I leave in a few months for basic training at Fort Jackson and I am pretty nervous about it. Any advice or tips?

Everyone who's gone before you had the same fears. Basic Training is designed to push you outside your comfort zone...you will have days when you "feel" like you're not doing your best and days when you "believe" you can't go any further. The key is take it one day, maybe even one evolution at a time...and never, ever quit.

Always remember that everyone around you is facing the same challenge...and whether it looks like it or not at the time, your instructors' true mission is to prepare you, not break you.

Beyond that, here's a few practical "tips":

1. Don't try to "stand out"; this isn't a job interview.
2. Obey right away
3. Don't stab your battle buddies in the back...better to go down with all than stand alone.
4. When given the opportunity to wash-wash, to hydrate-hydrate, to sleep-sleep.
5. Always remember, "This too shall pass"...because it's actually a VERY short period of time.
6. You WILL make mistakes-learn from them and move on.
7. Watch your feet, ankles and knees...stretch, change socks.
8. Yelling is just about volume...it's designed to mess with you, so don't let it.
9. Keep thinking on the goal...it's worth it.
10. Do it for YOU...no one else.

Good luck and best wishes!

This started out with three rules, but there are a whole lot more:
1. Your Drill Sergeant is always right.
2. When in doubt, see rule #1.
3. Never question the authority of anyone over you. If in doubt, see rule #1.
4. Generally speaking, never volunteer for anything. Be voluntold.
5. You will meet a lot of people from all sorts of backgrounds. Learn to work with others, even if you don’t like them.
6. Don’t complain. You signed up for this character building experience.
7. Never lose your weapon.
8. Pay attention to your instructors.
9. When you get to AIT, you are there to learn, not party.
10. Start with rule #1.

Don't sweat it, just follow directions and you'll be fine.

Check out some YouTube videos about Basic Training and just listen and obey your Drill Sergeants. Don’t be the person that gets picked on and work together as a team. My niece is about to graduate from Basic Training at Fort Jackson, and I did Basic Training twice (1986 & 2002-03).

You can’t prepare for the mental breakdown that will happen but you can start the physical build up. I don’t know if your Future Soldier training is preparing you physically but it would be in your best interest to go to the gym and work on your triceps. I promise you that will help you so much. Check out APFT Standards for your age and gender and work towards them. Run everywhere. Lol. Start drinking milk now. Don’t quit. Basic training will suck but it will be fun. You’ll make friends easier than you ever have. Just remember when you go to Fort Jackson, the other trainees are not your enemies. You’re all working towards a common goal. Act like it.

If you're early, you're on time; if you're on time, you're late and most likely pushing; if you're late, you and your battle buddies are pushing.

90% of Basic is mental, but don't take that 10% for granted.

Lastly, if you stand out for anything, make sure you stand out for something good. Don't stand out for being an idiot.

It’s not tough, you’ll be fine just do everything your told and never quit.

Look, from a guy who is at Fort Jackson right now and watches the new BCT format on a daily basis, allow me to give you the no BS, straight up truth:

You're. Going. To. Be. Fine.

Just do what you're told, when you're told, as fast as you're told and in the manner in which you are told, and you'll be fine. Give everything you do 110% and do not EVER quit at anything you set yourself to do, and you will make it anywhere you wish to go in your army career. Plain and simple. Do not let anyone else tell you different. And when you have someone in your face telling you that you're worthless, that you're going to fail, or that your mother should have swallowed you instead of contaminating the world with your presence, just keep telling yourself (IN YOUR MIND *DO NOT SAY THIS OUT LOUD*) that they can go pound their face into the sand because their opinion is irrelevant and only matter as far as you allow it to.

Mental toughness will make or break you. When things suck, just say hooah and tough it out.

Also, on Ricks, tie your boots tight as FUCK. Red marks are way better than heel blisters.

The worst part of basic is reception. You also need to accept the fact that you will have to do a lot of pushups. There is always a fuckup or two who will get you smoked. For them, slide a note under Drill Sergeants door saying the whole platoon wants them gone. There is a chance they will do something about it.

Also, don't be a whiny bitch. Nobody cares where you're from, how hard you are, or whatever. If you complain all the time, people will think you are a little pussy.