Army Basic Training Message Archives: Page 4

Army Basic Training

Archived Messages

Archived BoardHost Messages (Army Basic Training)

Use the CTRL+F Function of your keyboard to enable a keyword search

Posted by filmman on 3/24/2002, 10:37 pm

The gas room!!!!! I hear bad things about this room, like lots of vomit, and other bad things. Is it that bad? thanks

Re: one more question

Posted by Raquel on 3/25/2002, 8:16 am , in reply to "one more question"

No, no, not lots of vomit. Yes, you will gag and choke and you'll have tears, snot and drool streaming down your face..you may have two or three people throw up but for the most part, you'll do the former. This is not designed as torture but to give you confidence in your protective mask and to show you that it really does work.

Posted by Sarah on 3/24/2002, 9:43 pm

I'm a vegetarian and am wondering if I will have a problem in BT regarding keeping myself nourished and what-not. I am also worried because I am usually starving two hours after each meal and feel dizzy and faint if I can't eat regularly. I have heard mixed things about meat/no meat choices. Also, should I tell anyone that I'm a vegetarian?Thanks!

Posted by Raquel on 3/25/2002, 8:11 am , in reply to "Food/Vegetarian"

I am not a vegetarian myself, so I can't relate my own experience. I can tell you that we have had vegetarians at BT. The dining facility does have non-meat choices, but the "pickings can be slim". Plus there is always a salad bar for lunch and dinner (not always when you eat what is called "field chow" at a training site though). The bad part is that you can only eat three times a day (no carrying food out of the dining facility or stashing away any goodies)....no snacking, which I know can be hard! Even "meat eaters" will be starving by each meal due to the large amounts of calories that you burn. So, it can be done, but it can also be difficult (ie heavy starches, canned veggies drenched in butter, etc...foods along those lines).

Posted by leaveaprilfirst! on 3/24/2002, 6:32 pm

i hear we get an advance.....but exactly what should i buy b/4 i go to basics... i would like to be prepared but at the same time ..the cash flow is small right now...and being a girl there is a few more things to take....any info will help thank you

Posted by Raquel on 3/25/2002, 8:06 am , in reply to "WHAT TO BRING"

Check the packing list at this website. If you are strapped for cash, you can leave out things such as writing materials, extra underthings, etc...basically stuff you won't need until you get to your basic training company. You'll be given an opportunity to buy this stuff when you get to the reception station.

Posted by dave on 3/24/2002, 4:22 pm

how many times can we change our mos before we ship tp basic.

Posted by Raquel on 3/25/2002, 8:18 am , in reply to "mos"

As far as I know, you had better be sure that is what you want when you go to MEPS and sign the paperwork!

Posted by dave l on 3/24/2002, 5:51 am

i signed up already for 62E. I wanted to sign up for 11x airborne ranger but my line scores on the asvab were not high enough can i go take it again.

Posted by Raquel on 3/24/2002, 8:32 am , in reply to "asvab"

After taking an initial ASVAB Test (any ASVAB test taken in school doesn't count as an "initial test"), one can retake the ASVAB after 30 days. After the re-test, one must wait at least six months before they can take the test again. The military services use the latest ASVAB scores, not the highest, for service and job qualifications.

Posted by J.P on 3/23/2002, 8:52 pm

I read something about almost a basic training video of your unit goin through basic and being video taped...is this with all units and can you purchase this video at the end of basic?...also whasts the average wake up time at basic?..also as a reservist i heard i go to ft. jackson...but my mos is 95-b..mp..would i go to leonard wood even if im a reservist in the split training option...lemem know...

Posted by Raquel on 3/24/2002, 8:26 am , in reply to "(no subject)"

Average wake-up is between 4 and 5am. As far as where you go to basic, you go wherever there is a slot open. Most MPs go to OSUT training at Ft Wood. This is where they do BT and AIT in the same unit. I know when I was at Ft Wood, not all 95Bs went to OSUT, some went to BT in one unit and then AIT at the Military Police School, like most of the other MOSs. I would say it's possible you could go to Ft Jackson..all depends on what slots are open. These days, all kinds of things are offered to BT soldiers upon graduation. It's possible that whatever post you go to will have organizations selling videotapes of BT...along with the cycle books, portraits, somtimes even "class" rings..the possibilities are endless (same for AIT).

Silly question about Grad Pics

Posted by Joe on 3/23/2002, 6:16 pm

I know upon completion of basic we get our grad pics. Do we get to choose how many we get..like buying a package for senior pics? Does everyone just get a set amount. Sounds silly I know but I know a lot of people have already asked about it.

Re: Silly question about Grad Pics

Posted by Raquel on 3/23/2002, 6:39 pm , in reply to "Silly question about Grad Pics"

Don't worry. You will be bombarded with deals just like you were in high school! You'll also have the opportunity to buy a "cycle" book (kind of like a yearbook in HS)...plus Lord knows what else:-))

Posted by anonymous on 3/23/2002, 1:25 pm

I was wondering, I have no clue as to all of this. Are you allowed to wear make-up during basic training? Will you even have time to put it on? Also, I am near-sided, and I wear contact lenses. I have heard that you cannot wear your lenses or your personally owned glasses to BT yet the Army issues you so called "birth-control" glasses when you get there. Is this true? Just wondering if you could provide me with a little more information. Thanks a lot!

Re: make-up and glasses

Posted by Raquel on 3/23/2002, 3:02 pm , in reply to "make-up and glasses"

No make-up (except maybe on graduation day) at BT and yes, you will be issued two pair of glasses. No contacts allowed! Do bring your civilian glasses though (you'll wear them before you get your military ones at the reception station)...there is always a chance that you may break BOTH your military issued ones and it's best to have a back-up also.

Posted by Phil on 3/23/2002, 8:32 am

Can anybody speak to how difficult it is to enlist in Army OCS if my credit isn't exactly great?

Posted by Hugo on 3/25/2002, 11:27 am , in reply to "OCS"

Hey, I am also going for OCS. If you really want your question answered you should go to the OCS message board. It's at the ocs website: . As far as I know, Credit does not play a part in the process.

Link: Army OCS Website

Posted by Raquel on 3/25/2002, 12:34 pm , in reply to "Re: OCS"

Your credit worthiness may not be an "official" part of the application, but let me tell you that it speaks volumes to your ability in being accepted into OCS and to serve as an officer. Character and honor play an important part in being an officer, and if you can't keep your finances straight, what does that say for your ability to lead real soldiers? Remember that you do need references to go with your application. If you are deep in debt, who's going to recommend you? Thanks for the OCS website link. They have done a lot of great work, and I'll have to be sure to add it on this website as a link.

Check the website below for a chart of enlistment bonuses..

Posted by Raquel on 3/22/2002, 8:58 am , in reply to "bonus"

Yes, you can check the chart below for the latest enlistment bonuses. About.com has loaded the latest one. It is broken down by MOS and then # of years you sign up for. Now on to the running. The key here is to alternate your running days...doing sprints one day and then long distance running the next. You want to build up speed AND endurance. Think about it, if you always work on endurance, how are you ever going to get faster? I do have a plan in the book, but there are plenty of other books on the subject, as well as websites I am sure. Check out the beginner running website I have in "Links of Knowledge". Good tips there. If you don't know how to do sprints, go to www.google.com and type in wind sprints or indian running. On your long distance days you want to run longer routes and also over a variety of terrain. Good luck!

Oops, here's the website link

Posted by Raquel on 3/22/2002, 9:00 am , in reply to "Check the website below for a chart of enlistment bonuses.."

Link: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/bonus/blarenlistmentbonus.htm

Posted by Mark on 3/21/2002, 7:30 pm

Just curious about a confidence course event called the "log ladder" or something like that. From pictures I've seen, it looks like there is a good bit of distance between the "steps". Just wondering how far apart are the logs and how do you prevent yourself from falling from it?

Re: Confidence Course

Posted by Raquel on 3/22/2002, 8:50 am , in reply to "Confidence Course"

If you go to the link below, it will take you to the PT manual FM 21-20, Chapter 8 "Obstacle and Additional Drills". Page down to the bottom and you will see line drawings and descriptions of all the obstacles on the Confidence Obstacle Course. It sounds like you are speaking of #22, the Confidence Climb. First let me say that the intent of this confidence course is to promote self-confidence, a spirit of aggressiveness and daring and also to enhance teamwork. Some of the obstacles do have safety nets, this one does not. It is basically a ladder going straight up. You have to climb up one side and then down the other. The rungs are at least a foot apart (maybe more, don't quote me on that), but I can say that even the smallest soldier is able to navigate this obstacle. There will also be a drill sergeant posted at the top to encourage you and to supervise you going over the top. I can honestly say I've only had less than a handful of soldiers fall on the entire course, and that was with an obstacle that had a safety net (the inverted rope crawl). Other obstacles do have sawdust pits or mats in case you do fall. Please go to the link below...drawings and descriptions of each obstacle. This course tends to be one of the more fun days in BT Land for the recruits...they come away thinking they can tackle anything:-))

Link: http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/21-20/Ch8.htm#8-1

Posted by basicdad on 3/21/2002, 6:12 pm

What happens if you get sick during basic training? Sick enough to be hospitalized. How many days can you miss? If you are discharged for missing too many days can you start over again?

Posted by Raquel on 3/21/2002, 9:10 pm , in reply to "Sick at Basic"

It all depends on how many days of critical training you miss. For example, I had a soldier who was hospitalized for pneumonia and another for an appendectomy. What usually happens, is that they are given a time for recovery from their condition and once they are well, they will New Start (NSO) in another unit. If they became ill or got hurt near the beginning of the cycle, then they'll probably go to a company just starting out. If it's toward the end of the cycle and they haven't missed too many days, then it's possible that they will get new-started into a company that is at a point where they dropped out (or close to it)...all dependent on what companies are currently in the week of training that the private needs to go to. The private will then be reassigned permanently to that new company until they graduate.

Posted by 06070 on 3/21/2002, 9:21 am

my recruiter told me that if you score a 100 in every PT catagory(run/sit/push) the you recieve a promotion. If this true. I can do the push/sit up's but i still smoke and i hate running.

Posted by Raquel on 3/21/2002, 9:56 am , in reply to "PT adv"

Your BT company commander does have the authority to promote a small percentage of you to PV2. "Smoking the PT Test" as it is called will certainly help. The commander will look at the soldiers though who have excelled in all areas, not just PT...lots of factors involved in the decision-making process. I don't want you to think because you are a "PT stud" that you will automatically be promoted. This is not the case.

Answer to question about fighting...

Posted by Raquel on 3/21/2002, 8:42 am

I must've somehow missed the message at the bottom of the board, so thought I'd answer it here. Someone asked if there were recruits who couldn't get along, do the drill sergeants pit them against each other to "fight it out". Well, not exactly. There is only one instance where the drills may use this technique. It is during the Pugil training sometime in the first two weeks of training (this is also where most of the tensions exists between soldiers...at the beginning of BT). After you get trained in using the bayonet, you will be pitted against others in the company and it kind of ends up being like a little competition (the drills match you up; same sex fighting). You wear all the padding, helmet and have pugil sticks with padding and the drills will let you "have at it". Most trainees have fun here..also a good chance to get out your frustrations while the other soldiers cheer you on.