"Don't do it!" Those were the words my mom said to me before shipping out to basic. If I had only listened!
But, since you're hell-bent on becoming a low paid member of the world's most heavily armed janitorial force, here is some realistic advice that I am not sure is applicable now.
10 situps, 15 pushups; be able to do them before you get shipped off to receiving. Failing to do the standard amount will mean you get held back until you can. Push ups are just as much practice as they are about upper arm strength, even well built guys were having difficulties with the first week of pushups.
Shave your head, all the way. They'll still give you a haircut your first week, but there will be a whole lot less hair for them to rip out of your head with those dull razors.
Before heading out put on a pair of plain grey or black sweat clothes and a pair of white sneakers, preferably new. The army will try to sell you a new set when you get there at some silly price.
Things to prepare for:
A battery of immunizations. Lots of shots, and a couple oral cocktails. You will probably get sick. They also fingerprint you and get your DNA.
A security interview. If you are working in a sensitive MOS you will probably need to do an interview. Be honest, they will ask you the same questions over and over again.
A bunch of crummy obstacle courses. These are super easy, just make sure you don't hurt yourself. Pace yourself. If you break your leg you'll spend an extra couple months in a training environment.
Gas chamber. You'll get hit with CS gas. Imagine snorting jalapeño pepper sauce, and rubbing it in your eyes. That's how it will feel, it's quite unpleasant. Effects are: loss of vision, massive amounts of snot, and vomiting up the chilli-mac they served your right before you went in.
Running, running, and more running. There are a lot of PT tests. Your drill's job is to make as many privates make it through the PT tests as they can. That means you'll need to run a 15 min 2 mile course, normally a track. If you're a weak runner start now, if you fail the final PT test you will be held back.
Communal showers. Fifty sweaty naked guys with fifteen minutes to all take shower. Not a place for drop the soap jokes.
But, since you're hell-bent on becoming a low paid member of the world's most heavily armed janitorial force, here is some realistic advice that I am not sure is applicable now.
10 situps, 15 pushups; be able to do them before you get shipped off to receiving. Failing to do the standard amount will mean you get held back until you can. Push ups are just as much practice as they are about upper arm strength, even well built guys were having difficulties with the first week of pushups.
Shave your head, all the way. They'll still give you a haircut your first week, but there will be a whole lot less hair for them to rip out of your head with those dull razors.
Before heading out put on a pair of plain grey or black sweat clothes and a pair of white sneakers, preferably new. The army will try to sell you a new set when you get there at some silly price.
Things to prepare for:
A battery of immunizations. Lots of shots, and a couple oral cocktails. You will probably get sick. They also fingerprint you and get your DNA.
A security interview. If you are working in a sensitive MOS you will probably need to do an interview. Be honest, they will ask you the same questions over and over again.
A bunch of crummy obstacle courses. These are super easy, just make sure you don't hurt yourself. Pace yourself. If you break your leg you'll spend an extra couple months in a training environment.
Gas chamber. You'll get hit with CS gas. Imagine snorting jalapeño pepper sauce, and rubbing it in your eyes. That's how it will feel, it's quite unpleasant. Effects are: loss of vision, massive amounts of snot, and vomiting up the chilli-mac they served your right before you went in.
Running, running, and more running. There are a lot of PT tests. Your drill's job is to make as many privates make it through the PT tests as they can. That means you'll need to run a 15 min 2 mile course, normally a track. If you're a weak runner start now, if you fail the final PT test you will be held back.
Communal showers. Fifty sweaty naked guys with fifteen minutes to all take shower. Not a place for drop the soap jokes.
