What is your favorite basic training experience?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 04:07:21 -0500

I know mine was when we kidnapped the phase banner of our rival platoon and placed it in the middle of the field across from our drill pad.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jan 8 at 2014 4:19 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 04:19:35 -0500

Not sure it's my favorite, but is my most memorable.

Had a kid that wasn't cut out for the job and was getting separated. He told the DS to perform a physically impossible feat.
On April 1st, in front of the Battery, the DS read him the findings from the Commander and that he was being given an Art 15 and was to be extended until the completion of restriction and extra-duty... Then when the kid was in tears, told him April Fool's and handed him his clearing papers.

Response by SPC Gary Basom made Jan 8 at 2014 5:35 AM

SPC Gary Basom — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 05:35:04 -0500

Going through heck in BCT and in the end my drill sergeant shaking my hand and congratulating me.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Jan 8 at 2014 9:52 AM

SPC Christopher Smith — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:52:20 -0500

Foxtrot Battery 1/40th Ft. Sill, OK

Best experience was watching the 1SG standing beside a PVT who got nervous and dropped a M320 40MM training round, "killing" himself and the 1SG. They both were covered in smoke, it was great. I don't know how we all didn't get smoked for laughing.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 8 at 2014 10:01 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 10:01:27 -0500

Recieving my Eagle Globe and Anchor at the Iwo Jima memorial at Parris Island.. I may have cried a little =)

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 4:14 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:14:27 -0500

??? I'll get back to you... Lol...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 4:17 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:17:10 -0500

Nice choice of words, kidnapped. When we first got to Lackland we were waiting to get something to eat outside the Chow Hall. Two guys were dancing while the instructors were inside, changing rows back and forth. I was thinking those guys have a death wish or something.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 5:08 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:08:11 -0500

Ft. Sill, lol, I never will forget this, all of our Drill Sergeants loved this....the CSM was talking to us, soldier after soldier was falling out, on the side of the room there had to be 25 people standing up to stay awake, he was upset that the Drills had to pull people out. So he decided to wake us all up. Dropped the entire company, there was no space for everyone on the floor, so people was on the stage and in the hallway outside the auditorium. Great times...lol...

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 6 at 2014 9:12 AM

SFC James Baber — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:12:46 -0500

I have many of those chow hall line memories as well, too many to try and list. I do have a funny or not funny depending on your perspective, we were at the BRM range and one of the PVTs was in a foxhole attempting to zero his weapon and it had jammed, he stupidly took the rifle turned it around and was looking down the barrel for what was stopping the weapon to fire, the DS came running over kicked him in the steel pot and knocked the weapon out of his hands and began a verbal assault that was joined by 2 other drills that lasted for what seem like 15 minutes on why he was an idiot (nice version) and how he was going to be paying for that stupidity until he left if he left at all.

The Soldier in question actually did fail out of basic, found out he was recycled twice and finally just booted out because he failed something completely different through 4 tries of basic. Some people are not meant to be in the military no matter how many tries or help they receive, that is one of the things that frustrates me with today's military, when I was in TRADOC, I saw to many Soldiers coming to AIT that I know and saw paperwork showing they were pencil whipped just to send them forward to fulfill a numbers game, no matter how many people try to claim it isn't so it does exist even if unwritten.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Mar 27 at 2014 9:30 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 21:30:59 -0400

Marines do not attend 'basic training'...we attend Boot Camp! OORAH!

Response by CPT Marc Serrá made May 10 at 2014 12:09 PM

CPT Marc Serrá — Sat, 10 May 2014 12:09:20 -0400

Every time the last Soldier of a cycle got on a bus and left post....talk about relief! - former BCT Cdr

Response by LT Jessica Kellogg made May 21 at 2014 6:25 PM

LT Jessica Kellogg — Wed, 21 May 2014 18:25:22 -0400

So many to pick from....

We had a snowstorm (I think it was Winter Storm Nemo) that knocked out the power on base for about 48 hours. All the roads were blocked, so none of the staff members were there.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2014 9:16 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 May 2014 09:16:16 -0400

I think my favorite moment in basic training was after graduation. DS S had smoked me practically every day of OSUT. It started in BRM and didn't end until he found a new favorite private. Having him shake my hand after graduation is something I will never forget.

Response by SFC Gary (Bigsarge) Portier USARMY RET. made Jul 1 at 2014 10:48 AM

SFC Gary (Bigsarge) Portier USARMY RET. — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:48:24 -0400

Graduation

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2014 9:38 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:38:47 -0400

I loved basic. I had many awesome moments so it is hard to choose just one, but I believe this is my favorite. We had an Asian guy with us with the last name "Chit". Of course, the DSs made it a point to screw with him. They would always say "Holy Chit!" and at that point the poor guy would have to run up to all of the DSs and say "I'm the Chit!" and then do a number of push ups. Of course, we would all die laughing every time which resulted in us getting smoked. Good times...

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 31 at 2014 11:27 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 23:27:02 -0400

GRADUATION!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Sep 3 at 2014 12:12 AM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 00:12:29 -0400

When my drill Sgt. dismissed us and I grabbed my bags and ran all the way to the bus station. Waiting to leave and having a feeling of accomplishing the first part of my career in the Army

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2019 11:50 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 11:50:51 -0400

getting on the bus to leave Lackland AFB to go to Sheppard for tech school. This one dumbass decided it would be a good idea to flip off the cadre from the back window as the bus pulled out. They stopped the bus, dragged his ass off and, from what we heard, recycled him back several weeks.