I appologize for the double post, but I just wanted to sincerely thank all of you for your support. I’m new to the boards and you are proving yourselves to be an outstanding community.
A word of advice from most everybody in my family, and mrAru -
It may sound dumb, but firstly, take advantage of any educational fund savings plan offered, in addition to the free/ultra lw cost uni credits you can snarfle up. You can end up out of your hitch with a basic degree and have the funding for a masters with careful planning. They have educational advisory personnel who will make it their lifes work to get you educated if you show the slightest bit of interest and geniality 
Secondly, put something away into the credit union savings account you are going to start [ IIRC you pretty much have to have some sort of bank account to get paid nowdays, the days of drawing pay in cash or check is pretty much long gone] even if it is $50US a pay period. Keep it at that level or higher and never touch it and you will have a nice nest egg for when you actually get out. You can have enough after a goodly career that you can frequently buy a house in many areas … 10 years at $50 a week is 13000, not counting any sort of interest 
Thirdly, I know living on base can suck, but don’t be too fast to get offbase and a grlfriend. If you do get a GF/SO … be very careful about how much she infiltrates you life and finances … back in the day when I was just dating the first mrAru there were some girlfriends the guys on the boat had that I did overhear talking about cleaning the guys out the first time they went away on a cruise. There are women who want nothing more than to marry some guy who will be going away for long and short periods of time so they can have access to more cash than living single provides. Wait a while before you add her to the bank accounts …
June, '92 - Oct '93 Only got one article 15 the whole time
HooAH, and all that Drake.
As mentioned earlier, don’t expect to go online during Basic. During Basic (whatever the service) you ain’t got no life. Once you’re at AIT is a different deal. And of course, Monterey is one of the Army’s primo desirable locations (though if you’re a family man, the housing situation has historically been absolutely nuts).
Definitely ask your recruiter for any published guides and info about what’s coming up – the stuff on GO’s and identifying proper rank protocol doesn’t hurt ( a simple one to remember: the man/woman in The Hat is always “Drill Sergeant!”, never “sir/ma’m” nor plain “sergeant”). Check out also the Army’s website, they do have info available on what to expect. Of course, a word to the wise, whatever it is that you brief or prepare yourself for ahead of time, however official-looking the source, be aware that the right answer will be the one the DS will tell you is the right answer. “Ears and eyes open and mouth shut” is an old but usually reliable guideline. But go in with a positive attitude and it should be done with before you realize it. Heck, if even a complete nerd like me got through…
BTW, Rysdad, a passage from Basic @ Ft. McClellan, 1985:
(Random PVT): “A Ten HUT!”
(Drill Sgt. 1): “A Tin Hut? What Tin Hut?”
(DS2): “Who the hell lives in a doggone Tin Hut?”
(DS1): “Must be some Marines here, they’re the ones who still live in Tin Huts”
(DS2): " Do you see any Tin Huts around this post, Drill Sergeant 1?"
(DS1): “No, Drill Sergeant 1, this looks to me like solid cinderblock construction to me. Could use some fixing up, though…” :mad:
I’m not military but look into USAA. I don’t know what the membership requirements are now–it was started by a group of officers so it might still require being an officer, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they opened it up to anyone who has enlisted. (I got in because of my mother.) If nothing else, they’ve got great insurance and investment products.
Heh.
I was a squad leader in basic, and the Platoon Leaders and squad leaders had to take turns marching the troops, doing dismounted drill, etc. On one occasion, I had my squad fall in, go to ‘at ease,’ and then called them back to the position of attention by saying, “Ah-Ten-SHUN!”
The DI gave me one of those looks while slowly shaking his head signifying something like: That was the most pussified command I ever heard.
After that it was more like, A-[sub]tin[/sub]-HAH!–just like they did it.
Come to think of it…I wonder how much the marching cadence songs have changed since I went in back in 1971? I imagine they must be somewhat different since we weren’t “co-ed” in those days. I wonder if “Jody” still “got your Cadillac,” if “two old maids” still lie in bed, and if they still don’t care if “napalm sticks to kids?”
Thanks for joining. As for basic. Get out there and run now. Be able to run 2 miles before you go (think you have to do 1 in 8:30 before you leave for basic). Get the PT scoring chart from the recruiter. Try to get to 60s in each event before you leave. One of the big parts of basic is the physical training. If you are already in shape it makes it easier.
Other things to do before you go.
Get a smart book / brain book / IET Handbook from your recruiter. Learn it love it. It will be the only reading material you will have at basic.
Learn the ranks. Enlisted, Officer, and Warrant.
Learn Drill and Ceremony. At least left/right face. About face. etc.
Keep repeating to yourself it is only 9 weeks.
During basic I kept thinking what have I done. Now that it is over it wasn’t that bad. Going to Benning? Say hi to the Stairway to Heaven for me. Also to the “Three Kings” You will learn about those on your road marches. I did my basic at Benning as well. Was B Co 2/47 INF.
As to the internet you won’t have access till just before graduation. Then it will be expensive and slow. I would wait till you get to AIT or atleast off post after graduation to get online.
Welcome to the Army. Have fun, and time will fly.
About the cadences. I recognize all but old maids one. We sung em at basic and AIT.
- PFC Otanx
I would like to add my Thanks as well. Many here appreciate what you are doing. Very Much.
Couple of tips:
It is not a “Gun”- it’s a weapon
When the man in the hat addresses you, it’s “YES SARGENT!” NOT “Yes Sir”. It may be a reflex so practice this one.
I only scanned the previous posts so if these were mentioned please forgive.
Good luck and keep us posted please.
Ah to be young again! I wish I could do it all over again. Best of luck with your career.
Really? I’d-a thought that one would still be around.
Two old maids were layin’ in bed,
One rolled over to the other and said,
"I wanna be an Airborne Ranger,
“I wanna live a life of danger.”
If you’re in the Army, it’s, “Yes, Drill Sergeant!” unless things have drastically changed.
Another basic training anecdote…
Our platoon’s DI, Drill Sergeant Johnson, was one squared away, hardass, strack trooper whose glance could maim at 30 paces. About three weeks into basic he started playing a game called “Jody is now in the area!” It was just like Simon Says, but Jody was Simon. Now, imagine that you have been deeply indoctrinated, day and night, for three weeks to instantly respond to a DI’s commands. Then he does something like:
“Jody says, A-tin-HAH!” “Jody says, Right Face! Jody says, Forward March! (pause) Rear, March!”
Now, since Jody didn’t order Rear March, you were supposed to keep marching straight ahead, but I’ll be damned if half the platoon didn’t immediately execute Rear March and create one huge OD Green clusterfuck.
The penalty for screwing up was only 10 pushups as opposed to the usual 25, but I know Jody contributed at least an extra hundred to my push up total.
Whoa, guy, you are in for a ride! I was at the language school in Monterey too, from 1974 to 1975. For a girl from Kansas it was wonderful, I could see the ocean from my barracks window! Hear sea lions barking at night, when all was quiet.
Things will have changed I am sure, but I loved the whole area. Fantastic food all over, always something going on. It can be expensive, but you don’t have to have a lot of money to enjoy yourself. People watching on the wharf was always cool, or digging your toes in the sand on Carmel Beach.
Do you know what language you will be getting? It was Korean for me.
I understand there is a fantastic aquarium there now, built since my time. And the old, rickety wooden activity center on DLI has probably been torn down and replaced with something more modern and less cozy.
I did my basic in South Carolina, at Ft. Jackson. Third week in I knew I had made the worst mistake of my life, but it’s wierd how fast things can change, by the end of basic I was almost enjoying myself!
If you feel like it, or have a chance, drop us an email. Or we can write, if we get your address. I’d say if you have any questions about the military to ask, but my answers would be thirty years out of date. But there’s some things about the military that won’t change, like “hurry up and wait” or the endless forms to fill out, or getting pissed at your DI.
Keep in touch.
What was your GT Score?
There is a lot of good information at www.armystudyguide.com
Study all that basic crap on the front page. Learn about those weapons, your general orders, D&C, etc. Also go to http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/Prep_For_Basic_Training/index.shtml for some specific information on Basic.
Some personal suggestions:
Don’t bring more than a backpack to Basic. You do not want to lug around extra stuff. One change of clothes is MORE than enough, and not even necessary. I’d recomment, you take a hygeine kit, the clothes on your back, and maybe a book if you like to read. That’s it! Everything you will need will either be provided for you, or you will be forced to buy it. Even if you bring running shoes, they will make you buy a new pair to ensure you are getting the right kind. They will check the arc of your foot and tell you which shoe to buy. So don’t even bring that. They will advance you 200 dollars so you can buy everything you need. The less you bring, the happier you will be. Trust me on that one!
I’m not going to go back up and find the quote, but someone earlier mentioned putting money away in savings. There is actually a better idea. I highly, highly recommend you sign up for the Army’s Thrift Savings Plan. You can do it for as little as even 2 years. It’s better than a savings account. The Army matches your contributions, and it accrues 8-10% on top of that. Plus, contributions are tax deductable. If you want to save some money to have when you get out in a couple years, or you want to career the Army and have a great retirement, either way, you will be best off with the Thrift Savings Plan. It’s far superior to a savings account.
If you’re going to be in the Army a while and you don’t have a bank that allows online banking and bill paying, get one!
Everything else you probably know or have been told. Definitely read through the homepage I linked to. Study those things. Get in shape, and just get mentally prepared. The harder you expect BASIC to be, the easier it will seem when you get there.
That’s it, I think. If you have any specific questions, or you want to ask me something to make sure your recruiter isn’t bullshitting you, feel free to email me.
Oh, that reminds me… Do you have your enlistment contract nearby? What promises has he made? Choice of Station? Fat Bonus? Choice of School?
This Part is Important. Dont get Fucked
Before you ship from MEPS, you will sign all your enlistment Documents? Or maybe you have already, but it’s not too late to fix.
Look on the front page of your DD Form 4/1. The form number is in the bottom left of the document. Part A of the form is Identification Data, Part B is Agreements. Subsection b. under Agreements is REMARKS. Anything the recruiter has promised you better be listed there!!! If not, scream and yell until it is typed right there. Nothing else counts!! Bonuses or Duty Station or any other excitement or adventure better be listed right there. Make sure he puts it there, and later, when the MEPS civilian enters all your stuff into the computer, make sure she enters all you’re promised in that subsection. Sometimes it’s not the recruiter, but the MEPS people who fuck over Joe.
Anyway, that’s the best advice I can give you there. Anything else specific, just ask. Or ask OTanx, I’m guessing he went through kinda recently.
If you haven’t been told already, Monterey is a part palace and you will have the time of your life there!
Oh, one more thing: Dont Drink and Drive, Dont Drive and Drink. Dont Swim at Night, Dress Warm in the Winter and Always Wear a Condom. Dont Forget to Hydrate!
CARRY ON.
That’s when I was at DLI too! April 92 to April 93. That’s when the Chinese course was only 47 weeks long.
I remember the soldiers and marines cheering from their barracks windows for us poor AF wretches as we struggled from our barracks round the health clinic and then up the hill again near the Pacific Grove gate during our monthly “fun run”. It was only maybe a half mile but we were always walking at the end of it. I remember even the Navy mocking us for that:). That was the last time I ever ran in the AF. After that they just hooked us up to a heart monitor and an exercise bike once a year to make sure we were healthy.
I had a blast at DLI. If you have an easy time with the course, its like a 9-5 job with a lot of drinking every night at the NCO club down the hill. I felt bad for the people who struggled learning the language though. The pressure can be pretty intense.
I thought this article did an excellent job of describing life at DLI: Overview of the Defense Language Institute.
I second the advice about saving money and using the thrift savings plan.
Along the same lines, don’t buy insurance from anybody trying to sell you insurance. They are trying to rip you off. They will present it as an investment opportunity. It’s not. Don’t even go to the briefing if you can help it.
Well, we may have had sex then! Just kidding…that wasn’t me. Let’s see, you’d be remembering when the insane Russian took command of the post.
I can’t answer your questions, but came in to wish you luck. Be safe.
Where to start? What I assume is good advice abounds!
Bear_Nenno, bluethree, aruvqan, and anyone else I forgot, thank you all for the financial advice. I have never been particularly good with money management, so the direction you all provided has definitely been taken to heart.
Bear_Nenno, I scrutinized all paperwork in advance. I came in expecting to be short-changed at every turn, so I was very careful. I have a bonus in writing and AIT as a 97E.
Otanx, thanks for all of your advice, I have to call my recruiter and pick up some of the material.
Baker, the promise of Monterey will probably keep me going through basic.
I would love to hear from any of you! My e-mail address is posted in my profile, if anyone wants a physical address, e-mail me and I’ll sand it out as soon as I have it.
To those of you that I didn’t mention by name: If you feel that I am purposely slighting you in front of all your friends by not acknowledging you specifically, you’re very perceptive.
Learn the ranks.
Show improvement - sounds silly but if you do everything perfect from the starts that’s no good either, they want you to show you are learning.
be ready to be very, very, very tired. New parent kind of tired.
:dubious:
I think there might just be a connection, here…