What advice would you give to a new recruit?

SSG Shavonde Chase — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 12:39:44 -0500

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 6 at 2016 12:42 PM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 12:42:50 -0500

Take it ... One Day at a Time...
No Plans Past today till you are finished training...

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 6 at 2016 12:48 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 12:48:16 -0500

On some day you will find yourself disappointed in the military, or your leaders. Take a deep breath, learn what you can, and decide to make things better. Any knothead can sit on his pack and bitch.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 6 at 2016 12:52 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 12:52:45 -0500

Embrace the suck. Also, there is no mail buoy.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2016 1:50 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 13:50:14 -0500

SSG Shavonde Chase Give every task your best effort. Learn from your mistakes, so you do not make the same mistake twice.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2016 2:11 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 14:11:53 -0500

Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance = 7 P's for success

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Nov 6 at 2016 5:01 PM

Col Dona Marie Iversen — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 17:01:27 -0500

Thank you for enlisting! Be like a sponge and learn as much as you can. These years will be the best years of ur life!

Response by SSG Grant Hansen made Nov 6 at 2016 6:04 PM

SSG Grant Hansen — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 18:04:25 -0500

Life in the military is what you make of it. You can complain about it all day long, or you can accept that it isn't always a fun time and get on with it.

However, it's always easier when you make sure that you're prepared as much as possible. That means keeping your gear, your weapons and yourself in proper working order so you can do what needs to be done.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 7 at 2016 6:43 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 06:43:11 -0500

Volunteer for nothing, don't call the DI sir, listen to your instructors, and be positive.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 6:48 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 06:48:09 -0500

Keep your head up and your legs driving you forward.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Nov 7 at 2016 8:15 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 08:15:16 -0500

Are we talking someone who wants to be in the military or someone who just came to the fleet?

Because if he's in boot camp it's already too late for advice.

But if someone wanted to enlist, I'd advise them to keep their head up. Boot camp is a culture shock and you'll want to quit. Just keep your head up and keep pushing forward.

If someone was new to the fleet, I'd tell them to stay out of trouble. People are getting kicked out for anything, so don't take chances. Know your deficiencies. If you're not a fast runner, then work on it. Always try and stay ahead of your peers that way when it comes time to reenlist you're already looking favorable.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 8:38 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 08:38:26 -0500

There's too much to cover, lol.

I'll do my best to sum it up.

Um....shut up and do what you are told. Drink water, make sure your socks are dry, If you have to think about what you are doing, then it's probably wrong. Don't immediately fall in love and get married in A-school, For females: Don't get pregnant right after boot camp; use protection, and hydrate!

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 7 at 2016 10:03 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 10:03:30 -0500

If I was talking to someone just getting ready to go in to the military or I'll use ARMY. I would tell them It whole different ARMY then it used to be a lot different LEADERSHIP and more digital and more for you needs, I guess you could say. Your treated much different in Basic then you were treated before and get ready because the world is bracing for its' next combat mission and you could see combat with in the next year or so, learn everything that you can, Don't take your training as joke. It could cost you and your battle buddle your life. Wait! Do they still have Battle buddies in Basic?

What a joke?

STEPHENS'

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 10:15 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 10:15:26 -0500

Just the simple advice of: You will screw up. You will get smoked. There is an end to this evolution but absorb as much information as possible in the short time you are in Basic Training. You will discover you can do things you never thought you could ever do. And when it's all done, and you're back at home walking the neighborhood, you will walk taller and prouder than anyone there......and you will realize that you grew up more in those 2-3 months of Basic than any of your friends ever will in a 2-3 year time frame.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 10:44 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 10:44:47 -0500

Do what you are told, do what you told to do when you are told to do it, and do what you are told in the way you are told to do it.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Nov 7 at 2016 11:06 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 11:06:53 -0500

1. Hollywood and the video game industry has not prepared you for military life.
2. If you don't run, best strap on a pair of shoes and get ready to hit the road.
3. When reporting to Basic Training, check your ego at the door; it's okay, you won't need it, and you'll pick up an even bigger one when you leave.
4. To echo others here: Embrace the suck...then learn from it.
5. Basic will be an affront to your sensibilities, no matter how hardcore you think you are, but it's alright. The NCO's training you know what they're doing (mostly), and despite what they say and do to you don't actually hate you (mostly).
6. No matter how much it sucks, just remember that you are gaining a wealth of life experience that the overwhelming majority of Americans will not, and in many cases, simply cannot get.

Response by SFC Josh Billingsley made Nov 8 at 2016 9:48 PM

SFC Josh Billingsley — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 21:48:39 -0500

Keep your mouth shut and ears open in the beginning. Each day is what you make of it; it can be a learning experience or it can be miserable. Take advantage of your time in the military. I for one don't want to look back at my time in service and only be able to say "I served X years in the military". There are so many things to learn and experience...take advantage of them!

Response by SSG G Smith made Nov 9 at 2016 12:02 AM

SSG G Smith — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 00:02:24 -0500

Keep your nose clean and stay under the radar.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 9 at 2016 12:04 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 00:04:17 -0500

SSG Shavonde Chase A successful recruit is either: perfect or never noticed!