Advice for a future Super Trooper
A blogger friend I know has a son who just went through MEPS. Now the kid won’t ship out until next July, so plenty of time. His Dad is obviously very proud of him, but there are tricks I think to basic training like all other things. I already told him that if the kid isn’t a total fatbody (which he isn’t) that focusing on PT is kind of silly, the Marines will do that. For me, looking back, it was the little things you can do before basic that make it easier. For instance, knowing the phonetic alphabet and shit like that. I also told him to get a copy of the Ranger handbook, and to at least read through it.
But was looking to make the kid a cheat sheet of stuff he could look through before going. So, thinking back to your days in basic, what things could you have learned before you went. Stuff like SPORTS, land nav, damn near anything.
Advice on what a kid should know before he goes?
(I also told him to show up with a haircut, wearing REALLY non-descript stuff.)
Category: Politics
PT, PT, PT!!!!! Get the PT standards for the branch and work at doubling them. The last thing the Drill needs is some half informed kid causing issues within the Platoon. American Military History stood me in good stead but that was over thirty years ago…. And as an old Army NCo, I wish him the best!
Cruachan!
Tell him to enjoy himself and stay out of trouble until he ships out.
Do some PT at least five days a week and to grow the mental toughness to know that whatever is said to him is done for a reason, it’s not personal. The mental piece is the hardest for most. Once you accept you’re there and you can’t speed up time, you need to adapt so you enjoy yourself..that’s when you find you’re actually learning what you’re supposed to.
Once he actually gets there, hit me up, I can check on him from time to time with his DIs, if you’re interested.
….oh, and don’t be the problem child the DIs zoom in on during the first weeks. It’s OK to be one of the herd at that point. The less they know your name the first few weeks the better off you are. Trust me on that.
Thanks a very quaint attempt hulk, but you forced it. See, some of us, well, me not you obviously, can go out drinking at Itz until 3 am, bang your mom silly over the hood of a chrysler, hit up Denny’s for a Grand Slam Breakfast, roll back in 5 mins prior to the PT test and rock out a 300. You on the other hand apparently spent the bulk of your time working only on the right bicep. I’m not saying it didn’t work, but you must have wasted a shit load on hand lotion and wetnaps.
How’s your mom by the way? Last time I saw her she was walking away trying to get her belt hooked up again and complaining that I was too big.
Show up with a positive attitude and the rest will follow.
And stay cloaked.
Made it all the way to 3rd phase before surfacing.
Then the fun and games began.
Hahahahaha thats awesome TSO
I think it’s pretty fair to say it’s correct that TSO has NEVER had to worry about PT or being extremely fit. He was BORN that way.
He was, in fact, born so extremely fit that he made Hercules weep with envy, because he knew that TSO could not only CUT the Gordian Knot — he could also UNTIE IT blindfolded with both hands tied behind his back, using only one big toe.
Show up wearing only the clothes that you absolutely need, and nothing more. Clothes that you are willing to donate or throw away. You won’t need civilian clothes until much later, and you will have a different body shape then, so you’ll be buying new stuff anyway.
In fact, I wouldn’t bring any cash, my wallet, etc. Just bring whatever ID they want you to have and nothing more.
Start jogging/running. The first week, do 1 mile a day. Week 2, go for 2 miles/day. Week three, 3 miles/day, etc. Good, steady pace, not a sprint.
Otherwise, put 30lbs of weights into a backpack and start walking. 1 mile/day the first week, 2 miles/day the 2nd week, etc. Endurance more than strength. Mental as well as
physical endurance.
Find someone at the recruiting station from the branch of service he joined, and have THEM teach him how to make a bed the way THEY want him too.
That’s about it from me. The one thing I did for my son was to write a nice letter to him every week, more if I could. Make it supportive, GOOD news from home. Leave out anything difficult or such as he’ll have enough on his plate to deal with without worrying about crap from home. BUT……. there’s nothing like getting a letter at mail call. Saddest things I ever saw were the guys who never got squat. Let him know you’re still thinking of him.
I wrote letters to my son on my PC. I have arthritis wicked bad in my hands and holding a pen or pencil for anything more than a couple sentences is painful. Anyway, this way I was able to keep copies. I have them on a separate folder, as well as hard copies, and sometime down the pike, when he has a son that’s going to enlist, I’ll give HIM those copies. Connections. It’s a good thing. 🙂
Jonn,
You need to check out your facebook page ASAP. Looks like someone hacked into it.
@54 The only 300 you ever got in the Army was when they weighed you.
Careful, skulkingmangie-act. You’re picking on someone twice your size.
You should pick on me. I’m only half your size in height.
TSO has a fan..
fuck advice. just do it the best you can.hell,,i never received any advice when i was in my momma’s womb and made it to 55yrs thus far!
Be ready to say Yes Sir. Also be ready for lack of sleep and also be a team player and not a individual. Take the good with the bad. Follow the orders that are given and you will be fine. Oh yea do not question the orders given, just carry them out.
What #35 and others said upthread: do NOT give him training with AR15. The guys that had the hardest time qualing on the rifle range were the ones who had shot all their lives and had been doing it “wrong”. Let the PMIs handle his marksmanship, they’re they best out there.
B Wood
SGT USMC (retired)
I’m surprised and disappointed.
None of you guys cared enough to share the super duper, number one secret of all?
Well, I care, so here it is.
Have the youngster contact all his friends and establish a schedule with them. They should all get in touch with the mom or dad of the youngster 3 days or so after he ships off in order to get his mailing address.
Then, once a week, he should receive a box of cookies, female undercloths, a cake or some other morale boosting item.
Boot camp is a lonely time. He’ll do best if constantly reminded of the home and life he left behind.
@66: Female Underwear and a cake?
Be physically fit – for endurance rather than strength, as has already been noted.
Be mentally prepared to put up with anything that comes from the DI’s. If you end up being singled out for “abuse,” take it as a compliment, for instance.
Be intellectually prepared by knowing some stuff, like GO’s and military history, BUT share that knowledge sparingly when you get to basic. Helping others study might be OK, but appearing as a know-it-all is never OK.
Agree with all who say to be careful about learning too much technical stuff which must be relearned. And agree with all who say to aspire to anonymity, especially during the first few weeks.
Arrive at basic with an attitude of being there to soak up knowledge and experience, getting prepared for the next phases of training, and doing whatever it takes to learn as much as possible.
Here’s what I haven’t seen yet; Learn the maximum effective range of an excuse; ZERO Meters!
Pay attention to detail.
Yeah, I know, this’ll sound trite and be a bit late, but here goes:
–If he’s an iiS (HS Senior) pass ALL your classes. You do NOT want to be a DEP attrite for fail to grad.
–YOU, not your recruiter, should be initiating the contact by phone once a week, and showing up at the DEP meetings wherever possible.
–DO NOT, under any circumstances, get yourself into a position where either parents or the po-po will be frowning upon your conduct. Underage drinking is an especially big no-no.
–DO try to give your recruiter some referrals. Nothing like showing up at basic as an E-2 or even E-3 based on that alone. Even other-service referrals count.
–After basic, try to learn a little bit about the area you’ll be doing AIT/school or your ultimate duty station, if you know where you’ll likely end up. Nothing worse than showing up the week after boot without a friggin clue of what to do/where to go.
–As soon as you get orders to your ultimate duty station/unit, don’t be afraid to write/e-mail your command. Hell, they might even answer, and your being proactive certainly doesn’t hurt your standing in their eyes.
–Get a bank account through a major bank or credit union, and have that, a voided check, and your ID. Get the direct deposit set up while you’re there and you can avoid the huge ATM fees from going to a non-member bank.
And what everyone else said. PT, but not too hard, study General Orders, service history, rank/rate structure, etc.
Do not pass the Drill Sareant on your daily. My Grandson and was smoked badly for it. Couple a platoon of Rangers in full battle rattle passed his platoon at faster pace. The rangers so impressed him , he spoke to DS about it. Next time the Rangers passed them, his DS gave gave a order he run with them and he better finish. He did and he feeling it at the end he was was end in PT uniform. I think he might apply for Ranger School after Medic Training. Do your best and point DS will smoke you just to test your mental and psyhcal Strength. Joe
Grimmy (@66,)
If this kid gets cookies, cake and underwear in the mail the Drill Instructors will destroy him.
Learn his general orders.
Do Everything they tell him in DEP.
Get in Great shape.
Learn Ranks.
Learn to eat veryfast and every thing on his plate.
Learn to make a rack.
Keep a posistive attitude
Lots of good advice above. I’ll add to it…memorize The Rifleman’s Creed.
The three General Orders, of course.
1. Do What You Are Told
2. Do What You Are Told
3. Do What You Are Told
Carry On.
There are only three answers to questions:
Yes, sir
No, sir
No excuse, sir
@72:
Way to Snowden!
There was a life lesson in there. Don’t ever trust what you read on the innernets!
The best advice I got was from my sister who enlisted three years before me: Keep your head down and mouth shut. If asked a question, answer it to the best of your ability. The yelling starts on day one and ends on graduation day. DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY!!!!!! Everyone gets yelled at.
Don’t draw attention to yourself – don’t be a dumbass, but don’t fly under the radar too low.
We had a kid in our platoon (Skjolas was his last name) who went un noticed until almost the completion ofthe 3d phase (RFTD was wrapping up, and we were getting our mail one night in the Microwave (a giant mountain on Pendleton).
Skjolas’ name was read out loud, took his mail, and the DI’s were sorta perplexed. “Who the fuck are you?” asked the Sr. DI. “Recruit Skjolas”, came the reply. “Where the fuck did you come from?!” “This recruit has been with the platoon since pick-up day.” The other DI’s went bonkers. The next day, coming down the hill will all our gear, Skjolas was carrying a rather LARGE rock, holding it underneath and as close to him to keep from dropping it… which the DI’s had spray painted gold, and carryied it down the mountain with him to deliver to the Senior DI as “rock award”. When we got to the base of the mountain, Skajolas was ordered to report “There’s gold in them thar hills, Senior Drill Instructor!” Funny shit.
Don’t be the first or last one off the bus when he gets to boot camp.
I think there are a lot of great ideas here. Although, @8, I’d advise against taking tobacco products. I’m pretty sure they’ve completely banned the use of tobacco products in basic, so he’d either get them confiscated, or risk disciplinary action for selling them to others if he was caught.
And I agree, don’t stand out in the crowd.
My wife has two stepsons from a previous marriage that she still stays in contact with. When one was graduating jump school at Fort Benning, the other was in the middle of basic training, also at Fort Benning. So my wife, in uniform (a major at the time) decided that she wanted to stop by his basic training company to leave a little note for him. Well, they were cleaning weapons, so the drills actually let her see him for a few minutes. What were they going to do? Majors in a basic training unit are virtually nonexistent. But after she left, well, let’s just say it didn’t end well for one young recruit. Except for his upper body strength, of course, which all those push-ups he had to do for seeing mommie certainly improved.
And I, well I refused to get out of the car . . .