Millitary Question???

Question

Ok. I just finished basic training, and I'm almost done with AIT. I feel I gave it 100%, but I did a mediocre job as far as overall performance. I did an ok job, but at times I didn't do well on the little things like marching, and I briefly had lost one of my supply items, but I found it 10 minutes later. I'm kind of hard on myself. Does being mediocre in AIT and Basic Training mean I'm not going to be that successful in my real millitary career? Do they always go hand in hand?

Answer 1

Not at all.  Basic and AIT are meant for learning and improving yourself.

Just LEARN from your mistakes.  Try to not make the same ones over again.  It's all in your attitude.  If you WANT to succeed and you try your best to do so, then you'll be fine.

No one will ever know how you did at basic and AIT.  It's pass/fail.  So don't stress it.

~ArmyKim

Answer 2

It sounds like you are just human.  And perhaps you have a slight self-esteem problem.  Stop being so hard on yourself.

Maybe you didn't march well, but you still made it to your destination.  But how exactly does one 'march well'?  Everyone looks and feels like a sweaty, worn-out mess after 20 miles.

You lost positive control of some things, that is bad.  But you regained it quickly, that is good.

The fact that you know you have areas that need improvement and you seem willing to improve on them speaks volumes about your character and your potential.  If your question is representative of your character, you will go far.  Keep analyzing yourself and keep trying to improve.  But don't go so far as to beat up on yourself.  Make sure you give yourself credit for important milestones -- like graduation.

Remember, the world is run by 'C' students -- you know, slackers like Fred Smith, Michael Dell, George W. Bush.  Leave the heroics to the Marines and just do your job as well as you can while keeping a positive, can-do, attitude.  If you just do that, you will go far.

And thanks for serving.

Answer 3

The Army isn't that hard.  Just don't do anything that anyone can prove you knew you weren't supposed to do, and you'll be fine.  Don't lose any sensitive items.