14.  What are the living conditions like in basic?  Roommates?  Barracks life?  Privacy?  I have a wedding to go to one weekend.  May I go?

You can find more information on your living conditions at the link below:

Housing

As far as privacy, you will have very little and more information can also be found below:

Privacy

You could have anywhere from three to 40 or so roommates.  Most barracks have smaller rooms on the outside surrounding a large bay in the middle.  Some of you will be sleeping in this large bay.  Drill sergeants also use this area for informal classes, and if the weather is really bad and you don't go to the gym, you'll run up and down stairs and jump around in the bay.  Another thing to keep in mind, you won't be able to pick where you want to be, you'll be told where your bunk will be, as well as who your roommates will be and your battle buddy.

A few times, I have been asked if a recruit is able to go home to attend a wedding of a family member or anoth family event.  Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to go home at all during your training (even if you live nearby).  On a case by case basis, it can be arranged for a recruit to go home for a family emergency (serious illness or death), but these cases have to be documented through the Red Cross and your family member's doctor.  You will find these same restrictions during AIT and any other training that you will be conducting.

One thing about military life, is that you will not always be allowed to go on leave (vacation) whenever you like.  I personally missed a  very good friend's wedding, anniversaries and birthdays, as well as my husband missing the birth of his second child.  These are all sacrifices we make that civilians can not sometimes grasp.







Back to Top 20 Questions

Back to Army Basic Training Homepage