The following are mostly frequently asked questions with a few additional lesser questions I feel should be answered and shared.  If you don't see a question that you think should have been added here, please contact me via email and I will review your request.  Thanks!

DISCLAIMER:  I am not an authority on Army recruitment and retention.  Always run questions and any information you learn not just here, but anywhere on the internet by your recruiter.  The Army, shockingly enough, changes it's routines and regulations as the years go by.

Last Updated:  25 October 2011

The questions are ranked based on how frequently they are asked from top to bottom, greatest to least.

When are you going to make another video?

Simply put, when my job, the Army and family permit me to make another.  There is no set schedule, nor can I promise to ever have one, as it isn't a realistic goal with my type of work/duty.  I make one when I have the time and energy.  That's the honest truth.

I'm leaving for basic training soon.  Any advice?

This is an extremely broad and open-ended question.   Here is my advice, starting with this question:

a.  When you do make it through basic combat training and advanced individual training, you will have learned or at least should have learned, that if there is something you need to know from a sergeant of any rank, or even an officer, DO NOT ask open-ended questions such as the one being addressed.  Open-ended questions are unspecific, unrealistic in the logic of the request, and can be interpreted as rude, especially when in writing.  Be specific about what you want to know or about what you do not understand.  If you aren't sure what you're trying to find out, wait and listen some more and build more defined questions in uyour mind.  Think of what you need to know exactly and then make your inquiry.

b.  When talking to a drill sergeant, address him/her as drill sergeant and ask your questions with confidence.  If you act shy or cowardly, you will draw negative attention to yourself.

c.  Pay attention to detail.  (i.e.  Make sure you weapon is on safe, make sure your uniform is within regulation, keep your canteen filled, square away (fix) your battle buddy.

d.  Sound off (loudly) when marching in formation and cadence is being called!  DO NOT screw around!

e.  The first person to see a drill sergeant is to call "at ease" when a drill sergeant enters a room or company drill area, but only when no other drill sergeant  is around or call when a higher ranking Non-commissioned Officer (NCO - corp of sergeants) enters even though a drill sergeant is present (i.e. your First Sergeant).  Everyone should be standing at the position of "parade rest" until the drill sergeant or First Sergeant gives the command of "carry on".  Expect that failure to do this properly will cost you and potentially anyone else around you!

f.  The first person to see an officer is to call "attention" when an officer (i.e. your company commander) enters the room or company drill area.  The person that called attention is to salute and greet the officer.  Everyone should be standing at the position of "attention" until the officer or company commander gives the command of "carry on".  Expect that failure to do this properly will cost you and potentially anyone else around you!

g.  Keep your weapon with you at all times!

h.  Squash your attitude if you have one!  No one cares!  Leave it at home or somewhere else and DO NOT take it with you to basic combat training.  Drill sergeants will have no time and nor patience for crazies with an attitude.  Heed these words.

i.   Regardless of what the rank says on your chest, you are a private until you graduate basic training.  HOWEVER, it does not mean that you should act like one.  Square yourself away, and follow all instructions and orders to the "T" so to speak.

j.  Study your "smart book" as much as possible.  A lot of it will seem boring and irrelevant to you personally, but I promise you this...it will all show up in your face throughout the remainder of your contract/Army career.  The things you learn in basic training will not go away, so learn the Army knowledge well when the time is given to you!

k.  If you are going to basic training followed by attending officer candidate school (OCS), then I would recommend that you step up to leadership roles when you are chosen for them.  Be prepared to be teased and taunted by your battle buddies when you make mistakes.  They will question your leadership.  If this happens to you, take it all in and learn from it.  The soldiers that you will command after OCS and training will always be watching you to see what kind of a leader you are.  Mistakes are inevitable, but the kind of mistakes you make and how you deal with them is what will set you up for failure or set you apart as trustworthy in the eyes of your soldiers, peer officers and superiors.  Think about it.

l. Always have babywipes!  A hot shower isn't guaranteed each and every day.  Your drill sergeants are highly skilled and knowledgeable Soldiers, but they are also human.  They will sometimes have the carpet pulled right from under their feet, so to speak, where what was originally planned has been changed partly or entirely for the training day.  Sometimes you will be sent through some rough, nasty, dirty and sweaty training, followed by no shower with most of the day left for more training.  Use your baby wipes to take a "T Bath":  arm pits, grown and behind.  Hitting the hotspots outlines the letter T.  Clean up and keep it moving'!

m.  Be nice and patient with the battle buddy to whom you will be assigned.  Depending on how you treat him/her, your battle buddy may stick up for you when you need it most.  You both may still get punished or smoked, but it's always nice to not be alone especially when you are in trouble.  And trust me, you will be called out and punished in some way at least once in basic training.  Why not have a your battle buddy actually have your back?

n.  If you don't mind going to religious services, then do it!  It will save you psychologically!  I know we all like to think we're tough (I'm talking to you males, mainly), but sometimes you need a break from your platoon, your company, that jerk team leader, or platoon guide, or simply escape having to clean the bay/barracks.  Take advantage of it! ;)

o.  At the end of the day, the things you will go through as far as your drill sergeants are concerned and the way they will speak to you and treat you is all a head game.  They are there to take you from being a civilian to being a soldier in a short amount of time.  Civilian behaviors and habits are "crazy" and not tolerated in the Army and the military as a whole.  We join the military and are stripped of bad habits so that Americans can afford even the freedom to be rude civilians.  Soldiers lose this freedom for the rest of their contracted time in service on the day they start basic training both on and off duty.  Having said that you, will slowly begin to see the psychological war drill sergeants are waging against your ego, attitude, thinking as well as your eating habits.  After a few weeks you will eventually begin to see a change in yourself "physically and mentally".  So again, it's all a head game--an important one-- but just try to have fun.  Don't take everything your drill sergeant says or does personally, no matter how mean or unfair they may be or seem!  Don't fight your drill sergeants, just follow their commands!  The quickest and best way out of basic training is to graduate, not a dishonorable discharge.  HOOAH!

What is basic training like?

I get this question all the time and frankly, it's another broad and open-ended question that would literally fill a book if I even attempted to answer it.  I can only answer based on my own experience.  The short and simpler answer is, it was one of the most exciting, scary, shocking and physically grueling experiences of my life.  And as a person who came from a poor physical lifestyle as a public school teacher to running several miles and firing weapons meant to kill other human beings (albeit the enemy), it goes without saying that basic training was life changing for me.

Are you afraid you'll be deployed to Afghanistan?

I don't necessarily fear deploying to Afghanistan, at the moment.  Rather I am more concerned about what will go on here in the US without me, as far as my family, friends and work are concerned!  THIS is my greatest worry and fear.

Is basic training hard?

It depends on who you ask and where they went.  I have asked many soldiers this same questions and the answers were all different.  Personally, hell to the yeah!  I had an injury for two-thirds of the time I was in basic training....with one caveat however.  Basic training used to be much harder in a number of aspects, but has since been changed (some would argue this by saying it was "watered down").  What should be realized is that the vast majority of new soldiers in the Army are very young and are apart of the generation that grew up with cell phones, internet, personal computers and video games (at present I had none of these conveniences for half my life and I'm only 29 years of age).  What does this mean?  This means that the many new soldiers are viewed as weak, lazy, fat, crazy, and hyper-sexually active couch potatoes COMPARED to all of the generations of soldiers before them.  And when it comes down to Modern Army Combatives Instruction, a lot of young Americans have hardly been punched in the face, let alone slapped. And when some future soldiers arrive to basic training they experience culture shock.  Some think the drill sergeants are cruel, but this really isn't the case compared to the old US Army just 10 years ago and further back into history.

Why didn't you join the Navy or the Air Force?

The other military branches didn't have an appeal to me.  I don't really get a kick out of heights and flying, nor do I like nor want to swim (obviously this rules out being a Marine).  I have nothing against the other branches.

What is your MOS?  

I am an 88N (spoken "eighty-eight november") -Transportation Management Coordinator.  However, this information is found on my YouTube channel page and the About page on godavidstrong.com.

Where did you go for AIT (Advanced Individual Training)?  

I went to Fort Lee, Virginia for AIT where my MOS required 6 weeks of training.  This can be found on the About page of godavidstrong.com

Are you happy that you joined the Army?

Yes.  The one major setback I am faced with, however, is the demanding time requirement, and as an Army Reserve soldier, this is saying a lot!  I couldn't have imagined the amount of additional time and travel that would be required beyond one drill per month and two weeks active duty out of the year.

How long does it take to get a response to my question(s) that I posted via email/Facebook page/YouTube?

In the past 12 months I admittedly have been terrible with replying in a reasonable time.  However, as of now expect to have a response within a 48 hour time period that your message was sent + the time it takes for me to get around to check my messages.  I check my messages at least 3 times per day.  But if by some reason you just don't get a reply within the time mentioned, be patient a reasponse will come.

Can I add you on Facebook?

I've stopped adding people on my personal Facebook profile.  Don't want to be stalked, no offense. lol

How come you didn't subscribe to my channel on YouTube?

I've reached of 450 subscribers and that number is rising daily.  It isn't a realistic goal to subscribe to all who follow my channel on YouTube.  Sorry. 

What kind of camera do you use?

When I first started making videos for my YouTube channel, I was using my Canon Vixia HF10.  Lately, I've been shooting my videos using my Canon 5D Mark II (DSLR camera).