Know the communication rules. Your family can use the Red Cross or the IADT Coordinator for emergencies, and they can send mail and care packages. However, there are no visits permitted during BCT until Graduation Day.
During the 7.5 weeks while your loved one is at BMT, he/she will be authorized to use his/her cell phone or pay phones to make outgoing calls to family members. Trainees are encouraged to maintain their cell phone service while at BMT and to bring a calling card.
So, it's better to wait until your recruit finishes basic before you send any packages. Ordinary mail, however, is always allowed. A letter from home can encourage your recruit during the demands of basic training. If you do send a letter, use a plain piece of paper and an envelope.
Basic Training
While family members are free to move to the same area, they will not be allowed to see the soldier any more often than if they lived far away. Visitation during basic training is only allowed for family day and graduation.
Is there a limit on the number of people who can attend a family day or graduation ceremony? No there isn't a limit. Soldiers may have as many guests (family and friends) as they want attend these events.
Happy Birthday to your soldier. Unfortunately for your birthday celebration plans, I have bad news: There is no Army-wide policy that says he gets his birthday off. It sounds like your husband may have been given his birthday off in the past.
There's no way out of communal showers. They're required. Everyone in your barracks will enter the shower room assigned to your barracks when commanded. The shower area is one large tiled room with multiple shower heads along the walls.
Marine Corps Recruit Training is the longest, most demanding military basic training, consisting of more than 70 “training days” in a period of 13 weeks. Unlike other boot camps, there are no weekends off and you cannot leave the base.
You will be able to move with your spouse when they are done with basic training and school. When you join the service, you have to leave your family behind until you complete your basic training and schools. After that, your family will be able to join you on your duty assignments.
Mail call is usually every evening, Monday through Saturday. At the end of the duty day, the drill instructor will enter the barracks, call out names and pass out mail. You're then usually granted about one hour of free time to read your mail.
Are cell phones allowed in Basic Training? There are no cell phones allowed in Basic Training. This is a consistent rule for all of the military branches: Do not expect your service member to be able to call you, text you, or receive your messages when they are in Basic Training.
Pocketknives, firearms, ammunition, fireworks, clubs, batons, brass knuckles, straight razors, ice picks and so on are not allowed. Tobacco products and lighters. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, tobacco, chewing tobacco, disposable lighters and lighter fluid will be confiscated when you arrive at basic training.
Sleeping arrangements during Basic Training may differ depending on where you're at. Generally, you'll either bunk in a bay containing about 40 people or in a small room with three to six others. You can expect to get between seven and eight hours of sleep.
Typically, on Family Day, Graduating Soldiers are granted a one day, on-post pass for the afternoon. During this time, visitors may leave post and re-enter. However, your soldier cannot go off-post with you and must remain on the installation in accordance with the guidance given by their unit.
Getting That Morning Wake-Up Call
In military basic training, there's no such thing as sleeping in. You'll get up at 5 a.m. every single day. Waking up in the morning is an adjustment process that's the same for every single basic training class.
Crying during USMC boot camp is not uncommon and may occur due to the stress of training. However, recruits are expected to quickly regain composure and continue with their training, as showing prolonged emotional vulnerability may result in disciplinary action or dismissal from the program.
Basic Training for Women in the US Army is an exciting and challenging experience that is designed to prepare women for a rewarding career in the military. Basic training is the foundation of a soldier's career, and it is where women learn the essential skills and knowledge needed to serve their country.
The Army is the only branch of the military that honors the Holiday Block Leave for all recruits who are in basic training. This allows the drill sergeants and instructors to have a break during Christmas and prepare to come back for the New Year ready to train.
Army Basic Training Red Phase
Red phase is the starting phase and is typically considered the hardest part of training. The entire phase, which is 3 weeks long, is devoted to constant calisthenic exercises, and you will be spending much of your time in the push-up position.
One of the most common techniques that drill sergeants use to wake up their soldiers is shouting. They may bellow in their faces, bark out commands, or simply yell at the top of their lungs to get their attention.
Women do not have to shave their heads as recruits or cadets in basic training. In fact, there are military regulations in some branches such as the U.S. Army stating that women cannot shave their heads. However, just like male enlistees and cadets, there are haircut requirements for female service members.
Bathing requirements in Field Manual (FM) 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation, state that optimally, Soldiers should have access to a shower or bath every day, or at least once every week for good personal hygiene.
The total running time of this kind of shower can last less than two minutes – using an initial thirty seconds or so to get wet, followed by shutting off the water, using soap and shampoo and lathering, then rinsing for a minute or less.