What is your most memorable moment from Basic Training?

I remember my division being smoked because a recruit got busted with gee dunk from the NEX. On a recent division trip to the NEX, it was put out - you are not authorized to buy x, y and z. Gee dunk being one - well he was busted with a small bag of peanut M&M's. The RDCs proceeded to yell "abandon ship" - which is the signal to push the bunks to the walk and get in the front leaning rest. They had the offender sit in a chair in the middle of the bay, while the rest of us were smoked. The RDC's had him eat his peanut M&Ms, slowly and one by one and the rest of us would pay for it until he finished.

I've never seen 65-70+ men hate an individual so much in my life until that moment.

Back in '67 at Ft. Lewis Wa there was a "reception" area where they parked everyone while we went through assessment testing (Can you find your way in the forest easily?). Then we were bundled up and rolled out to BCT companies. At that point life changed quite dramatically when we met out first Smoky Bear hats. THAT was the most memorable moment!

When I ate seconds the morning of the gas chamber. Threw up all over my DS shoes.

Best day ever.

We were doing some live fire drills and it was raining something fierce in about 40 degree weather. I went to the latrine to escape the weather and take care of business but, no toilet paper. I was in too deep so I had to scrounge in my pockets for what I could use. I ended up using a glove liner and an empty bag of cough drops. Had the worst case of swamp ass for the remainder of the day.

Oh so many fun memories, but the best one came at the last day at basic training, we had a trainee who was caught rapping in the chow line by the MSgt that unbussed us. This particular TI then said, well yelled, that he wanted a rap about BMT from this trainee at the end of basic training. On this last day, he came into our dorms for final inspections and sure enough, we hear from our bays in the dayroom, "Airmen X, where is my rap about basic training!!!" All 20 of us left from the flight went running into the dayroom to listen to this rap laughing like crazy that this Airmen was about to rap to a TI. As soon as we got there the TI started laughing hysterically and said "I'm just kidding Airmen" just as the Airmen started to rap about basic.

Best day ever!!

My first 2 weeks, I thought the DI's were assholes, but then I realized that each one of them had been in Vietnam and had lost comrades and friends. I realized they were how they were because they didn't want to lose anyone else on their watch if they could do anything about it. That epiphany changed my whole attitude and perspective.

The Hazeing we went through

Mine was getting the task of washing the white uniform shirts of the ladies in my barracks and finding something in the washer turned them all pink! Drill sgt went to PX got me some powdered bleach and saved the day!

Late Fall of 1980 in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. We had marched out to somewhere in the woods for the bivouac. As nighttime approached, we broke out our little shelter halves and set them up. As we were doing so, there came a shower of a kind of snow/sleet mix. I had just gotten really snuggly (not to mention dry) in my sleeping bag, thinking "man, I'm glad I'm not out in THAT"...enter SSG Frank Tyson, Drill Instructor. Walking amongst our sleeping area. Speaking from his diaphragm. Loudly. I do not remember the infraction (not important), but I DO remember how much I did NOT want to come out of my sleeping bag...but, of course I (we) did.

There were MANY other memorable things about boot camp. But, I figure this one will definitely be unexpected and different.

While at MCRD San Diego, I received a 30"x30"x30" box at mail call. The Drill Instructors had me open the box so that they could inspect the contents. Turns out, my girlfriend, Elaine, had baked about 20 dozen cookies and sent them with the idea that, if there were enough for all, maybe the Drill Instructors would trash me too much. Normally, if you received ANY kind of treat in the mail, they would force you to eat them in x number of seconds. Failure to do so meant bends and thrusts in the classroom.

In this case, the Drill Instructors moved the box into their hut.

When it was time for the smoking lamp to be lit and all the smokers were having their cigarettes, the Sr Drill Instructor had the rest of us fall in. He then proceeded to give me 2 cookies and each of my fellow recruits got 1.

This went on for several days, until all the cookies were gone. It was amazing to see how many smokers decided that they didn't need to smoke in hopes of getting a cookie instead, but the Drill Instructors simply told them to go have a smoke, the cookies were for the non-smokers only.

Turns out, she was right!

As a fully trained surgeon, starting out as a Major, my "Basic Training" was a sixteen day "Welcome to the Army" course. I had studied the AMEDD book and had my insignia perfectly positioned with the carefully measured distances for the insignia including on the garrison cap. Walking in front of The Academy of Health Sciences, I encountered a Sgt with a sleeve full of hash marks. He snapped me a brisk salute which I dutifully returned. As he walked past me he said" Good morning, Sir. Excuse me. Sir, Your hat's on backward, Sir!" I was courteous enough not to turn around as I am sure he was rolling on the ground laughing,

About my 6th week in BCT I had a SGT, assigned in place of a drill due to manpower shortage, ask me if I wanted to hit him (I did want to!). He told me to take a swing because he wanted to kill me! I said NOTHING! I'm still alive and SGT James turned out to be a pretty good guy! After I graduated!

On guard duty had a Drill Sgt attempt to gain entry with a fake ID that had picture of Mickey Mouse on it. Instead of "entry denied I must refer you to the Orderly Room" I referred him to Disney Land. Found out quickly that not only do Drills have no sense of humor they do have door keys. He told me on graduation day that he got a free beer from his Drill buddies at the NCO Club and would buy me one if he ever saw me again. Lo and behold I ran into him while TDY some years later and he made good on the beer.

Basic at Ft. Bliss, White phase in the desert in New Mexico. We had to do a nine mile march. In front of me was private name Cobb. He was slowing down, I was hitting him in the back of the Ruck with my weapon saying "Pick it up Cobb" He was crying and I smelled like the worst fart ever. I said, "Damn Cobb did you shit in your pants?" His reply "YESSS!" So I passed him by. He got sent home

One evening at Fort Knox (F-9-3) (February 1960), I was summoned to the Orderly Room to buff the floor. I had imagined getting on my knees with rags and polishing the floor with Johnson's wax and then a lot of buffing. But no, I was introduced to a buffer! The CQ, a corporal, said, "Get that buffer in the corner and get after it!"
I got it and could start the thing but had no idea how to control it. At first, I buffed with it standing straight-up as I was a transplanted Southerner to Detroit and then to Fort Knox. I had a helluva time keeping the buffer going right until the corporal showed me how to lower the handle and operate accordingly.

I felt dumb as rocks but managed to buff the Orderly Room floor to the CQ's satisfaction.

graduation Day!