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That's no longer happening. They turned it down. I'll see if I can find the article later. Sounds like they might integrate a few activities at boot camp but they are no longer trying to integrate it.
That's no longer happening. They turned it down. I'll see if I can find the article later. Sounds like they might integrate a few activities at boot camp but they are no longer trying to integrate it.
Was there a safe space to go to when the pressure got too great?
Hell yeah! When I went through Basic in 2000, we didn't have safe spaces, but those stress cards sure came in handy. I played a stress card every time the drill opened his big mouth.
Hell yeah! When I went through Basic in 2000, we didn't have safe spaces, but those stress cards sure came in handy. I played a stress card every time the drill opened his big mouth.
So I'm planning to join the Army I'm in the process now. I'm worried about the heights you have to face in basic? What all did you have to do with heights?
There's a few obstacle courses that involve heights. At Ft. Sill, one of the first we did was Treadwell Tower. Most of these courses are designed to build trust, or overcome fears. Treadwell was about 40-ish feet tall, if memory serves. There was a rope and a flat wall you had to hoist yourself up for the first 10 feet, and then you climbed a ladder. Thus put you on top of the tower. Everything was super controlled to minimise risk of injury -- minimum 3 points of contact at all times. Move on all 4's while on the tower, stuff like that.
I think we had to go up the tower twice -- first time, you went to one side where you had to climb down some rope netting. Second time you repelled down the other side. The whole experience is designed to overcome your fear of heights. Before even going up the tower, you start off on a mini wall (maybe 12 feet), plus a few rope bridge and rope swing stations.
At one of the later obstacle courses, we had to climb a giant ladder -- maybe 3-4 feet between the "rungs" (which were giant logs). Thing was maybe 30 feet high, and you had to go up one side and down the other. You do this with other people, and help each other up and down. This was a team building / confidence thing. That far into basic, most people had gotten over their fears.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaErik
Was there a safe space to go to when the pressure got too great?
Yes and no? There's no "safe space" or "stress card", but you always have resources like the chaplain if you truly can't handle it. Downside being, they'll probably put you on suicide watch, recycle you back into another group, and you'll wind up spending 2x longer there. The quickest way out of basic is to finish. The quickest way out of the Army is to fail PT after getting to your unit (failing during basic gets you put into "fat camp", where you basically do nothing but PT until you can pass the test).
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr bolo
is it true the Army basic is Coed? both the men and women do training and PT together?
Yes, except Ft. Benning (but that may have changed now that everything is open to women). At Ft. Sill, our barracks were 3 floors. The bottom floor was actually all open, big concrete drill pad area. above the drill pad were 2 stories of barracks. They had males on the 2nd floor, and females on the 3rd, IIRC (might have that backwards). Big trouble if you were caught on the wrong floor. Cameras everywhere to make sure. We did PT together, ate together, trained together, and had each others backs -- they're soldiers all the same, and we were all going through the same stuff. We just slept, showered and shat separately. Oh, and we had alternating days in the laundry room.
1. I will guard everything within the limits of my post, and quit my post only when properly relieved.
2. I will obey my special orders, and perform all my duties in a military manner.
3. I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.
Yup, still got those. We've also got the soldiers creed, and the Army Song to know.
I kept a sort of log of what we did in Basic. Definitely not a daily journal, but I can at least keep the days / weeks straight.
Poncho_NM -- If I were to do it again, and do it differently, I'd do more PT in my own time. Honestly, the Army most likely isn't like it was when you guys went through. We hardly did any PT in the mornings, because they couldn't risk people "getting injured". When "smoking" us, they could only do a certain number of repetitions of an exercise, as per regulation. I wish they would run us more, and have us do more push-ups.
Also, if I could do it again I would've put moleskin on my feet before the 16k. I didn't get a single blister all through Basic. Half way through the 16k (10 miles) road march, I was stepping on a blister the size of a quarter on the ball of my right foot. Wound up with large ones on the back of both heels as well. They all healed up in about a week, but still uncomfortable.
One thing I did fairly well, that I wish others would've done from the start, is sit down, shut up, and execute. If somebody asks you to do something, DO IT. Don't ask "Why?" or sit around seeing if someone else can do it. Most of the "details" you'll be put on are easy work, and keep you from sitting around bored. And, by being the first person to jump up every time the Drill Sergeant says "I need two soldiers", you're more likely to graduate as an honor grad, or get a promotion at the end of Basic.
Two things I wish I did:
- Got my bachelors degree before enlisting. First off, the pay is better as a Specialist. As well, the Army is making it harder to get promotions above lower level enlistment. You pretty much need a bachelors degree just to become an NCO now. Having a bachelors in-hand would make advancements quicker and easier. Instead, I've got to work on my degree while in the military now -- not impossible, just not as quick.
- Enlisted as Active Duty. For the reason above (going to college, finishing my bachelors), I decided to go Army Reserve. I fully plan on going Active when I get my degree, but after 2.5 months of living on a base, running on base-time, and having a fairly structured life, I've gotten pretty used to it. I'm sure I won't regret my Reserves decision once I have my degree and all, but I definitely have a greater appreciation for Active Duty now.
By the way, if someone wants to go the route I'm going, and do reserves while you finish college, ask your recruiter about "Simultaneous Membership Program", also known as SMP. Basically, it's a dual enlistment. You enlist in a Reserves unit, complete training (Basic and AIT), and go home to your duty station and drill weekends. Go to a college, and enlist in the ROTC program. This is considered a second enlistment. You instantly get promoted to Cadet, can't get deployed, and when you finish the ROTC program you become a 2nd Lieutenant. Best part? Normal ROTC programs are 4 years long, but because you'll have already gone through Basic training, you only have 2 years of ROTC. I'm already half way towards a bachelors degree, so in two 1/2 years (still have AIT, hence the 1/2 year) I'll be a 2LT. From there, you can do a conditional release (if your reserve unit will allow it) and switch to Active Duty.
Thanks so much for this post. I'm basically in the same predicament as you. I want to be physical therapist, but still don't have my bachelor's and was kinda iffy about joining active duty without it, but you've just convinced me. Really want to get my BS before going active, so I can be an officer starting off.
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Sure is because when you're in combat the pressure gets too great, you can just call time out and the enemy will stop shooting at you. 
