If you could change one thing about your 'boot camp' experience, what would it be?

SMSgt Tony Barnes — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 23:47:28 -0400

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Sep 6 at 2015 6:53 PM

SSG Leo Bell — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 18:53:37 -0400

I would have basic training go back to they way we were trained before these stress cards came out

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 1:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:08:22 -0400

Basic training should be like it is in the Marines. They have a great program. All soldier are grunts first and then their MOS.

Response by CPL Jon Wagner made Sep 9 at 2015 1:09 PM

CPL Jon Wagner — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:09:08 -0400

Healthier food.

Response by MSG Tim Donahue, M.Ed. made Sep 9 at 2015 1:27 PM

MSG Tim Donahue, M.Ed. — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:27:41 -0400

Went to Fort Benning, GA in the spring of 1982. Infantry - basic and AIT all in the same place - same drill sergeants - same bed. Graduated as an 11 Hotel anti-tank weapons crewman. Would not change a thing!!!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 1:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:29:54 -0400

Hmmm, maybe having time to not only swallow your food but to be able to chew it some first! LOL!

Response by GySgt Richard Morrison made Sep 9 at 2015 2:42 PM

GySgt Richard Morrison — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 14:42:16 -0400

Not a single thing! I noticed that all of the responders on here are from the Army or Air Force and one even recommended that all recruits go through Marine Corps boot camp and then join their respective branch of service. I don't know, what do you think? GySgt USMC (Retd)

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Sep 9 at 2015 3:03 PM

SPC David Shaffer — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 15:03:47 -0400

Basic/AIT both at beautiful Fort Benning, GA! I believe I had some of the best Drill Sergeants the Army to offer. I would have liked more emphasis in hand to hand combat. The Marines have the very best program for this training. If I would have known I most likely would have been a marine.
-Shaffer

Response by Cpl John M Dutrow made Sep 9 at 2015 4:02 PM

Cpl John M Dutrow — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 16:02:14 -0400

More Paris island 1963 the thing I would change is more range time 1mounth on the range which make it 14 weeks

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 5:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 17:34:02 -0400

I would not have fractured my right ipr.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 6:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 18:44:30 -0400

I would say the weather, but since it was FT Leonard Wood, MO.....no weather there is good.

Response by MSgt Jim Bain made Sep 9 at 2015 8:48 PM

MSgt Jim Bain — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:48:34 -0400

Started off in the Navy, you really do not want to be at Great Lakes in the winter brother!

Response by Cpl David Richer made Sep 9 at 2015 9:09 PM

Cpl David Richer — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 21:09:12 -0400

Add a week to each phase and have a yearly one month refresher.

Response by CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner made Sep 9 at 2015 10:45 PM

CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:45:38 -0400

I would be better prepared physically! Keep my mouth closed! Most importantly, stay off the Drill Sergeant's radar!!

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Sep 10 at 2015 5:10 AM

PV2 Glen Lewis — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 05:10:54 -0400

Being at Ft. Leonard Wood dead square in the middle of winter would be about the only thing I can think of and even that was probably good for me. The more effort required the better you are upon success I'd say. Every struggle has its reward.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Sep 10 at 2015 9:53 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 09:53:48 -0400

I would have went at 18 vs 19. It was where I was headed.

Response by LCpl Dan McTiernan made Sep 10 at 2015 1:23 PM

LCpl Dan McTiernan — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:23:21 -0400

I would not change a thing, other than add a bit. One of the best experiences at the time of my young life. Many times I have thought how nice it would have been to go back and get back in shape. But a bit late now.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 1:28 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:28:28 -0400

For all the other "fuzzies" to shut up at lights out so I can sleep lol

Response by SPC Thomas Hanson made Sep 10 at 2015 2:39 PM

SPC Thomas Hanson — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 14:39:02 -0400

No one is qualified to answer that question.

Response by MSgt Doug P. made Sep 10 at 2015 2:50 PM

MSgt Doug P. — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 14:50:53 -0400

Not being sick for 3 weeks with the flu after getting the flu shot.

Response by SPC Christian Valenti made Sep 10 at 2015 3:45 PM

SPC Christian Valenti — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:45:26 -0400

Butt stuff

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Sep 10 at 2015 5:08 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:08:57 -0400

Go though in spring or fall. Winters in Great Lakes suck.

Response by SPC Thomas Moore made Sep 10 at 2015 5:27 PM

SPC Thomas Moore — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:27:35 -0400

Be able to qualify with the weapon the first time instead of the second or third.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 11 at 2015 12:40 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 00:40:14 -0400

Better fitting boots.

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Sep 12 at 2015 3:53 AM

CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 03:53:19 -0400

Stop the drill sergeants from encouraging blanket parties on recruits not “adapting” to Army life. I went through Ft Benning in 1979 (Infantry) – my experience wasn’t too different than the movie “Full Metal Jacket.” The guys in my class didn’t put bars of soap in socks, they used empty LAW rocket tubes, e-tools and fists. How someone didn’t get killed was nothing short of a miracle. Regardless, these beating didn’t solve anything and every recruit who received a blanket party ended up getting chaptered out. I was 17 when I entered basic and I’ll admit it – witnessing these blanket parties was scary. Other than this, I enjoyed basic and AIT and was an honor grad (or something like that). I remember a couple other guys and myself were recognized at graduation for doing well.

Response by MSgt Joe Tafoya made Sep 12 at 2015 3:57 PM

MSgt Joe Tafoya — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 15:57:24 -0400

It would have been given a little chance to get in some kind of shape. I was drafted into basic in 1971 and was blessed with a big arse and a small chest. After 8 weeks they managed to kick my big arse up to my chest. Go Army!

Response by PO3 Bill Wells made Sep 12 at 2015 7:31 PM

PO3 Bill Wells — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 19:31:12 -0400

I went through Navy boot camp in 1963 in San Diego. I wish we could have spent more time with the BAR and Thompson - fine weapons!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 7:21 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 19:21:12 -0400

Not a single thing. My experience was very rewarding.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 15 at 2015 9:15 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 21:15:31 -0400

Nothing. It was a good experience...

Response by PVT William Bresch made Sep 15 at 2015 10:38 PM

PVT William Bresch — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 22:38:56 -0400

Not get grouped in with convicts. how that happened to me in the first place,was beyond me.

Response by PVT William Bresch made Sep 15 at 2015 10:41 PM

PVT William Bresch — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 22:41:13 -0400

Not getting grouped in with convicts. Somehow, I wound up in a platoon that dealt strictly with go to jail or go to the army. funny thing was, my D.I. , would take care of her cocaine druggy hubby at night and then take her emotions out on us. later on I found out, my recruiter was an Idiot and was just filling spots. ugh ...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 10:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 22:44:31 -0400

I can't think of anything about basic training I would change as far as the program. A good friend I made there didn't make it through because of a hip fracture I would change that if I could.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2016 12:49 AM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 00:49:08 -0400

The two weeks we spent in receiving

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made May 5 at 2018 12:04 AM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sat, 05 May 2018 00:04:17 -0400

Not that I would have said it then,but now after I’ve been out of Basic Training since 1965 and fortunately survived my three year enlistment which included an all expense paid trip to the Orient that will forever remain in my memories,not a goddamn thing.