Advice For Basic Training Showers
The best advice is to make personal hygiene a priority but find methods to clean and rinse effectively.
It will allow you to maximize time when adjusting to the rigorous of basic training showers.
Youll be in such a rush to get clean that youll hardly notice the public shower element of basic training.
Getting Mail During Basic Training
There is a lot to look forward to as you begin to prepare for Army BCT and as you can tell there will be many challenges to come. One of the best ways to stay motivated throughout training is to receive letters from home.
Mail call is one of the most anticipated times of the day. Sandboxx makes it easy for your friends and family to stay connected to you during basic training. Learn more about how Sandboxx works and let your friends and family know about Sandboxx.
Army Basic Training Graduation
Most of this week will include inspections, out-processing, personal time, haircuts, family day and the graduation ceremony itself.
With your biggest challenges behind you, you can breathe a little easier, at least for now. Friends and family will be able to attend your graduation in person , and congratulate you on your accomplishment and joining the honorable legacy of a career in the Army.
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What To Wear To Basic Training Graduation
At this ceremony, your soldier will likely be in their dress blue uniform the Army equivalent to a suit and tie. As a guest, you dont need to wear a formal outfit, but youll want to look nice to show appreciation for your soldiers accomplishment. Business casual or your Sunday best clothes are more than appropriate.
Remember, graduations are usually held outdoors in some of the hotter months of the year. Take all these considerations into account when deciding your layering, your footwear and, yes, also your hydration.
Bring your pride in your soldiers achievement, a camera to capture the moments, binoculars, sunscreen and a little cash for any commemorative items you may want. Definitely leave the alcohol, tobacco, weapons, silly string or other offensive items outside the gate. Its all about respecting how the process forged a fighter from your son, daughter, brother, sister whatever they are to you. At the same time, you can enjoy the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony, such as the national anthem, remarks from leadership, etc. and telling your soldier WELL DONE afterward.
Hitting The Sack: Lights Out
In all the branches’ basic training programs, bedtime is usually 2100, or 9 p.m., except during times of special events, such as night exercises. In basic training, lights out means go to sleep. It does not mean talk to your buddies, study or write a letter home. However, these kinds of distractions generally aren’t a problem. In basic training, you’ll be so tired all the time that falling asleep at night shouldn’t be an issue. What is more difficult is trying to keep from falling asleep during class time.
At the very beginning of basic training, the chief drill instructor will spend the night with you in the barracks. As you progress in training, the drill instructor likely will go home each night. However, the basic training staff is constantly monitoring the barracks using closed circuit cameras. If you’re not quietly in your bunks, you can expect a surprise nighttime visit from your drill instructor.
Warning: Depending on which branch you’re in, you may even have three or four DIs assigned to your platoon, and each a night a certain DI will stay in the barracks with the platoon. You are never without supervision.
From Basic Training for Dummies, copyright © 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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What Do You Sleep In At Basic Training
You will sleep in a large dormitory with other Soldier-trainees. Again, you will sleep approximately 5 to 6 hours per night in basic training. Of course, this also depends on the company you are a part of as well. The basic training staff are always present during your boot camp experience. You should expect it to be very demanding in the initial weeks of basic training. It was not uncommon when I went to basic training to be woken up by an aluminum trash can being flung across the floor.
Lights will turn on immediately and you had best be quick to wake up. The reason I created the new Army ACFT Embrace the Suck 2 mile course is to better prepare service members for boot camp. Of course, the main goal with the course is to help you score higher on your 2 mile run. That being said, to be as prepared as possible for basic training you want to be in great aerobic shape going in. You will undergo the Army combat fitness test at basic training. Again, how long is army basic training? 9 weeks. So, you want to make sure you go in, in the best possible shape.
You will be running between 5 to 6 days a week. You will have weekend chores to do and the drill sergeants can get very creative when it comes to this. Yes, there is still training that is conducted even on the weekends. You may get a couple hours of freedom on Sunday before the next week of training starts. So, enjoy the little time freedom you are given.
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Army Basic Training Phase : Blue Phase
The final phase of BCT — the Blue, or Warrior, Phase — will build your individual tactical training, increase your leadership skills and self-discipline, and improve your understanding of teamwork. It also will include challenges and tests you’ll have to pass in order to graduate from BCT. It’s time to dig deep.
These three weeks are spent on the following:
- Advanced rifle marksmanship
- Maneuvering and engaging targets as part of a team
- Guard ethics and standards, with continued study of Army values
- Convoy operations
- Additional weapons training: machine guns, grenade launchers and mines
- Defeating improvised explosive devices/mines
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What Can I Send Someone During Basic Training
Speaking of mail, we cant think of a time in someones life when a written letter could mean so much to a soldier. Words of encouragement will sustain your soldier during this challenging time and make every mail call all that more exciting. Stick to simple stationery, and limit photos. Expect that mail could be delivered a few weeks after you send it.
Since the Army provides all the basics the soldier needs during BCT, care packages of treats and creature comforts are not, we repeat, not recommended. Not only will they be withheld until after graduation, but they could draw unwanted attention from a drill sergeant for the entire unit. Better to save those homemade cookies until after your soldier has gutted through all the physical and mental tests that await them.
How Long Is Marine Basic Training A Full Timeline And Faqs
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
In this article, we discuss the length of Marine basic training and provide a comprehensive timeline of events, with a detailed breakdown of camp phases and activities.
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Another Perspective: Training Inspections And Parades
If you would like to read some interesting, if not thought-provoking, articles on military inspections, parades and basic training then view:
- Military Inspections: Whats The Point?:
- Army Basic Training: Weeding Out The Weak:
- Military Drill: Its Theory and Purpose:
Food At Military Basic Training
Food is served in basic training at the cafeteria, otherwise affectionately known as the chow hall or mess hall .
The general consensus is that chow halls are not nearly as bad as some recruits might infer.
Yes, it may not represent your mothers home cooking but most recruits find the food situation more than adequate.
Military basic training provides a wide variety of food for recruits that need to refuel from the demands of PT.
Even better, standard military procedure now makes it mandatory to allow recruits at least 10 minutes to finish their meals.
Furthermore, military personnel are no longer expected to finish everything on their plate .
Its a tremendous upgrade from the previous control drill instructors had over training recruits in terms of allowing access to food.
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Army Basic Training Phase : White Phase
The White Phase focuses on developing your combat skills, with special emphasis on weapons and physical fitness training. You’ll learn how to identify, track, target and engage targets with a rifle. It’s all about marksmanship. Spending time on these skills also hones your self-discipline and teamwork.
Here’s a rundown of what you’ll cover:
- Basic rifle marksmanship and rifle qualification
- Zeroing a rifle
- Engaging targets at various distances and from different positions
- Prioritizing multiple targets simultaneously
- Continued study of Army values, ethics and traditions
- Night training and more fitness training
- Map and compass reading
Where Does Basic Training Take Place
For all full-time regular force candidates, basic training takes place at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
All part-time candidates joining their local Primary Reserve unit will undergo similar basic training objectives. Reserve units will conduct their Basic Training either at the local reserve unit location or at a Canadian Armed Forces training centre. Locations vary depending on units. Talk to a Primary Reserve unit recruiter for more information on their Basic Training program.
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Boot Camp Basics You Should Know: Some Dont Go
All branches of service have some form of boot camp or basic training. All new recruits are required to go to basic training, but not all recruits are new.
Some may be prior-service recruits who are reentering the military after a break in service. Others may be active duty troops who decided to transition to a Guard or Reserve unit. Still others may be currently serving troops who are transferring out of Guard/Reserve status into full-time active duty.
And then there are those who transfer from one branch of service to another with no break in service.
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In some cases, boot camp is waived for those who have already graduated from a basic training program. In others, full boot camp or a partial version of it may be required. That is true for prior service military members who want to join the Marinesin most cases full boot camp is required. The Army has a program that requires most to attend a four-week transition course for prior-service military members.
Bottom line? There are many variables for prior service military members coming back on duty, but much will depend on your selected branch of service, how long you have had a break in service for where applicable, and other issues. Prior service troops may have no basic training commitment or may be required to attend a full-blown boot camp the way the Marine Corps does.
After Army Basic Training
After graduation Soldiers will not get to go home. Instead, they will head to their next training school, also known as Advanced Individual Training . Depending on the Soldiers MOS will determine the location for AIT. Some Soldiers may stay at the same base as basic training for AIT, others will be given two days of travel to get to their new base.
For those that went through OSUT instead of BCT, Soldiers will receive orders and head to their first duty station.
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Bonding And The Hierarchy Of Esteem
As a buffer against the stressful conditions of their training, the trainee group normally forms a strong bond of mutual loyalty. Researchers in the U.S. have described it as an intense “we-feeling”, which can feel more powerful than the civilian bonds that recruits are familiar with. In 2006, an official report on Australian Defence Force training explained the importance of the group bond:
Willingness to apply lethal force requires⦠sufficient bonding within the team to override each individualâs natural human resistance to kill. The toughness and bonding required increases the closer the contact with the enemy.
Recruits are taught to be proud of their identity as professional military personnel, and of their unit in particular. Heroic regimental stories and symbols are used to ennoble the recruits’ own unit above others, and above other branches of the armed forces , thereby establishing a hierarchy of esteem the same stories are used to draw a contrast with the purported inferior norms associated with civilian life.
Can Recruits Contact Friends And Family Members During Marine Basic Training
Recruits can make one phone call on their date of arrival to notify a relation that they’ve successfully reached their recruit depot. From that point, they can contact their friends and family members via posted correspondence. After completion of the Crucible, recruits have multiple opportunities to make phone calls and use the internet.
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What Are The Phases Of Army Basic Training
There are three phases of Army Basic Training. Incidentally enough, they are named phase red, white, and blue .
Each phase is a single block of multiple weeks. Lets take a brief look at each of them:
Red Phase: This will occur in the first three weeks of basic training.
White Phase: Starts at week four and concludes at the end of week five.
Blue Phase: The final phase. Begins at week six and ends at week nine.
Well be doing in-depth with what happens during these phases.
The reason why these phases exist is because it will allow soldiers to move onto the next one when they have successfully passed their test.
Towards the end of each phase, trainees will be tested on what theyve learned so far in training.
Cadet Leader Development Training
Cadet Leader Development Training trains, mentors, and assesses basic leadership skills focusing on Troop Leading Procedures , effective communication, and tactical decision making in order to develop competent and confident small unit leaders capable of operating in an uncertain and rapidly changing environment. In a series of tactical scenarios that reflect the Decisive Action Training Environment, cadets experience a minimum of two assessed leadership positions that provide the cadet with a common experience to further enhance his/her leadership ability to solve difficult tactical problems.
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Army Basic Training Phase : Red Phase
Shakedown: When you get off the bus from Reception Battalion, you’ll be told to line up your bag in a certain way to see whether you can follow instructions. Then you’ll be ordered to empty your bag. If any contraband falls out, it will be your first opportunity to see a drill sergeant go ballistic.
Training: The goal of your Phase 1 training is to begin your transformation from a confused volunteer to a confident soldier. During Red Phase , you’ll learn the fundamentals of soldiering, including Army heritage and the seven core Army values. Most of your classroom training will occur during this time. You’ll also undergo the Army Physical Fitness Test to assess your physical abilities. You’ll have several of these tests along the way to be sure you’re getting in the best possible shape.
During these first three weeks, you’ll get a thorough introduction to the following:
- The Army‘s core values, traditions and ethics
- Assembling, disassembling and caring for your M16
- The Nuclear-Biological-Chemical chamber
- Security and crowd dispersion discipline
- Combatives: hand-to-hand combat and guerrilla exercises
- Barracks inspections
- Running, tactical daylight marches and fitness training
Obviously, this is an intense training schedule, geared toward reinforcing the principles of discipline and teamwork. From here, you’ll look forward to moving toward the rifle range to learn some exciting — and very useful — skills.
Military Basic Training: Haircuts
Haircuts are another crucial element of boot camp along with basic training showers and food.
In a regard, the first haircut is like a rite of passage for new recruits.
For this reason, one of the first tasks is to get a haircut upon arrival at basic training.
Men receive an extremely short haircut that leaves you feeling nearly bald.
However, with that being said, make sure not to arrive to boot camp with a shaved head in advance.
Why?
Youll actually be targeted by the drill instructor and should rather accept the trim as part of the acclimation into the military.
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Comparing Basic Training For The 5 Branches Of Us Military Service
Posted in Uncategorized on October 21, 2016 Tags: history, military, veterans
Members of each branch of service typically consider their own basic training to be the most challenging and toughest of all the branches its a debate of hard-knock stories and amazing feats of endurance and learning. The reality is that all recruit training for U.S. military service is strenuous, mentally and physically, and all who find the intestinal fortitude to complete them should be respected and commended.
A common question may be “How long is military boot camp?” On average training can last anywhere from 8-12 weeks. While each service has different training schedules and requirements, orientation week is basically the same across all five branches. During this time, new recruits:
- Turn in enlistment paperwork
- Receive dental and medical exams, as well as immunizations
- Receive uniforms and training gear
- Receive required haircuts
- Create direct-deposit accounts for paychecks
Though Week Zero may be considered intake, actual training does begin at orientation, with many services beginning physical training within the first few days. This varies from branch to branch, but overall training typically lasts between eight and 12 weeks, culminating in graduation.