113 replies to this topic

[Nicoli_Voldkif]

D 1/38th Ft. Benning, GA... oh what fun. I wouldn't disagree with anything The_Chieftain has to say. I would add that sometimes volunteering is an extremely good thing to do for example. First Sergeant asked for 6 volunteers, I volunteered right away because we had nothing else to do and was bored. Well once we got the 6 volunteers we were sent back to the barracks to chill out while the rest went to help to demount the large Volcano truck-mounted mine layer.

Oh yeah you will always end up paired with a "Battle Buddy" which you are supposed to look out for each other. Mine consisted of 3 as we had an odd number in the platoon: Pvt. Whiteman(myself- caucasion), Pvt. Blackman(yes he was African-American), and Pvt. Spiecht(nice Hispanic fellow). Needless to say any shot of our DS not knowing us went right the hell out the window. Only saving grace was the Warrant Officer Flight Candidates in my class.  

Edited by Nicoli_Voldkif, Jun 30 2015 - 02:28.

[Joker_48AHC]

Great story!  My favorite memory from basic involved a flower mounted on the helmet band.  I had seen a photo of a flower stuck in a helmet band by a protester before I had entered training and thought it was an appropriate way to vent my frustration with basic as we were doing our "road march" to set up camp in the woods for a field exercise.  I was at the end of the marching platoon and figured I was safe...but the DI saw me and came at me in a RAGE!  He was planting his boot in my rear end as I ran as quickly as I could (field pack and rifle slowed me a bit) to catch up to the main body!  That wasn't the end of it though.  Once we were in camp the DI gave me a sapling he had cut down to carry around camp as a replacement to my flower!  No more flowers or silent protest for me!  I went on to have a wonderful, adventure filled life as a helicopter pilot!  Yes, they do want you to graduate...as a useful element in a huge machine!

[faolan]

The_Chieftain, on Jun 29 2015 - 16:57, said:

 

Heh. It didn't take too long before we copped on to the fact that it was quicker to sleep on the made bed and just tighten it up in the morning than to sleep in it. Except Saturday nights, as it was linen turn-in day on Sunday.

 

I wish we'd had that option, Chieftain.  Every morning, roll out of the rack with the shower sandals on the deck (no bare feet on the deck, ever!  What are you, some kind of degenerate?!), rip the bed coverings off, swirl them around to make sure no folds were still in there, and then make the damned thing while being timed.  Every day for the duration of basic.  Good times, that.

 

Seems the Navy's RDCs decided that being smart was no excuse to get out of doing work.

 

Some of the rules individual companies got were just bizarre - ours was that using the urinals was forbidden, and only two sinks out of the 8 were open for usage, and the two that were available varied by the day (except for Sink 1, that was always off limits, only the RDCs were allowed to use it).

 

Oh, a piece of advice that was missed - learn to shave using a metal razor before you leave, you won't get to use your fancy electric razor, and nobody is going to like bleeding like a pig.  It's better to learn if you're allergic to shaving cream BEFORE you ship out, because finding out the hard way in Basic is just going to be... unpleasant.  That one I can vouch for from personal experience, discovering you've made your face look like you got tangled in a knot of barbed wire because you can't feel your face while shaving and that it's raising lumps is just going to give the RDCs/DIs/Whathaveyou one more thing to crawl on your [edited]for.

 

Ahh Great Mistakes, how I loathe thee.

[Kenshin2kx]

stalkervision, on Jun 29 2015 - 20:40, said:

I myself would have gotten another full set of sheets and blankets at the PX to turn in and glued my other set permanently to the bed frame.   Then use the first set to sleep in on top of your second.

 

 Enjoy. ."H/M"    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agiAknjbDqQ

... talk about 'cheating' ... when it was brought up, my first thought, was ... make the bed absolutely perfect and sleep on the floor with with a sleeping bag if possible.   ... and even we civilians heard about the being last sin ... question though, is it bad to be first or close to the front in terms of performance?  I would have guessed that would have been a good thing ...

[stalkervision]

SGT_STAGGY, on Jun 29 2015 - 18:07, said:

my favorite comment I can remember from basic is (Ya'll privates are about as wrong as 2 boys f******* on a Sunday).  If you ever find things funny "DO NOT LAUGH OUT LOUD".  EVER!!!!.  lol believe me you don't want to be singled out.......take it one day at a time or you can do what I did.  You can do this with basic, AIT, Ranger Quals, and SF selection.  You do it by one task at a time.  don't think about what's coming next or later on in the training.  just stick with that 1 task at a time method and I think you'll be just fine.  and remember this!------>LAUGH........even if it is a turd day.  Laugh.................good luck!!!!

 

Your drill sergeant was apparently using a loaded gun and asking you to help pull the trigger to see if his gun was loaded while he pointed it at you which IMO really isn't fair.  LOL

[Nicoli_Voldkif]

Kenshin2kx, on Jun 30 2015 - 18:38, said:

... talk about 'cheating' ... when it was brought up, my first thought, was ... make the bed absolutely perfect and sleep on the floor with with a sleeping bag if possible.   ... and even we civilians heard about the being last sin ... question though, is it bad to be first or close to the front in terms of performance?  I would have guessed that would have been a good thing ...

 

They'll ride you a bit and expect you to keep up there. If you are able to maintain it and don't screw up by being stupid it's not bad being one of the better ones.

[Steeljaw_MajT]

Class 17-76, the Bicentennial Turds (so dubbed by our DI Sgt Suttler USMC).  We were his first class at Aviation Officer Candidate School and he only had 2 class at Paris Island.  He wasn't prepared for us to learn flanking maneuvers in 15 mins so he was struck with 45 minutes till lunch with nothing for us to do.  So he ordered all of us to get in his jungle (hid in the bushes and up trees) and make jungle noises.  It was hard not to laugh at the looks we go from the officers coming out of the Chief of Naval Education and Training headquarters building.  It must have impressed the other DI's because it became one of Suttler's favorite activities for us if we ever had time to kill.  

 

We had to be under the blanket and sheet, woe betide anyone that got caught outside ( yes we had some bachelor DI's that had rooms at the end of the barracks and were known to make a walk through looking for the smokers (cigarettes) and those not in the prescribe horizontal position.  The trick was to make them so tight you could barely squeeze in that it was easy to get them tight again with a wire hanger.

[CombatCommandD]

I actually got my enlistment forms right now. I'm working on getting a new copy of my Birth Certificate and High School Diploma. Need to get some transcripts from my College days and lose about another 30 or 40 pounds, 2 inches off the waistline, and do a mile in 8 minutes top regularly. Then I'm in.

 

Of course, the Recruiting sergeants were impressed with my neck. Said I have the biggest neck for a guy my size that they had ever seen. Just a few centimeters shy of 18 inches.

 

They were also impressed that I looked pretty darn good for a guy my weight. I was hovering between 260 and 270 pounds and yet when you stand me up next to a buddy of mine, you can't tell that I'm the heavier guy. He weighs at around 250 and appears heavier than me. The recruiters were also impressed saying they thought I was a good 15 pounds lighter than my actual weight.

 

Been losing that by reducing some of my intake of the wrong kind of things. Went six whole months without soda. Talk about a trying time. I needed a bit of something other than water. But I survived it and lost 11 pounds for it. Starting effectively immediately, I've enjoyed my one month of soda and now I'm going back on the wagon.

 

I'm aiming for 22 pounds to lose!

 

Wish me luck!

[red_dog78]

CombatCommandD, on Jul 05 2015 - 17:04, said:

I actually got my enlistment forms right now. I'm working on getting a new copy of my Birth Certificate and High School Diploma. Need to get some transcripts from my College days and lose about another 30 or 40 pounds, 2 inches off the waistline, and do a mile in 8 minutes top regularly. Then I'm in.

 

Of course, the Recruiting sergeants were impressed with my neck. Said I have the biggest neck for a guy my size that they had ever seen. Just a few centimeters shy of 18 inches.

 

They were also impressed that I looked pretty darn good for a guy my weight. I was hovering between 260 and 270 pounds and yet when you stand me up next to a buddy of mine, you can't tell that I'm the heavier guy. He weighs at around 250 and appears heavier than me. The recruiters were also impressed saying they thought I was a good 15 pounds lighter than my actual weight.

 

Been losing that by reducing some of my intake of the wrong kind of things. Went six whole months without soda. Talk about a trying time. I needed a bit of something other than water. But I survived it and lost 11 pounds for it. Starting effectively immediately, I've enjoyed my one month of soda and now I'm going back on the wagon.

 

I'm aiming for 22 pounds to lose!

 

Wish me luck!

 

Likelyhood is that you must have a lot of muscle...........and losing the weight because of that won't be easy.  Just keep whatever your workout routine is the same and don't try to do too much more because you could screw yourself up and may force a delayed enlistment (or complete enlistment withdrawal without a waiver).

 

Very good chance that you may also be putting muscle weight on after dropping some of it as fat.  So, really, whatever you're doing is helping you in some odd way and they might have to note it there at Reception when you do ship out.

[BajaJames]

I watched full metal jacket too many times so when I finally went to Paris Island I was mentally prepared, but you can never physically prepare yourself for that crap. 

[jet_flyer]

stalkervision, on Jun 29 2015 - 20:32, said:

 

Never thought of getting yourself a extra blanket and stashing it in your locker ? Shame on you ! LOL

 

 Then again if you wanted to save even more time not making blankets have everyone sleep on top of each other and alternate beds and days !

 

So that's how they do it in the Navy...
jk, jk

[Blackhorse_Six_]

The_Chieftain, on Jun 27 2015 - 19:37, said:

"Housemouse"

No, I never did. I saw what happened to others who did, mind.

 

"Combat-Ready"

 

We too had a "Mouse" ...
 

That photo of the Drill and the open lock is priceless ...
 

One day, I was omitted from the Guard Mount roster - and I didn't point-out the oversight.

 

I had more than 24 hrs of relative freedom in the company area, but I stayed in the barracks and looked through the FM library in the Day Room (which nobody otherwise had time to use).
 

The first six hours were otherwise incredibly boring. I clearly needed something else to do and since we were near the end of the cycle, I thought I'd give rest of the platoon a leg-up on the final GI, so I commenced to cleanin' & polishin' ...
 

Sometime around 0200, the battalion SDO dropped-by to investigate lights and movement in an otherwise empty building - I cannot recall that there was a charge-of-quarters present, but the SDO asked me some polite questions and left. About an hour later, my platoon Drill dropped by to follow-up on my absence from Guard Duty. He must have been satisfied with my answers and what I was doing - on his way out the door, he told me to keep a low profile and carry-on.
 

When I was satisfied that the place was inspection-ready, I opened my locker and fished-out the new tank battalion test manual I had discovered in the day room and stashed for later. Not wanting to ruffle my bunk, but to be on-hand when the platoon returned, I sat on the floor with my back up-against the wide-open locker with the FM in my lap and opened to a page somewhere in the middle. I promptly fell asleep.
 

I can no longer recall how it all unfolded, but my Drill and a fellow Private walked into the barracks together sometime around 0700, but not accompanied by any of the rest of the platoon. The Drill immediately took note of the wide-open locker and my level of consciousness was elevated by a couple of expletives. As I was still in a state of half-sleep, I had not yet opened my eyes when I heard some determined boot-heels digging into my freshly buffed floor and stopping short in front of my position. About the moment I did open my eyes, the Drill was wheeling about and headed for the door with an order to my fellow Private to "Wake 'im up and get 'im to chow" ...
 

Nothing more was ever said about it.

 

I was also left alone at the tank range one day, but that's another story ...

[Themutt36]

Oh wow!!!   I would place $$ that two of those fine Sgt.s were there for my time at Ft. Knox.  The one in the solo picture, it took me about 30 seconds to get on his bad side.  And that was before I fell asleep in one of his classes!  Turns out he was one of the bases boxing champs.... OOPS!   The tall one on the left, that was his first rotation as a D.I. and he was actually pretty cool.

[The_Chieftain]

Solo bloke was DS Ford. Built like the tanks he trained people on. I thought he was fairly cool as well, but yes, you wanted to be cautious about getting on his bad side.

[Themutt36]

Oh yeah... that's him. He was cool, until you fell asleep in a class like I did.. 3 times! LOL  The reception area still had the barracks from WWII, and that is what was udes for the movie Stripes, even though the movie did not give any credits to Ft. Knox.  I want to say the obstacle course was from Knox too.  There was a MBT-70 right by the Burger King.  And there was a T-95 at the Patton Museum that was oh so cool.

[rebel225]

I was 2nd to last of Apache Company 1-81 Armor for OSUT at Ft. Knox in 2010 as a 19K. Best time of my life. I went to military school growing up and my entire family for every generation is military, so basic wasn't a major life change, I actually told one of my drills that I wasn't scared of him and that my dad could kick his butt, and I lived with him for 18 years lol. I turned 19 in basic and am now medically seperated after 5 years here at Fort Stewart, the Rock of the Marne(LOL). Never regret it, even with my joints failing and multiple surgeries, tanking was my life and still is. Anything and everything about tanks inspires me, I am actually working a degree out right now for mechanical engineering and have a job lined up with General Dynamics. I was trained on the M1A1s, and then we got the A2s about 2 years later. Wouldn't change anything for the life of me, the Army used me as needed in Afghanistan, and now I get to help the Army, at the age of 23. Death Before Dismount, hooah!

[Prima_Vox]

Let me echo the comment on the fastest way out of Basic (which is to graduate).....the fastest way out of any Service is to ETS.

 

Any other way out other than getting medically discharged is not pleasant (and even that one will leave people looking askance at you).  It will also take longer than you think.  When you're done, you will likely have "bad paper"...which will follow you forever.  Try getting a Federally backed school loan with a less than honorable discharge.

 

I left by retiring in 2005, after serving my last combat tour in Afghanistan (in 2001--2002 no less.....).  And yes...GI Bill works exactly as advertised (yet there are those that don't take advantage of it).

 

I miss the Army every day in at least some little way.

[Meplat]

ArcherII, on Jul 16 2015 - 13:57, said:

Let me echo the comment on the fastest way out of Basic (which is to graduate).....the fastest way out of any Service is to ETS.

 

Any other way out other than getting medically discharged is not pleasant (and even that one will leave people looking askance at you).  It will also take longer than you think.  When you're done, you will likely have "bad paper"...which will follow you forever.  Try getting a Federally backed school loan with a less than honorable discharge.

 

I left by retiring in 2005, after serving my last combat tour in Afghanistan (in 2001--2002 no less.....).  And yes...GI Bill works exactly as advertised (yet there are those that don't take advantage of it).

 

I miss the Army every day in at least some little way.

 

  Medical seps under honorable conditions, are no damn fun either. You spend a lot of time in what's basically OD colored hold-hell.

 

Then once you're out, you get to deal with the VA. Who at the time looked at my 50%  DR and said "nope".

No physical to speak of, guy just took my basic vitals, then glanced at the AF PEB  paperwork.

Did not even look at the leg in question.  Took a long time for the VA to reeval and admit the facility in Detroit screwed the pooch, hard.

 

The VA has gotten a bit better since the 80's, but it's got a long way to go.

[Prima_Vox]

So...on that subject I just went through a re-eval and now am at 50%....the magic number since I get concurrent pay for it (it's about $500 a month--still rather have my knee).

 

You have to be really, really, really persistent, and exercise a goodly amount of patience  (took two years for this look).  Also, appeal everything.

 

For you  youngsters who are in or going in....save every piece of medical paperwork you get.  And when you're sick or broke GO TO THE CLINIC!!!!  I spent a good part of my career on Jump Status and we didn't like to get administratively terminated due to injury (lose the pay if it goes long enough) so we'd avoid the Doc.  Bad habit to get into.

 

The only reason I get the amount I get is because of one little Doctors slip in my record documenting a back injury in 1996.  Had I not gotten that documented I would have gotten basically nothing.  Also, for those retiring or ETSing....do your PHYSICAL!!! (Before you leave Active Duty).   I'm still amazed by the number of folks who do not do this.

[Meplat]

ArcherII, on Jul 20 2015 - 07:49, said:

For you  youngsters who are in or going in....save every piece of medical paperwork you get. 

 

This, for damn sure.   One of the best things I did while going through post-op PT was to visit the base library and feed coins into the photocopier, making copies of everything.

In my case I have a folder about 2.5"~ 3" thick.

Years (decades) later when some doc asks what was done and when, you're not trying to brush the dust off of the brain housing unit to deliver the info.