Blueblood1
Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2015
- Messages
- 133
There is some good info scattered around, but was hoping to start a thread to help get newbies some sound advice from current cadets/recent grads as to two questions: 1) Top three suggestions to prepare for BCT; 2) Top three suggestions to get though BCT. Here are my suggestions, for what they are worth, being neither a cadet nor an academy grad (much less recent).
Preparation:
1. Keep working out. Do a solid cardio routine daily, keep on the push-ups and pull-ups. Weekends and after graduation, do a few double/triple sessions. Work out until you do not want to any more, give yourself a couple of hours and do it again. Get your body used to recovering, with no time to recover. Having said that, do not get to out of control and hurt yourself, and back off a few days before induction to give yourself some rest.
2. Know why you are going. You will be tested, and have occasion to forget this. Make sure you have convinced yourself before getting to AFA. You may need to rely on some blind faith from time to time.
3. Understand that no matter how well you think you are prepared, you won't be. Expect to be pushed beyond what you think your limits are -- you will be, and that is the point.
4. OK broke my own rule -- here is a fourth. Have fun. You have a few more weeks as a senior, and a few weeks of summer after that. Make sure to enjoy it.
Getting through:
1. Take it day by day. Six weeks does not seem like a longtime. It will seem a lot longer. Take it one small slice at a time and count off to short term goals so you know you are making progress.
2. Rely on your unit. Not saying wimp out, fall behind or let others do it for you (it will be noticed and not be a good thing anyway). However, you are part of a squadron for a reason. Strengthen and support each other you can be competitive and supportive at the same time. You will get some of your strongest relationships by sharing these experiences and supporting each other.
3. Know that many before you have met the challenge. It can be done, and you will do it too. It is part of realizing the goal.
I am sure that there are many out there that have better suggestions than mine.
Preparation:
1. Keep working out. Do a solid cardio routine daily, keep on the push-ups and pull-ups. Weekends and after graduation, do a few double/triple sessions. Work out until you do not want to any more, give yourself a couple of hours and do it again. Get your body used to recovering, with no time to recover. Having said that, do not get to out of control and hurt yourself, and back off a few days before induction to give yourself some rest.
2. Know why you are going. You will be tested, and have occasion to forget this. Make sure you have convinced yourself before getting to AFA. You may need to rely on some blind faith from time to time.
3. Understand that no matter how well you think you are prepared, you won't be. Expect to be pushed beyond what you think your limits are -- you will be, and that is the point.
4. OK broke my own rule -- here is a fourth. Have fun. You have a few more weeks as a senior, and a few weeks of summer after that. Make sure to enjoy it.
Getting through:
1. Take it day by day. Six weeks does not seem like a longtime. It will seem a lot longer. Take it one small slice at a time and count off to short term goals so you know you are making progress.
2. Rely on your unit. Not saying wimp out, fall behind or let others do it for you (it will be noticed and not be a good thing anyway). However, you are part of a squadron for a reason. Strengthen and support each other you can be competitive and supportive at the same time. You will get some of your strongest relationships by sharing these experiences and supporting each other.
3. Know that many before you have met the challenge. It can be done, and you will do it too. It is part of realizing the goal.
I am sure that there are many out there that have better suggestions than mine.