What to Expect at Army Basic Training

Army basic training is actually pretty easy to survive. I saw alot of people, including myself that was not very physically fit, make it to graduation. Of course your scared before you get there cause you don't know what to expect, but it really isn't a scary process at all.

Let me begin by saying basic training is exactly that, the most basic army training you will get. The drill sergeants are very strict but it is for your own good. You must remember a few very important things-

1. Do not ever say yes Mame or sir it is "YES DRILL SERGEANT!!!!".

2. Prepare yourself for the fact that you will probably have only 2-3 phone calls the entire time you are there. Its rough
to not be able to talk to friends and loved ones, but that is for your own good rather you realize it or not.

3. Always keep in mind why it is you joined in the first place. Don't give up, just keep working harder.

4. Do not cut your hair, the longer it is the easier it is to put it up properly. Short hair is actually much harder to deal with as far as basic training is concerned.

I was not very physically fit before I left for basic. I could barely run 1 mile. I was so scared that I was not gonna be able to make it, and before I knew it I was running 2 miles like it was nothing. They do help build you up at basic. They start out slow with you (I know it doesn't feel very slow but it is) and build you up till your doing everything you need to do to pass your final pt test.

It is a good thing to make friends at basic cause they are going to be your only support. You and your battle buddies are the only people who's shoulder you can lean on there and you will need them at some point in time. Your greatest support group will be your platoon. We helped each other make it through so much at basic and I made some really good life long friends while I was there.

As far as what you should bring, I brought very little with me and it worked out just fine. The Army gives you a $350 advance on your first check to buy stuff you may need while you are there. The less you go with the easier it is on you anyway. Believe it or not you actually do need quite a bit but its just easier to buy it from the troop store while you are there. They bring you to the troop store within the first 3 days and then you should go about every other Sunday.

You also do get time off while you are there. Every Sunday you get the entire day off. I was told that the best thing to do on Sundays was go to church so I could get a break. I must admit I didn't go to church service not one Sunday and it was probably the best decision I ever made. I spent my Sundays sleeping and relaxing, which I needed more than anything after training all week long.

The 4am wake ups aren't all that bad. You do get used to it pretty quick. Before you know it you will actually be waking up on your own right before the drill sergeants come in for you. I still consider sleeping in 5am and I've been out of basic for a few months now. You will also start to actually like doing Pt's at 5am. Me and most of my battle buddies actually found it very refreshing.

There is alot of down time. The most important thing about the down time is when you feel like you may fall asleep stand up. Don't ever get caught by a drill Sergeant sleeping. Basic training does make you develop a bad case of narcolepsy. Its bound to kick in at some of the worst moments. Try to stay awake for all your worth.

Basic can be very fun at times. Its not all rigid and serious. Try to enjoy the fun moments and be happy. It was the really good days we had that made it all bearable. The first 4 weeks your there will drag on and your emotions will be like a rollercoaser, but its the last 5 weeks that fly. Once your half way through things start getting so much more easier and they just fly by. Before you know it you will be walking the field at graduation.

Always try to remember that the drill sergeants, no matter how mean they may seem, are there for you. If you have any issues what so ever you can talk to them. They will never turn you away, mostly because they are not allowed to. A drill sergeants main priority is you, and they have to help you anyway you may need it. Don't forget they are not your actual friend but you can go to them.

Something I learned while I was there. Before you go you will hear the expression "Graduation is the quickest way out". Thats just not true in alot of cases. I couldn't tell you how many people went home for various reasons before I graduated. There is always a way out if its just not working out for you. One way to get home is to just talk to your drill sergeant and tell them that its just not for you and you want to go home. You will not be able to just walk out the front gates and hitch a ride home, It takes about 2-3 weeks and then your home free. During the 2-3 week wait to get the hell out of there, you stop training all together. You have to follow your platoon around but you don't train at all.

Relax, your making a very good decision by joining the Army. I was an out of shape 28 year old mom of two and now I'm a physically fit 29 year old mother of two. I never thought I could do the things I did while I was there, I actually shocked myself. Honestly one reason I joined was cause it was a dream I had most of my life and I just wanted to see if I could do it. The day I graduated I shed so many tears of joy cause I was able to make it through. I really didn't think I could do it but I ended up shocking myself and many others.

If I could do it anyone could do it. It just takes patients and determination, everything else they will train you to do. I am proud to say "I am an American soldier!", and I hope you will be too.