Any US Army Rangers - what was training like & did you get thru 1st time?
487591
I went through Ranger training 39 years ago after I graduated from Airborne training. It was indeed rough and yes, I made it through the first time. I remember that I would always hold sleep very precious after that! You are taught map reading, land navigation (both day and night), combative techniques like pugil stick training, hand-to-hand combat and bayonet training, airborne and airmobile techniques of operation, small unit patrolling techniques, rope and knot tying, rock climbing (big damn rocks on Mt Yonah!), rappelling, ambush techniques and more patrolling techniques, then we boarded a UH-1 Bus and went to Flordia for more patrolling techniques,small boat ops, stream and swamp navigation, etc. All of this training took place beginning at Ft. Benning, GA, at Camp Rogers and Camp Darby, to Camp Merrill, near Dahlonega, GA, to Camp Rudder, Auxillery Field #7, and then back to Darby. To me it was the most intensive 9 weeks I ever spent in the Army. I don't know if it is all still the same or not. Camp Rudder was referred to as Camp Mother-Rudder and Hurley Hill as Hurl(i.e. throw-up)Hill. You do one hell of a lot of P.T., running and lots of road marches. There is lack of sleep, hunger, exhaustion, stress, and any misery that the Ranger staff and Mother Nature can throw at you. But it's all worth it when you get that Black and Gold Tab (i.e. we called it the "Bumble-Bee") that says "Ranger". To the rest of the military that little arched tab says it all. Be proud of your son for making it through the TOUGHEST course that the Army has to offer and tell him that I said, "Sua Sponte".
559802
Hi Funny,\n\nIf you check out my profile you'll see that your getting honest answers.  After Lackland he will go to Tech School and not AIT (Advance Individual Training=ARMY).  His tech school will be easier than basic training.  Yes the AF basic training is somewhat easy, but they are making it tougher and longer for the new generation of airman.  Basic is all about discipline and mental strength.  No branch of service wants their members breaking under pressure.  Gotta separate the adults from the children ya know.  As you were told by previous respondants, he may come back tougher, but I guarantee that he will come back different, wiser, and more mature.  More man like and less of a boy. \n\nHis tech school will be easier than basic, but not quite like the normal AF routine.  He's there to learn and they are gonna throw a lot at him to absorb, or they will wash him out.  Don't get upset because you don't hear from him very often.  He'll be maxed out at basic the entire time he's there except for the last two days.  Tech school is spent studying.  He will have some weekends off, so hopefully he will email and call you every so often!  Email is a great thing isn't it!  Most of us didn't have the luxury of instant communication when we went through this.  Had to use snail mail!\n\nAfter tech school he may go TDY (temporary duty) for (I forget what it's called now)?  From there he will be sent to his first duty location.  He will fill out a form (the Dreamsheet), in Basic with his choices of CONUS (Continental United States) duty locations as well as overseas duty locations.  AF members at Randolph AFB in Texas will make the final determination where he goes from there.  Air Force Needs always come first Funny!  I wanted Nebraska for my first duty location, I ended up in Germany!  At least it snowed in Germany.  After Germany I wanted Florida or Nebraska, they sent me to Texas.  And so it goes, but I never had a bad assignment during my entire career.\n\nMy nephew is in the Air Guard.  He went in at 18 years of age.  He made it, but it wasn't easy for him because he had a girlfriend.  You folks are young, and things happen in life.  People change and mature with age, well for most of us that is.  Funny, support him!  Write him everyday, even if it is just a little letter.  He needs to know that you care about him.  Those perfumed letters get us through the tough times because it tells us that we are doing this not just for ourselves but for you as well.  Even if you have doubts about the relationship after he leaves, support him just to help him get through it all. He deserves this!\n\nThe first 3 years will go by fast.  The fourth year will be tough because he'll have to decide to stay or get out.  For some it will be an easy decision, for others a tough choice.  I wish the two of you the best of luck, and welcome you to the family!\n\nOne more thing, don't listen to anyone that says he's going to Iraq!  He will be non-deployable for at least 18 months and probably longer depending on what AFSC he has selected?  You usually need to have your 5 skill level before the unit will deploy you.  Security Forces have some different policies on that as well as Transportation.  But for the general AF population, he ain't going nowhere near boom-boom land anytime soon.
311943
AF Basic is longer now than when I went through, but its still probably similar.\nThe best advice I can give you is keep your head down. The longer your TI doesn't know who you are the better. Help other people out, no one can get through basic by themselves. In the begining your TI will test everyone to see who can and can't handle stress, so the first time he gets in your face just stand at attention, strair strait forward. \n\nPS learn this: Sir, Trainee (last name) reports as ordered!\nThat's a reporting statement. If you get that down you'll save yourself a bunch of trouble.\n\nGood job on joining!
350148
Git yer pansy butt down there and SIGN the papers!  If you are so scared of fighting, you should sign up intentionally for the infantry.  Then you can face it and get over it.  Don't worry, if you're a total swish you will get bounced out of boot camp.  Either way you'll get it settled.  Once you get one or two missions under your belt you'll probably be the most gung-ho mf out there!  There's not much worse than trying to live with some nagging fear that you never had the guts to face up to.
223312
Study your manuals and not take shortcuts as if you do you will short yourself and the next level will be harder. Sounds preachy but the course is to better you. I've taken lot's of those courses and when I went to Iraq I was amazed at the little things that pertained to my MOS that I found useful.
733700
NOPE, but you CAN be a member of the 101st AND be RANGER qualifed. AND you can be a RANGER and NOT be AIRBORNE qualified (you have to be in the 10th mtn div known as "LEG" rangers) alot of people get the idea of the ADDITIONAL SKILL IDENTIFIERS mixed up with UNIT designations -So the 101st is an infantry UNIT and the 75th is an Infantry unit ,AIRBORNE is an additional skill identifier as well as RANGER is an additional skill identifier both come with "TABS" sewn on uniform above unit patch -you can be one or both
61151
I joined the USMC when I turned 17yoa. I stayed 10 years. I was a Drill Instructor at PISC for two tours and served in Viet Nam twice. Once in inf: as the second time as a sniper. I was also a markmanship instructor and held jobs a MP's and Security and other jobs. You may call me on my cell at 803-942-3103 if I don't answer leave a message and I will call you back. Or you can E-mail me at thomas29924@yahoo.com Thats the best I can do for you. Semper Fi:
818101
I think i know what you went through!..I spent 7 years in the Australian army, and did 3 tours to Vietnam!..Where i was then blown up 4 times by the Americans!..{mind you, they didn't discriminate, they blew each other up as well!}..But after 'demob' i found civilian life very difficult to fit back into!..I survived by going to university and getting a degree in Geology!..But i still found it hard to tolerate the odd thinking of civilians, did you notice that you didn't seem to fit in?..I wonder if this was just paranoia or what?..Many Vietvets just didn't handle it at all!..a lot went "bush" many commit ed suicide, others went insane!.Moving from one world into another so suddenly has to have some sort of effect on the unprepared mind, and i bet you were never prepared by the Army for it were you?.
984471
Here's how it is going to work.  You'll be at the USO at the airport when you get picked up by a Drill Instructor.  You get on a bus with a bunch of other recruits and are told to keep your head down during the ride so you don't see the way in/out of the base.  This is to prevent you from escaping if you decide to go UA (Unauthorized Absence).  Once you get onto MCRD you'll be lead into a room where the DIs will search all of your personal belongings and confiscate anything they can.  Anything they don't confiscate (civilian clothes, shoes, backpack, etc) you will box up and put in storage the next day or two.  A couple of people in my platoon ended up having their stuff go missing when it was time to pick it up before graduating, so don't bring anything that you really care about. \n\nAnyways, back to forming.  After that you will get in a big single-file line standing at attention and waiting for your haircut.  Wannabe DI admin Marines will walk by and harass you and the occasional DI will yell at you.  They will cut your hair really quick and it will hurt a bit, but oh well.  After that you will get your first issue of uniforms and other stuff that you will use during Boot Camp.  Forming will last 3-5 days depending on when you arrive their and when your Company picks up.  Don't worry about forming, you will never see any of those DIs again.  I would advise you to try and volunteer for Guide of your Platoon in forming.  This will usually carry through to your Platoon once you get picked up and as long as you keep doing a good job, your DIs should let you keep it.  Guide gets promoted to PFC upon graduation and has a chance to get LCpl if he is the Company Honorman.\n\nTo answer your question, cut your hair short to make things easier and less painfull but don't buzz it.  They'll cut it no matter what and you'll get less shit from them.\n\nIf you have any other questions shoot me an E-Mail and I'll be glad to help.
177170
Have done a bit in several countries.\n\nBasically listen to EVERYTHING,\nIf you have a question ASK\nIf you want to prat about DON'T\nYou are NOT the only one who is scared\nEVERYTHING you are told to do is for a reason - don't 2nd guess the instructor!\n\nYour 1st jump (or first few) will be stressful ... it is always going to be an unnatural act - just remember your training and relax as much as possible.  I have never been on  a drop zone which wasn't full of friendly people ... everyone was a beginner once.\n\nBest advice I can give is JUST DO IT!  Whether a static line jump, tandem or accelerated free fall it is a blast.  Just remember the ride isn't over when the chute opens - listen to your radio as you still have to land it!\n\nOnce down watch for jumpers and planes landing, get back to the hangar (or where ever u supposed to be) then pat yourself on the back ... you have done a special (although not difficult) thing.\n\nBlue Skies =8-)
185546
Alright, well I dont know if you are thinking about joining the Marines or what, but I will tell you about my experience. I just recieved a medical retirement from the Marine Corps about 6 months ago. I was in for 3years 10 months and 8 days, and did 2 trips to Iraq as a grunt Machinegunner. I will tell you this. The Marine infantry is a different world from the rest of the US military. You fight tooth and nail for everything you get. We live in the worst barracks, have the worst food, and the least time of of anyone in the military excluding SF. We get treated like crap by our own command too. But, we are the ONLY ones that actually deserve the title of US Marines. All the pencil pushers and female wanna be's should have a Navy title and leave the word Marine for the trigger pullers. Tankers, you pull triggers too right, so dont get mad. Grunts live by tanks. Anyway, a good experience, but if one goes the route I am talking about, he'll come out crazy. Oh yeah, they retired me because I took a piece of schrapnel to the brain in iraq. \n                Oorah    Semper Fi
625116
It depends on what you & the Army decide to do.\nBoot camp is 13 weeks & infantry school is 6 weeks.\nIf you go in to Officer Training (as college op),\nmy son has had everything from boot camp, BOLC, IOBC, Marksman, Jump School, Ranger School (he has 2 weeks left)\nhe will have been trained for 78 weeks. A long time.\nHe graduates from Ranger school in 2 weeks & leaves in 4 weeks for Afghanistan to lead his men who are already there under command of his Sgt. ( He is a Lt. - due to be Captain in Dec.) So training can vary alot in the Army.
268307
I went to Ft Jackson SC in modern buildings that have males and females in attached wings but mess hall is also in another wing. To make your bed you tuck sheets in tight and have hospital corners. Physical Training is about 2 hours a day starting at 0530 then you eat for 10 minutes then you shower, shave, brush teeth, and change uniforms. Classroom training for 2 hours (you do not want to fall asleep in there just see what your DI (Drill Instructor) will make you do. Weapons training on a firing range shooting targets up to 300 yds away. Wash your clothes at night road march on base and cattle car transportation in field over 10 miles from barracks. 6 weeks of the best training in my life and I lost 10 pounds. I also run the two mile in 15.30 no fraternizing in basic training but you wait until AT (Advanced Training ) which I recommend right after BT (Basic Training) when you are still in good shape. I served for 8 years in ARNG MN/WI then got honorable discharge. Be all that you can be.
47143
I EAS'ed in May, 2005.  I am currently finsihing college and have a very nice beard.  My time is my own and I do what I wish (no training days, no formations, no JOB/wall locker inspections.  I "PT" more than I did when I was in, but now it is because I want to, not because I have to.  I was an MP and worked about 60+ hours a week.  It is great being a civilian.....EXCEPT I really miss it.  For everything I hated about the Corps, I am now finding there is something I Love and now miss.  My wife and I have no medical insurance, no BAH, nothing.  The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, I know.  But I seriously am considering getting back in (but probably OCS).  \nDo whatever you wish, but please take into consideration all that I have mentioned, and more, if you have not already.  Or course, if you do get out, you can always go back.
871668
Glad to be of some assistance in your quest and here\nare some websites that might be of interest to you. Hope\nthese will help.http://www.armybasic.homestead.com/basic.html\nhttp://www.baseops.net/basictraining/army.html\nhttp://www.armybasic.org/portal/index.php\nUS Army basic training is a nine-week course and is very intense training where you will learn the fundamental skills of being a soldier. Good Luck if you would like to join up with a career with the US ARMY. US Army (RET)\n21 years.
999455
I went to basic in fort jackson....i went on june 2nd 2004. Dont bring a damn thing.....When you get there...they give you a 'smart card' and they make you buy shoes...clothes..socks..etc. Keep in mind everything you bring you will be holding with your arms straight out for atleast an hour... so dont buy anything. Try to be what we call'high speed' dont kiss ass..and DONT ASSUME THE DRILL SERGEANTS LIKE YOU..BUT do everything your told to the best of your ability and as fast as possible. Try to become the bay leader or the platoon leader. Work your ass off in pt and dont cry or whine. Whether you like the training..(rifle,landnav,bayonette courses..etc) or not have fun with it but dont smile. Say YES DRILL SEARGEANT , NO DRILL SERGEANT as loud as possible. Keep your area clean and learn how to do hospital corners on your bed BEFORE you go to basic. Start drinking plenty of water now....youll have what is called force hydration where you have to drink 2 qts so you might as well start now so you dont get sick. Make sure your 'battle buddies' dont fuck up...stay on them even if they hate you tellin them what to do itll look good on your part and youll have a smoother ride. Be aware that theyre will be some 'crazies' when you get there...people will try to pull some bullsh it and kill themselves, run away, talk back....just ignore them and do what your supposed to do. The red phase is the worst. Oh and once you get to the blue phase ( last phase) youll be right back to red phase...they like to mind fu ck you like that. Dont stress it though. Youlll learn to like the chow...no soda or dessert but youll be alright...umm if you have anymore questions you can message me on im whatever496@yahoo.com
166211
First let me answer why no one is answering. Too scared to have been in the Army.\n\nNOW. The real quesiton. I have been in the Army for 8 years and about to finish my enlistment. Sometimes I hated it. Sometime I wouldn't give anything to change my being in. The Army is just like anything else you do. It's what you make it.\n\nBasic sucked. And it should. It should make you taste what war is like. And that little invention of Clinton's-- the Stress Cards were a joke.\n\nAIT was no picnic either. I was in Ft. Lee which is close to my home town. I guess it could have been worse and it wasn't as bad as Basic.\n\nMy career wasn't bad. A year in Kuwait that was better than it seemed at the time. And I made some friends for life.\n\nI joined for no particular reason. But after I took my oath I realized that I was swearing to protect what so many gave their lives to secure for us and I wanted to secure it for future generations.