Military members or veterans how was your boot camp?

[BobDaget]

I am going later on this year and the other day I was reading some funny stories from soldiers about all kinds of things they encountered during their time at Basic. I always thought the Marines would be the harshest, but plenty of other branches have some good one's as well.
So if you have time share some funny stories or moments we can all have a laugh about.

[[R-DEV]Ninja2dan]

As a Training NCO for a US Army BCT/AIT/OSUT unit, I had the chance to train several full cycles of Army soldiers as well as one class of USMC for an artillery course. Add those to the OSUT course I myself attended, and you can imagine all of the odd and entertaining things I saw.

The thing is that Basic Training in the Army has changed a lot since I got out in late 1999, and to be honest I don't think those changes were for the better. I have also heard stories about the USMC training having dropped in standards as well, both being blamed on politics and parents. Junior didn't have fun at Basic, he tells mommy and daddy, and they complain to congress or some crap. Next thing you know, Drill Cadre can no longer swear at recruits or strike them even when the situation calls for it. Hell, they even introduced "Stress Cards" for a while, damn babies.

One of the funniest incidents I can recall was when one of our recruits was FUBAR, and on his way to getting kicked out. He had just had his third Article 15 in a month, and was doing "extra duty" chores while the rest of the battery was out in the field. That day he was assigned to wash all of our vehicles, given the keys to clean the insides out as well. Next thing you know, the dumb bastard steals one of our flatbed pickup trucks and drives home with it (about 3 states away).

After a call to his home letting his family know that he faces federal prison time if the vehicle isn't returned, he decides he wants to turn himself in. A few days later the retard shows up at our CQ office with the truck keys in hand, he even stopped to refill the gas tank before returning it. Our 1SG was so pissed that he threw the keys down on the middle of the drill pad and told that recruit to sit there and watch those keys to make sure they didn't walk off. He sat there for almost an hour before the MP's arrived to take him into custody. You should have seen the looks on the senior cadre's faces though when he came casually walking back in with the keys in hand, like he was looking for valet parking. Our 1SG was a huge prick, POS in every way, so seeing the look on his face was priceless. Many of us couldn't help laughing about it later that night over beers at a local titty club. Yep, there are some things I do miss about the old days.

[Tartantyco]

-Balloons in the trees and a purple moose.

[JohnnyRaygun]

When I was in Marine bootcamp (Oct 7th- Jan 3rd '02) it was interesting. For one, I came down with pneumonia. They always told us to keep the windows open to prevent the recruits from getting sick and yet at the same time it was so cold that recruits got sick. Also there was an unknown illness that killed 3 recruits when I was there. They gave us a pass on to tell us to look for a "purple rash". One of our recruits had one so they wheeled him off in a stetcher with a quarentine bubble. Pretty crazy.

As for funny stories, there were some good times here and there but I don't feel like typing it all out. BTW bootcamp isn't as hard as people will make it sound. To be honest it will be the easiest thing you ever do in your service. The hardest will be when you join your unit and you're a boot. You'll get all the shit jobs and will probably get hazed. (Well..I was in the infantry so it may be different if you're a POG-err other MOS )

As for the rules changing, thats true but when I was in bootcamp the DI's swore.
Also, to hit us they would just walk up next to you and push you really hard and say "I arms distance!" There's always loopholes ;D

[torenico]

Gah.. not really sure about our military training system.. i fear them sicne my father told me a story about a officer that almost killed him.. because he sleeped 6 extra mins..

It was a Pro-Facsist Goverment.. or something like that (A military based goverment)

[WNxKenwayy]

Which service? There are several different 'versions' of boot camp, most notably in the Army the difference between Basic/AIT and OSUT. I did cav scout osut Apr 04 - Aug 04.

[[R-DEV]Ninja2dan]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRaygun

As for the rules changing, thats true but when I was in bootcamp the DI's swore.
Also, to hit us they would just walk up next to you and push you really hard and say "I arms distance!" There's always loopholes ;D

Because each branch is a little different, some have been able to avoid or bend some "rules". Swearing at recruits, making "aggressive physical contact", etc have pretty much been banned by most training facilities due to politics. There are ways the cadre get around it, such as reporting a recruit "fell down some stairs".

At the end of '99 and start of '00, the Army for example was trying several new changes. First off was the attempt to introduce co-ed training into facilities that were normally only segregated. Women recruits are usually only sent to a single post for BCT/AIT, but there are several posts which provide AIT training for women. For example, Fort Sill (where I was last stationed) is primarily men-only. But there is one battalion that trained female recruits, which was also home to a single training unit for the USMC and others attending training on post who were not considered "normal" attendees. This included installing alarm systems into every barracks, hiring additional female cadre, and a ton of new headaches. To my knowledge, that transition attempt was a huge failure and was scrapped.

Another change taking place at the time I left was the introduction of "Stress Cards". All recruits were given a small card and if they felt they needed a break, during certain conditions, they could whip out their stress card and take a 5. This was aparently intended to keep soldiers from breaking down or causing injury. In the end this idea was also scrapped, for obvious reasons. Who ever came up with the idea should have been ran over by a Bradley, until the tracks were properly lubricated with their entrails.

And one of the worst changes that I saw take place shortly after I left, was the issue of the black beret to all soldiers. Rangers had to have their beret color changed to tan, and the old lore of "Black Hats" became nothing more than history. Berets used to mean "elite", now the black beret just makes me sick to see it. That and changing the slogan to "Army of One". What happened to Teamwork? Army of One sounds like they are trying to screw over everything they taught us back then.

Originally Posted by WNxKenwayy

Which service? There are several different 'versions' of boot camp, most notably in the Army the difference between Basic/AIT and OSUT. I did cav scout osut Apr 04 - Aug 04.

This is true, and something you should consider when asking how your training will be. I am not aware of how the other branches do their training, but the Army options are very different from each other. OSUT means you do all of your training all at once, in the same unit, with the same cadre and fellow recruits. In some ways this makes things easier, but in other ways it can seem tougher as well. As for the "split-op" method of doing BCT and AIT seperate, this was originally intended to allow recruits to enlist during their senior year in high school, then come back the next summer after graduating to finish up. Other recruits took the option because they felt the break would make it easier on them, when in fact it makes it harder. Truth is (or was) that the units who provided AIT would treat their soldiers differently, give them more priviledges, and in general be more at ease with them. In many circumstances, especially those attending a non-combat arms AIT, it was more like tech school than Boot Camp. The problem that many soldiers encountered when doing this though was they had a break from doing any PT, and many were known to return to AIT in a lowered state of physical condition. Doing OSUT meant you constantly maintained a higher level of physical fitness, and in my opinion it was also easier because the time seemed to go by pretty quick once you finished your EOCT.

Having "been there and done that" for several cycles of soldiers, I can agree that Boot Camp is not as hard as many people or films claim it to be. No, it's not easy. It's not meant to be, you are training to be a Soldier/Marine/Sailor/Airman/etc and in general you are training to fight in combat, regardless of your assigned job. The cadre's job is to break you down as an individual, and build you back up as a soldier. They need to teach you to react to stress, to think under pressure, and to stay focused on critical tasks even when you are tired or hungry. The best way to pass through your training is to listen well to what your cadre have to say, always do your job as best as you can, NEVER give up, and don't screw around. It's good to joke around and have fun, but there is a time and a place to do so and when not. Remember what you are volunteering for and why you are there, and remember that failure is not an option. As long as you stay focused on the task at hand, you'll make it through. Your cadre will ride your ass and try to pound you into the dirt, but remember they are on your side. Your cadre is there to make you into a good soldier, and by the time you graduate you will have a new respect for them. On day one they might be spitting on you and telling you how good your momma tasted last night, but come graduation day they'll be shaking your hand and wishing you luck in your new unit.

Maybe I'll post some photos from my own OSUT, as well as some photos from a few of the cycles that I trained. Some of those photos get good laughs when I look at them, and even from people who never served.

[JohnnyRaygun]

Hey Kenway, you were in the Cav scout? My buddy was in the 2nd Cav stationed at Fort Polk. Sgt Traeger. Ever heard of him?

[BobDaget]

Ha I just wonder what others might do when they get there. I just know as in civilian life there are always people who are smart, but will still not use common sense in certain situations.
I really don't want to end up like a Gomer Pyle though

[[R-DEV]ZZEZ]

My basic training in IDF had one particular funny incident.
It was one of the recruits birthday and the commanders didn't let him out to celebrate it, and to further enrage him they decided it would be a good idea to let him wash the company commander's car with the keys inside.
You can guess what happened next, he stole the car and he somehow managed to crash in to a parking Hammer, I don't know about the US Hammers but IDF ones have no keys, they are ignited with a switch and the guy knew it, he ditched the car and went to the hammer, he rammed the base's gate and 50 meters after the gate he turned off the car and decided it was a bad idea to drive home in a Hammer.
I believe the guy was just recently released from army jail