reporting to basic training tomorrow. can't sleep tonight

[Anman407]

hey guys. this will surly be my last thread on here for at least a while.

on March 18th 2011 I enlisted in the US Navy. After 9 long months in the Delayed Entry Program DEP, tomorrow I am to report to the Navy for boot camp. Tomorrow afternoon I will meet with my recruiter who will drive me to a hotel in Nashville TN. I will spend the night there, and then at about 4 AM Wednesday morning I will get on a bus that will take me to MEPS for a quick once over and then i will get on a plane (i have never flown before) to Great Lakes IL for boot camp for the next 8 weeks.

I am a bit nervous about the whole thing, and I can't sleep tonight. If anyone has anything they'd like to ask or tell me that would be cool. I'll probably be up for at least another couple of hours.

As someone who went through Air Force basic:

IT GETS BETTER

First 2 weeks are hell on earth. After that, it gets better. Never easier, but the TIs knock off the screaming to get their message across, and you get a routine going which really helps.

NUMBER ONE: Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut
The less attention you draw to yourself the easier it will be. Getting singled out is a nightmare from which there is no escape.

NUMBER TWO: SEE NUMBER ONE
Seriously. Do what your told, do things right, and things cannot go smoother.

NUMBER THREE: If you are unsure about a command, ask when they stop talking
Much better to get angrily growled at to clarify then to get screamed at for being wrong.

NUMBER FOUR: DO NOT WATCH FULL METAL JACKET
They only beat you in the Marines. No physical violence happening, so don't scare yourself. Everyone makes this mistake.

NUMBER FIVE: Count down the days after 2 weeks. You'd be amazed how fast things go.

NUMBER SIX: Go to church on Sundays, even if not religious. I'm an Atheist, and tried out all the different churches to help me focus. Wicca was fun, as was Buddhism. And Christianity has enough people that aren't yelling at you to relieve some pressure.

And that's it. Good luck, and thank you for serving.

What he said! If it's anything like Army BCT the first two/three weeks suck but after that, it gets pretty awesome. And he's right about keeping your head down, so very much pain will be avoided.
And yeah, my friends all convinced me to watch Full Metal Jacket like two days before leaving, told me I'd be just like Private Pyle.
I hate my friends...
And he's right about the Church. I'm genuinely Christian but even my non-religious battles would come with me and especially that first week, the relief is palpable I assure you

 

[THAC0]

Eh, I'm enrolled in school right now. Were I to join, I'd at least graduate college. I'm not in the best of shape, but I have been getting better.

My friend once joked I'd be perfect because I like guns, and I'm good at following orders. Almost the point of lacking self preservation.

well, if you graduate, you have a shot at officers school.
I can count on 1 hand, every gun i have ever fired.

Lucky. I've always wanted to join the RAF, but a spinal operation that essentially fused my spine with titanium stops me. Enjoy it, and good luck.

that sucks. My age is my biggest handicap as far as i can tell. I am pushing 30.
thanks

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

Eh, I'm enrolled in school right now. Were I to join, I'd at least graduate college. I'm not in the best of shape, but I have been getting better.

My friend once joked I'd be perfect because I like guns, and I'm good at following orders. Almost the point of lacking self preservation.

well, if you graduate, you have a shot at officers school.
I can count on 1 hand, every gun i have ever fired.

Lucky. I've always wanted to join the RAF, but a spinal operation that essentially fused my spine with titanium stops me. Enjoy it, and good luck.

that sucks. My age is my biggest handicap as far as i can tell. I am pushing 30.
thanks

I'm interested in Law, actually. Law school is my current plan. Specifically, Workmen's comp and Civil Lit.

And as for me, that's true as well. I'm actually looking at getting one soon. I'll first be taking a safety class, however.

 

[THAC0]

What he said! If it's anything like Army BCT the first two/three weeks suck but after that, it gets pretty awesome. And he's right about keeping your head down, so very much pain will be avoided.
And yeah, my friends all convinced me to watch Full Metal Jacket like two days before leaving, told me I'd be just like Private Pyle.
I hate my friends...
And he's right about the Church. I'm genuinely Christian but even my non-religious battles would come with me and especially that first week, the relief is palpable I assure you

I will be happy if i can make it though without the DIs even knowing my name. I am fine with being invisible.

I was baptized today

It will be a major culture shock, takes about a year until it becomes normal. It will become normal and you will fall in just like you'll be trained to.

I am very jealous of you right now, I'm going to have to pass medical screenings on my knee before I get to have medical screenings on the rest of me.

What MOS did you sign up for? I'm shooting for Diver as I already dive and love being in water.

blah, i am not worried about anything other than just getting though basic right now. my biggest fear is getting kicked out of boot camp for something like a medical problem i don't know i have or something like that.

I am a Master at Arms. after basic it is off to Texas for 7 weeks of training to be a Navy cop.

 

[THAC0]

well guys. one more cigarette, then i think i am off to bed. I will try to check this tomorrow before i leave.

thank you all.

 

[Mazza35]

All this talk of the military gets me thinking I should join up.
Thinking of Police force as my future career. But the Navy sounds really cool, and barely anyone dies so it's a great way to serve and have little chance of death xD
The girlfriend might disapprove, 4 years of serving minim (Australian Royal navy) but the pay is decent and it's a secure job..

 

[loc978]

From someone who went through US Army Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox a number of years ago...

IT GETS BETTER

First 2 weeks are hell on earth. After that, it gets better. Never easier, but the TIs knock off the screaming to get their message across, and you get a routine going which really helps.

NUMBER ONE: Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut
The less attention you draw to yourself the easier it will be. Getting singled out is a nightmare from which there is no escape.

NUMBER TWO: SEE NUMBER ONE
Seriously. Do what your told, do things right, and things cannot go smoother.

NUMBER THREE: If you are unsure about a command, ask when they stop talking if it has been made clear you have permission to speak. If it hasn't, make it clear you have a question with body language, eye contact, et cetera.
Much better to get angrily growled at to clarify then to get screamed at for being wrong.

NUMBER FOUR: DO NOT WATCH EXPECT THINGS TO BE LIKE FULL METAL JACKET
They only beat you in the Marines don't generally beat you in any service anymore. No physical violence is supposed to be happening, but if it does happen, the punches will not be to vital areas, and they will be pulled, so don't scare yourself, it does no good. Everyone makes this mistake. Your mileage may vary. Mine did.

NUMBER FIVE: Count down the days after 2 weeks. You'd be amazed how fast things go.

NUMBER SIX: Go to church on Sundays, even if not religious. I'm an Atheist, and tried out all the different churches to help me focus. Wicca was fun, as was Buddhism. And Christianity has enough people that aren't yelling at you to relieve some pressure.

And that's it. Good luck, and thank you for serving.

^basically what he said. Corrections as I see 'em made^
My dog tags say NO-REL-PREF (there was actually a joke among us atheists there about worshiping the almighty Norelpref), and I went to the Jewish church through most of basic (we had a choice of Jewish, Catholic or Protestant when and where I went. I tried Protestant the first week, as it was familiar to me... that didn't go well). They had snacks and a guy with a guitar who took requests. He even humored the one smartass who said Stairway. Never had time for Freebird, though.

 

[manic_depressive13]

We're on the parade deck practicing drill and *M16 hitting deck crash!* So the battalion commander yells follow it. This recruit is my hero, he snaps to attention and drops forward and never even put his hands out in front of him. Breaks his nose and fractures his orbital, none of the command ever singled him out again.

I beg your pardon, I think I may have misunderstood. Are you saying this guy broke his own face in his eagerness to obey a command?

 

[Anthony Wells]

never volunteer for anything. ever

 

[Rawne1980]

I do believe this is an appropriate time for a sing along.....


I'm just ribbing you.

As an ex Army man I feel it my duty to to aim light banter at all Air Force and Navy personnel.

You'll see why when you get where you are going, assuming it's the same in the US as it is here in the UK. We have a bit of a rivalry between the 3 forces and have to mock each other.

 

[Anthony Wells]

We're on the parade deck practicing drill and *M16 hitting deck crash!* So the battalion commander yells follow it. This recruit is my hero, he snaps to attention and drops forward and never even put his hands out in front of him. Breaks his nose and fractures his orbital, none of the command ever singled him out again.

I beg your pardon, I think I may have misunderstood. Are you saying this guy broke his own face in his eagerness to obey a command?

what i took from that was he followed the command to a T the commander told him to follow it. drop to the floor. so he did without moving. so i think the recruit was being a smartass and following the order at the same time

 

[BlackMageBob]

One tidbit. Don't say "I am a Master at Arms", or "I will be Master at Arms". In the Navy, our job is our name. Outside of bootcamp a person isn't just a Petty Officer Second Class, they are MA2, ET2, CE2, etc. Infact, that is actually the common reference for people up/down from you. So say it like "I am trying to become an MA." or "I'm hoping to be an MA". This will save you at least one scream-fest.

PS. The Navy is the best service, with the most awesome duty stations. Very few people in the other branches really get to go to cool places and actually live, where as in the Navy, its pretty much a given. Sign-up, serve, go live in Italy for three years.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Huh, that's crazy. I got a friend who's on his way to basic training tomorrow as well.

First few weeks are the hardest, and then it becomes easy pickings.