What happens during army reception? What type of medical stuff do they do? And lastly how long does it last?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:35:18 -0400

Response by CPT Griff Tatum made Oct 19 at 2017 8:36 PM

CPT Griff Tatum — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:36:12 -0400

Reception? You're just waiting to go to basic training. Not a whole lot but enough to get you to the front door of the Army.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2017 8:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:41:38 -0400

Reception consists of paperwork, uniform issue, and teaching you the bare minimums of drill and ceremony.

It gets you ready for actual Basic Training.

Yes, you will be yelled at a bit. Yes, you will do some PT. You hear negative things because it's like purgatory- you're waiting to move on, waiting in line, first exposure to the rest of your life.

It lasts a little over a week.

Everyone is nervous. It's -made- to make you pass, so just relax.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2017 9:05 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 21:05:55 -0400

I remember reception being unexpectedly relaxed -- yes, you get yelled at, but depending on your DS you may not do much PT out of fear for injury.
By the time you're almost ready to get picked up by your actual training unit you will be ready for it. The monotony of reception is the only real bad part.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2017 9:15 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 21:15:13 -0400

I heard they send people home sometimes for lying and medical reasons. My question is how are they able to tell if someone is lying? And I thought MEPS cleared you so you couldn't be sent home

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2017 9:36 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 21:36:20 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Listen closely, be observant, and be squared away. No need to be nervous as you have challenges and adventures awaiting. Let us know what you thought of it after you complete Basic Training. Good luck.

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Oct 19 at 2017 10:09 PM

SGT Mark Halmrast — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 22:09:25 -0400

Lasts about 5 days.
At the time, reception feels intense.
About 15 seconds after your DS gets you, you realize reception was nothing.

Do what you are told.
Dont overthink...just do.

Time warps, so a week will feel like a month.
It will end.

Never quit.
Just keep pushing forward.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Oct 20 at 2017 11:34 AM

SGT Philip Roncari — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 11:34:33 -0400

Believe me the Army will take care of everything, don't be nervous,keep your eyes and ears open and if it makes you feel any better I was probably the worst recruit ever and here I am over fifty years later,oh and one last thing....Don't Quit!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2017 11:56 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 11:56:04 -0400

5-7 Days if you are lucky. Met a guy who was there for a month... Poor bastard.
What happens there? Waiting... Followed by more waiting. Then you hurry up! So you can wait.
This is going to be semi-long so I'll break it up into parts for you.

- Medical, I remember getting 3 shots, one in each arm and one in the buttocks. Pretty sure that was Penicillin which people call the Peanut Butter Shot. I am not kidding in anyway when the Medic tells you to rub your buttocks where they gave you the shot. That is NOT a joke, do it. It will make it better. We also got our eyes, ears, and teeth checked, and a questionnaire on medical history.
- You get issued your PT's and Uniforms, your Eagle Card which is a kind of cash card, hair cut, etc.
- You will be given a lot of time to read your Blue Book, study your General Orders, Army Song, Soldiers Creed, and Ranks from it if you don't know them already.
- Your first 48 hours if they were like mine, you will be awake. They will not let you sleep. If the guys around you are cool, you figure out how to micro-sleep 1 minute here and there. You will also learn how to stand up when you are tired or knock out some pushups if you get caught sleeping. Heads up for the sanitizer they give you, dab some under your nose and it helps you stay awake. So that said, sleep on the plane and on the bus and in all transit to Reception. You'll learn quick sleep is your friend. It also makes you want to kill the people that don't know how to shut up at night or in trans.

- Food, Food in Reception is ok. Depends on the Fort from what I here, Fort Benning had fresh fruit all the time as well as fish. Not as many potatoes as you might think. Food in Reception is NOT food in Basic. You will be given time to eat in Reception, not so much in Basic. You will be allowed to choose the food you want in Reception (More than likely, no promises), not in Basic. In basic you grab and go, heels together, look down, don't talk, chew, drink swallow, repeat. Don't talk because you just ended everyone else's eating time.
- PT, you will do some PT in Reception. They might make you do 10 pushups for screwing up and you will do a 1-1-1 diagnostic. That's 1 minute pushups, 1 minute sit ups, and 1 mile run.
- Battles, don't bother making friends in Reception. You won't see most of those people again. You all get split up into different Basic units. That said, don't treat people like crap you don't know who you're going to Basic with.
- Courtesies, you will learn how to address NCO's, Drill Sergeants, and Officers. You will also do some basic marching and cadences, usually on your way to chow.

Ok long list almost over.
You're nervous, that's natural. Don't worry about it, move with it and accept it for what it is. Nothing in BCT is personal it's all about getting you prepared.
Reception has an amused/hated spot in most of our hearts because it felt like it went on forever. It's usually 1 week and it drags on and on. Getting to actual Basic is almost a gift from God because you're actually doing something besides waiting.

Stay positive, roll with it and you'll do fine. It is physical, but most of it is mental. If you tell yourself you can, then you can.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2017 12:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 12:16:38 -0400

Get ready for the ride of your life! Lol. They pretty much do anything you can think of. You get issued your clothing. You go through medical and get any shots, etc. If you are going into a job that requires a security clearance they will review your SF86 with you. They did me - I remember thinking "I'd hate to do this everyday." (I'm a 35F - so what did I do every day...).

Lots of classes so don't fall asleep. It depends on where you go. I went to Leonardwood..in mid July. Just do what the drill sergeants tell you and move as fast as you can.

Response by 1LT Kevin Chapman made Oct 23 at 2017 4:50 AM

1LT Kevin Chapman — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 04:50:49 -0400

I went through reception in 2013 at Fort Leonard-wood. As soon as we got off of the bus we were instructed to stand at attention outside of the building while the prior group were given their briefing. Once they were done, we went inside and they confiscated our cell phones and we were briefed. It lasted until 0400, and morning formation was at 0430. We went and ate chow and it was a long day of blood work, another hearing exam, and a dental screening. Males will receive haircuts, and also you'll be issued your CAC card. You'll be issued your OCP's, boots, and your pt gear. You'll also receive your rank patch, and take your service photo. You'll also be interviewed by a physician who will basically ensure that the information about your medical history that you gave while at MEPS is accurate. You'll also do a lot of sitting around while you're waiting. You'll receive countless more briefings lol. The whole reception day process for me was about three days until we were sent to our company. Reception is horrible lol.