Posted on Apr 29, 2018
Is basic training in the Army the same no matter what fort you go to?
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So I've heard that basic training is the same (as far as what you learn or how hard it is) wherever you go (Leonard wood, Benning, Sill, Jackson). Then I've heard others say that basic is harder at Benning or that it is harder at Sill than the other forts. So is basic training different, easier, or harder depending on which fort you go to basic at or are they all pretty much the same?
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Basic Combat Training (BCT)PVT
Basic Combat Training (BCT)PVT
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“Hard” is in the eye of the beholder. There will be people that tell you Ft. Jackson was brutal. In fact, soldiers wash out of BCT there every cycle. There will be people that tell you Ft. Benning is a a cake walk. In fact, soldiers graduate from BCT there every cycle.
Anywhere you do basic, you’ll eat three times a day, you’ll get yelled at a lot, and you’ll run and do push-ups. Youll do BRM. You’ll get out of it what you put into it. It’s easy in a lot of ways. You never have to ask why. Do what you’re told, when you’re told... cant go wrong. Realize that basic training is a big mind game, designed to keep you stressed out. For the first few weeks, nothing you do will be right. Period. One fun game they might play is as follows. They’ll give your platoon outlandish tasks to complete. For example, “you all have 9 minutes to change into PT gear. Bring 3 black pens, a notepad, your 2-quart, and an extra short sleeve t shirt.” Your 40 person platoon will scatter like ants, and 21 minutes later, maybe half will have gotten the mini ‘packing list’ correct. “Ok you barbarians, half right, face. Front leaning rest position, move”
After a hearty little smoke-sesh, you’ll start again. The DS will give a new list and new uniform. Repeat this process. And heaven help you if somehow miraculously your platoon returned under the time limit in the proper uniform with all the mandated items. “Well good golly shit! You privates obviously have too much free time.” Then prepare for an impossible task with an impossible time limit.
Situations like these are designed to get acclimated to working under stress. Not freaking out under stress. Accepting the commands of superiors without questions, even if they seem ridiculous, under stress. In week 5 of the Army, you’re being told to change into stupid uniforms, and perform seemingly ridiculous tasks. But that’s laying the mental framework so that eventually, when you’re in year 5 of the Army, and you’re being told to kick in a door or told to go man the OP for a few days, you do it without question.
I have a hunch there might be a few responses like, “ back in my day...”. “Benning is way harder...” “relaxin Jackson..” etc. but again, no matter where you go, the APFT standards are the same Army wide. 53 push-ups in Oklahoma are the same as they are in Georgia or South Carolina. But you get out of it what you put into it. If you want it to be hard, it’ll be hard. If you want it to be easy, accept the fact that it’s going to uncomfortably suck, and make it as easy as possible. Shut up, do what you’re told, take advantage of the free personal training you receive, and learn as much as you can. The Army wants you to succeed. Do what your Drill Sergeants say, and you most very likely will.
Anywhere you do basic, you’ll eat three times a day, you’ll get yelled at a lot, and you’ll run and do push-ups. Youll do BRM. You’ll get out of it what you put into it. It’s easy in a lot of ways. You never have to ask why. Do what you’re told, when you’re told... cant go wrong. Realize that basic training is a big mind game, designed to keep you stressed out. For the first few weeks, nothing you do will be right. Period. One fun game they might play is as follows. They’ll give your platoon outlandish tasks to complete. For example, “you all have 9 minutes to change into PT gear. Bring 3 black pens, a notepad, your 2-quart, and an extra short sleeve t shirt.” Your 40 person platoon will scatter like ants, and 21 minutes later, maybe half will have gotten the mini ‘packing list’ correct. “Ok you barbarians, half right, face. Front leaning rest position, move”
After a hearty little smoke-sesh, you’ll start again. The DS will give a new list and new uniform. Repeat this process. And heaven help you if somehow miraculously your platoon returned under the time limit in the proper uniform with all the mandated items. “Well good golly shit! You privates obviously have too much free time.” Then prepare for an impossible task with an impossible time limit.
Situations like these are designed to get acclimated to working under stress. Not freaking out under stress. Accepting the commands of superiors without questions, even if they seem ridiculous, under stress. In week 5 of the Army, you’re being told to change into stupid uniforms, and perform seemingly ridiculous tasks. But that’s laying the mental framework so that eventually, when you’re in year 5 of the Army, and you’re being told to kick in a door or told to go man the OP for a few days, you do it without question.
I have a hunch there might be a few responses like, “ back in my day...”. “Benning is way harder...” “relaxin Jackson..” etc. but again, no matter where you go, the APFT standards are the same Army wide. 53 push-ups in Oklahoma are the same as they are in Georgia or South Carolina. But you get out of it what you put into it. If you want it to be hard, it’ll be hard. If you want it to be easy, accept the fact that it’s going to uncomfortably suck, and make it as easy as possible. Shut up, do what you’re told, take advantage of the free personal training you receive, and learn as much as you can. The Army wants you to succeed. Do what your Drill Sergeants say, and you most very likely will.
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CPT William Jones
I took basic at Ft Polk in Summer 1964, Ocs Ft Benning in summer 1965and officers Basic Course Ft Belvoir in Spring1966. I enjoyed and had a blast at each and every one. Couldn't understand al the bitchen others were doing. But am glad I don't have to do any of it again.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG Jon Hill - Basic training is nothing but a game. Just like it was in the 70s. And back then, I’m willing to bet there were a bunch of crusty Korean War vet Drill sergeants who were telling you how easy you had it, because in their day, meals consisted of piss, vinegar and rocks. That’s just the nature of the Army.
If you can explain to me how a 12 mile march was longer in the 70s as opposed to today, I’m all ears. If you can explain to me if 100 degree heat and humidity in the summer of South Carolina or Georgia was hotter in the 70s as opposed to today, I’m all ears. If you can explain how hitting a target at 300m with iron sights was more difficult in the 70s as opposed to today, I’m all ears. Etc.
Now, have certain methods changed and evolved over time? Of course. That’s the same reason those grizzled Korean War Vet Drill Sergeants said the same thing about training in th 70s. And guess what, old Crusty WWI vet Drill sergeants said the same thing when training joes to go to WWII.
Basic training is one big game. No, not monopoly or shoots and ladders. But it always has been, always will be. You get yelled at, eat quickly, do PT from sun up til sun down, and a bunch of necessary, albeit ridiculous, stupid shit in between
If you can explain to me how a 12 mile march was longer in the 70s as opposed to today, I’m all ears. If you can explain to me if 100 degree heat and humidity in the summer of South Carolina or Georgia was hotter in the 70s as opposed to today, I’m all ears. If you can explain how hitting a target at 300m with iron sights was more difficult in the 70s as opposed to today, I’m all ears. Etc.
Now, have certain methods changed and evolved over time? Of course. That’s the same reason those grizzled Korean War Vet Drill Sergeants said the same thing about training in th 70s. And guess what, old Crusty WWI vet Drill sergeants said the same thing when training joes to go to WWII.
Basic training is one big game. No, not monopoly or shoots and ladders. But it always has been, always will be. You get yelled at, eat quickly, do PT from sun up til sun down, and a bunch of necessary, albeit ridiculous, stupid shit in between
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG Jon Hill - excellent response. Well thought out, and equally well written. Allow me to reply in kind.
Per your request, I read your profile again. I don’t see any new information added in the past hour or so. It’s still interesting, nonetheless.
Now, to your point. That’s how a discussion works. One person asks a question or makes a statement. Then they stop to listen (or read) to what the other person says (or writes).
So yes, in order to make the discussion flow, I had to (to use your term) be all mouth. I wasn’t being rude or remotely disrespectful. I was explaining my perspective as I see it. And I wrote that I was all ears as to your thoughts on my perspective. (To which you didn’t even reply. I’m still all ears).
Rather, you said you weren’t anonymous or an internet tough guy. As my profile is anonymous, I can infer that you’re calling me an internet tough guy. Negative. I didn’t think I was trying to come across as one. But if the subject of how tough basic training is really upsets you so badly, directly message me, and we’ll figure out the details of when and where we can see who’s tougher.
But that’s stupid and childish. Rather, I’m more curious as to your opinion on the questions I originally posed to you. By angrily deflecting, the implication is that you might not like your own answers.
To answer your question, no, I was never a Drill Sergeant. That’s a god awfully frustrating job that I never had the privilege of doing.
Again, I’m still all ears, eagerly awaiting a response. But having reread your profile, it looks like your father and I have something in common. We both have more BSMs than you. I’ll tack this question on to my original list. Are his BSMs more bronze than mine because they were earned in WWII and mine Afghanistan?
I have no desire to go all FB troll war. If that’s what you’re looking for, just direct message me, and spare the group.
I genuinely look forward to your response.
Oh yeah.. Sarge.
Per your request, I read your profile again. I don’t see any new information added in the past hour or so. It’s still interesting, nonetheless.
Now, to your point. That’s how a discussion works. One person asks a question or makes a statement. Then they stop to listen (or read) to what the other person says (or writes).
So yes, in order to make the discussion flow, I had to (to use your term) be all mouth. I wasn’t being rude or remotely disrespectful. I was explaining my perspective as I see it. And I wrote that I was all ears as to your thoughts on my perspective. (To which you didn’t even reply. I’m still all ears).
Rather, you said you weren’t anonymous or an internet tough guy. As my profile is anonymous, I can infer that you’re calling me an internet tough guy. Negative. I didn’t think I was trying to come across as one. But if the subject of how tough basic training is really upsets you so badly, directly message me, and we’ll figure out the details of when and where we can see who’s tougher.
But that’s stupid and childish. Rather, I’m more curious as to your opinion on the questions I originally posed to you. By angrily deflecting, the implication is that you might not like your own answers.
To answer your question, no, I was never a Drill Sergeant. That’s a god awfully frustrating job that I never had the privilege of doing.
Again, I’m still all ears, eagerly awaiting a response. But having reread your profile, it looks like your father and I have something in common. We both have more BSMs than you. I’ll tack this question on to my original list. Are his BSMs more bronze than mine because they were earned in WWII and mine Afghanistan?
I have no desire to go all FB troll war. If that’s what you’re looking for, just direct message me, and spare the group.
I genuinely look forward to your response.
Oh yeah.. Sarge.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG Jon Hill - fair enough. If you change your mind, I’m still all ears. Best of luck to you, my friend.
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PVT (Join to see) It does not matter. Your experience will be different than someone else's. Have a good attitude, listen closely and be observant, help your fellow recruits, and put forth maximum effort. Do these things, and you will be fine.
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Yes and no. There are differences, but the training is essentially the same. To highlight a difference, I went to Benning and my brother went to Sill. We had to dig ranger graves and fox holes, he didn't. They had some rule about not disturbing the environment for whatever reason. Also he had females, I didn't. Though I understand that has changed. I can tell you, you don't want to be in Benning in January, the suck is unreal sitting in that cold. That said, Sill in winter isn't much better. It's all flat land, nothing to block the icy wind.
Doesn't matter where you go, push hard, keep your head on a swivel, do as instructed, and drive on through it. It's difficult but only as hard on you as you make it on yourself. Tell yourself you can do it and you can. It's meant to suck, and they all suck differently, and they all suck the same.
Welcome to the Army.
Doesn't matter where you go, push hard, keep your head on a swivel, do as instructed, and drive on through it. It's difficult but only as hard on you as you make it on yourself. Tell yourself you can do it and you can. It's meant to suck, and they all suck differently, and they all suck the same.
Welcome to the Army.
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PFC (Join to see)
CPT William Jones - no the suck isn't a marine thing its in all branches except the chair force
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