Preparing for basic training

[GTF425]

forget it...

[marZ1]

forget it...

Typed ten responses to your unedited post, thought better of it.....yep....forget it.

Edit. On second thought, what fun is it if you can't get smoked? Thats all.

[Stubby]

So basically don't try to stand out but don't be a slacker? Just try to be normal?


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[Stubby]

And yes going Active Duty, MOS I'm looking at is A1 crew, aviation mechanic, MP, and artillery


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[Scrubber3]

Do not do 13B. Take 11B(infantry) over arty. Trust me. I was a 13F (Forward Observer) initially and unless you get put on a COLT, it sucked. (Thank god that's where I ended up.)

If you can do something that'll transfer over to the civi world, do it. I had nothing to go to when I got out and my body was used up pretty good. So, if you want to play Army, be an infantryman. If not, for the love of your future, do something that'll be useful when you get out.

[skydivr]

All is great advice. The military is a great place to 'do better than the lot you drew in life' as you can make of it what you want.

- IMHO pick an MOS that has a good -paying civilian job counterpart. The Army is going to spend big $$ on your training which would cost YOU outside the fence - and employers like to see that stuff on a resume. Tanker's and Artillerymen don't have much of a civilian counterpart (yet I was a Tanker so that shows how smart I am). Pick as specialized an MOS as your ASVAB allows. That way, if you get hurt or want out, you've not wasted your time.

- Tier 1 units (SPECOPS, etc.) get all the good stuff (gear/schools) but they also have the most 'fun'. If you are single, great, but if you have a family, you are responsible to them, too.

- If you use tobacco, STOP NOW. Kicking the habit while under the additonal stress is a bitch.

- DO NOT play the reindeer games some of the other privates are going to want to play. Tobacco, sneaking out (yes, they still try and inevitably get caught) and other bullshit is easy to get drawn into - don't fall into that trap because those other dumbasses are looking for a fall guy (you).

- You don't have to be first, but you sure as hell don't want to be last. If you are in good shape, great, just remember the DS are going to push you past whatever limit you have when you show up.

- Nametag defilade: Don't be 'THAT' guy. If you do better than everyone else, the other soldiers will get jealous and you will get undermined/set up/blamed/etc. The time to SHINE is after basic. Nobody remembers or cares how you do in Basic as long as you graduate. But do good enough so that if there are any specialized slots (Airborne, Air Assault) you get offered them (and take them). Those wings give you street cred.

- Get used to getting micromanaged, and just remember IT'S A GAME; PLAY IT. Submit to the authority, embrace the suck and you will be fine. If you have any amount of self-discipline, then it will be easy for you. Remember, the kid next to you never did shit with his life, played video games and smoked pot thru highschool, has no idea what a checkbook is or how to manage it, and his momma coddled him. Those are the real challenges for the DS. Guys that have their heads on straight usually avoid most of their attention so they can focus on the problem children. The DS isn't there to fail you, he's there to TRAIN YOU to GRADUATE. Failure rates are not something that BCT Commanders are proud of (as they are there to make you a soldier), but they ALL don't want someone in THEIR Army that is going to be a dirtbag/waste of government dollars and maybe get another, good soldier killed.

Best of luck. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. 26 years was a good run.

[Stubby]

You guys are all a great wealth of knowledge, thank you


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[Wolfhound86]

I wouldn't worry too much about being in fantastic shape. One of the reasons for basic is to get you in shape. If you are lifting push-ups will be easy. I would run a lot if I had to choose one thing to prepare for. Trust me you will be in good enough shape at the end of your training to pass your APFT. Prepare yourself mentally like others have said, it gets quite annoying when you and your group are succeeding and they are in your face telling you that you are failing.

[Rackit]

What's the Army PFT?

[GotAmmo]

All is great advice. The military is a great place to 'do better than the lot you drew in life' as you can make of it what you want.

- IMHO pick an MOS that has a good -paying civilian job counterpart. The Army is going to spend big $$ on your training which would cost YOU outside the fence - and employers like to see that stuff on a resume. Tanker's and Artillerymen don't have much of a civilian counterpart (yet I was a Tanker so that shows how smart I am). Pick as specialized an MOS as your ASVAB allows. That way, if you get hurt or want out, you've not wasted your time.
.

I just spent 2 yrs in TRADOC and this is what I preached to all my Soldiers. Granted I was at the EOD School, but still not everyone becomes a Tech for the .gov or local leo after they ETS.

Be sure you like it/learn to love it because you will more than likely do it your whole career.

I came in as a 55B (Ammunition Specialist), I didn't realize I'd be counting bullets for the past 16 yrs. Do I hate it.. nope.. do I love it.. nope... have I gotten do meet some cool and clandestine folks and support some cool operations, yep. And that is ultimately why I keep on, I get to support the warfighter and provide him the means to kill the enemy. And see some pretty cool ammo/explosives that most others don't