Ten Ways to Prepare for Basic Training:
- Be Mentally Ready
Get it in your head that this is not going to be a cakewalk. It will take hard work, discipline and all around toughness on your part to graduate. Prepare to be intimidated by your training instructors and to do menial, even degrading chores.
- Set Up Ways to Stay in Touch
One of the hardest things you will deal with is homesickness. To ease the ache, make pre-addressed and stamped envelopes to your loved ones. This way you won’t waste valuable writing time on addressing the envelope. Encourage your loved ones to write. Also, try out phone cards. Purchase a few and see which one works best for you. Some have long procedures and are not as easy to use. Again, you will not want to waste your phone time punching in numbers.
- Label Your Belongings
Write your name on all of your belongings, yes, exactly like you did in elementary school. There are going to be a lot of people in a small space. This will help decrease disputes and stress. Take a magic marker with you to label the things you are issued.
- Get a Checking Account
A checking account will make managing your finances easier. More than likely your check will be directly deposited into your checking account. You will be ahead of the game if you are already have yours. All you have to do is bring a blank check with you. Also, make sure you get a bankcard.
- Wake up Early
Usually, you will be going to bed at 9 p.m. and getting up at 4 a.m. If you live on the East Coast and you are going to be in basic on the West Coast go to bed at 6 p.m. and get up at 1 a.m. at least three days prior to basic training. It will be a rough transition but doing this prior to basic will be one less stressor when you are there. You don’t want to add jet lag on top of everything else.
- Study Beforehand
Recruiters give new enlistees material that they are expected to learn during basic training. Do yourself a favor and study this material before basic training begins. Knowing your branch's history, how to make your bed with hospital corners or practicing how to iron your creases will save you time and stress. Tutorials.com has a step-by-step diagram of how to make a bed with hospital corners
- If You Smoke or Chew—Quit
Tobacco products are not allowed during basic training. It may be months before you have any access to them because they are not allowed at the training schools you may go to after basic training. Quit a few weeks beforehand and go through the early withdrawal symptoms at home. You don't want to add to your discomfort while training.
- If you snack, quit.
Snacking is also not allowed. There are three square meals a day and besides water, that’s it. This might not sound like such a bad thing. However, chances are snacking is not just a habit but an addiction. Cut out snacking for at least a week before basic training. You will have a lot of pressures and changes. It will be easier to deal with them if you are concentrated on your snack addiction.
- Arrive in Shape
Being physically fit before you begin your training will make it easier. Check the charts below for your service branch's physical fitness requirements and make sure you can accomplish every item. Not passing your initial tests can delay your graduation.
- Army Physical Fitness Test
- Army Weight Requirements
- Air Force Physical Fitness Requirements
- Coast Guard Physical Fitness Requirements
- Marine Corps Physical Fitness Requirements
- Navy Physical Fitness Requirements and Weight Requirements
- Navy, Coast Guard or Marine Corps—Know how to Swim
While the Coast Guard doesn't require you to know how to swim, it is to your benefit to perfect your stroke beforehand. Recruits that can't swim take special swimming instruction, where they can expect to be pushed harder and treated worse than recruits who don’t need this swimming instruction. The Navy and Marine Corps require recruits to pass certain swim tests, and they will be discharged if they fail them.
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