I am 35 and just enlisted. What can I expect?

As far as the Drill Sergeants are concerned, you'll be treated the same as everyone else. The younger trainees might make good natured cracks about your age, but that's OK. Get in shape before you report to Basic, and you'll keep up with them just fine. I too enlisted at 35, and turned 36 in Basic five months later (on the day we had gas chamber training... Happy birthday to me, right?). Remember, enlisting as late in life as we did kind of gives us an advantage in a sense: The wisdom to keep your head down, nose clean, mouth shut, and eyes and ears open!

Early mornings, late nights, little sleep, few comforts. Get in front and stay in front...lead the way. After graduation from Basic Training, You will feel so good; and graduation from AIT, You will feel awesome, and unstoppable.

Run Forrest, Run!

Practice at being invisible, which will be hard as the geriatric guy. That being said, do your job, don’t be afraid to fail, and get through minute by minute, day to day and week to week then it’s done. Go the the real Army and excel.

You can expect a lot of PT, and if you aren’t in excellent physical condition you won’t be able to keep up. The DI’s will have you for dinner.

Grab your family jewels, shut the FKUP and drive on!

If you have no injuries then you’ll be fine. Start swimming and running on opposite days. Basic training is basic but who wants to just meet the standards. If you have any pride start letting it push you.