2021 Army Basic Training Ft. Jackson Explained

[@peterburr77]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and offer words of encouragement to new recruits. I arrived for basic training at Fort Jackson on June 21st 1988. A soldier leaving Fort Jackson the same day I arrived took the time to share his experiences and offer words of encouragement and it meant a lot to me. 32 years apart and my experience at Fort Jackson was nearly identical to yours - your advice is spot-on. Some things never change, and that includes the spirit of camaraderie that members of the Armed Forces feel for everyone from their oldest buddies to the random new recruit on their first day of basic.

[@richardgladstone8975]

Great insight. I graduated in June 2003 from Fort Jackson. Interesting to hear that it is pretty much the same. Brings back a lot of memories. Good luck to you in your career.

[@ColeAlanFF]

Very cool..I also will have many of those memories for forever!

[@CJGfarm]

My daughter just shipped to Fort Jackson on Monday June 29, 2020 for an expected BCT start date of July 3rd. Due to covid, she had to be at our local National Guard Base at 4am. Which meant she had to get up at 2:30am to have enough time to shower and drive to the base. From the base, all the recruits boarded a van and headed to MEPS for covid screening. Which took from 6am til noontime. She had to answer questions about possible covid exposure and had her temperature taken. Then it was onto the airport. Her flight was from 3:00pm with a 6:30pm arrival time in Atlanta, the recruits were gathered up and sent on a bus for a 3.5 hour ride to Ft. Jackson. They immediately started in-processsing which took all night. There was no time to sleep until after lunch, and it was just a short nap. That's 48 hours without sleep. She also had trouble sleeping the night before she left, so she actually may have gone close to 70 hours without sleep. Not a great way to start BCT!! They are testing all recruits for covid when you arrive at Ft. Jackson, which she said was miserably painful. She said one person tested positive and that person was immediately pulled and sent 'somewhere'. Do yourself a favor, do everything you can to show up healthy (no covid) and get lots of sleep the night before. Also bring a neck pillow (buy an inflatable one that won't take up much space when you get there) or rolled up sweatshirt to help you sleep on the plane or bus.

[@charlesfaulkner8653]

Excellent job on explaining BCT!

[@pete4739]

as an army vet i have lots of respect for the young people who chose to serve, but having gone through basic ay FT. Benning in 94 this sounds like a summer camp now more than basic training. I wish everyone going to basic lots of luck!

[@ColeAlanFF]

Benning in 94 was a different Army no doubt.

[@josephhead3358]

I’m leaving for fort Jackson July 28th This video really helped thanks man

[@nickarthur6422]

Yo man I leave July 28th too! Where are you from? Got a Social media we can talk on?

[@marsmarshall905]

My son left the same day. His name is Troy Hinzpeter. you may see him.

[@daviddumas5503]

Yo howd it go

[@psychokinesis878]

That's crazy, I got there March 3rd and graduated May 14th. Had the freaking time of my life

[@ColeAlanFF]

C Co 161

[@psychokinesis878]

@@ColeAlanFF nice! I was Delta co 2020! Covid had just started smh

[@walkerdarin2003]

Heading out August for BCT and OCS in October. Fantastic info. Appreciate it.

[@ColeAlanFF]

Good luck! Not too hot, not too cold.

[@jennifernace7630]

MRE arent hard to figure out. The plastic bag you add water to it n put your pouch in. Sometimes youll get M&M in the bag. I work on base with the DS and WO also Chaps and basic is only hard according to them if they dont see you pushing yourself. You joined the army for personal experience and self discipline not just for a check

[@friedrichm2076]

So just to clarify you don't qualify on the iron sights but instead qualify on the red dot? Had you been in one of the 'starships' or one of the older battalions/barracks'?

[@ColeAlanFF]

You qualify with both then they take your best score! My barracks were built in 2012 but they were not one of the starships. Can't complain, though!

[@friedrichm2076]

@@ColeAlanFF Oh nice, so if you get eagle eye with the red dot they'll use that score. Oh? What battalion were you in?

[@ColeAlanFF]

@@friedrichm2076 Yep. We had our top shot get 38 with iron and 40 with red dot. C 1-61!

[@friedrichm2076]

@@ColeAlanFF Good shit! How long till they have you leave for your AIT? Or is it being postponed due to this wonderful virus?

[@ColeAlanFF]

@@friedrichm2076 It was postponed, BUT being 09S on the NG side I was one of the few (9 in my company) to leave on time!

[@sierrawhite2210]

This was very imformative. I ship out August 24th and I was wondering if the company you’ll be in is determined by your MOS or no?

[@ColeAlanFF]

Nope! You will have other people with your MOS with you but also a ton of others as well. If you are going to Ft Jackson you will be with mostly non-combat MOS's

[@Attackhop3Playz]

Sierra I’ll see you at basic training! You and I ship out the same day!

[@michaelgraves1985]

I just got back and at reception we didn’t get to go to our bays until 30 minutes before morning formation

[@ColeAlanFF]

That is rough. I think most people end up getting little-to-no sleep that first night!

[@tylerray8381]

Thanks for the video. I ship out Oct. 5th as an 09W to Jackson. One thing I’ve always wondered. What happens if you have to go to the bathroom? Is that looked down upon? Lol i don’t wanna get into a bad position to have to take a dump. 😂

[@ColeAlanFF]

Congrats! They have porta-johns everywhere you go away from the company area. Look forward to the art on the inside of them. If you are in the company area or classroom you can ask to use the "latrine" and they have to let you go (with a battle buddy)!

[@jaspergreenbay]

What can you send to your soldier at Fort Jackson? There are conflicting lists on the Internet. My girl just arrived three days ago. Her feet are killing her!

[@ColeAlanFF]

They will give her running shoes and she will have a chance to get insoles from the PX after a couple weeks! Is it blisters or soreness?

[@halezbelz]

So you don’t get to call anyone until week six other than that one call you mentioned? I leave this Sunday and I’m not rlly in shape and curious when i will be a belt o speak on the phone to family

[@ColeAlanFF]

You will get a scripted phone call on day 2-3. Then its possible you get a phone call after week 3 but depends on how squared away your company is.

[@vgetrxkt]

u didn't talked about the end of cycle test, what happens if you don't pass it twice

[@ColeAlanFF]

They will make sure you pass it, give you extra help to not let you fail

[@vgetrxkt]

@@ColeAlanFF thank you! I was afraid of the assembling and disassemble m16 or m4 I appreciate it! And sorry to bother you!

[@fisher2876]

Thanks I ship out on oct 18

[@ColeAlanFF]

Good luck!

[@nonebuz2763]

How many height obstacles do they have at fort Jackson I’m terrified of heights so I want to know what to expect

[@ColeAlanFF]

none buz victory tower repelling is the only thing you’ll have to worry about! It’s too easy

[@nonebuz2763]

Cole Alan FF I don’t do heights I won’t even be able to make it to the top so I will refuse to do this

[@nonebuz2763]

Cole Alan FF what will happen if I refuse to do thi

[@ColeAlanFF]

none buz it’s a required event. So they will strap you in and make you do it. Every time there are people the struggle and a few will cry but everyone gets over their fear! You got this!!

[@nonebuz2763]

Cole Alan FF yea I’m not joining anymore bcus of this I’m good I rather not waste my time go thru the process and I will refuse to do it so I’m good

[@mariom8137]

I heard that the forge is 40 miles and 4 days and 3 nights. Is this true?

[@ColeAlanFF]

Yes it’s roughy that. You will leave late at night and ruck 10ish miles until about 3am. Then you get to sleep until about 6am. You will do various battle drills throughout the day then ruck to your new sleeping site in the evening. So total it is about 40 miles but it doesn’t really feel like it

[@mariom8137]

@@ColeAlanFF okay thanks for the reply. I leave for BCT February 1st to Ft. Jackson

[@ColeAlanFF]

@@mariom8137 that will be a long day for you. Use your food vouchers at the airport before you get to SC because once you get to Columbia you will not get to eat. They will have you standing in formation in the airport.

[@toyag638]

Thanks for sharing, are you active or reserved?

[@ColeAlanFF]

National Guard! :)

[@toyag638]

Cole Alan Nice, MOS?

[@ColeAlanFF]

@@toyag638 09S! Are you going in?

[@toyag638]

Cole Alan Yes once I pass the asvab next month.

[@ColeAlanFF]

Toya G Hey congrats! Active or reserves?

[@clearthought9736]

Did covid-19 affect your training? Is the gas chamber still suspended bc of it? Hoping to leave in June.

[@clearthought9736]

Also including combatives I heard was suspended too.

[@ColeAlanFF]

@@clearthought9736 Covid ramped up the last few weeks of training. We had already completed the gas chamber. We did do basic combatives but not advanced combatives due to corona. You head that way in June?

[@kevind.4922]

so how long is basic training and AiT all together? or it varies?

[@ColeAlanFF]

kevin D your basic is 10 weeks and AIT varies by MOS between 2-4 months!

[@kevind.4922]

@@ColeAlanFF is the same pay as boothcamp ? the AiT... i leave in 2 weeks reserve..

[@ColeAlanFF]

Kayy Stackz yes same pay for basic and AIT unless you get promoted at Basic..about 5-10 of the top scoring people will get promoted

[@josephhead3358]

Between basic and ait did you get to go home?

[@ColeAlanFF]

Nope. It is designed to be a smooth transition with limited time between the two. COVID may shake things up a little, however you will not get to go home.

[@raadhejazin2056]

E4 nice

[@Tahassaleem]

Can you bring your own running shoes ?

[@ColeAlanFF]

Yes - bring them. They will issue running shoes to match everyone, but if those shoes end up giving you blisters than you can get a profile to wear your own soft shoes during PT.

[@kevinturner9451]

How many phone calls did you get total throughout your 10 weeks?

[@ColeAlanFF]

Two fifteen minute phone calls then phone access all day on family day (family was not allowed to be there due to covid), this does not include the phone call you make when you arrive and are in-processing

[@gaged8744]

Dress blues? I thought they switched to Greens&Pinks?

[@ColeAlanFF]

Transitioning across the entire Army will take a few years.

[@charlesmoon4290]

did c-8-2 oct 1978

[@ColeAlanFF]

...different Army than back then.

[@mattr.9167]

We didn't sing cadence at all my bct. Straight up.

[@ColeAlanFF]

No Blue Phase for you guys?

[@earleyp2790]

Did you see a lot of older guys or other 09s in your company?

[@ColeAlanFF]

Hey Peter - Yes I was one of the youngest at 23. Most were 25-30 with a couple around 32.

[@bradenvc8297]

I leave august 8th for Jackson

[@ColeAlanFF]

Braden VC good luck! Over before you know it