You can feel that joining the military is a ?strong? decision and obviously a good one. For doing so, it is better you are aware of the requirements and the military basic training you need to undergo before you are commissioned. The mental and physical requirements for this training is intense, in other words you need to be ?tough? both physically and mentally.
The basic training workouts can be called a ?Journey? a civilian needs to take to become an army soldier. You are sure to be rattled with different emotions when you start the basic training, but you need to make sure of a strong resolve as there is no way you can give up. There is no way you can wait for the first day of the training as it can be extremely taxing. Getting mentally prepared and physically fir can be considered the initial step for preparing for the daily routine in military.
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Goal Before you go for Basic Training
You need to be confident before your basic training starts and also in a physically good shape. Try not to overdo the exercise bit for getting yourself into a good shape physically, but, instead focus with your mind and body and get prepared. During the training period you might experience disturbed sleep, fatigue, weakness, irritability, a low in the immunity, irritability and lot more. This can be the cause of an injury. Make sure you address any injury which you have got before the training, like not neglecting and taking this lightly but consulting your physical therapist or physician.
Preparation for the Training
You need to work and get prepared for the four week long course of training. Concentrate on improving your habits like giving up on smoking, chewing tobacco or partying too hard. There are many of us who feel the urge to indulge in all our vices before we adapt to the discipline in the military. Eliminating habits which are harmful and a disciplined routine for workouts can be of a great help.
Preparation for the Basic Training Week
Basic Training Week 1
You can try going to bed at 9 pm and make this a habit so that you are up and about for your daily workout at 5 am. Once you get into basic training you will be forced to retire early and wake up early, so making this a habit beforehand can be beneficial. Remember to do your workouts early morning on an empty stomach as this is the way it goes for your basic training. Make sure to drink water without craving for coffee, tea or any other morning drink which you are accustomed to.
Basic Training Week 2
In the second week make sure you are able to get off junk food, be it cookies, chips or any such tempting food. This can be a big help during the training period as you will be strong enough to stay away from all such temptations.
Basic Training Week 3
In the third week, concentrate on the calories and make sure you do not cross the 500 mark. If you can work it out lesser than this it is always better. Your goal is to get your body getting used to less calories. You need to be aware that you will be required to lug around equipment during the basic training and extra calories can make this difficult.
Basic Training Week 4
Focus on what you have been doing with an additional focus on the running and bodyweight exercises. You will need to do a certain amount of push-ups and sit-ups besides walking and running which can be increased gradually? like you can start of by running for 1 mile for four days in the first week and increase this gradually till you can run for 2 miles at the end of the third week. The same applies to walking.
The Breakdown of the Basic Training
You will get awareness of the fact that besides physical fitness it is your growth mentally that will bring you to the level of a soldier. As mentioned earlier, you will require confidence along with courage to move forward into a new life where you cannot even think of luxuries but only on necessities. You need to have your first check list ready. Your baggage requires just one day of basic clothing with one pair of white socks which are of calf-length without any logos, colour bands or designs, three sets of underwear and one pair of shoes which can be termed ?comfortable?. You can carry a gym bag or a small suitcase and nothing more than this.
Different Phases of Basic Training
Though you find each branch being different, there are phases which you will have to go through during the transformation for basic training.
1. Orientation
Your uniform will be given to you. You need to cut your hair. You will get to learn about the history of the military branch you have opted for, along with their values. There might have been thousands of soldiers who have started off on the same footing but you will notice that all do not get there.
2. Daily Discipline Routine
Drill instructors at this time will try to turn the people who are recruited into a platoon who is unified so as to enforce teamwork and discipline. You might be scrutinized for details for which you have never really bothered in your civilian life.
3. Physical Combat
You will find that in most of the branches you will be taught and taken through techniques for hand-to-hand combat and also martial arts.
4. Course for Confidence
This course differs in the different branches but you find that the instructors push the team of recruits to overcome obstacles and work together, leaving no one behind. You need to overcome your fear and act.
5. Hours of Mental and Physical Challenges
Your physical and mental state will be challenged with wake-up calls in the middle of the night and you will need to perform with little sleep and probably, no food. You find your intake of carb and your eight hours of sleep get disrupted. You will be required to act as a team and fall apart or pull together knowing that winning is together and if one fail this failure is considered a failure of the whole team.
6. Physical tests
With each branch in the military having their own tests for physical fitness which can determine your aptitude physically, you will be subjected to these tests during the training time. This can be a big help in keeping fit overall and there is a good enough scope for improvement.
Daily Routine Once you are Commissioned
You can say there is no fixed daily routine in the life of a soldier. It is always exciting and different. You will definitely get many opportunities for travelling but life at the base is equally exciting and fun, with good food, lavish parties and a lot of recreation facilities along with entertainment. Though each day might be different, you can expect:
1. 6 am: Breakfast which might consist of eggs, bacon, cereal, coffee and croissants
2. 7.30 am: A work out which a jog for five-kilometres
3. 9 am: You start off the day?s work.
4. 12 noon: This is lunch time which might consist of fruits, salads lamb rack cold drinks. This can be followed by a game of football or any other sport you are inclined towards.
5. 4.30 pm: You can say this is the end of the day where work is concerned and you can opt to go for a swim or relax.
6. 6pm: This is dinner time with coffee and a cozy chat with your team mates.
Daily Routine in general
A soldier?s life is not very different to a civilian?s life, in the sense, you eat, sleep, shop, entertain and worship as you have always been doing. You find hospitals to take care of your health and vets to take care of your pets. You might find the life here better as to what you experienced as a civilian. One advantage you can consider is the community which is around you in the military life. Here, families are encouraged to support each other and the networks of families who have undergone similar changes seem to understand your problems related to change better. It is easier to make friends here and these friendships seem to last lifelong.
The daily routine in accordance to your duty
Your working conditions differ in accordance to the role you are assigned. You may be working on the base camp where you do the routine work like any other office, and may get free in the evenings to catch up with friends or go for some sporting activities. You may also face challenging conditions if you are given the duty of resolving a conflict in a war area or assist in projects connected to humanitarian problems or even helping disaster management at some place. As said, there is no typical day in the military routine.
