From: Mike Sheumaker <mikes@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Basic Training
Organization: NCR Corporation -- Law Department
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 15:22:54 GMT


From Mike Sheumaker <mikes@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>

These two pieces of advice are the best advice you will get. Can't be
emphasized enough. I'll try to give you a rundown on BCT (from memory.
C co. 18th Training Battalion 4th Tng. Brigade 1978) Ft. Knox. KY.

Bus pulls in to Ft. Knox. WOW, look at the tanks! Check out the
marching companies. Don't see anybody being beaten or whipped. Stops at
the Reception Station. Biggest, meanest looking SOB I've ever seen
climbs on the bus and tells everybody to file off the bus and take a
seat in the reception hall. People slowly start to move. Big, mean SOB
starts yelling, tossing suitcases, shoving people off the bus. We get
sat down, and another Drill Sergeant explains what will happen at the
Rec. Sta.. Then they pass around a "Contraband Box" that you're
supposed to put any contraband (drugs, weapons, pornography) in, no
questions asked. DO NOT try to keep any of this stuff. A full body and
belongings search follows.

Of course, at the USAREC (U.S. Army Reception Station - get used to
many, many acronyms), you get uniforms issued, HAIRCUTS, shots,
paperwork processing, PAY, etc.. Usually you will be in USAREC for 3-4
days. Our group was there a week. After in-processing all day, they let
you off for the night. There is the PX, movies, and phone calls home.
RECSTA kins of lulls you into a false sense of "Hey, this Army stuff
ain't bad."

Then comes actual BCT (Basic Combat Training). You "meet" your
platoon's Drill Sergeants. They dumped all of our stuff out of the
duffel bags for "inventory". Believe it or not, some dumb asses lost
things. Drill Sergeants went ballistic. Long march fron USAREC to your
platoon's AO (Area of Operations).

Now that you are actually in BCT, the real fun begins. Nothing like a
screaming lunatic banging on a garbage can lid with a metal spoon at
4:00 AM (oh, forgot- 0400 hrs.) You had to have your feet on the floor
by the time he got to your bunk. Real drag for the first couple of guys
by the door.

The first two weeks are spent on learning how to march, do all those
nifty military things like Right Face, About Face (try not to fall on
your face), and so on (I think this stuff is called the Manual of Arms-
can't remember). Platoon drills like Column Right/Left, Counter Column,
and the dreaded Double Time. Oh, this is all usually done with weapon-
M16A1 then. All in combat boots.

The second two weeks are spent on rifle marksmanship, weapons assembly
and cleaning, throwing grenades, and if you are lucky, firing a LAW
(Light Anti-tank Weapon). This is really the fun part of BCT. By now,
the platoon resembles something like a military formation, so the Drill
Sergeants are not on your ass so bad.

Third two weeks are used for combat-style training. Land navigation,
squad manouvers, individual combat skills. A trip through the Combat
Skills Course. Obstacles, firing weapons in a "realistic" tactical
environment, gas attacks (CS-commonly known as teargas), and
out-processing. When it's over, a person really feels like they
accomplished something.

Spaced in the 6 weeks are the following activities:
  Constant, daily PT (physical training) push-ups, sit-ups, running.
  Actually, the running is called "the Airborne Shuffle." Not too bad.

  A trip to the gas chamber for a "Protective mask confidence
  exercise." Go in, (CS again) with mask, see that the mask really
works, then unmask so you KNOW there really was CS in the chamber.
There is.

  KP. No explanation needed.

  A weekend off, called Family Weekend. Your folks can come see how the
  Army turned you into such a nice young man.

  Inspections. Wall lockers, Dress Greens, general barracks, etc..

And lastly, essential rules for BCT Success.

  1. Never call a Drill Sergeant "Sarge", or "Drill."
  2. Never call a Drill Sergeant Sir. ("SIR?!?!? SIR??!?! Hey asshole, I work for a
  living.")
  3. Keep your mouth shut. 
  4. Eyes and ears open at all times. (Don't fall asleep during classes.)
  5. Salute everything with shiny stuff on their collars. 
  6. Remember, it's only six weeks. The real Army is NOT like BCT.
     They can't kill you, or hit you.

Have fun.

Mike Sheumaker  Cold War Veteran. Two overseas tours. Best damn Spec 5
the Army ever had :-)

>while you are there. If you are in reasonable physical shape and like
>to run you got it made. Because you are going to be running a lot and
>doing hundreds of pushups. The  drill sargents are not going to shoot
you >and they'll call you names you never even heard of. Most of boot
camp >is mental. They'll mess with your mind all the time. Best thing
to do >is always remember it is only a mental game. Hope this helps!  >
>Jeff > >PS.  I hated boot camp, then again everyone does. 8-) >-- >
Jeff Jones  AB6MB         |      If we do not succeed, >
jeffj@seeker.mystic.com   |      then we run the risk of failure.  >
Infolinc BBS 415-778-5929 |      Vice Pres. Dan Quayle >



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