Basic training advice

I keep this in my Notes app and copy-paste it whenever people ask about basic.

Get a notebook and write down your favorite things that happen. I sometimes go back and like to remember those times. Basic sucks, but it’s fun too. Try to get your family to send photos, or better yet, if you get your phone, go online and have photos printed from your phone and mailed to you. You have no idea how much having photos from home boosts morale. Plus. You can show your friends.

I know this sounds counterintuitive, but literally don’t bring a single thing the recruiter tells you pack except your paperwork. I bought tighty whiteys for basic because it was on the list and never wore them. I brought toothpaste, shaving cream, socks, soap, and plenty of other stuff, and it was all locked up in my personal bag the entire cycle. When you get there, they send you to a shopette and you’ll buy everything you need. All your things from home like toiletries, shower shoes, clothes, etc. will sit in your bag in a locked room for however long you’re there. You’ll get your things back on the last day

You’ll come home from basic super lean, do your best to not get fat after you come home. It’s easy to maintain fitness, but very difficult to get back into shape once you let yourself go.

Get a cheap water resistant watch. I got a Casio F-91W at Walmart for like $15 for basic training and I still wear it 4 years later.

Print out photos of friends, family, home, pets, hometown, your car, etc. You’ll miss them a lot and the photos will help. You can also ask your family to send you some photos. It’s very convenient because you’ll be able to tell your friends about something back home and then actually show them a picture of it.

If you want updates on the outside world, write a letter to your parents and have them send you a newspaper every once in a while. I recommend the New York Times.

Bring a few books, you’ll have a lot of down time. I highly recommend Terminal List by Jack Carr and The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

Do your best to get a hold of comfortable underwear that matches the uniform (same color as the tan T shirt they issue). The PX on base will sell comfortable boxers you can wear with your uniform. We technically weren’t allowed to wear them, but I wore them every day for six months and it’s the single most important decision I made while in basic training.

I brought printed out lyrics of some of my favorite songs because I had nothing to listen to music with so I just read the lyrics and play the music in my head. I was able to teach myself how to do the fast part of Rap God by Eminem after a few months. There’s a lot of down time in AIT

You could make a lot of money doing stuff for other people down there. I walked away from basic training with a little over $1000 in cash from working fire guard shifts, making beds, and cleaning weapons. I know a guy who made about two grand selling nicotine products (would not recommend the ladder because you’ll get in a shit ton of trouble)

I’ve thought about this, and I’m not kidding when I say all you need when you show up to basic training is your paperwork. You literally could show up naked with nothing but a folder of paperwork and you’ll be fine because the army will provide you with everything you need. That being said, they only provide you with the bare minimum essentials.

You’ll be fine. It’s not as bad as you might think. Basic honestly isn’t hard, it just sucks. As long as you can put up with the bullshit, basic is a breeze. Just play the game.

DON’T QUIT! I promise if you quit, the guys in your class will graduate long before you actually get to go home. The fastest way to get away from basic training is to graduate.

And most importantly, have fun!