What are some of your best Fort Benning stories?

PVT (Join to see) You are going to find that even though you joined an all volunteer Army, there are going to be a few that just don't want to be there. Don't let yourself get sucked into that type of mindset. Do what you are told, when you are told. Don't be tempted to "bend the rules, just a little bit". Your definition of "bend" my be an instructor's excuse to "fail" you.

The Army is exactly what you make out of it. You are going to be doing some of the most difficult training that the Army has to offer, but if you have the inner strength, the drive, and the will to win, you can certainly earn that coveted Ranger tab.

Oh, and you might want to exactly read, and learn, the words on the following page:
http://www.army.mil/values/ranger.html

Sua Sponte !! All the best of luck to you !!!

Right Uniform, Right Location, Right Time, this is all you need to know and always motivated and diciplined. Set yourself up for advancement early in your career. Max out correspondence courses, score high or max on PT Test and Range Qualifications, stand out from your peers and start civilian education early, the new point system will be focused around individual improvements not so much deployments and high speed hooah hooah training.

Best story? We had a guy in my Platoon at D 3/47 who moved like pond water. His name was PFC Snead. One morning Snead is moving slower than usual. Everyone else is dressed, standing toe-to-line, and waiting for the DS. The DS walks over to Snead's bunk and finds him still putting pants on. We hear him yell: "Snead you move like two old people @#$%ing. SLOW! Hurry the @#$% up. "

The moral of the story? Move with a purpose. You're going to run everywhere at Ranger school anyways.

My best Ft Benning story? Once upon a time at Ft Benning, I never had to go there. And they all lived happily ever after. The end.

Benning is like a bad ex for me. While I am there I hate her then I leave only to come back again. The next time I will be there will be fore my Captain Career Course. But it isn't all that bad. I am hoping to get a gig down there next year. I did have the same contract you did when I enlisted in 2000. The only issue was that they only needed three 11Bs. So I ended up in a Long Range Surveillance Company. I like it there. Best of luck. I hope you are ready for some of the worst days of your life.

Atomic situp is the best way to get in shape for the "gut checks" you will be facing. Do them frequently and make sure to get some volunteers to help you.

Dont necessarily believe all the stories you hear especially the bad ones.
Look at it as an experience of a life time and enjoy it. Absorb what you learn and if you fall, smile in the face of adversity and get back up and say this wont beat me. Youll run into clowns throughout your training and tough guys as well. Ignore them and dont let them bring you down.
I have a few funny stories but I dont want to cloud your experience.
Ive been on benning twice. First in 90 for Airborne school then again in 06 working as the HHC Supply Sgt supporting all the branches and two schools retiring in 10. After which I went to work for B 1/50 Infantry OSUT. Best story as a positive was on one rotation we received an overweight kid who was picked on. By the end of 14 weeks he was slim and trim and one of the best. He pushed himself for his platoon and for himself. Never underestimate anyone. I now work forvthe Marine Detachment. A different world.
Airborne school, have faith in your training and equipment, feet and knees together, eyes open and enjoy the ride and dont worry about the fear of the jump. I was nervous on all 78 of mine.
I will quote my father on two things. Hes a retired vietnam vet, infantryman and paratrooper.
"Any one who says they are not nervous jumping out of an aircraft is either a f...ing liar or doesnt velong on that aircraft"
"Do what your told, keep your mouth shut and brush your teeth!"
Enjoy the experience. I wont say good luck. Its not luck, its perseverance.
Enjoy.
Sherlock out!

Once you're there, finish what you started. Reception is the hardest week, if you get past that, the rest is easier. I was at Benning for 3 months. I was recycled back to Day 2 and demoted for something stupid (fired into the clearing barrel while clearing :p). I came with the most minimal stamina and fitness standards. I could barely do pushups when I began. By the time I graduated, I could do AIT fitness standards (60%) and run 2 miles without stopping. If you can do it, so can I. The biggest pain in the ass: kids. I underwent BCT when I turned 21. Most of my fellow soldiers were under 20. The one's that pissed me off the most were the older ones, late 20's, who acted like kids...ugh.

Keep your head straight! Avoid injuries and stretch! You'll remember BCT for the rest of your life :)

As much as I try to forget the traumatic experience, I can NEVER forget. I was in nursing school and a ROTC member. I signed up for the SMP through the local guard unit and went to basic at Benning. E-258, Hells Kitchen on Sand Hill. I was 25 and the rest of my platoon was 17-20. Guess who was the platoon guide right of the bat? Those kids couldn't even tie their boots let alone make their bed and organize their foot lockers. LOL. Look at them now now!

While senior brigade ALO for 3/24 Inf. Div (Mech) I left the unit for two weeks leave. My deputy, an ambitious and resourceful Capt. coordinated for the Homestead F-16s to do a practice ORI mission dropping bombs on the Benning range the day after I returned. Off to the OP we went to control the Lawn Darts. Since he planned the mission I was letting him control and was looking forward to the four flights of two that were inbound. In came lead and off came the bombs. The target area disappeared in flame and black smoke. Seconds later, as #2 was releasing, the shockwave hit. #4 was already "in" and released as the field phone rang. It was now just a series of shock waves when I finally reached the Capt. and asked him what the hell were these guys dropping. His reply: Mark 84s. in pairs, simultaneous. That equates to 4000 lbs a whack. The shock waves had the ground shaking all the way to Columbus, Ga. By the time it was all over I had sold a story about "y-stem" effect and "inversion layers" while trying to keep my Capt. in the Air Force. Benning had a restriction of not more than 500 lb Mark 82s. Eight times we moved Benning sand with 8 times more boom than authorized. 32,000 lbs woke up western Georgia on that day. P.S. The Army guys loved it. (So did I.)