Army: Basic Training + OCS question

[IowaHunter]

My SIL is entering Basic Training in July and OCS immediately afterward.

I'm seeking Do's and Don'ts while he is going through the two. Any words of wisdom are appreciated.

[NTex]

Tell her thanks for volunteering. We are the real 1% of Merica!!!!

From my experience in USAF
Don't volunteer for anything
The first few weeks you will do nothing right, even though it might be right
Remember BMT is a timed event and will end eventually

[foot91james]

do what shes asked don't mouth off and pass her pt test that's really it. keep it simple oh and don't tell them your going to OCS.

[IowaHunter]

Son in law.

Thanks so far. I'm sure it would be hard for a recruit to not talk about the second phase of his contract - the officer training. But I'll pass that on.

[NTex]

Sorry though you meant sister in law!! lol

[IowaHunter]

No sweat, my daughter is pumped that he's going into the Army and looking forward to their new military life.

[BirdRanger]

BCT is just be quiet, excel as best you can and be at the right place, right uniform, and when put in charge take charge.

OCS, TACs are high standard bearers, She will need to shine, PT, grades in school and performance. Biggest thing is she is being groomed to be a leader, so she needs to lead from the front, do as I do, not as I say.

Hope it helps, these are young men and women leading our great nations, so she has been made great by Mom and Dad, now the military will make her great in a totally different way.

[kumathebear]

I assume he's in basic at Ft Benning?? One of the best moments in my life was making the trip to my son's graduation at basic! It was simply impressive and made all there proud to be a TRUE, PATRIOTIC AMERICAN! Jake took the other route and volunteered several times. He was honored to run on the field first carrying the flag, then proceeded to Soldier Of the Month in Europe, more awards and now is the youngest Sgt. in in his troop. To each their own but BEST WISHES AND ADMIRATION FOR HIS SERVICE!! By the way he just returned from his first combat deployment safe and sound thank the Lord!

[3DW5]

Tell HIM thanks for his service and best of luck....

[Bluesman]

Basic? Keep a level head and show leadership skills. Make every effort to make PFC at the end of training. The promotion will go a long way in OCS.

[dustoffer]

"do as I do, not as I say"

This is one of the biggest tenets of leadership. A couple more I tried to live and command by are:

"Take care of the troops and they'll take care of me, and if I don't take care of them, they'll still take care of me but not in a good way"

"So you didn't have time to do it right, but you have time to do it over?" -- meaning set high standards and lead your soldiers to meet and/or exceed them.

"In achievement B is a passing grade" -- meaning perfection is not always acceptable if it comes at the expense of the soldiers--they have families too, and like to hunt and fish as well as you do.

"Health, welfare, safety, and security are non-negotiable"

[grizzman]

Don't correct a TAC officer if he/she mispronounces your name. I did and caught hell about it. Plus is he never got it wrong after that. Keep low to the radar during OCS.

[Dave]

At Basic keep his head down and mouth shut. The DS will recognize the 09 designator on his MOS and know he's going to OCS plus he'll go in as an E4 Specialist so it's hard not to stand out. Focus on PT, the rest will come.

OCS is a game for the most part. Learn the rules and you will learn to do more in 5 minutes than you ever thought possible. Fight the rules and you will hate it.

Again, focus on PT. Be able to max sit-ups ans push ups and score a 90 or better on the run. When you show up at a new unit the first thing your platoon is going to try is to smoke the new LT at morning PT. Usually this is lead by the junior NCOs. Being able to do everything the rest of the squad or platoon is doing and then some will set a tone immediately.

[IowaHunter]

Thanks gents - the input is very helpful.

Any comments for the better half once he's in?

[grizzman]

I don't know if it is applicable anymore, but learning the FM 22-5 Drill and Ceremonies will go a long way. I graduated from OCS in 1979 and I'm not sure if it is as important anymore, but it was in Phase 1 when I went through.