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note: this comment may be offensive to people that find swearing and/or the army offensive. By proceeding you agree not to get your knickers in a knot Having p

note: this comment may be offensive to people that find swearing and/or the army offensive. By proceeding you agree not to get your knickers in a knot Having personally been through boot camp, and situations after that that made boot camp look like a day at the beach, let me provide some "amendments" to this nonsense. First, some perspective: Nothing you can do in civilian life is applicable to the "challenges" of combat, and therefore the experience of boot camp that is designed to prepare you combat. I'll make an exception for people fighting terminal diseases themselves, or helping their young child fight. Aside from that, recognized that your current challenge is not really compatible. That said, here is what you can truly learn from military training: 1. It can always, always, get worse. Way worse Appreciate the benefits of where you are at all times, and dwell on that, not on how shitty your situation is. 2. Follow fucking instructions. If you do not understand the instructions, ask for them to be clarified. Repeat until you do understand, regardless of how uncomfortable this is. Do not do something you don't properly understand. (Note: if you do this a lot, either you or your boss probably sucks at their job. Odds are it is you. Find a new job.) 3. Make sure your buddy is okay, even before you are okay. If everyone spends more time looking out for their buddies than they do looking out for themselves, everyone is actually stronger than any individual can be. You are as strong as the weakest member of the team. 4. Your mind will want to quit way before your body needs to. Ignore it. 5. That guy with all those stripes on his arm? He's been doing this shit forever. He's not perfect, but he knows a ton more than you do. Odds are he can help you if you listen to him, and ask him questions. 6. Smile. Bootcamp is often motherfucking funny, and no matter how bad it is, nobody is trying to actually kill you.

mrj 14y ago
Haha, thanks for that. I had the same thoughts reading TFA. I'd also add 7) Learn how to fight without holding back reserves. Fight with everything.
- run4yourlives 14y ago
  Ooh I like that one. I had to learn that PDQ. Good lesson for life too. Be slow to anger and strike, but when you do, make sure nobody is getting up.
hiddenfeatures 14y ago
Pretty awesome post and right to the point. Couldn't agree more to points 2 - 4. Regarding 5: Stripes == NCOs - right? Sorry, I'm in a different army I would personally add: 1b) No matter how bad the situation, chances are that you and your comrades will crack jokes about it within 3 months. (Probably doesn't always apply, but certainly in regards to bootcamp/exercise)
- pc86 14y ago
  Depends what he means by stripes. In the Marine Corps (the only branch I have experience with) enlisted will get a diagonal stripe (hash mark) on their forearm for ever 4 years of service. I believe that's what he's referring to. I think Army is one for every 3 years of service.
- run4yourlives 14y ago
  I was trying to be rather non-denominational :) here, but yes, essentially NCO's. Commonwealth Armies use chevrons, or "stripes" to the layman. Americans (except the USAF/Navy, for some reason) flip those upside down to be different. Other armies use different things, but basically, more == higher. Of course we also have crowns up here in Canada just to confuse new recruits. :-)
adolph 14y ago
Follow fucking instructions. This one is really important during the tear-gas part. I remember mistaking something the drill gestured (probably clear your masks) as remove masks and I got a bit extra. It was a very effective sinus clearing!
- run4yourlives 14y ago
  Heh, I think we've all been there in some way. Nothing like taking in a nice deep breath of CS to ruin your day.
cobrausn 14y ago
This mimics my boot camp experiences pretty close, although the article's example of 'You WILL be punished for what seems like something completely arbitrary at the time' rings true. I'm now convinced that you only need to meet the following requirement to be in the military and not have major problems - Do you know the correct answer when told? You'd be surprised how many people don't.
BSousa 14y ago
Can't really speak much as never been through bootcamp myself, but 3 doesn't sit well with me. There is a reason you should put your mask on a place before putting it on your 'neighbour' This is also drilled to paramedics/policemen/firemen over here. First make sure you are well and safe, only then move to help your victims/colleagues.
- run4yourlives 14y ago
  The difference is that on a battlefield, your life isn't any more paramount that anyone else's. As a first responder this is in fact the opposite - their life (because of their skills) is key. Of course it's not completely without applying your brainpower. Putting on your gas mask is done exactly as you describe - you first. Maintaining your fighting effectiveness is often the best way to help your unit out. But there are many times in combat where soldiers do things completely without self regard solely for the betterment of their friends. Read a few MOH or VC citations for examples of why this attitude is so prized.
  - BSousa 14y ago
    I'm not saying you are wrong. Just pointing out that sometimes looking after yourself first then helping your mates is more important (for example, if you and your buddy were both hurt, looking to see if you can easily control your bleeding so then you can focus 100% on your mate is better than going to your mate and then put both at risk as the blood loss starts to be a problem). Of course, since the only battlefield I have been was a paintball one, I do understand and respect your experience and advice.

mrj 14y ago

Haha, thanks for that. I had the same thoughts reading TFA. I'd also add 7) Learn how to fight without holding back reserves. Fight with everything.

run4yourlives 14y ago
Ooh I like that one. I had to learn that PDQ. Good lesson for life too. Be slow to anger and strike, but when you do, make sure nobody is getting up.

hiddenfeatures 14y ago

Pretty awesome post and right to the point. Couldn't agree more to points 2 - 4. Regarding 5: Stripes == NCOs - right? Sorry, I'm in a different army I would personally add: 1b) No matter how bad the situation, chances are that you and your comrades will crack jokes about it within 3 months. (Probably doesn't always apply, but certainly in regards to bootcamp/exercise)

pc86 14y ago
Depends what he means by stripes. In the Marine Corps (the only branch I have experience with) enlisted will get a diagonal stripe (hash mark) on their forearm for ever 4 years of service. I believe that's what he's referring to. I think Army is one for every 3 years of service.
run4yourlives 14y ago
I was trying to be rather non-denominational :) here, but yes, essentially NCO's. Commonwealth Armies use chevrons, or "stripes" to the layman. Americans (except the USAF/Navy, for some reason) flip those upside down to be different. Other armies use different things, but basically, more == higher. Of course we also have crowns up here in Canada just to confuse new recruits. :-)

adolph 14y ago

Follow fucking instructions. This one is really important during the tear-gas part. I remember mistaking something the drill gestured (probably clear your masks) as remove masks and I got a bit extra. It was a very effective sinus clearing!

run4yourlives 14y ago
Heh, I think we've all been there in some way. Nothing like taking in a nice deep breath of CS to ruin your day.

cobrausn 14y ago

This mimics my boot camp experiences pretty close, although the article's example of 'You WILL be punished for what seems like something completely arbitrary at the time' rings true. I'm now convinced that you only need to meet the following requirement to be in the military and not have major problems - Do you know the correct answer when told? You'd be surprised how many people don't.

BSousa 14y ago

Can't really speak much as never been through bootcamp myself, but 3 doesn't sit well with me. There is a reason you should put your mask on a place before putting it on your 'neighbour' This is also drilled to paramedics/policemen/firemen over here. First make sure you are well and safe, only then move to help your victims/colleagues.

run4yourlives 14y ago
The difference is that on a battlefield, your life isn't any more paramount that anyone else's. As a first responder this is in fact the opposite - their life (because of their skills) is key. Of course it's not completely without applying your brainpower. Putting on your gas mask is done exactly as you describe - you first. Maintaining your fighting effectiveness is often the best way to help your unit out. But there are many times in combat where soldiers do things completely without self regard solely for the betterment of their friends. Read a few MOH or VC citations for examples of why this attitude is so prized.
- BSousa 14y ago
  I'm not saying you are wrong. Just pointing out that sometimes looking after yourself first then helping your mates is more important (for example, if you and your buddy were both hurt, looking to see if you can easily control your bleeding so then you can focus 100% on your mate is better than going to your mate and then put both at risk as the blood loss starts to be a problem). Of course, since the only battlefield I have been was a paintball one, I do understand and respect your experience and advice.