What things do you remember about adapting to military life?

Basic training was just that, learning the basics of being a soldier. The first thing to learn was that being a Private meant learning that you were basically nothing and that as such you had few if any rights. We were told what to do, when to do it and not to do anything else. We learned how to dress, how to talk (mostly “Yes Sir “and “No Sir”), when to eat and when to sleep. We learned that 4:00, 4:30 and 5:00 AM was a great time to get up and that in case our mothers hadn’t taught us, the right way to make a bed. In the event that we didn’t know, the Drill Sergeant (DI) taught the difference between a rifle and a gun. Anyone who referred to his M-14 as a gun would be made to parade up and down the barracks explaining to everyone that, “this is my rifle”, holding up his M-14 and “this is my gun”, while holding his crotch and finishing with “this is for fighting and this is for fun”. Who said the DI couldn’t be funny?

During the first couple of days, we were issued new clothes, treated to a free haircut and given a series of shots designed to protect us from anything in this country and around the world. “Hurry up and wait “was the norm for the day as we would be in lines waiting for this, that and the other thing. Similar to “hazing” in college, word would filter down the line as we waited for shots describing the shot to the left testicle with a square needle. Looked like life in the Army would be a whole new experience and it would be!

Days started with an early rise, morning formation and PT consisting of various forms of the Army daily dozen. That is push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, etc..etc. and the joyful one to five mile run. It really wasn’t a true run because it was done in formation at the Army double time pace. Finishing up PT, we were off to breakfast before starting a day of training.

Training consisted of things like; marching, target practice, breaking down and cleaning our M-14, hand-to-hard combat training, bayonet training, use of a gas mask including exposure to tear gas and how to properly throw a grenade. All designed to turn a civilian into a soldier.

In order to graduate Basic Training, we had to become proficient with the M-14. Fortunately, I was not a stranger to rifles and qualified as a sharpshooter, not quite an expert but definitely good enough. The PT regiment we had endured also made sure that I could pass all the physical requirements. The five-mile run, running the obstacle course and crawling up an incline with live machine gun fire overhead and explosions left and right, did not impede my completion of basic training. It also instilled the pride and "Esprit De Corps" that I still, after almost 60 years, carry with me today

doing what you have to do before you do want you want to do. that is what is called self disapline !!!

It was a culture shock as far as being exposed to different races of people and just a change of scenery all around I'd never been out of my hometown. Getting used to being away from my family.

Navy boot camp in Great Mistakes Illinois was where I learned I marching and marching and marching. I still find myself singing those songs just to remember that 1 is my left and 2 is my right.

It was a piece of cake I'd always wanted to be a paratrooper, and hardcore!

I have never ever been a morning person. Still am not a morning person. Adapting to getting up every morning at the butt crack of dawn was difficult for me. Even after 17 years in the military I still do not get up with the sun, I work nights.

Navy bootcamp, arriving at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Getting off the bus and thinking, 'Now this is going to be like nothing I've experienced before.' It was one of the hardest things I had done to that point in my life, but it made me a better person.

A couple of weeks before I headed for bootcamp, a good friend of mine said "you are almost at that point of your life that you understand that your father is the smartest man that you know". That thot was not comprehendable. Two weeks onto bootcamp I knew exactly what he was talking about. That was 61 years ago this month, and it's still true. Plus a million great memories.

Living up to my Dad who was in WW2 with Patton I knew went I join what Army life would be about My basic training was at Fort Knox same place my Dad was trained.
My Dad was with me went I talked to the Recruiter at my house I know he was proud of me. What stood out for me was the look on my Dad face went he seen I was doing it.
Do the best you can thing will get hard but you have a big family the Army dose look out for all Soldiers.
I was peace time and never seen combat I was oversea in Germany I never wanted to get out but I was force out by my 1st Sergeant

I remember that E-6 personnel can go to work the next day drunk and nothing happen to them. One of my friends, an E-3, had a hangover the next morning and he got put on crap duty. We all worked in the same area. I had a hard time with that.