What is life like in the army?

Question

I'm joining the Army as a Infantry soldier in a few days and i want to know what life is like at a post. 1.) Is there a hazing initiation when you start your first official assignment after basic? 2.) How much time do you spend training and how much time do you get off? 3.) How often are you allowed off base? 4.) What is the general atmosphere of the barracks and base? If I could get answers from people who have Army experience that would be great.

Answer 1

1.  Don't worry about hazing.  Life will be tough enough just getting used to the new lifestyle.  Keep your mouth shut and your ears open and learn as much as you can.

2.  Training and time off comes and goes.  What that means is sometimes you'll spend alot of time training, and other times you'll have alot of time off.  It depends on what your unit is doing and where you're at.  Usually you'll have a regular workweek with time off on weekends and holidays, but you've got additional duties that may mess up your weekend.  Of course that all goes to h**l if you're deploying anytime soon.

3.  Again, it depends where you're stationed, and it also depends on the THREATCON level.

4.  Once again, it depends where you're stationed.  Life is different overseas, especially if you're in someplace like South Korea.

You should worry more about learning your job and being good at it than stuff you can't control.  You're working a job where people get killed if they don't do their job right, and sometimes even when they do do their job right.  So you should be asking questions and learning about your MOS and not worrying what extra-curricular activies there are to do.

EDIT:  There ARE hazings in the military.  Some are pretty lame, some are pretty cool (example:  blood rank).  Of course, none of that happens officially, but unofficially, it does.  

Unless you're in some whimpy support unit...

Answer 2

Well, as an infantryman, you'll be known to most as an "11 Bang Bang" but don't take it too harshly. You will be the one doing patrols and setting up checkpoints and whatnot if/when you get deployed to Iraq/Afghan. As for hazing, it really depends on the unit. Hazing isn't really allowed but I'm sure you'll get lots of "attention" being new to any unit. Training is the same situation...depends on the unit. If you are preparing for a deployment, count on a significant amount of it. Count on field training and stupid things you will likely never need - but don't take it for granted. Normally, when not preparing for a deployment or in deployment, you'll have morning PT, go to the barracks (or home if you ar emarried and off post) and shower, go to work around 0900 and go home around 1700 (5pm). You get all federal holidays off as well. You are allowed off post at any time when not at work unless your post has certain restrictions (some have curfews). In AIT you will have "passes" and "phases" in which you will "ear" time off. Weekends are generally a given but you may have training that conflicts with that. Once you hit "Phase 4" you can go off post at night after training has been completed and also on weekends and may spend the night off post if your command allows. This is only during AIT - no time during Basic training is alloted to go off post and generally, sunday is your only day off. the barracks are different everywhere you go. Some are very nice and clean and some are very nasty. You will likely have a roomie for the first few years until you go up in rank. Bases are nice -the PX is a tax free mall basically with clothes, music, movies, snacks, and a lot more. There is a commisary as well for tax free grocery shopping. There are gyms that vary in rating depending on the base and museums and such on almost every base.

I hope this helps and congrats on your enlistment. Be prepared for a deployment...they aren't as bad as people make them out to be, I've been in Iraq since Nov 07.

Answer 3

1.  I witnessed no hazings or initiations.  There might be a few mild celebrations, but usually all the people in your training will celebrate a little together because they went home before going to their first official assignment, then they actually get a little help and welcome at their first assignment.  You can expect much more help if you have dependents (wife and kids).

2.  You spend all your time getting you and your equipment ready until supper time.  So you will exercise in the morning, get cleaned up, eat breakfast, clean your barracks, then have a unit formation when you will find out what you will do that day.  You might be in classes, maintaining equipment, practicing skills like marching and riflemanship, or taking tests.  Generally that is from 4:30 to 6 pm and is the end of your day.  Sometimes you have inspections, guard duty, or cleaning after hours.  Usually if you had an all night guard duty, whether it was at a site or in the barracks, you get the next day off as soon as your relief arrives.  Generally, weekends are yours too.  Also, you will often go "to the field" which is setting up tents and training is more like war games.

3.  You are always allowed to come and go off post as you please on your off time, but must be available.  If you want to go far, you should ask for a pass, which is permission to be out of town without using your vacation time.  This is usually used when driving a few hours away and staying overnight, such as going to a baseball game.  So you can go to a gym, go on dates, join a softball team, or whatever.

4.  The barracks themselves are like college dorms - except in the Army, you see the you know the people better and have to keep your rooms clean and neat.  Sometimes people go out and bring back beer, sometimes they order pizza, once in a while they fight.

Answer 4

1: There are no hazings in the Military.

2: You'll be training daily.

3: You're allowed of base when ever your're off-duty.

4: The barracks can be a blast or really boring.