killerfly128 wrote:Even then I say go for it. It might suck but you will stand out as a good soldier. No one likes a sham artist.gregthehand wrote:Sorry, I should say "... And don't volunteer for anything if you don't know what it is". Many of my days have been ruined by reacting to an NCO yelling "I need four volunteers!" and nothing else.killerfly128 wrote:And this. (except for the volunteer part)gregthehand wrote:In BCT they'll issue you all you uniforms and gear. After BCT you'll have to either take a bus or fly to AIT depending on how far your BCT post is from your AIT post. Beyond your basic issue the Army issues you other equipment they think you'll need through a Central Issue Facility (CIF). When I got to my AIT (Ft. Gordon/Commo) we had to go down to the CIF and draw any gear that we would need in AIT. It wasn't very much but your AIT unit may be different. I could see them issuing mechanics coveralls.
Your recruiter should give you a list of material you'll need to show up to basic with. My advice is to pack light and buy the most basic and plain of what ever they tell you to bring. If it says white socks get white socks with no logos. You'll be amazed at how small a detail a drill sergeant will notice and latch on to.
As others have said you need to do everything you can to go un-noticed. Don't be first, don't be last, and don't volunteer for anything.
Take basic toiletries, two changes of clothes, and yourself. They will provide you with everything else you need and give you the opportunity to buy the stuff they don't issue.
Enjoy your time in the military, take every opportunity to volunteer for something new (as long as it isnt sergeant major's detail, extra duty, or KP), don't blow off going to school while you are in (they pay for it and it doesn't come out of the GI bill), keep your area and uniform sharper than others, respect Army tradition, always have your battle buddies back, and never forget the sacrifice of those that came before you.
They came to our base and asked for bachelors to volunteer to be escorts for the Miss America contestants during the pageant. We were told we would need our dress blues and civilian clothes. This sounded too good to be true. We got to Atlantic City and things went south real fast. They worked us like dogs the entire week. We moved sets, carried wardrobe changes, and anything else they needed done. Now this was during the mid 1970's, so military personnel were treated with total disdain by everyone. The contestants would not even be nice to us. We were lower than a snakes belly to them. We did get to escort them on Thursday night for a little award ceremony but we were not even allowed to attend the Saturday night final when it was on TV.