Thinking of Joining the Military? Here Are Some Things You Should Know!

So you want to join the United States Military. I think that’s great, let me be one of the first to thank you for your service. My guess is your a little bit worried about basic training, it’s alright most people are. A few things for you to keep in mind the recruiter is not lying to you and they aren’t actually trying to kill you in boot camp.

A few tips and ideas for you to help you on your way. 90% of everything they are going to try and teach you is attention to detail. Simple right? So do what you are told, when you are told and you will have almost no problems. Do not hesitate, just do it. When they tell you things like long sleeve shirts will have the top button buttoned when hanging and short sleeves the second button buttoned they are serious so make sure you do it. Same with your shoes being laced or unlaced under your bunk. They need you to be exacting, if you cant be trusted to remember how to fold and hang your clothes why should they trust you with anything else.

The other 10% can really be broken down into a few different areas. Perseverance, don’t be a quitter, don’t give up. It may seem like they want you to, they may even tell you they want you too. They don’t though, they want to know if when things get hard your going to quit and let everyone around you down. I saw people who couldn’t run a mile but because they never stopped trying they were worked with to get them to where they needed to be. One guy even crawled the last 50 feet, he graduated with us and was screamed at almost the entire time. Another guy would stop running and gasp for air, he didn’t make it, they didn’t throw him out though just started him back at day one. That’s why they push you so hard. If you are going to break or quit they want it to be in a controlled environment and not out in the field where you could get hurt or killed and endanger others.

Teamwork is the next big thing and the faster the group becomes a team the easier everyone will have it. Many of the tasks you will have can be done in a large group with everyone pitching in to get it done. It is also the ONLY way in most cases anyone will get anything done at all. It’s set up that way, so keep this in mind. Laundry day is a nightmare at first, everything needs to be folded a specific way. If you tried to get you’re own done it would take ten times as long and then everyone is in trouble for the failure of one. If you set it up like an assembly line with the same people folding the same clothing the right way it goes fast, and each and every article of clothing is folded differently. Remember this when laundry day comes this took us the longest to get together on.

You can do this if you put your mind to it. You will do it if you stick to it. I can honestly say my time in the military was a life changing experience and all for the better. I made some great friends that I still have now 20 years later.


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