Typical Basic Day

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soccermii

5-Year Member
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Nov 6, 2011
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Everybody on this forum has been wonderful!! I was wondering if anybody could tell me what a typical Basic day is like. I have heard "lots of running" and "tiring", but I don't know what a day is actually like. When do you wake up? What do you do after that? And after that? etc...

THANK YOU!!:bounce1:
 
soccermii said:
Everybody on this forum has been wonderful!! I was wondering if anybody could tell me what a typical Basic day is like. I have heard "lots of running" and "tiring", but I don't know what a day is actually like. When do you wake up? What do you do after that? And after that? etc...

THANK YOU!!:bounce1:
Click to expand...

Best to show you with some examples:
BCT 1:
BCT 2:

Do some more youtube searches. There are lots of videos out there showing you what to expect ... and yet, it's still different. I've been told, you won't understand until you experience it.
 
1st BCT: Wake up early, PT, eat, drill, pt in the halls most likely, more drill, get assigned uniforms, etc etc... each day is different
2nd BCT: Wake up early, PT, eat, fun courses, eat, more fun courses, pt with your squadron, wash, rinse, repeat :)
 
Soccermii, I'm a Doolie (freshman) at USAFA right now, so my memories of BCT are still fairly fresh. My first morning wake up was memorable, but everything kind of just merges into one big continuous memory of BCT. You will always be physically and mentally drained. You'll never feel like you got enough sleep the night before, but have to move quickly. There's a lot of PT, but BCT can be looked at as a mental game. If you can push yourself to not quite, you should do just fine. Like CadCandMateus said, everyday is different, but a general trend of 1st Beast is an early wakeup, PT, march to breakfast, get uniforms issued to you, PT, drill practice, PT, march to lunch, more drill practice, PT, possibly an honor lesson, PT, dinner, briefing, PT, shower, sleep, repeat.
 
If you can, try and keep notes daily (even just a few word) of what happens during your basic. I still have my basic journal and it has some really funny stuff in there, and I would never have been able to remember individual days without it.
 
Do you have time to write letters? I think I would die if I can't have at least a tiny bit of communication with loved ones!!!
 
You'll have time. Whether you want to spend it writing letters or sleeping is up to you, though.
 
Great idea! My family did that for my big brother when he went to basic in the Army; it worked out great! And for the first time in his life, he actually took the time to contact us! We realized how much being in such a stressful environment makes you value your family!
 
baileydb said:
Great idea! My family did that for my big brother when he went to basic in the Army; it worked out great! And for the first time in his life, he actually took the time to contact us! We realized how much being in such a stressful environment makes you value your family!
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Yeah, we figured that time will be brief and this way she can still feel in contact and get the sleep she needs. We'll also write her through the Write2Them so she can get sort messages as well as letters. It should help with going through basic. At least I hope so.
 
Yes, I know when my brother received letters from home, it helped him tremendously, and he is kind of a tough guy, so I am sure your DD will really appreciate any letters she gets!
 
For those that are writing to their basics, there are a couple of rules. Make sure to address using "Basic <name>" not "Cadet <name>". They have not yet earned the right to be called a Cadet until Acceptance and the cadre will "gently" remind them of that.

Also, do NOT send:
-- pictures, images, etc. These are considered contraband and the letter will be confiscated (I learned that the hard way.)
-- packages. Wait until after Acceptance, otherwise they are confiscated (to be returned after Acceptance)
-- anything that can be used against them. Some cadre will read the letters out loud.

There's an invaluable service that I highly recommend: http://www.write2them.org/
You send emails, they collect them, print them and deliver them to your basic. Fastest way to get them letters! And you can just add to it throughout the day.
 
NathanClassOf18 said:
Soccermii, I'm a Doolie (freshman) at USAFA right now, so my memories of BCT are still fairly fresh. My first morning wake up was memorable, but everything kind of just merges into one big continuous memory of BCT. You will always be physically and mentally drained. You'll never feel like you got enough sleep the night before, but have to move quickly. There's a lot of PT, but BCT can be looked at as a mental game. If you can push yourself to not quite, you should do just fine. Like CadCandMateus said, everyday is different, but a general trend of 1st Beast is an early wakeup, PT, march to breakfast, get uniforms issued to you, PT, drill practice, PT, march to lunch, more drill practice, PT, possibly an honor lesson, PT, dinner, briefing, PT, shower, sleep, repeat.
Click to expand...

What do the PT sessions usually consist of? I assume plenty of push ups, but what other exercises? Also, how far are the runs in the morning, and do you still go on morning runs in Jack's?
 
A great idea for letters is a form letter that the basic can fill out. The best part of my day was _____. The worst_____. Today I learned to _______. etc, you get the idea. The tired basic can fill in the blank and mail home. Makes a mom (or dad) feel good. Mine also took to writing out the quotes he was supposed to memorize, inspirational and getting work done at the same time.
 
Our version of the fill in the blank letters were actually multiple choice...
1. The food here is: a) great b) eh c) please send snacks soon
2. I miss: a) my bed b) my privacy c) the dog d) all of the above

You get the idea. Circle the answers and place in pre-addressed, stamped envelope and mail. The cadre at CGA actually had letter writing time for the swabs...we got exactly 2 letters all summer, and they were read and re-read a hundred times. I think he chose sleep most of the time, which we encouraged him to do before he left. I think some of the pressure was relieved by letting him know that we understood if he was just too tired to write.

I also still have his swab summer journal, which was written in proper memo format, but in the third person. Pretty funny, but poignant too...his July 4th entry about how the holiday now held more meaning was particularly poignant.
 
Grizzly said:
What do the PT sessions usually consist of? I assume plenty of push ups, but what other exercises? Also, how far are the runs in the morning, and do you still go on morning runs in Jack's?
Click to expand...
Be ready for anything, because we're diverse and get bored doing the same exercise over and over. Can't tell you how "far" you might run since it varies on your cadre, just be prepared for anything from sprints to 4-5 miles. Flutter kicks, pull ups, Russian Twists, stair sprints, diamond push ups, jumping jacks, squats, wall sits, sit ups and more are all on the table for the cadre's use. Yes, you run in Jacks. Surprise!
 
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