What to buy once you get to basic training (BCT) - GDS Episode 004 Part 2

This is a continuation of Episode 004, which covered what to pack for shipping to basic training.  This video goes through mostly suggested items or additional items you should purchase for your convenience while in basic training.  Some of these items are actually required, but you'll often hear me suggesting that you buy extra of a lot  what is gone over in the video.

Inside Tips for Surviving BCT and AIT

Before I begin, I plan on addressing all of these tips in a more organized fashion in a video very soon, so look forward to it. :)  The reason I'm addressing this here first and not in a video is to provide an immediate answer to a question that was asked of me on my Go David Strong Facebook page.

Christopher  Rodriguez is shipping to basic on January 5, 2011 and this is what he asked:

Your page really helped me, just dropping by to say that I leave for Fort Jackson in 8 (1-5-11) days and after I'm going to Fort Lee for AIT, any tips for BCT and any tips for Fort Lee?

Well, I had to think a little, but then I just started typing and before I knew, a lot of memories started coming back to me and I found I had a lot to say--in no particular order mind you. 

Here is my answer to Christopher

BCT

Be prepared to possibly stay awake for several hours beyond your normal wake hours at Reception.  And yet, don't get too comfortable there either because you can.  When you ship to where you will be training everything will change drastically.

Don't EVER, NEVER, EVER go anywhere without a battle buddy!  I'm being nice when I say this.  Don't be that guy...at BCT nor AIT.  Don't do it.  Some sergeants are eagerly foaming at the mouth to slap you with an Article 15 for not having a battle buddy.  Also when you address an NCO or Officer, have a battle buddy.  No exceptions!!!

Stand at Parade Rest when addressing your drill sergeant [at attention for an officer] or any NCO for that matter and end all your sentences with "drill sergeant". LEARN YOUR RANKS AND INSIGNIAS!  This will affect how you are to address any given soldier (namely soldiers of higher rank than you) that passes you by in the hall or elsewhere.  You can easily find you and your battle buddy/platoon/company pushing or low crawling because you failed to address the presence of an NCO or Officer. Call at ease when you see a drill sergeant enter a room or company area only when there is no drill sergeant present, or if a higher ranking NCO enters the room. (ie.  Your Line Supervising Drill Sergeant usually outranks the rest of your drill sergeants.  So hypothetically, if Staff Sergeant Bickler is present with your platoon, and then Sergeant First Class Marks enters, you call "at ease" and get at the position of at ease PRONTO!  The latter also applies to when your First Sergeant shows up).  Remain at the position of at ease until the command to "carry on" is given.  When your company commander shows up and you're the first to see him or her, call your plantoon or company (depends on who all are present) to attention and salute (only outdoors--salute indoors and you will push), "Good morning/afternoon/evening Ma'am/Sir".  Do NOT drop your salute until he/she returns the salute and then drops his/her salute.  Then remain at attention until he/she gives you the command to "carry on".

Study your butt off with your "Smart Book".  You can never learn enough.  It will seem like it is totally pointless, monotonous and boring, but the information within it will be revisited again and again throughout your Army career, especially when you want to move up rank.  Learn it NOW!  And besides, the information will help you improve and grow in Army knowledge.

NEVER fall asleep on fireguard duty, and know your general orders like you know your date of birth as well as the Soldier's Creed.  Do your special duties while on fireguard duty and do not slack off.  Your bay/barracks will be inspected each morning by your drill sergeant.  If your sleep bay is jacked up, you and/or your platoon, or the fireguards (that were supposed to cover whatever is lacking) will be smoked.  Count on it!  Aaaand there will be times where your drill sergeant will do some "character building" corrective disciplining, just to set an example even when everything is done correctly--even perfectly.  Just accept it and move on.

Don't be a sickcall ranger.  Sickcall Ranger - (noun)  a private that attempts to avoide PT or unpleasant training during BCT or AIT by going to sickcall and/or the TMC (Troop Medical Center) almost daily.  Yes these pitiful excuses for a private exist, and they suck!  They ruin it for those that are truly in need of medical attention.  Don't hang around Sickcall Rangers or they will drag you down.

AIT

As for AIT, the same customs and courtesies for NCOs and Officers apply, so no need to belabor the point again.  At Fort Lee, you will be living in what we call "TRADOC Land" aka strictly by the book.  Army Regulation reign supreme at  Fort Lee and you need to be in compliance at all times, in terms of proper uniform and where you are to be, AT THE RIGHT TIME.  Remember this and never for get it:  Fifteen minutes prior is considered "on time".  Arriving at or just before the time you are to report is considered late and you will be declared FTR (failure to report).  When you are FTR you may find that you have additional duty to do at your company for being late, and/or you may lose your weekend pass.  Don't be that guy!

PT is a bit more your responsibility during your down time.  You may find that PT won't be as consistent as you'd like and it will be up to you to remain fit enough to pass your PT tests.  

If the number of people carrying STDs could be illustrated on a map at Fort Lee, you'd see a the post lit up in red for people that are burning.  Don't be that guy that got it on with the loose female [or male] while away on pass at the hotel.  It happens and it's embarrassing.  

Now because Fort Lee is so by the book, do all that you are told as much as possible because for whatever reason they love issuing Article 15s to privates who just can't get right. lol

At AIT you will have an NCO assigned to you as your Platoon Sergeant, however, you will have fellow student leadership over you as well who literally carry--to a degree--the same authority as your NCOs.  Listen to them, even when you want to beat them, kill them, shoot them down range, etc.  Yes, student leadership can take their power to their heads and abuse it.  That's okay, get them fired. If you think you can do better, speak up.  Every company has a comments box [or at least they should] where you can anonymously address an issue.  I'm not kidding.  If you don't like something, speak up!

Do all of these basics and you'll be golden.  But let me leave you with the best advice of above all.  Grow a HUUUUUUUUGE amount of patience and humility.  AVOID taking things personally.  When you're punished by smoking, consider it the most merciful thing to have happened, because there are worse forms of punishment that are hard to recover from let alone reverse.  

That's all I can think of right now.  ...actually there's more, but I don't want to overwhelm you nor ruin the surprises IET has to offer you. LOL! I pray the best for you and If you have any questions, feel free to email me at godavidstrong@gmail.com.

Take care!

-David

On self-rankteousness

You will inevitably meet folk of higher rank who are drunk beyond return on their own--what I call--"self-rankteousness". No regard for respect of the human being in the uniform, what a person has done, nor the soldier's effort to do good have worth nor meaning. Cold hard obedience is all that matters, even if what is demanded of you bares no coherence in reality, and sacrifices the subordinate soldier at the altar of power tripping or in some cases, genuine hate. If you run into the self-rankteous soldier described above, escape if you can. If you run into a soldier who constantly beats their chest and declares, "I don't give and fuck" then by all means run in a direction opposite him/her!! That is probably a red flag. Otherwise, as much it depends upon you, be at peace with him/her.

In the extremely short time that I've been enlisted, I have run into many of the end result of what some "drill privates" aspire to and eventually become: self-rankteous douchebags! The endless mind-games, and abuse of one's rank and authority to satisfy...whatever it is that fuels their strange sense of "respect". Usually a grossly diminished sense of integrity.

Finally, you don't have to like nor inwardly respect who is over you, but they will demand respect for that little piece on their chest. It's okay, give it to them outwardly. Let their ego and insults go, though it be difficult and acquiesce is all I can say. But never kiss ass for nobody. Even if you are thrown in the front leaning rest, use your hate for their wrong as fuel to push and stand your ground within.

It is beyond naïveté to think that all soldiers have good intentions, and vice versa. Apply the board of education to the seat of knowledge seasoned with wisdom, patience, charity and the sheer will to persevere. Shun the self-rankteous douchebag!

Saved from CQ Duty

I am really happy to have been relieved from CQ duty for a second time. But allow me to briefly explain the first relief. My post about the mass punishment has a happy ending. I reported for duty and was relieved after arriving because I stepped up to volunteer to stay for duty after the CQ sergeant relieved the gaggle of males she put on one shift. Integrity goes a long way.

As for this evening I was relieved because one of my battles were caught by the "courtesy police"...I think that's what it's called... doing the wrong thing while on pass today. And another decided to do what he wanted and not show for CQ duty. So when I reported for CQ duty at 2145 for my 2200-2400 shift I was relieved after about 40 minutes into the shift because the two screw ups were assigned in my place for the rest of the night.

Future and current soldiers in training, do not forsake integrity and do not hesitate to volunteer when an NCO or officer calls for volunteers. Don't cut corners. Do every job to the best of your ability even when a drill sergeant or sergeant isn't around. Be a leader because your peers are always watching. Even the staunchest screw ups will at least acknowledge your level of integrity.

Day 9: Finally woke up at 4:30am

Day 9: Last week I set two alarms two begin waking me at 4:30am. Today I finally woke up when the alarm sounded. Prior to this morning, I was sleeping soundly through the alarm blaring in my room until I'd finally awake some time after 6:00am sometimes 8 or 9:00am even. Suffice it to say, the whole point is to get used to being jarred from my sleep at 4:30am.

Changes to Basic Combat Training

Some of the changes to Basic Combat Training were recently reported on army.mil on July 19, 2010.  It's not entirely new news, but I think it's worth mentioning here.

Here is a quick outline of what was said in the article:

1. Contrary to what some believe, BCT is allegedly tougher rather than softer.  
2. Training has been extended from nine weeks to ten weeks.
3. Rifle marksmanship is more extensive.  Soldiers fire 500 rounds during basic combat training and certify as part of the Combat Field Fire phase.
4. New instruction has been added to teach soldiers to fight from their feet, rather than wrestle and grip on the ground.  The time spent in combatives is now 22 hours.
5. There is no longer an IV "stick" any more.  Soldier's used to learn to literally insert an IV into a human being (personally I had issues with the thought of this.  I'm glad to see it go.  I'm NOT afraid of blood nor needles, I'm afraid of the amateur sticking me with the needle and vice versa.  Hello!).  In general, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and Combat Lifesaver (CLS) have been updated.
6. Physical training has been updated and standardized.  It has been suggested by soldiers in the combat that long runs, repetitive sets of pushups and sit-ups, and volleyball games aren't' really releven to "training the right muscles and energy systems needed in a fight."  So the FM 21-20 is being replaced by the TC 3.22-20 and will be available as an app (I'm assuming iPhone and Android app) in August of this year.  Sweet, but too bad I won't be able to utilize the app, as I'll be in BCT receiving this this very new training.
7. No more bayonet assault courses against rubber tires, but lots more pugil and combatives against a thinking opponent. Bayonets haven't been put to use was 1951.  If I recall correctly that was shortly after the start of the Korean war.  Wowza!  I didn't even EXIST. lol
8. Expanded values and culture training.  What that means is more time and instruction will be devoted to the seven Army Values in combat, garrison and off-duty time.  The Army has really been pro-active about keeping up with tech and social media trends and has created a "Soldier Blue Book" iPhone and Android app for soldiers before and after BCT.  Every soldier, however, gets a physical copy of the book at BCT of course.  But the great thing about the app is that you can download it now for free and begin learning.  You can download the iPhone app here or the Android app here. 
9. Training soldiers as "tactical athletes" where training will be supplemented with physical therapists and athletic trainers to prevent injuries and ensure better conditioning.  Also a new program called "Soldier Refueling" will be initiated to teach soldiers to develop good nutritional habits.
10. Drill Sergeants have been training in Resiliency Training and new soldiers will be taking the  Global Assessment Tool to help build a support base for promoting soldier's mental health. 
11. And as mentioned before, the Army has jumped head-long into the social media area and has already begun utilizing it to connect and get feedback from soldiers and soldier's families.

via www.army.mil