What is the first day of boot camp like?

Question

Starting from upon arrival.

Answer 1

It will be the longest day of your entire life.  You're going to break your neck getting from one place to the next, then you're going to wait and wait and wait and wait.  Then, on to the next place at break-neck speed.

Answer 2

Everybody has a slightly different experience depending on the branch you choose. For me, the first few days weren't that bad. After MEPS, I was taken to DFW airport and caught a flight to St. Louis with three other guys from Dallas. We were all going to Ft. Leonardwood, MO. At the St. Louis airport we joined up with people from all over the contry heading to Basic. Some Corporal herded us onto a bus for the ride to Leonardwood. We all talked about what we had heard was going to happen when we got there, but when we got there it was just Reception station. A few seargents came on the bus and yelled at us to get off, stand in line, do this, do that, and then took us to chow. It was a long night but we eventually got to sleep in some barracks. Two days there at reception with some people talking sternly to us and trying to teach us our first lessons in being military (baby steps), basically trying to get us ready for the handoff to our Drills at Basic. Then one morning we got on a cattle car, and headed across the installation. It was hot on the cattle car, almost no windows, no moving air, and we were packed on like cattle with our duffle bags and personal bags. The cattle cars stops in front of our quad/barracks, and all h**l breaks lose! Drills are everywhere screaming and yelling to go here and there, total chaos. They are calling off peoples last names and when you hear yours you go to that platoon. Some people don't hear their name or aren't paying attention when their name is called, so they end up getting all the attention of several Drills in their face at once. People are doing push-ups, some are crying, everybody is thinking what did they get themselves into. They make you dump your bag, then repack it, then dump it, then repack it, etc. They tell you you have one minute to get inside the barracks and put your stuff up in your wall lockers. You won't be able to do this so your whole platoon may get smoked. They are there to break you, to leave the civilian behind. Like others have said, do as you are told, take it seriously, but don't take it personally. By the end of your basic training, you will actually like your Drill Instructors, look up to them, and want to be like them. When you older, you will look back fondly on this experience, glad you served, and have a greater respect for your country and what makes the U.S. the greatest country in the world!

Answer 3

Busy!!! I enjoyed every minute and it was a great day; although I was in great shape, the days that followed were challenging.  A lot of orders and confusion, but it was a valuable experience. Just follow orders and keep your head low.  

Answer 4

for the army you will be bussed there from the airport try n get as much sleep as possible the ds is gna come on the bus tell u to get oss get your sh** off the buss n line up on the yellow feet n to tuck your shirts in then you will march n side n get rid of ne contraband you might have then you will fill out a bunch of paper work sit around and wait get issued your pt uniforms n change into them then you will do more paper work sit around n wait some more you will not get any sleep at all for that nite you will be in whats called reception its the most frustrating part of bct its all hurry up in wait you just stand in lines all day reception is completely different then your actual bct they dont yell or realy smoke you at all just remeber to b patient and when you get there your gonna think y the h**l did i do this but stay motivated and you  will make it if you need ne thing else feel free to email me i just got back from fort benning and i will answer ne questions you may have good luck!!

Answer 5

i hear its like h**l on earth

but it changes from each military branch

Answer 6

Well you go to Reception first to get all your shots and military gear for basic/boot camp.

It be long, hetic, confusing, boring, and lots of waiting. Also painful needle shots everywhere on the arm and maybe the butt sometimes

Answer 7

And be prepared to pee when needed.  They will take a urine sample within 24 hours of your arrival.

Answer 8

As an ex-Navy OS3 and with my friend (still in the Army), we find the analogy fitting that when wondering about what your first day or days depending on how long you're kept awake you should ask yourself the  question "Have you ever taken your pants off and run backwards through a cornfield?"  To hold a significant amount of weight.  Straight off the bus for myself there was a group of rather angry individuals who none of us could seem to please.  We were directed inside the building where we stood being inspected and picked apart while they got all our pertinent information.  There was lots of hurrying and even more standing silently and motionless in formation while we waited for direction.  Many more forms and such were filled out and we were given another urine test to supplement the one given at Mepps.  Our group was awake for nearly 36 hours before we were given sleeping quarters and instructed on all the ins and outs that went along with that.  The days were tougher after that...  but it wasn't all gloom and doom.  Badly as I hated it, I find myself inexplicably looking back on those days with fond memory.  Because it was an achievement, and in the end it was EARNED.

Answer 9

I went into the Navy, but I think most of them are the same on the first day.

CULTURE SHOCK.

As soon as you're getting off the bus they start yelling and screaming orders at you. We got their late in the afternoon, and they spent most of the evening passing out paperwork, getting us to pee in a cup, etc.  By the time we got done with everything and we got a shower it was almost 3 a.m.  They led us to a temporary barracks.  We got to lie down for about an hour, I don't think anybody slept.  

Promptly at 4 a.m. our company commander came through rolling a big trash can on the concrete floor screaming at us to "get on the line".  We didn't know what that was, so we got screamed at for that too.  After he taught us what "getting on the line" means... by making us do about 40 push-ups... he gave us our instructions on how we are going to be treated, and how we are to treat each other and our superiors.  The rest of the day we were marched around to different places... to breakfast, then to get our head shaved, then to get measured for our uniform, then to get our uniforms and other essentials.  Then we gathered in a big room with lots of tables and we stenciled all our stuff with our name and ssn.  The whole time this is going on they are ******* with your head, making you count everything 16 times just to frustrate you, making you do push-ups if you try to skip ahead... bunches of mind games.  

All in all the first day is mostly paperwork and getting your head shaved and your uniforms and such.  Nothing to strenuous... just a culture shock because you aren't used to being yelled at and ****** with constantly.  Plus you're really freakin' tired.

Fun day.  Just the beginning though.

Answer 10

Very Loud and Crazy

Answer 11

To me it was one of the worst days.  Like "Yak Rider" said it's just a lot of hurry up and wait.  

I really don't remember much of that day other than I had to drink water and walk around for about an hour before I could take a p**s.

I do remember we all got yelled at for at least 30 minutes because some people laughed when a recruit's knees gave way because he had them locked while standing for a long time.  First clothing issue wasn't very much fun.....

Seemed like we only got about 2 hours of sleep before being woken up at 4 a.m. and do some more processing.  Oh well, it's all part of it I guess.    

Answer 12

It depends somewhat on the branch you've chosen, but basically it will be very loud, chaotic, and it will be the longest day of your life-- you may not get any sleep the first night.  The main thing is:  keep your mouth shut, do whatever you're told immediately, and don't take anything personally if you get yelled at.  It's just all part of the game called training.