What to Expect During Army Basic Training

Basic training is challenging. It is during basic training that drill instructors do everything in their power to turn average citizens into thinking soldiers with the ability to protect themselves and their fellow soldiers in the worst of circumstances. Regardless of which of the five branches of the armed forces is chosen, there are a few things across the board that all recruits can expect.

Physical Challenges

Physically, new recruits can expect to be challenged--especially during the first four weeks as their bodies adjust to the new regimen. Every single day of boot camp recruits assemble before dawn for physical training. This includes a brisk run, push-ups and sit-ups. Additionally, throughout the day drill instructors make recruits pay for mistakes by commanding them to do more push-ups. As there is a large amount of new information to ingest, mistakes are frequent. Obstacle courses also occur regularly and often involve climbing, rappelling, crawling through thick mud with razor wire above and gunfire popping loudly just above that. To further motivate recruits, drill instructors sometimes wake their platoons at 2 a.m. to run them through a starlight version of these obstacle courses. At the end of boot camp, recruits are required to pass a physical examination that includes a timed two-mile run and a maximum number of push-ups and sit-ups within a minute each. Failing these tests means being "recycled" in military jargon, a sort of purgatory that must be endured until the test is completed satisfactorily. Beyond this, there are guard duty shifts to contend with and the fact that everything that is done during basic training is done as fast as possible.

Mental Toughness

Mental toughness will become a necessity. From day one, recruits will be ingesting a huge amount of new information. Examples include classes on weapons, drill instruction, inspections, field-training exercises, and enemy soldier, vehicle and aviation identification. Couple this with a strict, often brutal, physical regimen, and the result is much higher levels of pressure and stress. Finding a way to work clearly in spite of these issues is what may very well save a soldier's life during combat.

Individualism

In a combat situation, a soldier who decides to take a nap because he is tired and doesn't want to pull guard duty is likely to get everyone around him killed. This sort of individualism is considered quite dangerous, understandably, and is no more welcome during basic training. Recruits are taught in a number of ways that looking out for themselves will mean punishment for everyone. In this manner, the platoon is more likely to look after one another. During weapons training, this means that each squad meets before bed to discuss how to rally together should a group of drill instructors attempt to steal a sleeping recruits weapon. During inspections it means that everyone in the squad checks everyone else's gear to make sure it is up to standard. Drill instructors further establish this idea by making everyone in the platoon pay for any one person's mistake, usually in the form of a very strenuous physical activity. This, in turn, has a way of making the recruits look out for each other so they can avoid that pain.

Chemical and Biological Warfare

Chemical and biological warfare plays a significant role in a new recruit's training. Soldiers are taught to identify such attacks, how to alarm others in their vicinity and protective measures to be taken. Usually this means operation and sealing of gas masks as well as donning, safely removing and disposing of chemical suits. Nerve agents are given some attention, and instruction in self-administration of antidotes is covered. Lastly, soldiers will be asked to enter a room without gas masks and inhale tear gas.

Inspection

Cleaning everything that doesn't move will become a regular part of life. Inspection is a big part of basic training. Bathrooms, barracks, foot lockers, uniforms and boots are all polished to the point of crumbling. Everything has a place in the military and there is no room for clutter. Expect planned and surprise inspections. Also, a big part of the larger inspections is competition between platoons. Winners generally only receive bragging rights, but in basic training this translates to power.

Weapons

Weapons and fight training will be a considerable part of basic training regardless if you are or aren't in a combat unit. Depending on the branch of service, recruits can expect to be trained in a variety of weapons including rifles, handguns, grenades, machine guns and sometimes anti-tank weapons. Hand-to-hand combat also plays a part of training and will include bayonet and hand-to-hand skills. With weapons training, much emphasis is placed on respecting the weapon and its dangers, and that it should never be out of hand. During bivouac it is common practice for drill instructors to attempt to steal recruits' weapons while they sleep. If they are able to grab one, the consequences are unpleasant and often involve a very long night of physical exertion.