Posted on May 30, 2017
I leave for my Basic Training tomorrow. What will be the best or worst experiences?
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Very excited, and nervous, but overall ready to leave. I've heard there is no such thing as being fully prepared, but would like some input on others experience.
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Basic Combat Training (BCT)PVT
Basic Combat Training (BCT)PVT
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 41
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Take everything with a grain of salt and realize that these people are trying to break you because it's their job. If you're tall, you're too tall. If you're fat, you're too fat. If you're old, you're too old. Think Fight Club. If there's something to single out about you, be prepared because they will.
Don't stress it though. Have fun.
Don't stress it though. Have fun.
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I don't think you can ever be fully prepared, so you're right with that point. What I would offer up is to just go there with an open mind and be flexible...and focus on doing your very best in everything you encounter. It was a VERY long time ago that I went to BCT and I know that much has changed. Many years later, as an officer, I had the opportunity to serve as cadre before actually commanding a BCT company, and I can tell you that your Drills are there for you, although you might not believe it while there (I know I didn't) but in all honestly, they do not want to see you fail and they will bust their asses to make sure you don't, but you need to give 100% in everything. There will be some really difficult times, but when it's all said and done you will have accomplished something pretty amazing and have some great memories as well.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
It’s always a game, your right you can never do anything to your DIs satisfaction, you’ll always be too slow or you’ll do it wrong even if it’s right.
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You are always wrong even when you are right. Just accept it and roll with it. Don't get bogged down by the little things. Study from your Blue Book, study your Warrior Tasks, become proficient. Work towards being Soldier of the Cycle. Do PT in your "off time". Take note in your classes. DON'T forget to check your pockets before you wash your clothes... Re-writing notes sucks...
In Reception you'll be issued your uniforms, make sure you put your name in the interior of your uniforms, PT clothes, Boots. Keep an eye on your gear. There's only one thief in the Army, everyone else is just trying to get their shit back.
In Reception you'll be issued your uniforms, make sure you put your name in the interior of your uniforms, PT clothes, Boots. Keep an eye on your gear. There's only one thief in the Army, everyone else is just trying to get their shit back.
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SGT Patrick Wells
Things sure have changed. Books, time to take notes or even paper to write on in class, and off time. WOW our only off time came about a half hour before lights out ( that was for prep for lights out, and letter writing ) and after the 3rd week we got half of Sunday off.
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SPC (Join to see)
SGT Patrick Wells - That's why it was in quotations. The off time was the periods of time on Sunday to do weapons maintenance, study, go to church, do laundry, and do additional PT. There is no off time. Of course some guys tried to find ways to hide so they could grab sleep, never really worked out for them. Then we had 30 minutes to an hour before lights out for the letter writing/prep for lights out. Good time to grab in 15 minutes of PT if you had one of the 1 hour nights.
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Remember the Drill Sergeants do not want to be there! They all wanted to be Recruiters. There is no reason for them to 'like' you! Just hope they don't learn to really dislike you! When you graduate; they'll be glad and so will you!
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SSgt Ryan Sylvester
They'll actually be less glad than you are... you get to leave. They get a day off and then right back to the next set of greens.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Please let Rally Point know how about your experience! SPC (Join to see)
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SPC (Join to see) Listen closely, be observant, and be squared away. Have a good attitude and be prepared for new challenges. Please provide us an update when you complete Basic Training. Good luck!
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SPC (Join to see) When You Complete it, These Old Salty Dogs will want to Hear Your War Stories, Excuse Us if We Laugh because, We've All Been There, Done That! Welcome Aboard Lad and You Will Have to Excuse Our Jealousy that We Can't Do It Again!
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
PO3 Bob McCord Great idea - keeping in touch! Not for me - 98% of them are in Heaven. That is a problem with age, there is no one to commiserate with regarding - miseries or anything else!
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SPC (Join to see)
IF you are leaving, there is not much you can do today...might have been a good idea to ask a couple months ago?
The best advice I can give you, Don't quit. If you do not quit, you will make it through, barring injury or committing a felony level offense...or quitting and pretending it is something else?
IF you are leaving, there is not much you can do today...might have been a good idea to ask a couple months ago?
The best advice I can give you, Don't quit. If you do not quit, you will make it through, barring injury or committing a felony level offense...or quitting and pretending it is something else?
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SPC (Join to see) Do You Really Want to Know? I'm Sure SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" Would be Happy to Enlighten You! Don't Scare Him Off folks, We Want to Keep Him. LOL!
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MSG Andrew White
Weeks 1 thru 3 and then 7! 1 thru 3 you will begin to be the strongest man in the world and by the 3rd week, you will know who is the weak link! By the 7th week testing, team work and prep for the final week and graduation! And you will be the strongest man on earth by then after doubg approximately 10,000 push ups!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
MSG Andrew White - By the End of Boot Camp, I could do quite a Lot of Push-Ups!
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Just initial training so basically reception and your first week at basic will be the worst other than that just be in the right place right uniform and mind your own and its a breeze to get through. Overthinking it and being nervous is to be expected but its not as bad as everyone makes it out to be especially now a days.
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The basic gist is that, at first, you will ask yourself what the crap did I get myself into. At this point, you will need to force yourself to keep your chin up. As time goes on, you will begin to adjust and it'll start to feel fun. Drill SGTs are there with one goal; break you and rebuild you into the spitting image of a soldier. As such, anything they say/do should not be taken personally. Just do your best and you will find yourself in their good graces. Likewise, you will come to respect them for what they did in time. Finally, there will, no doubt, be at least one person who either has a hard time with or refuses to adapt to the lifestyle. They will screw up a lot and, when one screws up, the whole platoon (sometimes company) gets punished. See to it that you aren't that guy and you will be fine. Best of luck to you.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I disagree that the Drills are trying to break you. They are trying provide guidance on how to become a soldier, which unfortunately means that they are very, very directive during the first few weeks since about 70 percent of the platoon will be a bunch of inexperienced kids that don't know much more than how to wipe their own ass. That's not an assessment of todays youth, I went through OSUT in 1982/1983 and it was the same then. They usually have a pretty good idea of who is going to make it and who isn't by that time and start letting you have a little more leeway AND responsibility. There were parts of it that were not fun, but in general I though the experience was a positive one. My advice to the young man is to remember that a lot of it is about trying to get your head in the right place and yes, they are going out of their way to make you miserable sometimes.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - I still think it's a shock, even to my son, who grew up with an old Army Captain. It's often the first time they are made to be responsible for themselves, too damn often it's the first time they are expected to meet real standards, and the intensity level is beyond what most have ever been exposed. I have never been a fan of some of the stupid abuse that went on in the past, most of which was going away by the time I joined. I have to hand it to the young people joining today. 15 years of conflict and they still step up knowing that there is a good chance they will end up in a combat zone before they get out.
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