Any Veterans or Currently Enlisted Soldiers/Marines?

JustinWatts

JustinWatts

Joined
May 26, 2012
Messages
423
Hey everyone, I'm enlisting for the US Army soon and I would love to hear some of your experiences. Tell me what branch you served in, what you got out of it and all of your experiences from Basic Training/Boot Camp to active deployment? It doesn't matter what branch, what position or how long you served, I want to know more about life in the barracks. Funny stories? Scary stories? Lifelong friendships/memories?
Thanks everyone,
Justin
 
Its an expierence like no other, I was in the army basic is well basic , don't be the all star but don't be the gomer Pyle of the class either. The less attention from the drill sergeants the better. Life in the barracks can get interesting to say the least after basic that is. As far as friends I still keep in touch with a lot of folks I served with. All in all it was best expierence of my life and I wouldn't trade it for the world RLTW, where are you going and what's your MOS?does do everything your told to the best of your ability and Don't quit ever.good luck and thank you for ur futurebservice
 
Allen R. said:
Its an expierence like no other, I was in the army basic is well basic , don't be the all star but don't be the gomer Pyle of the class either. The less attention from the drill sergeants the better. Life in the barracks can get interesting to say the least after basic that is. As far as friends I still keep in touch with a lot of folks I served with. All in all it was best expierence of my life and I wouldn't trade it for the world RLTW, where are you going and what's your MOS?does do everything your told to the best of your ability and Don't quit ever.good luck and thank you for ur futurebservice
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Thanks for the response, Allen. I've read in multiple places to keep to yourself during Basic; I guess it's true, haha. I'm planning on going infantry 11b. Not the safest position, but someone's got to do it. Two more quick questions as well if that's alright, are you taught the fighting technique JW Bulldog in Basic as you are in Boot Camp? And what are the nasty MRE's I should look out for? Thanks again.
 
11b ur gonna love benning, u want to make friends with other recruits but don't kiss the drill sergeants ass by no means a DIs jib is to make u from citizen to soldier if he does it right ull never know if he liked u or not.
 
If your going for hand to hand combat training your going for the wrong reasons bud.
 
I was in the USAF from 1963 to '67. I imagine that boot camp is a lot different then back then. Expect to be yelled at....a lot. Don't take it personally.

Life in the barracks? During basic, you won't have time to even think about it except for maybe Sunday when you might get time off for church if you're
so inclined. Forget about privacy.
 
DI s will give u task impossible to complete, just stay motivated and never ever ever quit.
 
Infantry Marine here, 2002-2008, fought in both battles of Fallujah. I obviously can't comment on Army basic, but as everyone has said just keep a low profile. If they know your name, that's a bad thing. Life in the barracks is an experience like no other. We were constantly drunk and having huge platoon vs platoon wrestling matches; it was nothing out of the ordinary to be walking outside and see a chair or other piece of furniture come flying down from the third floor. In 2003 during a hurricane, a drunken lance tied a sheet around his neck and attempted to fly from the 2nd story; shortly after another drunken Marine was attempting to car surf on top of a friends moving jeep in the parking lot- they hit a telephone pole and kncoked out the power for almost 2 days. Those are just a couple examples of my experiences in the barracks. We lived 4 men to a very small room, yours might be different. The army has a bigger budget so I would assume nicer barracks. Enjoy this experience and good luck to ya.
 
BigBert said:
Infantry Marine here, 2002-2008, fought in both battles of Fallujah. I obviously can't comment on Army basic, but as everyone has said just keep a low profile. If they know your name, that's a bad thing. Life in the barracks is an experience like no other. We were constantly drunk and having huge platoon vs platoon wrestling matches; it was nothing out of the ordinary to be walking outside and see a chair or other piece of furniture come flying down from the third floor. In 2003 during a hurricane, a drunken lance tied a sheet around his neck and attempted to fly from the 2nd story; shortly after another drunken Marine was attempting to car surf on top of a friends moving jeep in the parking lot- they hit a telephone pole and kncoked out the power for almost 2 days. Those are just a couple examples of my experiences in the barracks. We lived 4 men to a very small room, yours might be different. The army has a bigger budget so I would assume nicer barracks. Enjoy this experience and good luck to ya.
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That sounds awesome haha, thanks for the reply.
 
Its fun it really is basic is all mental bro, sure they are gonna yell and scream at you, but its worth it. Its a badge of honor like no other , just do everything with the quickness and realize that the drill sergeants are giving you impossible tasks to test your stress level. IMO boot camp is a walk in the park, you want a challenge go to rip , I think its called rasp now, life in battalion is well its a trip to say the least. You actually look forward to deployments to get away from training all the damn time, any branch of service is going to change the person you are and you will excell in everything else in life after the military...just remember stay motivated at all times even if u getting smoked be happy as hell your getting torture lol oh and don't tell anyone ur birthday, you'll learn what making it rain really means...lol
 
Listen and learn. I reported to Fort Benning in the early '80s. The importance of listening and learning hasn't changed in the intervening three decades. Then when you get to your first unit assignment, listen and learn.
 
Shoot me an email n I'll tell u more bout being a combat soldier this is not the place for it...Also know this, when you get to your unit you are still the new guy, Even the guys that are same rank as you you are still the new guy , so act accordingly, show some respect, especially if the guys have been or are just coming back from combat, chances are your gonna be doing some b**** work, But just do it and don't ask questions, they will soon come to accept you.. Have you signed a contract yet or just thinking about it ?
 
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I think of my experiences in one phrase from the Timex watch commercial in the 70's and 80's...it (I) take a licking and keep on ticking...
 
I went to USMC bootcamp in San Diego, CA in March of 1987. I was 20 years old. The head games didn't bother me too much. Maybe I was a little more mature than some? There were guys in my platoon that took bottles of Motrin to get kicked out. USMC bootcamp at the time was 3 phases. The first was the worst. They screwed with you in every way possible to break you down. Then to field training and rifle range. And then you were into 3d phase, and almost to graduation.

If you really want to be infantry, more power to you, and far be it from me to judge in any way. I was in electronics, and later computers. I'm sure there are infantry guys that go on to be successful in life. But truly, if you want a skill that transfers back to the real world more lucratively, you might think about this. It's easy to be gung ho when you're young, but think forward. Me, having been in electronics/computers, wish I had been more gung ho and done more shooting and blowing stuff up! Maybe the grass is always greener.

To answer your MRE question, and a funny story at the same time..............it's obviously been a while and I'm sure the menus have changed. Heck, I used to like the dehydrated beef and pork patties in the old, old days!! But I was at an op in Yuma once upon a time, and having my chow mein MRE for lunch. Got to the bottom of the main course, and pulled out a spoonful, and there was a big (huge) black fly in the meal. That was the last MRE I ate!

The last piece of advice is not my own. Before I left for bootcamp, a friend of the family talked with me. He had been a forward observer in the Corps in Vietnam. Two things he told me before I left - 'Never volunteer for anything' and 'It's better to be a live coward than a dead hero'.

Good luck!
 
usmcdjb said:
I went to USMC bootcamp in San Diego, CA in March of 1987. I was 20 years old. The head games didn't bother me too much. Maybe I was a little more mature than some? There were guys in my platoon that took bottles of Motrin to get kicked out. USMC bootcamp at the time was 3 phases. The first was the worst. They screwed with you in every way possible to break you down. Then to field training and rifle range. And then you were into 3d phase, and almost to graduation.

If you really want to be infantry, more power to you, and far be it from me to judge in any way. I was in electronics, and later computers. I'm sure there are infantry guys that go on to be successful in life. But truly, if you want a skill that transfers back to the real world more lucratively, you might think about this. It's easy to be gung ho when you're young, but think forward. Me, having been in electronics/computers, wish I had been more gung ho and done more shooting and blowing stuff up! Maybe the grass is always greener.

To answer your MRE question, and a funny story at the same time..............it's obviously been a while and I'm sure the menus have changed. Heck, I used to like the dehydrated beef and pork patties in the old, old days!! But I was at an op in Yuma once upon a time, and having my chow mein MRE for lunch. Got to the bottom of the main course, and pulled out a spoonful, and there was a big (huge) black fly in the meal. That was the last MRE I ate!

The last piece of advice is not my own. Before I left for bootcamp, a friend of the family talked with me. He had been a forward observer in the Corps in Vietnam. Two things he told me before I left - 'Never volunteer for anything' and 'It's better to be a live coward than a dead hero'.

Good luck!
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Thanks! I can't wait to mess around with my Platoon, haha. I want to become a police officer after my service so infantry will serve me well. Good luck to you in your future endeavors!
 
Give you some short and sweet advice my father gave me probably already been said but. Keep your eyes open your mouth shut and do what your told. And I'll add have fun .
 
I was army, Basic was a lot easier than i expected, its physically demanding sure.. but its more mental then anything. There is yelling, cussing, spitting, and a few of us got punched in the stomach once or twice, they are not suppose to hit the privates, but i was grateful my drill sergeant cared more about turning us to soldiers than following the rules. which in my opinion get softer and softer each year. MREs are not all great but its food and when your hungry the taste is not the most important thing. After basic if you go to a state-side duty station its pretty much a regular job with some exercising in the morning. Deployments are different for everyone and i dont really like talking about mine, but you take the good with the bad, despite my injuries i wouldnt trade my service for anything in the world, im proud of my scars.

The worse part of basic to me was the gas chamber... that was no joke HELL. I thought i was dying, the gas was burning right in front of us and the smoke was so thick you could barely see your hand. They make you say your name/rank/social... but you dont get passed your name, once you breath that CS gas in you will feel like your going to die. You will be ok in the end, but there is nothing i can say that will make it any easier... IT SUCKS.

Oh yea one piece of advice... We were not allowed any type of sweets during basic.. But one day the drill sergeant told everyone they could have 2 bowls of ice cream.. Now after about 5 weeks of hell, we all ate that ice cream like it was the best thing in the world.... If your drill sergeant does this, just say your lactose intolerant. After the ice cream they made us down 2 canteens of water in less than 5 minutes and then run until every single person that ate ice cream has thrown up.

Ok lets get to some of the fun stuff, plenty of people will tell you the bad and "responsible" stuff but there is a lot more to it than just that. Obviously it will depend on your unit... but if its anything like mine...You will get the opportunity to see and play with some awesome stuff, if your single you will party harder than you ever imagined, in the barracks just imagine a frat house on gameday... damn near every day. We would drink like fish, go after girls like they were going extinct, and fight together as brothers. You form bonds as strong or stronger than blood, you might argue and even fist fight others in the barracks at times, just like brothers do at home, but the moment anyone else threatens any of the team... you become 1 and fight till you drop. You will have some of the best and worse times of your life, but the memories and bonds you will form will be everlasting.

I wish you luck, dont put too much worry into basic. as others said just keep your nose clean, mind your own business, and never quit and you will do fine.

Thank you for your decision to serve.
 
worldwood said:
I was army, Basic was a lot easier than i expected, its physically demanding sure.. but its more mental then anything. There is yelling, cussing, spitting, and a few of us got punched in the stomach once or twice, they are not suppose to hit the privates, but i was grateful my drill sergeant cared more about turning us to soldiers than following the rules. which in my opinion get softer and softer each year. MREs are not all great but its food and when your hungry the taste is not the most important thing. After basic if you go to a state-side duty station its pretty much a regular job with some exercising in the morning. Deployments are different for everyone and i dont really like talking about mine, but you take the good with the bad, despite my injuries i wouldnt trade my service for anything in the world, im proud of my scars.

The worse part of basic to me was the gas chamber... that was no joke HELL. I thought i was dying, the gas was burning right in front of us and the smoke was so thick you could barely see your hand. They make you say your name/rank/social... but you dont get passed your name, once you breath that CS gas in you will feel like your going to die. You will be ok in the end, but there is nothing i can say that will make it any easier... IT SUCKS.

Oh yea one piece of advice... We were not allowed any type of sweets during basic.. But one day the drill sergeant told everyone they could have 2 bowls of ice cream.. Now after about 5 weeks of hell, we all ate that ice cream like it was the best thing in the world.... If your drill sergeant does this, just say your lactose intolerant. After the ice cream they made us down 2 canteens of water in less than 5 minutes and then run until every single person that ate ice cream has thrown up.

Ok lets get to some of the fun stuff, plenty of people will tell you the bad and "responsible" stuff but there is a lot more to it than just that. Obviously it will depend on your unit... but if its anything like mine...You will get the opportunity to see and play with some awesome stuff, if your single you will party harder than you ever imagined, in the barracks just imagine a frat house on gameday... damn near every day. We would drink like fish, go after girls like they were going extinct, and fight together as brothers. You form bonds as strong or stronger than blood, you might argue and even fist fight others in the barracks at times, just like brothers do at home, but the moment anyone else threatens any of the team... you become 1 and fight till you drop. You will have some of the best and worse times of your life, but the memories and bonds you will form will be everlasting.

I wish you luck, dont put too much worry into basic. as others said just keep your nose clean, mind your own business, and never quit and you will do fine.

Thank you for your decision to serve.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing man, that's exactly what I'd imagined it to be. Only thing I've been confused about is the gas chamber; do they use tear gas and do they make you take off your mask and breath it in? I watched a YouTube video of the USMC gas chamber and all they did was put the masks on and wait for a couple minutes. Thanks.
 
Yes you have to take your mask off and breath it in, thats why they make you say your name/rank/social.. because if you are talking your breathing it in, if you try to hold your breath... well they would slap us in the stomach to make us breath.

The gas is CS gas

[video=youtube;1DwMmA0ZLYA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DwMmA0ZLYA[/video]
[video=youtube;hBZgPNK4-8s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBZgPNK4-8s[/video]
 
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