how did you feel when you graduated basic? how did it affect your outlook?

PVT Nathan Coyle — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 21:09:43 -0400

I am writing a Conflict essay; the subject is about my time at Basic, and at the end, I have to expand the subject to how it affected others. Since my subject is on going through and finishing Basic, I would like to hear and maybe quote (cited) about some of yalls experiences with yalls Basic and the graduation thereafter.

Response by Sgt Sheri Lynn made Sep 7 at 2023 9:21 PM

Sgt Sheri Lynn — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 21:21:52 -0400

PVT Nathan Coyle When I graduated from basic, I was so proud. But more than that, I was confident that I had found a place where I fit in and could even excel. I was committed to honoring and defending my country.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 8 at 2023 9:19 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:19:30 -0400

Since I was in one of the early One Station Unit Training companies, didn't think a lot about it. The Drills came in and told us congratulations, you just completed the BCT phase, then we continued doing exactly what we had been doing before, just at a higher level and with more expectations.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Sep 8 at 2023 2:19 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:19:05 -0400

If the paper is about how basic affected you, why would you get research from other people? It's supposed to be YOUR experience. You do realize a lot of people on here went to basic decades ago right? It's changed a lot in all branches, definitely in the Army even since I went in 2004.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2023 4:49 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:49:42 -0400

If you're writing a paper on how Basic Training affected YOU....then the research source IS you.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 8 at 2023 5:05 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 17:05:45 -0400

Hello Soldier. What you are doing is very close to plagiarizing, in the sense that you intend on using others experience as your own. If it is a research paper on service members in general then what you are doing would be fine as long as you have the persons providing information for your research sign a permission/ release form. Be careful as many professors have student aides who have nothing better to do than pick a paper apart.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2023 5:30 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:30:23 -0400

I completed basic training sometime in 2008, went straight to AIT (as a Soldier does) and was home by Christmas for hometown recruiting. I think it's best not to separate AIT from the basic training experience.

As you progress through your career and adult life, you will realize that basic training was a very small stepping stone and a simple entry point. It is no less and no more than the beginning of your military life. You will feel immensely proud at first, carrying with you a great sense of accomplishment, but that quickly dwindles as your perspective and military experience increases. Each year, you will talk less about basic training, or shift the way it comes up in conversation. As you become a leader, you (hopefully) see it for the school it is, the foundational piece and building block of the force that helps us win wars and shape citizen soldiers.

The feelings we get from it are directly connected to two things that we perhaps don't think about: 1) the current conflicts the country is engaged in and 2) Your specific drill sergeants. I went through basic at the height of the war in Afghanistan. So, I was told (and rightly so) that I was going to deploy when I got tommy unit. It was a matter of when, not if. We completed alot of MOUT training and everything was done with a real sense of "this matters, this could be you". Secondly, I had a healthy mix of NCOs. Some were jerks, some were high-speed, some were incredibly kind and great teachers. All of this combined to make me feel a great sense of purpose and duty.

Response by PVT Nathan Coyle made Sep 12 at 2023 10:00 AM

PVT Nathan Coyle — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:00:53 -0400

I do not know how to correct it above and was in a hurry when I made the post, so here is some more info and addresses.
I am writing a conflict a "conflict essay" about when I did Basic, however, I am mostly doing it about how I felt in going through and finally finishing Basic. Afterward, I have to expand my essay on how the "Conflict" (Basic) affected others. I am expected to provide cited research and or quotes. With this being the case, I decided to do the research myself.

Response by SGT Frank Cosner made Sep 17 at 2023 8:55 AM

SGT Frank Cosner — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 08:55:21 -0400

Was very proud. 145 lbs. when I went in and 165 when I graduated AIT. Everyone had told me they would rush you through meals. Not us skinny guys. Drills told me to go get more food. :) Plus my assigned duty station was Hawaii and I ended up living in the same quad as my brother. I was an MP and he was a Helicopter Crew Chief.

Response by PO3 Michelle Tremblay made Oct 12 at 2023 12:37 PM

PO3 Michelle Tremblay — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:37:35 -0400

I was strong but ready to break out of there lol

Response by SP5 Skip Saurman made Oct 26 at 2023 11:27 PM

SP5 Skip Saurman — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:27:49 -0400

Well, I enlisted (early) while still in high school in January 1969 and just turned 18 the next month. I entered active duty (and therefore basic training) that summer. I just knew I wasn't ready to strike out on my own, so "Uncle Sam's Home For Lost Boys" seemed to be my best bet. The war in Vietnam was all over the news and our training basically emphasized that fact. I really didn't know what to expect - which was true pretty much throughout my stint in the service - so I really WAS one of Uncle Sam's "lost boys"!

Response by CPO Greg H made Nov 3 at 2023 5:01 PM

CPO Greg H — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:01:08 -0400

I know this isn't about your time in basic.
When I finished upwith mine it was on to my first duty station. Basic was not a big deal to me. I grew up on different bases stateside and overseas along with completing college and working before I joined up. For me I had already seen the world so it was just another step on the ladder of life.

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Nov 5 at 2023 1:03 PM

SSG Eric Blue — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 13:03:12 -0500

When I graduated BCT, I confirmed for myself that it was as easy as I thought it was going to be. But only because I had the right mindset going in. Most of my battles in BCT were lazy and had to be pushed & prodded to meet the standard.