Don't want to be a buzzkill, but I really kinda do. I want you to know that everything loses it's luster as soon as you roll through the front gate. There's a lot of fun stuff in Basic, but the Army has a great way of making fun stuff stupid. The Convoy Live Fire will be two days of BS to ride in a truck for 20 min and shoot stuff, but it's still worth it. I put off medical treatment for a severely inflamed eyebrow to do that one.
The coming months are going to suck more than anything you've ever done, but always remember it's all with a point, and remember that everyone here is pulling for you. If it didn't suck it wouldn't prepare you for anything. People around you will quit. They'll find "medical" excuses.
Always place the mission first.
Never accept defeat.
Never quit.
Never leave a fallen comrade.
Absorb every piece of knowledge they throw at you, no matter how small. It can and will save your life, or the life of your buddy. Never forget that you're training for war. Come to view corrective counseling as an opportunity for extra PT. It's all about what you make of it in your own head.
Don't hide in the shower room when you're supposed to be freezing your butt off outside. That'll bring bad things.
If you don't already have Airborne School in your contract, get it. Bust tail and you can probably get a slot. You won't regret that.
Try not to get an idiot partner on IV day.
In the gas chamber, just hold your breath till you get your chinstrap on and have everything secured. Then you won't have to do it again.
My breakfast strategy for maximum consumption:
Get biscuits and gravy. Their bacon is turkey and lame.
Sit down and start shoveling eggs. While you're chewing, chop the biscuits to make it easier to start shoveling those next. Proceed to the biscuits. Drink water only to wash down. You'll have time to finish all the water at the end. Once biscuits are completely secured in your digestive system, proceed to fruit or oatmeal to fill in as many cracks as possible. Sometimes I'd even get a little bit of french toast in, but without syrup it's really hard to put down quickly. By this time they're screaming at you to drink your water and get out.
Elapsed time: 2-3 min.
This is how I'd start the day off right.
Peanut butter from the MREs is golden, especially when you're not allowed the candy or cookies. Beware the Jumbalaya.
Don't ever screw around on a live fire range. This is one of the only times a DS can put hands on a recruit, and they relish the opportunity.
Drink water.
Say Hi to Ft. Benning for me. It's a nice place.
Try to visit the new Infantry Museum on parents day. I'd love to see pics on these forums!
If they try to send you to Ft. Polk, seriously consider pulling a Klinger. OK, not really, but good luck with that one!
Keep strong and it'll be over before you know it, crossed rifles on your collar and blue cord on your arm. Then to patch on your shoulder. Let me know if there's anything else I can do!
