fire guard duty at o dark hundred in the morning... no; running out of the gas chamber with no mask... no; getting shot at night with things in the pits exploding all around you and the DS screaming at you to hurry up while low crawling through the sand... no; rushing through your chow... could care less; graduating after going through all that... worth it!

It was the second best time of my 7 years in the Army. ( weeks of just plain fun never a dull moment went by and learned something everyday.

SGM (Join to see) I lost 88lbs to join he ARMY at 31 years old, I enjoyed the fact that just joining was an accomplishment. Passing the obstacle courses, the morning runs, the APFTs, all the other challenges along with soldiers 10 years younger than me gave it a different sense. Every morning I woke up saying to myself, I'm doing this, I'm making it. Yes, there were days that sucked, but I definitely enjoy my BCT!

SGM (Join to see): The passing of time smooths the edges of rough periods of our lives. I started BCT on 11NOV69, which will be forty-five years ago in just a few days, so it's impossible to remember much of what actually occurred, either good or bad. It was new, scary and somewhat traumatic initially, but ultimately, it turned to be a good experience for me.
I have asked myself at various times why it was a good experience and invariably, it comes down to my drill sergeant. The drill sergeant of 1st platoon was SFC Richard DesLauriers. He was a comparatively kind and quiet man, somewhat atypical of many BCT drill sergeants, both then and now. He was in the business of mentoring before the Army formalized the process and was worthy of emulation. I've tried to find him over the years to thank him, to no avail as yet. He was truly an extraordinary non-commissioned officer.
PO3 Phyllis Maynard