Going to bootcamp in like 5 months ! 16, need helpp .

Question

Okay so I'm sixteen and I quit going to school, so now I'm going to a boot camp to get my GED and all that. I've already made my mind, I'm definitely doing this. My parents are okay with it,, but my brother and his fiance whom I'm really close to are totally against it and so are my other family members...but I'm still going. Anyways it's for 5 months and I know I'm going to be really homesick (extremely close to my parents) and tired so I'd just like some tips, advice, words of encouragement and things like that please!

Keep me in your prayers.

God bless.

Answer 1

You need a high school diploma. A GED won't cut it. The only service you can qualify for would be Army, maybe. You will also need high ASVAB scores. you cannot enlist until you are 17 with your parent's approval. Chill out. The military will be there after you get your diploma. If you are enlisting to get out of your current problems, it is for the wrong reasons. Finish your education and once you have your high school diploma and 2 more years of maturity, then talk to a recruiter.

Answer 2

OK words from an old timer.  Just remember who you are and how your parents raised you.  Talk to them about your fears.  Also ask them to write and send care packages with love.  

Dont be nervous it is only because you are going into unknown territory and you dont know what is going to happen.  Dont be nervous realized you can do it and tell yourself you can.  

I agree with starting on the physical fitness and maintaining it no matter what the weather.  

The way I look at it you can do it and remind yourself (I know I already said that, but keep it in mind).

Answer 3

Side note: To enlist in the us military you must be 17, with parental consent. You can enlist at age 18 +, without parental consent.

You will be fine, and have the time of your life. Navy is a great pick. The night before going to MEPS (place you enlist for military), my roomate was going in active duty Navy. She just graduated highschool and is now in boot camp as we speak. That chick was proud to serve her country, and will do a d**n good job because no matter what happens - it was her calling. This is a huge accomplishment for you, and the GED! Congratulations.

Advice? Listen carefully to drill sergeants (not sure what navy calls em), and do exactly what they instruct. Life after bootcamp? Respect your self, be aware of your surroundings, and do not hesitate to volunteer sometimes...it makes you look like a dedicated sailor. Also, make the best of your time in the Navy. There will be other males and females who will experience the same feelings your having in the early stages.

Welcome to the united states navy!

Answer 4

First, go look in a mirror. See that young lady looking back at you? She's not going to leave you. You can't lie to her about anything. She knows if you tried your best, or if you made the best decision you could after getting as much information as you could. You have to keep her happy. Family, friends, loved ones, kibitzers like us, we come and go. None of us will be with you long. That young lady in the mirror will be there for the duration.

If it makes you feel any better, people gave me a hard time when I decided to join the Navy. They gave me a hard time when I opted to enlist with a degree rather than go for an officer program. They gave me a hard time when I selected my specialty. They gave me a hard time when, having the opportunity to extend for a few months for my E-6, I accepted a recommendation to OCS. They gave me a hard time when I became an officer -- remember those who gave me a hard time when I initially opted not to pursue an officer ptogram? I spent 25 years in the Navy. I retired at 45 -- when a lot of those nay-sayers were still crawling up the corporate ladder. I got a Masters and a Doctorate on the GI Bill. I purchased a house with a VA-insured loan and paid it off in 10 years. I parlayed my career as an officer, my recent security clearance, and my education into a second career in management consulting. I retired from that company 12 years later. This year I rented my house to a family from a nearby Air Force Base and moved into a Veterans Retirement Home. For less than the rent on my house, all my needs are taken care of -- room, board, medical, dental, entertainment, even transportation should I wish to leave my car parked and save gas money. I'm making about $60,000 a year for getting up in the morning -- and I have practically nothing to spend it on. I can travel just about anywhere in the world for free. I have access to facilities on just about any military base.

I look in my mirror, and that old guy looking back doesn't smile much. He grins.:-D

About boot camp... Have to tell you it was quite a few years ago for me. But the first few days are a blaze of confusion. You begin learning stuff right away. You learn to treat any seemingly idle comment as an order. You start memorizing stuff that you'll need to function in the military. There are rules, regulations, seemingly nonsensical stuff. But you'll remember it... and a whole lot more.

In the days that follow you will find yourself marching everywhere. You'll quit thinking of yourself as Susan Smith and find out you're really "Recruit Smith, SIR!!!" You'll probably find some of the people in your company impossible to get along with... at first; but somewhere along the line, while you might not become best friends, you'll find that most of them are going through the same emotions you are, and that you're really not all that different after all.

As the days grind on, you'll find yourself on an endless treadmill of wake up, prepare for inspection, stand inspection, drill, PT, class, study, stand watch, eat, and once in a while, even sleep. There's no end in sight.

Then, about half way through, something happens. You look up from the deck and see a light at the end of the tunnel... graduation. You'll find that you've learned to manage your time and now there is more time for yourself. You're still marching everywhere, but you're all marching together... in step. You might see the new recruits stumbling along in a daze of confusion and give them a silent, "Hang in there, kid, you'll make it."

Then there's final preparation for graduation. Probably those folks who gave you a hard time about joining,will show up at graduation and cheer as you pass in review. Then there's boot liberty... when you finally get to leave the base for a few hours for the first time in what seems like decades. If you're smart, you'll be on your best behavior. And, as much as you may want to spend a few more minutes with family and friends, you'll report in a half hour ahead of what's required -- just to play it safe.

Yes, you'll probably get yelled at in boot camp. Don't take it personally. If you messed up, it's intended to make sure you don't mess up again -- at least not too often. Messing up in the military can cost lives and lots of money. If you didn't mess up, it's intended to get you used to working under stress. There's a lot of that in the military too. I was only chewed out once in boot camp -- by an officer. From that little experience, I learned attention to detail.

People will tell you not to volunteer -- for anything. That's a fallacy.At first it's best to be a little selective for the things for which you volunteer -- if you can -- selecting only those things you're reasonably certain you can do well. Then, when you get some successes under your belt, go for some of the tougher tasks. If you blow it on occasion, don't worry. You might get a little ribbing, but you went first when nobody else would. And you gave it your best shot. That's the kind of thing that looks good on evaluations. It also puts you out in front. And that's where the leaders are. I firmly believe that's one of the factors that got me the recommendation to OCS.

You're going to make mistakes. Don't worry about it... and don't do it too often. General Patton once said, “The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead!”

And don't forget to look in the mirror once in a while. That young lady looking back will change a little over the years. She'll probably mature, maybe get a few wrinkles, and maybe some gray hair. But as long as she's smiling back at you -- most of the time -- you're doing ok.

Answer 5

Your government doesn't trust you to drive or drink a beer, but if you wish to die for your country they will be there for you.

Listen to your brother.

If you still feel the same at 21 join up!!

Answer 6

why would you go to bootcamp for your GED, just go to a class

doesnt make sense

are you joining the military?

your question is all off

Answer 7

Don't worry about it. Keep your mouth shut, and your ears open! If you were in DEP then you should've been thought by your recruiter on what to learn before hand, exercises, etc. You didn't mention what branch you were going into?

Did the ASVAB and all I assume then high ASVAB, not an high school graduate...hmmm...wondering what branch you went. You need to be 17 with parents' permission to get in, and no GED yet? I don't know, is it a GED boot camp? Haha...and not going Army? You should be more clear about your question.  If you are thinking about going Navy I urge you to go to http://www.mynavyonline.com there is a lot of info there.

Perhaps you haven't even enlisted and you're going to enlist in 5 months, maybe that's it, that's not boot camp.

I don't know what else to say, you're all over the place with your question.

Answer 8

I know people who have been to prison boot camp.  There is a lot of screaming, lots of physical work, lots of mindgames that they play to get you to "break".  Just do not give up, you sound like a strong-minded person, and I know you can do it.  Better your life and do good.  Endure the tough stuff and you will benefit and grow to help others.

Answer 9

The most effective part of boot camp is the "Shock" factor. It is a very vital part of training. Just spend time with your family until you go and don't worry about it. You are making the right decision for your life. It will better you!!!

Answer 10

It sounds like you should have stuck to school and just gotten your diploma...

Other than that - since it sounds like you aren't going to boot camp for any branch of the armed services and that you're going to an "education boot camp" then just do what you're told and make sure you pass all your exams.

Um... write letter to your parents?

Not really quite sure what to say - you put yourself in this position by dropping out of school at 16 so congrats! Have fun living with your decision.

Answer 11

Find out what the bare basic physical fitness requirements are & start working out now!  If you can do better than average you are ahead of the game.  Get used to the fact that there WILL be a lot of screaming and yelling.  Good luck!

Answer 12

Why is your family so against it? The military isn't the worst place to go. My fiancee just finished bootcamp for the Air Force at the end of June, and has been in Tech school ever since. It's a very demeaning 5 months that are you going to enter. You'll come out of it as a new person, and hopefully feeling better for what you've done, even though you'll be happy as h**l it ended too. I'd say the only thing you can really do right now to prepare for it is make yourself physically ready, NOW. eat well, and exercise daily, because it'll suck even more life out of you during boot camp. And to help you get by, tell your family and people you care about to write you a lot. You'll be given a mailing address after the first week that you can call home to give your family, and if they write you often, it'll help. I wrote my boyfriend every day when he was in boot camp and it helped him get through the days a lot better than he would've without the letters. If they can't write you often, just try and find inner peace, I suppose. Look forward to finishing it and accomplishing something. Good luck.

Answer 13

well my brother is in the army and is in training right now. he said its extremely hard but he lieks it. and he always says hes homesick. so we always write to him to make him feel better. he also gets to call us on sundays. but good luck with all of that. just have your family write to you constantly because i bet it would feel good to know they are thinking about you and miss you. and you get to hear from home.  

Answer 14

I am a little confused about what you are trying to do, so I am going to offer my advice on what I can make out of your situation.  Your 16, soon to be 17, and want to achive your high school dipolma.  GED is what is, the next best thing to a dipolma.  Now, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, all have thier own entry requirements.  So, you will have to speak with the individual recuirters for each branch. BUT, the pay and benefits are very good for someone in your situation.  You can, once you arrive at your first duty station, get your GED and move on to college classes, eventually to a college degree.  This depends on your motivation and dedication, but it is very possible under a 4 year term of enlistment.  You will learn a trade, depending what you quailify for, and you will be making your own money.  Some difficult decisions to make.  I wish you the best.  

Answer 15

Finish high school first and then enlist.  My understanding is that you have to be age 17 to enlist with your parents permission.  I think you are trying to rush your life unnecessarily.