What happens when a recruits physical limits are met in basic training?

Question

i leave for Air Force basic training on october first, and while i am in decent shape (and working on getting in better) i know that BT is physically challenging for everybody.

my question is what happens when a recruits physical limits are met? what happens when you cannot possibly do any more push ups, run another step, or perform another pull-up because your muscles have reached their absolute limit.

how is this handled? are there punishments?

I'm really not looking for a "grit your teeth and bear it" answer, I'm willing and able to keep going through the annoying pain of a workout, this is a question of physical, not mental, capability

Answer 1

There are no punishments.  Just perform to your absolute best.  Remember in the PT test there are maximum scores and minimum but all you have to do to graduate is the minimum.  Do your utmost best but save the extra burst of energy for your first duty station.  Basic/Boot is challenging but not impossible.  Believe it or not most people graduate whether they are physically fit to begin with or not.  Just do your best and concentrate on the other classes that might even save your life someday and let the PT part take care of itself.  In the Army they do PT five days a week in Basic.  That tends to get anyone in shape unless you are incorrigible.  Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Honestly, there is nothing they can do, what will happen is they will yell at you to try to get over your physical pain and push harder, drill sgt.'s try to use fear and intimidation to push you to try harder. If you cant do no more, then "you cant" simple as that. Nothing can be done beside them yelling at you and make you do push-ups more often, The whole purpose of basic training is to get you to that limit of "muscle failure" so when you do, then next time it will take long and long until, your better and better at PT

Answer 3

There's no "grit your teeth and bear it" to it, there's simply the fact that you'll find strength you didn't think you had as long as you don't say I'M AT MY LIMIT!! If you're getting punished with push-ups, you keep doing push-ups. They're going to get sloppier and harder, but you can keep doing them. If you start yelling at your instructors, saying "I CAN'T DO ANYMORE!!!!" like I saw in Marine boot camp, they just laugh and make you do more. Don't give up, just stick with it. That's all it takes.

Ever had one of those situations where you were so tired but you still went and had a full day at work or school or what have you? Where you were so fatigued but kept up with your daily activities anyway? It's like that. There's always more you can give, even if you don't think so. This is why they'll tell you that boot camp is mostly mental...mind over matter, my friend. You always have something left to give, just remember that.  

Answer 4

Don't worry, as long as you give 110% and the TI's know this then you'll do fine.  Yes, they will yell and scream, but it's not personal and all they are trying to do is see what you'll do when pushed to extreme.  We had a girl in our flight that ran 1.5 miles in 10 minutes...the TI still screamed at her for not making it in 9.  Just know that they do it and when you finish Basic it's done.  You'll start out slow in the beginning and build as you go through.  I hate, HATE, hate to run...when I started I ran 1.5 in 24 minutes...by the time I graduated I ran it in 16 minutes!  By the way, I still hate to run!  :)

Answer 5

Honestly, you just push yourself until you can't possibly do another one and hope that you're no the first one to quit. If you can't do any more ....you just cant do any more.

They won't make you do more if you can't. The reason for all the pushups and the "getting smoked" is to get you in shape to graduate basic training. They call it punishment and come up with every little thing to smoke you, but its for your benefit that you're being smoked. Its just for exercise afterall.

Answer 6

While this may not apply completely to the Air Force, in the Army the goal of physical training is to push you until your muscles do fail. It is how they build up your strength and endurance.

Aside from that, if you put forth 100% effort, you are going to make it.

"punishment" in basic tends to be more exercise - which only helps you along.

Answer 7

From personal experience. I went to both Army and Navy boot camps...I changed branches, wouldn't recommend it...I went to the Navy after being in the National Guard for a while.

Once they see that you are really trying and know that you have given it you all they will back off of you. They will push you, and yell at you, but if they know that you aren't quitting they will back off a little.

Sometimes the yelling at you is part of the way they build up your confidence. You have to be mentally challenged. If you are being physically stressed while being yelled at, it makes you stronger.

In a crisis situation when the guns are going off or the ship is sinking it will be do or die. You can not stop or crack under that kind of pressure. So they do it in a controlled environment. Where you will be safe because after basic training or boot camp the steaks are much greater.