EPT
Off to basic training. Tips?
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
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Zyxds
United States91 Posts
Have fun, it will suck while you're there but you will have some great and some hilarious memories. What's your MOS? | ||
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
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NrG.Bamboo
United States2756 Posts
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
On February 14 2012 01:08 Valentine wrote: No actual tips, but I live about a mile off of Ft Sill ;p Whats the weather like this time of year? | ||
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dogabutila
United States1437 Posts
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NrG.Bamboo
United States2756 Posts
On February 14 2012 01:10 bigjmachine wrote: Whats the weather like this time of year? We just had some of the first legit snow of the 'season' yesterday, but it is actually relatively cold around here now. Only real issue is that this place is constantly windy, so when it's cold the wind chill will fuck you up. Ft. Sill and Lawton are pretty damn boring though. Unless you really like bars and churches, as that's our specialty lol. It could certainly be a much worse place to be though (Ft. Polk, I'm looking at you) | ||
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getdeadplz
United States116 Posts
On February 14 2012 01:17 dogabutila wrote: Nails that stick out get hammered down. Don't stick out. this, my father (marine) tells me this all the time it most be a military thing. | ||
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
On February 14 2012 01:30 getdeadplz wrote: this, my father (marine) tells me this all the time it most be a military thing. My father was a marine too, and he says the same thing. | ||
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darkscream
Canada2310 Posts
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PleasureImWallace
Canada45 Posts
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AnachronisticAnarchy
United States2957 Posts
On February 14 2012 01:02 bigjmachine wrote: 13 delta. I heard a lot of good things, but of course the bad things from drill sergeants if you fuck up (which I don't plan on doing) When I go to drill on the one weekend's a month its very nice and chill (besides the drill sergeants) the guys are very nice cause were all in this together. I already got a nickname second drill (General, as in Gen. Patton. Hes my great great uncle). Wait, wait, wait. Do you mean you are related to THE General Patton? | ||
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Dranak
United States464 Posts
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
On February 14 2012 03:07 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote: Wait, wait, wait. Do you mean you are related to THE General Patton? Is there another one?  Yes him. I'm not letting anybody in basic to know though | ||
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drgoats
United States310 Posts
On February 14 2012 00:58 Zyxds wrote: Keep your head down, if the drill sergeants don't know your name until graduation life will be easy. Do what you're told, don't volunteer for things, and if another private is about to do something stupid, like sneak something in, don't get involved. Make a good group of friends and help each other. You'll get yelled at, don't take it personally, don't laugh or say anything until asked a direct question. Have fun, it will suck while you're there but you will have some great and some hilarious memories. What's your MOS? This is pretty much the best advice you can get. I pretty much followed this to a tee. I actually really enjoyed basic training and consider it to be one of the most memorable times of my life. I constantly told myself that it was a game and that all I had to do was listen and do as told. It was not hard to stay out of trouble. | ||
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Rinny
United States616 Posts
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ShaLLoW[baY]
Canada12499 Posts
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RuMCaKe
United States559 Posts
2) Even though your not joining the NAVY keep in mind what it stands for. Never Again Volunteer Yourself. | ||
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ShaLLoW[baY]
Canada12499 Posts
On February 14 2012 02:16 PleasureImWallace wrote: Write down what it was like having a personality? They try pretty hard to eliminate emotions from soldiers, to prevent nervous breakdown under pressure and whatnot. This isn't entirely true at all. People in the military have more personality than most I've met, they're just trained to ignore it in combat situations. | ||
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FraCuS
United States1072 Posts
My advice is to keep on pushing through all the constant smoking for the first 3-5 ish week and make sure you are running everywhere you go to. Ruck marches is easy when you have the heart to push on. My personal experience at 1 of the hardest basic training/ AIT. | ||
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
On February 14 2012 08:34 FraCuS wrote: Not much knowledge about Fort Sill, I went to Fort Benning for basic as a 11C Infantry Mortar man. My advice is to keep on pushing through all the constant smoking for the first 3-5 ish week and make sure you are running everywhere you go to. Ruck marches is easy when you have the heart to push on. My personal experience at 1 of the hardest basic training/ AIT. A lot of people at my drill said Fort Benning was the hardest of them all. | ||
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Bobo_XIII
United States429 Posts
Hope you PT'd. Basic SHOULD be a breeze if you're half in shape (if you played any sort of sport in your life or were in any sort of physical training regimen, you should be ok). Regardless of how hard it is, you probably won't fail. Basic isn't really a pass/fail event... it's more indoctrination than anything. Only the truly incapable/unmotivated get the boot out. I don't know what kind of soldier you expect yourself to be... I'm going to make a sweeping assumption and pretend you're only half-committed (National Guard). If you ARE serious about this kind of stuff, then fuck the advice about 'not sticking out.' Give it your all, and don't half ass stuff. Pay the fuck attention to the small things (you are an excuse for a soldier, and probably human being, if you ever negligently discharge your weapon. If you don't quite know what that means, you will shortly), they actually matter when things get hairy. This is a way's down the road (and likely an impossibility with the direction the war is heading), but if you're ever overseas, don't ever half ass your job. It's absolutely selfish... it doesn't matter who you are. A few years back, an intel clown failed to mention that 5-8 personnel were spotted with RPG's and machine guns mounted on the windows facing out. A sister platoon of our's landed directly on the target, and a legitimately good human being ended up taking a round directly above his eyebrow running off the bird. All because of neglect. Lots of people lose sight of this notion, but in this business of killing, when you lose sight of what it is that you're dealing with (human lives), mismanagement and apathy leads directly to others dying needlessly. Things are fucked up as they are, and being a lazy piece of shit is the last thing your unit needs. But I'm getting carried away with myself. You have other things to focus on (like learning to soldier) and experience. Some other things: - If I had to choose one word to define the Army, it would be 'mediocrity.' Everybody settles for less. Don't be one of them, even if it is the singular word of choice that would define you as a human being right now (not saying it is, but IF it is). - If you are serious about soldiering, consider pursuing other options (the special operations community). You picked the wrong MOS to help set yourself up for it, but that can still be fixed. - Don't bitch. Don't mope. Things will suck, but they can always be worse. ALWAYS. Avoid the number one most self-defeating phrase in the world, "This is bullshit." If that thought even crosses your mind at any point ever in your existence from here on out, you have some serious fixing up to do, if anything as a matter of self-respect and dignity. - Be reliable. Help others. People remember stuff and the more worthy individuals will have your back down the road. - ^ Along the same thought pattern.... volunteer for stuff. The other stuff people mentioned before me about not volunteering? Yeah, that is you being a piece of shit if you take that up. Be a positive net gain and contribute. - There will be millions of rumors. Sometimes the only information you ever have are rumors about things. Rumors are spread at every level, and are poison. Don't believe in the fake stories from those who haven't ever experienced it, or at least take them with a grain of salt. This goes for military schools (airborne, Ranger, etc), the training you're about to receive, how things are 'on the other side,' etc. If you're curious about something, get first-hand knowledge or volunteer/do it yourself. - ...... DON'T SETTLE FOR BEING MEDIOCRE. That's all I could sling off the top of my head. Have fun down there. | ||
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
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Angel_
United States1617 Posts
On February 14 2012 03:33 bigjmachine wrote: Is there another one? Yes him. I'm not letting anybody in basic to know thoughDo me a big favor and make sure to let your drill instructors know that. And then come back with stories. | ||
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ShaLLoW[baY]
Canada12499 Posts
At the time, it was a challenge. Not so much physically, and I was by no means in good shape but had completed a year of military college. Keep in mind that this is the Canadian military I serve in so not everything is identical, and that I was doing an Officer course, but the principles are the same. Our PT was more of a morning wake-up thing. The real challenges were the leadership missions after days of sleep-dep. Some parts will be challenging, and there will be times where your best isn't good enough for that goddamn sergeant, but keep your goal firmly in your mind. Chin up, don't take it personally, and don't quit. | ||
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Jestalt
United States28 Posts
You'll get homesick. You'll want to leave. You'll be tired of going to bed and midnight and waking up at 4am every day to drill sergeants yelling at you. What helped me? Keeping up with what day it was. "Today is Training Day 24... just 46 more days, and I get to see my family. Just. Forty-six. More. Days." Take the days as they come. Don't think about yesterday; don't think about tomorrow. The days will seem as long as weeks (mostly because you're up for ~20 hours and may or may not have access to a clock.) Remember what you learn. As someone else said, do EXACTLY as you are told, not more, and sure as hell not less. Make friends. Help them and they'll help you. You may never see them again after BCT, but for those 10 weeks, they'll be the best friends you ever had. You learn to appreciate a man that you've suffered with. Basic isn't hard in the way most people think it is. The training isn't difficult. The PT isn't grueling. You get to eat plenty. You'll sleep just barely less than enough. The hardest part is the psychological part. If you've never been away from home in this sort of way, it'll be rough sometimes. You'll get through it, and afterwards you'll be apart of the finest army the world has ever known. On February 14 2012 03:33 bigjmachine wrote: Is there another one? Yes him. I'm not letting anybody in basic to know thoughAlso, this. If you really are related to Patton, don't let a drill sergeant find that out. My father and I are both in the Army. He's a colonel. He told me to make damn sure not a single drill sergeant found that out because they'd make my life hell. | ||
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ShaLLoW[baY]
Canada12499 Posts
On February 14 2012 14:12 Eljee wrote:You'll get through it, and afterwards you'll be apart of the finest army the world has ever known. Except for ours. ![[image loading]](http://xmb.stuffucanuse.com/xmb/image.php?&aid=2588&canadian-soldiers.jpg) We accept your unconditional surrender.  | ||
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Silentness
United States2821 Posts
I'm E-5 in the Air Force that is just what a lot of people were telling me. I know the Air Force in general is easier, but I heard AF basic training is a lot more strict. Anyways, no matter what branch you are in, boot camp has similar tips. Don't stand out amongst your group. Don't let whoever is your military instructor see you as "That guy". Your life will be miserable if you cause your group to fail or be slowed down. Remember Pyle??? We almost had a soap party with one guy in our basic training unit. He caused us to do a lot of pushups and etc. | ||
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Jestalt
United States28 Posts
On February 14 2012 14:15 ShaLLoW[baY] wrote: Except for ours. We accept your unconditional surrender. Uh huh... ![[image loading]](http://static.bf2s.com/files/user/28748/633669711527170032-combatbeard.jpg) | ||
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Bobo_XIII
United States429 Posts
On February 14 2012 14:16 Silentness wrote: I heard Army basic training is even easier than the Air Force. Is that true? I'm E-5 in the Air Force that is just what a lot of people were telling me. I know the Air Force in general is easier, but I heard AF basic training is a lot more strict. Anyways, no matter what branch you are in, boot camp has similar tips. Don't stand out amongst your group. Don't let whoever is your military instructor see you as "That guy". Your life will be miserable if you cause your group to fail or be slowed down. Remember Pyle??? We almost had a soap party with one guy in our basic training unit. He caused us to do a lot of pushups and etc. The exact attitude to avoid, starting with the pointless speculation about irrelevant shit in the first sentence. The 'I heard...' train serves no purpose whatsoever. Avoid all that this dude wrote. 'Almosts' and 'he caused us' and all that crap cultivates a loser's mentality | ||
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ShaLLoW[baY]
Canada12499 Posts
![[image loading]](http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/1108/canadian-camo-army-canada-camo-demotivational-posters-1313535218.jpg) Can't kill what you can't see motherfucker! (I'm done ) | ||
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bigjmachine
United States314 Posts
Also, this. If you really are related to Patton, don't let a drill sergeant find that out. My father and I are both in the Army. He's a colonel. He told me to make damn sure not a single drill sergeant found that out because they'd make my life hell. When I first joined that was my first thought. I don't want to be treated differently because of this, so I'm just going to stfu about it and if they ask I say no | ||
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Silentness
United States2821 Posts
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Jestalt
United States28 Posts
On February 14 2012 14:36 Silentness wrote: I had a LT where I worked at and his father was a 4 star general. Everybody gave him shit because he was very soft spoken and introverted unlike his father. I wonder if his father ever tried to disown him. That's about how it'll be for me. When I'm a lieutenant, my dad will be a general. Him and I are very much alike and get along very well though, so I doubt there will be any problems. It won't really matter though because we don't do the same things for the Army. | ||
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Silentness
United States2821 Posts
It's the same for enlisted military. If I remember correctly... | ||
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ShaLLoW[baY]
Canada12499 Posts
He tried to keep it hush hush though. | ||
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