How to Prepare for Boot Camp (Part 1)

[August 24, 2017]  This is a “senior leader” blog and how to improve upon leadership skills necessary for success.  However, the most common request I get from readers is how to get ready for military life … specifically enlisted boot camp and the officer basic course.  In the past I wrote about the 10 things you should know before joining the Army (see link here).  Today will be about preparing for military Boot Camp.

Each of the military services has a Boot Camp (called by different names) that has one mission; to successfully turn civilians into military members.  For the vast majority of people who go through the experience, it is like nothing they ever expected and while it was a difficult experience few regretted the decision to go.  Forever, they will remember the folks they trained within their boot camp cycle.

It was a long time ago that I was a Boy Scout but I always remember their motto “be prepared.”  When I attended the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training (boot camp) in 1974, everyone was completely unprepared.  Later as an enlisted man I would become a Drill Sergeant and gained a better appreciation for those who came prepared.

With the Internet and better available information, no one should enter boot camp as physically and mentally ill-equipped as we were.  There is simply no excuse.  Here are the key was to prepare for military boot camp:

1. Mental Preparation: The most important part of getting ready is to get one’s head in the game.  Of all the mental aspects of preparation, having the determination to finish stands alone whether the trainee will finish or quit.  Reading up on one’s military branch of choice is helpful (learning as much as possible) but remember that some really dumb people have made it.  No matter how tough, monotonous, frightening, or frustrating, always have the will to never give up.
2. Physical Preparation: This one should be a no-brainer.  While no military service expects a trainee to show up in top physical condition, it is only pertinent to get the physical fitness standards and practice them getting in shape.  Also, one should also avoid injury and care for any current (or recent past) injuries that would hinder physical performance.
3. Spiritual Preparation: There is a direct relationship between religiousness and those who complete boot camp successfully and do so with minimal problems.  Never give up on ones faith, go to the religious service of your choice, and remember that those who are strongest mentally are also those who have a moral, ethical, and spiritual foundation.
4. Family Preparation: Everyone is part of a family whether they want to be or not.  Familial support is another indicator of success at boot camp.  When one’s family willingly gives their blessings and is available for talks, the trainee is more likely to complete boot camp with fewer problems and less likelihood of dropping out.  Discuss your decision to join the military with your family and get their approval.
5. Social Preparation: Similar to family support, the approval of one’s friends and acquaintances will go a long way to giving the trainee the needed mental motivation to complete boot camp.  It is also proven that the better one has developed their social skills the easier boot camp will be for them.

In Part 2 of this series I will discuss detailed ways to ensure you are ready to enter any of the U.S. military boot camps.  While there are many articles written about the transition from civilian to military member, few will acknowledge the link between the mental, physical, spiritual, family, and social connections to succeeding while in Boot Camp.

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