I ship out to Army Basic Combat Training today. Any last minute advice?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:16:06 -0400

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2020 11:22 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:22:43 -0400

Bring a fully charged portable charger, pen, paper/envelopes and stamps. You’ll be in quarantine/controlled monitoring for the first two weeks, and you won't go to the Px until that period is over. So bring travel sized toiletries to last two weeks. No haircuts till monitoring is over, so if your hair is going to get u noticed, go get it cut now.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2020 11:32 AM

Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:32:07 -0400

Embrace the Suck!

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2020 11:32 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:32:31 -0400

Listen to your Drills and if you dont understand anything ask. Dont be the soldier that waits until the last minute to say I dont know what's going on.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 14 at 2020 11:35 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:35:18 -0400

Don't volunteer for anything, and do what the DI tells you and shows you.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Sep 14 at 2020 11:45 AM

SFC Michael D. — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:45:12 -0400

Mouth shut, ears open.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2020 12:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 12:04:06 -0400

Volunteer for any and everything. Don’t call your Drill Sergeants “Drill Sergeant” - they hate that! You’re supposed to be on a first name basis with them and everyone else. Don’t let others try to tell you otherwise.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2020 12:07 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 12:07:50 -0400

Start every sentence with Hooah, always pitch ideas to your fellow platoon members, if you did JROTC, make sure your Drill Sergeants know so they can better utilize your talent and expertise. Any other prior civilian leadership or team experience will help, it'll make everyone's time there run smoother. Also, start volunteering as soon as possible! Whether it start at inprocessing or even at MEPS!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2020 12:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 12:25:55 -0400

Good luck!!

C31st a Looooooooooooong time ago at FLWMO.

It will end. Embrace the suck. Don’t pull away from the COVID swab. Lol

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Sep 14 at 2020 1:09 PM

SSG Paul Headlee — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 13:09:20 -0400

Do you know your bank routing number; your account number and the ssan's of your sgli beneficiaries?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 14 at 2020 2:09 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 14:09:07 -0400

Remember the mental game. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Wake up and do a full day moving forward. Repeat every day. And this too will pass.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Sep 14 at 2020 3:14 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:14:07 -0400

Don't quit and Keep your sense of humor.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2020 3:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:22:41 -0400

Remember to take everything in. Listen to instruction. Attention to detail. If it gets hard, fight through. You will be fine. The trainees to the left and right of you can be buddies for life. Stay away from the word " HOOAH " * cringe *

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Sep 14 at 2020 3:49 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 15:49:03 -0400

Check your ego at the door.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2020 8:46 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 08:46:31 -0400

Regardless of the hard times... rem the reason you joined in the first and stay motivated. The adversity and pain is only temporary!

Response by SP5 Bill Kelley made Sep 21 at 2020 4:11 PM

SP5 Bill Kelley — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:11:51 -0400

My BCT was at Fort Polk, although I was PP at LeonardWood.

My advice: Stand tall, look good, do as you’re told. Most importantly, help others when they need it. It not only builds character, but others are more willing to help a “stand up guy” when he or she needs it.

Don’t bunch up and smoke ‘em if you got em. :)

This too shall pass, and later become a fond memory.

Response by SPC Brian Stephens made Oct 30 at 2020 4:10 PM

SPC Brian Stephens — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 16:10:49 -0400

Obedience is EVERYTHING. Secondly, focus on your team/squad. Each of you are suited to different things and allocation of people to tasks is critical. Some will not pass an inspection ever without help but they can help you out later with something they seem more adept at. Teamwork wins. Third, you will always drop for pushups whether you or somebody else screwed up. It's an important part of Basic Training. Even if you and your platoon do everything perfectly, you still have to push that ground to Texas. Pushups are your job. Fourth, always sound off from your balls. The Drill Sergeant is doing it and you should too. Fifth enjoy this. Sixth, never be afraid to escape on Sundays for an hour or so of chapel. It's an opportunity to take a break and get some sugar which you cannot have at the barracks and you may not have at chow. The chaplains know what they are doing when they lay out the cookies and punch. Chapel is the only place you will be allowed to get cookies, coffee, and punch and rest for an hour.

Response by LTC Rick Cadle made Nov 3 at 2020 8:05 PM

LTC Rick Cadle — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 20:05:22 -0500

Just make up your mind that no matter what happens, no matter what they say or do to you YOU WILL NOT QUIT! You must understand that besides training you to do your job they must put you under unusual stress (like what may happen in combat) to see if you can take the stress and not freak out and can still do your job to accomplish the mission. So, for God and country and Mother, expect the unexpected and even expect being ordered to do stupid stuff. Have faith that there is a method to the madness, keep a positive attitude, do everything to your very best and NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Response by COL Roxanne Arndt made Nov 8 at 2020 11:34 PM

COL Roxanne Arndt — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 23:34:36 -0500

Good luck!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 2:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 14:59:32 -0500

Hang in there brother! You will be chewing the same dirt a lot of us here have. You got a lot of good advise here, as long as you can walk and chew gum at the same time you will be OK. The adventure begins! Enjoy.

Response by Wayne Soares made Nov 9 at 2020 3:06 PM

Wayne Soares — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 15:06:37 -0500

Good luck Justin!

Response by SPC John Smith made Nov 17 at 2020 7:38 PM

SPC John Smith — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 19:38:19 -0500

Do what you’re told, without question. Keep a low profile and don’t draw attention. Don’t volunteer for a damn thing.

Response by SFC Kevin Stampfly made Oct 21 at 2021 8:09 PM

SFC Kevin Stampfly — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 20:09:07 -0400

Did you make it??