Army-basic training-fort leonard wood?

Question

I am leaving for basic training in a few days in fort leonard wood missouri..what can i expect? I also have my ait training there- is there anything to do around there? whats is like? anything helps!!

Answer 1

I went thru basic at Ft. Jackson, S.C. in 1970,

Basic has changed a lot, we did KP duty, and had to clean out the grease pits, CURSED at constantly and called names, dont think they are allowed to do that today, and I dont think there is KP duty any more,  It was h**l on earth back then.

Answer 2

I just finished OSUT and got back from Fort Lost-in-the-Woods a few days ago so I can offer a bit of insight.  Its hot and humid there right now so be ready for that...the humidity can really get to you because you sweat so much especially when you've got your full battle rattle on as you so often will have on.  It will probably start to ease off within a few weeks I'm guessing so don't worry too much about it.  If you're an Engineer you won't have to worry too much about what there is to do around the area because they won't let you go out on pass very often--even in AIT.  The Engineer units get treated like garbage by our drill sergeants in terms of liberties which kinda sucks but its alright cuz we know we're the best (maybe I'm a bit biased though haha).  The MPs I don't think have it much better than us, but I do know that the Chemical guys have a pretty easy AIT--I'm guessing you fall into one of those 3 categories.

Just keep up the motivation, try not to get into too many fights with the other trainees, and remember that it only lasts a few months.

Answer 3

I went to Basic there as well.

For nine weeks, you won't be going anywhere socially, so don't worry about that part.

There are LOTS of trees.

The drill sargeants will run your platoon up and down the hills.

You may be in the same training barracks as I was. In that case, males have the top floor.

It means that when you do quick drills, you have to run all the way up the stairs and back down.

I hope you can run fast!

It gets hot in the afternoons and cold in the mornings.

PT is conducted when it's barely light outside.

It's beautiful when you do ruck marches. Pretty scenery.

The buildings are standard military-dull.

But the worst thing- the rubber pit.

I can't remeber exactly what they call it because I've blocked it out ;)

It's an old hangar carpeted by old destroyed tires.

The DSs love to use it as punishment.

When you are crawling around and generally PTing your a** off, the rubber dust gets in your nose.

They'll work everybody in there for about an hour or two.

Be prepared also for the PT they like to make you do in little rooms.

We had 50 recruits piled into this tiny room doing pushups. The DS told us to make a diamond (you'll learn what that means!) and HOLD it until he got back.

He was gone for half an hour. Nobody drops because everybody will give you h**l.

We held it and held it.

It was so hot and humid in there because of our body heat and sweat, that the walls were covered with condensation. The walls were literally sweating!

The floor was covered with everybody's drool and sweat. I slipped several times on somebody's spit. The floor was slippery by the time the DS made his way back.

You get to make a 5 minute phone call home after a week or two.

You are allowed to write letters after a few weeks. You have a few minutes after last chow to write.

Better get some sleep at lights out, though.

You'll pull fire guard. That means that at 3 in the morning, you'll be awakened to watch over everybody. You do this in shifts. It sucks because your body will be so tired.

In the chow hall, you have ten minutes (or less) to eat EVERYTHING. Nobody even looks at each other they eat so fast.

Get familiar with your M-16. You will learn how to shoot and take it apart and put it back together. Marksmanship is very important.

You'll also do grenade training and hand-to-hand combat. Pugal stick competitions are fun.

You'll also do confidence courses. Some are fun and others are terrible.

If you're scared of heights, like I am, maybe somebody will have to go to sick call and need a battle buddy. You will miss the tower.

The first three weeks(red phase) everybody gets in trouble all the time. You have NO personal freedom. It's rough!

Second three weeks is blue phase. You still get in trouble, but it's a tad easier. Troublmakers are known by this time. (Not that there are many)

Third six weeks, you get to go to the PX in groups. You may not think that his is a big deal, but wait and see.

Anyway, I hope this helped a bit.

Life is going to suck for you for a couple of months, but you will be a soldier in the end!

You'll be very proud of yourself and in the best shape of your life!

Good luck!

Answer 4

In the summer, it is hot and sticky.  In the winter, it is cold and muddy.  Just do what you the drills tell you to do and you will be fine.

Thanks for serving!

Answer 5

oh don't worry you will not lack for things to do!

In fact you will be so busy you will barely be able to write home.

You should warn your Mom or wife that you will be allowed to make a quick phone call when you arrive at the base. There will be a script. You will not be allowed to say anything not on the script.

that was a little shocking to me when my son went. Then you will not be on the phone for a while.

go rent officer and a gentleman

full metal jacket to watch before you go it really is like that.

they put you under intense pressure because if someone is going to crack..better to do it at basic than in the field when others are depending on you.

bring bug repellent and a phone card

I sent my son  multiple choice letters cause I knew I would get more information that way.

good luck and thank you for serving our country

Answer 6

omg i remember those days...7/02-9/02...hot hot hot....drink plenty of water and front-back-go every day...it will get easier towards the end though...just remember its all in the mind

Answer 7

I'm guessing your either a Engineer or MP, they are the only training units that do AIT there too.  Expect yelling, time limits, woods, lots of woods. It's probably hot there right now but come October it's going to get cold, espicially if you have to sleep outside. All in all it's not a bad place to be.....oh the hills, they have a lot of hills to run!  Good luck.