Basic Training

By May 2013, I had endured 6 month wait, took a month off work to spend with my family before shipping, and I was finally ready to get this ball rolling.  You'll go to MEPS a day or 2 before you ship.  For me it was two days.  On the first day, they do a quick physical to make sure you're still ready to go, you'll swear in and talk with the liaison one last time.  If your flight can be scheduled for the same day, you'll only have one day at MEPS.  Since I was going from Oregon to Georgia, I had to wait an extra day because of the length of the flight and the 3 hour time difference.

I arrived in the heat of Georgia, and went to the "clocktower" in the airport to meet all of the other recruits that were getting ready to go to Fort Benning.  After about a 3 hour wait, someone came to gather us and put us on a bus.  I imagined that when we got off of the bus, it would be yelling and screaming, the stuff you see in movies.  But that didn't happen (although I would experience this later).  We got off the bus gathered our stuff, and were welcomed to reception.  This lasts about a week, and is a bunch of hurry up and wait.  They can't physically smoke you, but they will take away your sleep if you screw up.  The drill sergeants here are either on their way in or on their way out of actual basic training, and most of them are bitter.

After reception is over, you'll get put into platoons, and get on one of the infamous white buses to go to actual basic training.  This is day 0.  You get to experience the shark attack, where your drill sergeants will push you physically and mentally until you understand that they are in charge, and you no longer get to make any decisions for yourself.  You'll probably also learn that even if you are perfect (which you won't be), you'll be punished for other peoples mistakes.  I won't ruin the surprise by telling you exactly what happened, but I was definitely at muscle failure, and sweating buckets.  There was a huge puddle of sweat below where I was standing by the time we were able to actually "get settled."

I was in a company of almost all 17 year old "split option" privates.  They were here for basic training and would be going home afterward to finish their senior year of high school before going back for AIT.  I was one of the oldest ones in my platoon, although there was one other warrant officer candidate, and an OCS candidate.

As far as basic training goes, all I can say is just to get through it with the best attitude you can.  There will be times when you want to strangle your drill sergeant or punch your battle buddy, but it's all part of the game and in a few months you will be a warrant officer on your way to flight school.  Also, if you are like me and let your PT slip while you were waiting to ship, make sure you apply  yourself during PT sessions, and you will actually see a pretty good gain.  I went to basic running a 16:20 minute 2 mile, and finished running a 13:40. 

At the end of basic there is a family day where you may or may not be awarded an on or off post pass.   We got an off post pass, so I went to Columbus and watched a few movies and got some non-DFAC food.  You'll also be awarded a pass on graduation day.  The next day, you'll be on your way to Fort Rucker for WOCS.