Posted on Apr 2, 2014
Where and when did you attend AIT, and have you ever been back there?
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Would be an interesting thing to see not only the locations, but a generational perspective on how changes to those locations may be for each and if it even exists anymore. Also have you ever returned to the location either as a duty station or just to see what is was like for memories and changes that may have taken place. I will lead off, Ft McClellan, AL: D10-1984. I went back in 1992 for another school but haven't been back since it shuttered it's doors to AIT in '99, have been to Leonardwood for few other schools and checked out their facilities, big difference to what we had at McClellan back in the day though. Would love to go back to McClellan today and see what the base looks like and what bldgs. still exist, or training areas are there.
Memories
Training
Edited 11 mo ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 77
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As far as I know its completely locked, you cant get on post at all in McClellan
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Fort Bragg 11-Bravo, A-2/508th Inf. 1972. Never been back after ETS in Oct 1975.
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I went to Ft Eustis for Chinook Maintenance AIT. I was prior military, so I had no Drill Sergeants. We use to go to the James river and drink lots of beer. I made friends with a cute blonde at AIT. She was a lesbian and asked if she could pretend to be my GF so the army would not suspect she was gay. She had a couple GFs who were stunning looking. They would come to our barracks and kiss me to continue the charade. All the guys were saying Ken how the hell are you such a chick magnet? I just smiled. lol
I had assembled my OCS packet at AIT. I did many push ups and sit ups on my own. I ran a few miles in the afternoon in the oppressive summer heat. My AIT commander stopped his convertible while I was jogging in the hot sun and told to me to be careful. My philosophy about OCS is I had to show my chain of command that I was serious about going to OCS. The facilitated me by giving me letters of recommendations.
One night I was gonna bang a female soldier outside near the Jame river. I swear the insects, huge and plentiful, attacked us without mercy. They were like little Kamikazes. I have never been attacked like that by insects. They even made buzzing sounds around us. We put our clothes on and ran to the safety of my truck. It's probably a good thing because I did not have a condom. I felt like King Kong and little biplanes were attacking me.
I had a blast. We drank beer every night. One time my lesbian friend and her GF was on the top bunk making out in the GFs apartment. I was trying to sleep on the bottom bunk. I did not get much sleep. I was late to school the following day. I had never f@cked up and told them what happened.
They laughed and told me to take a shower cause I smelled like Tequila. lol
One chinook instructor was an E-7 and a Vietnam veteran. We spoke man to man one day. He talked about Vietnam. I can still see his face with clarity this day. He spoke about smoking joints while flying in chinooks and sitting on the ramp door watching the jungles of Vietnam under him. He did not smile because he was in such deep reverie. Perhaps because that was a time when he felt immense contentment, the universe was balanced, and there was meaning to life. I think I detected a slight sense of sorrow that he could never replicate that same experience. I liked him a lot. He was a good man.
I had follow on orders to go to the 160th. I don't know why or how that happened. One night 160th recruiters came to our barracks and showed us propoganda videos of helicopters shooting everything they could find. They said fill out a big packet and write an essay if young soldiers wanted to join them. I said hey I don't want to go to Ft Campbell to which they yelled STFU! I guess STFU meant I was going to Ft Campbell. I am glad that I went but it was only for a year. The biggest life lesson I learned with the 160th was 4 words, "Night Stalkers Don't Quit." That has been a useful mantra professionally and personally.
I will make the strong assumption that RP did not expect such a long narrative on AIT! lol
I had assembled my OCS packet at AIT. I did many push ups and sit ups on my own. I ran a few miles in the afternoon in the oppressive summer heat. My AIT commander stopped his convertible while I was jogging in the hot sun and told to me to be careful. My philosophy about OCS is I had to show my chain of command that I was serious about going to OCS. The facilitated me by giving me letters of recommendations.
One night I was gonna bang a female soldier outside near the Jame river. I swear the insects, huge and plentiful, attacked us without mercy. They were like little Kamikazes. I have never been attacked like that by insects. They even made buzzing sounds around us. We put our clothes on and ran to the safety of my truck. It's probably a good thing because I did not have a condom. I felt like King Kong and little biplanes were attacking me.
I had a blast. We drank beer every night. One time my lesbian friend and her GF was on the top bunk making out in the GFs apartment. I was trying to sleep on the bottom bunk. I did not get much sleep. I was late to school the following day. I had never f@cked up and told them what happened.
They laughed and told me to take a shower cause I smelled like Tequila. lol
One chinook instructor was an E-7 and a Vietnam veteran. We spoke man to man one day. He talked about Vietnam. I can still see his face with clarity this day. He spoke about smoking joints while flying in chinooks and sitting on the ramp door watching the jungles of Vietnam under him. He did not smile because he was in such deep reverie. Perhaps because that was a time when he felt immense contentment, the universe was balanced, and there was meaning to life. I think I detected a slight sense of sorrow that he could never replicate that same experience. I liked him a lot. He was a good man.
I had follow on orders to go to the 160th. I don't know why or how that happened. One night 160th recruiters came to our barracks and showed us propoganda videos of helicopters shooting everything they could find. They said fill out a big packet and write an essay if young soldiers wanted to join them. I said hey I don't want to go to Ft Campbell to which they yelled STFU! I guess STFU meant I was going to Ft Campbell. I am glad that I went but it was only for a year. The biggest life lesson I learned with the 160th was 4 words, "Night Stalkers Don't Quit." That has been a useful mantra professionally and personally.
I will make the strong assumption that RP did not expect such a long narrative on AIT! lol
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I attended my first AIT at Fort Gordon, GA in 1981. -- I've never been back there. My second was at Fort Devens, MA 19 1983. I went back for BNCOC in 1989 - after that, nope. I'm not much of one for retaking old ground. I move ahead, not back.
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