Leaving for Benning 1/2/2018

[TEB]

A 18 year old kid he lives up the road from me. He leaves Tuesday and he is worried, I took him in yesterday to get a replacement driver license and we stopped to have lunch. And the questions started he is scared of the unknown. And I get it I was in the same bag on a crowded bus from Atlanta on a hot and humid night June 1984. Heading into a big uncertainty thinking why did I volunteer for this will I be able to make it. So I told the future trooper no horror stories some guys get into scaring new dudes. I told him we got to reception and these reception DRILL SGTS. Took over and they kind of got us into a formation. And we marched to this mess hall and they fed us two cheeseburgers and fries.

And then they put us into the bunks around 0200 and I laid thinking well this is it. And at 0330 they were waking us up now I’m thinking what 90 minutes of sleep if that. Then they marched us to breakfast so I’m thinking ok at least they feed us I only been in the army less than six hours and I’m getting meal number two. So his one concern was brutality from the Drills. I said nope doesn’t happen only hands ever laid on me was maybe to get your rifle straight in close order drill when your learning. I said you will be with the finest NCO the army has infantry Drills. And yes you will fuck up but you will find you will not be the only one. And usually punishment is to the whole training platoon not the individual.

That gets you to learn as a group son shine. I then told him a story first aid training and we were practicing and I tied this pressure bandage around this dude and I stood up. The Drill comes storming over now I’m thinking he is going to be checking out my fine work of battle dressing a simulated sucking chest wound. I told young mister that I soon found out I was wrong and that I was just shot by a simulated sniper. And the whole platoon was in front leaning rest with me. I tried to get him to relax just by humor. I said you will be fine in one door as a dirty nasty civillian 16 weeks later out the exit door as a soldier.

[democrank]

1. Glad you were able to help this young man, TEB.

Such a giant step.

~PEACE~

[TEB]

2. Oh I guess democrank

He is a good kid and reminds me of me at 18. Six foot 130 pounds all legs and arms. And being scared is natural he made me smile yesterday starting with the questions. I said if I can make it you will have no problem. because I was a 18 year old ass clown with my head in my four point of contact. And yesterday he asked do you mind if I order another cheeseburger I said nope go ahead and then he ate two pieces of pie eat now in relaxation I thought.

[Scarsdale]

3. 18 seems so very young.

Facing the world. He will make friends, but hopefully he will stand tall. Please let us know when he comes home on leave. Update us to the changes. Thanks for giving him advice. He seems to have accepted all you told him.

[TEB]

4. Thank you

Yes he will be ok and make friends you kind of learn to cling to each other for salvation in benning and then beyond at permanent party. He is coming over today to hang out he asked if he could stop by I said absolutely trooper. I remember coaching him in little league baseball, and I’ve seen him grow up. He was hit by a fast ball once as a young man and I still joke with him about how flaky he was at like 9 years old. I’m ok coach and the ball would come and he would step out away from it.

[samnsara]

5. i would be scared as well....glad you were there to help him.

[marcopolo63]

6. Its about the mind games...

I went through Army basic in ‘86 as a 23 year old and loved the time I spent there and on active duty. But those first 8 weeks are truly the most memorable I think as a personal accomplishment of strength and fortitude.

TEB If you can tell that young man to just remember at all times, no matter how tired and physically exhausted he may be - that it’s his mental strength that will get him through the most grueling training activities. From the long, forced marches, to the foxhole digging, to low crawling under barbed wire while under fire, or having CS gas canisters tossed his way - his mental toughness is what will help the most! The Drill Sergeants are there to bring the physical and mental strengths in soldiers out and to help shape the soldiers to become Army material! We all have it inside us - and the sooner a soldier knows it, accepts it and goes with it, the better basic training will be.

[TEB]

8. Absolutely I filled him in

He has asked if he could stop around today and he actually just text me if we were up. He has quit his job and his mom is at work so I text come on over I’m on shutdown with work till 1/3/18. And wife is on vacation the boys are on vacation from middle school. So he has a lot of anxiety about his upcoming adventures I figure we may go and shoot some straight pool with our two 13 year olds today. Keep him busy I told wife hey I may take him to the strip club I’ll just get grouch Marx glasses so the boys look older. I got a look from my wife of 31 years on that idea.

[mercuryblues]

7. He will find out what he is made out of

Tell him to get as much education as they offer. They have a class on something, take it whether he needs it or not. He will get promoted over those who don't. Promotions=better pay. Volunteer for job openings when they are a move up. Pay attention to the rules and orders. Nothing pisses of a superior more than not following orders. Whether he decides to stay in or leave when his term is up what he learns will help him move upwards.

[TEB]

9. Thank you friend

He is here hanging out his mom is working. And he quit his job so he has free time and does not want to be alone. So he does not have to I told him will stop around his place get some clothes because his mother is on like two day shift at hospital. And he can crash here he is well terrified of his choice and I feel for him. But I once again told him many men and now women have made osut infantry so let’s stop with the worrying. And enjoy these couple of days I worry because life today in infantry platoon and Afghanistan or possibly Korea. He may find himself in tight spot but we’re going to hang out today and tomorrow.

[HAB911]

10. LOL, Sand Hill alumni here!

Rode a train from Roanoke VA to Basic at Sand Hill, AIT Ft. Leonard Wood, then Korea, and back to Benning in the 197th for a year. Sand Hill was ok except when the Drill Sgt made someone jump out of the 2nd floor window, or climb a pine tree to find a pineapple, LOL

He'll do fine

[TEB]

11. Exactly he is worried over nothing

I told him come April will be laughing about this. I told him keep your sense humor you’ll need it and it kept me going through harmony church.

[marble falls]

12. I went in on Feb 3, 73 and the very first thing I learned the first night - do not volunteer for...

smoke watch. The next thing I learned was three nights later - do not volunteer for snow watch in Great Lakes in February. In fact, outside of battle stations, do not volunteer.

Life got good, I squared away and enjoyed my hitch in the USN.

[DashOneBravo]

24. Never volunteer

Is a good thing to remember. But it also depends on what it is, sometimes it works out for the better

[marble falls]

26. Never ever but never volunteer in bootcamp. There are no Brownie points in Boot Camp. and precious..

few out in the fleet.

[DashOneBravo]

27. Gotcha. Yeah never in initial training

[RVN VET71]

13. Just a happy observation about changing times

If there had been an internet and a DU when I went in in '68, the comments page would have been on fire with negatives and there would have been some seriously vitriolic back and forth between the "pro-military" and "pacifist" factions. It's a relief to see everyone supportive of what this young man is going to experience.

My own story: My company (D-10-5, if you must know, the best damned company on the post!) D.I. gave us all hell for not putting out sufficient effort. He didn't beat on us, though, but reminded us that we were "in training". I still remember feeling tickled by that, "in training", like a jock trying to get into shape. It actually motivated me. I got out of Basic (Ft. Knox) went on to temporary duty at Ft. Jackson (I call it "temporary" because every one of us knew we were heading to Vietnam), then 'Nam, then home. On the trip from Travis AFB to SF Airport, we were advised to change into civilian clothes.

[DashOneBravo]

25. I think it was because

Of your generation that it’s like that today.

I grew up in an Army family. So I think it’s good that the public knows more about the small percentage of those who serve. Especially what families go through while people are deployed. Or how families with loss or watching news reports when you hear 4 killed. And you start doing the process of elimination. What post, what unit, which battalion? Do I know someone?

Most people are not aware that happens

[Glorfindel]

14. I astonished myself at Fort Benning, May through July 1966 (Yes, I'm older than dirt)

Twenty years old, bookish, never played any kind of sports, never expected to get drafted, but I did. I discovered that I could run, crawl, jump, dodge, and do push-ups almost as well as anyone else, and I took to dismounted drill like a duck to water. Growing up in the southern Appalachians, I was already a good shot, so that came in handy. I don't have any "pleasant" memories of Harmony Church, Ft. Benning, GA, during an exceptionally hot summer, but to tell the truth, I'm glad I was forced into it. I found untapped reserves of strength and ability that I had never even imagined I possessed.

[TEB]

15. Yes

I agree I went through in summer of 84 harmony church hot as your testicles melted young troop is here today I jokingly told my wife maybe he is into absorbing something off this 51 year old turd.

[Botany]

16. Sounds to me that the young man is very lucky to have you as a friend.

Please tell him to keep his head down and volunteer for anything that
might keep him out of combat. Tell him that we now expect updates
on how he is doing too.

Thanx for your service and help with the young man.

[TEB]

17. Thank you

Problem is benning is all combat MOS. but he is here today on visit I said hey let’s go batting cages.

[DashOneBravo]

18. Ah Sand Hill

I went in the summer too. Road so hot it would blister your hands when you were doing push-ups. That's the first place I learned about prickly heat.

It's great you are helping him and not scaring him. One thing I tell guys is that whatever "abuse" they encounter usually has a purpose. Like low crawling or 3-5 second rushes in a field. They are trying to teach you how to survive. That's just the training. These guys who are Infantry are at some point going to be in combat. So it's a serious business.

Tell him don't be first and don't be last, or a problem child. He'll do fine hopefully.

[TEB]

20. Exactly I been telling him

That everything they do leads to a purpose and any abuse is educational motivation he is hanging here today. And he will be fine he is just really nervous about Tuesday he just asked if I could come to see him off at recruiting station with his mom. I’ve known him for years I said better not to have your mom see you off just say goodbye at the house and have recruiter pick you up.

[DashOneBravo]

22. What MOS is he going?

Also if he's going for Infantry. Tell him if he really wants to impress the Drills. Show up with a tattoo of crossed rifles and jump wings.

[TEB]

23. Oh man no way

Ok I’m done rolling he is 11B

[sarge43]

19. Former training instructor aka TI aka recruit wrangler aka No Neck Monster here.

Last edited Thu Dec 28, 2017, 02:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Some advice I've given youngin's about to swan dive into the shark pool:

1. Millions have done this and done it well. So will you. The odds are in your favor.

2. Those monsters want you to succeed. It's their job and it's enlighten self interest. Someday you may be steering the ship they're on, repairing that aircraft they're flying on, covering their back in some hell hole or taking care of their pay record. They want you to be very good at it.

3. The first couple of weeks are the toughest. You'll be convinced you can't make it. Then, it checks, falls into place and it all makes sense. Believe it or not, you'll probably look back and think it was kinda fun in a bizarre sort of way.

4. You will make mistakes. You will have a monster standing on your belt buckle, informing you s/he is quite disappointed in your performance. Stare at the point where their eyebrows are growing together and go to your happy place. The trick is to learn from it and don't keep repeating it. Whatever you do, do not smile. You can not win "You think I'm funny, troop?!" contest.

5. Cooperate and graduate. You can not succeed in basic or in "real world" by yourself. You're part of a unit now and when it succeeds, so will you. Sometimes that unit will be all you have.

6. Speaking of graduating. Sooner than you think you and your unit will be passing in review, taking the salute of Them What Be In Charge, and you all will come about a foot off the ground. You are now soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines or coast guardmen. Strut it. Ya done good.

7. Get all the education you can and put aside some money every month. Both will come in handy down the road.

[TEB]

21. I told him

That the Drills want to see you graduate and that he will be ok

[Victor_c3]

28. I went to basic training when I was 17

I enlisted in what they called the "Split-Op" program. You go to basic training the summer between your junior and senior year of high school, attend Army Reserve of National Guard drills for a year, then go to AIT after your graduate high school. In my case, I was awarded an Army ROTC scholarship my senior year so I ended up going that route, but at least I spend a little time enlisted.

I'm not just saying this because I'm a badass or trying to make myself sound tough, but I was disapointed by how easy basic training was. However, I fit right in. I was quiet, did exactly what I was told, I could PT with the best of them, and I had no problems with shooting. In hindsight, I wish I could go back to basic training with the knowledge I have now. I would have a hell of a fun time!

I can't make this up, but the Company Commander of my basic training company was named CPT Gilligan - and he actually failed his PT test when we were there! Years later I learned that for Officers at least, if you get a command in a training unit, you get one usually because you aren't that great of an officer. It is a career ender of sorts.

However, I will say that I was proud of myself after I completed basic training. The same holds true of when I completed nearly every other military training school I attended (the exception being maybe a stupid safety officer course or unit movement officer course I had to take).

I know I said this before, but I'll say it again. I loved nearly everything about the Army. The only part I didn't enjoy was the time I spent in Iraq. However, all of these experiences made me the man I am today. Military service or any sort of public service like AmeriCorps and the such is something I wish everyone would do. Discipline is part of it, but you also learn a lot of humility and how to treat everyone with respect and dignity. You interact with people from different walks of life and you learn to value everybody.

[TEB]

29. He I feel is afraid of the unknown

And as I told him he will be ok. It is the not knowing on his part. And feeling that way is normal, other day at the YMCA we him and our two youngest sons were shooting hoops and at the end I said rope climb. Come on I’ll race you to the top and he was on his way down as I just touched the ring. 51 years old to his 18 and then he beat me in pull ups. So I said see your in shape just relax a lot of it is all mind games.