Re: How EASY is basic, anyway?
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Posted by Mark Bossi (M.A. Bossi, Esquire) from Toronto Ont Canada on February 17, 2021 at 12:34:19:
In Reply to: Re: How EASY is basic, anyway? posted by just a soldier on February 17, 2021 at 04:33:43:
As mentioned previously, it depends on your instructors, and their attitude.
Once upon a time when I ran a QL2/QL3 course, we emphasized teamwork above all else - another course running concurrently "had a slightly different focus' and pushed the candidates much, much harder in the beginning, but had to back off when so many quit or failed.
The final results were quite interesting - the other course graduated less than 33 per cent of their candidates, which meant that their parent units suffered from this failure in training.
Our course graduated about 85 per cent, eighteen of whom went on to finishing either first or second in their platoons that summer (and by the way, their summer instructors were Airborne - I doubt very much that they handed out any "easy" passes - and word got around that our graduates "had the right attitude").
So, advice for the beginner?
1. Make sure you've got the right attitude - be a team player, help others when they need help, and the others will help you when you need help - if you're a lone wolf, "... live by the sword, die by the sword ..." translates into "... if you keep to yourself, you'll end up all alone ..." (not a good thing).
2. Also, when in doubt - ask. There's no such thing as a dumb question.
3. If you're already physically fit, get fitter - if you're not physically fit, get fit. Set reasonable goals for yourself (i.e. learn to walk before running - it's harder with a rucksack, helmet, rifle and webbing), get a partner to work out with you, and stick with it - being fit pays off in the long run (suggested rules of thumb: increase your maximum number of pushups/situps/chinups gradually - do one more pushup and situp each day, do one more chinup each week - and while there's no substitute for running, don't wreck your knees - vary your exercise between running, bicycling, swimming, rowing, skating, skiing; whatever works - not everybody has to be a "greyhound" ...)
4. Have fun (otherwise, the Army isn't for you). Good Luck, and keep us posted on your progress.
Dileas.
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