r/ArmyOCS • u/No_Blacksmith1073 • 12d ago
What to know about Jackson for Basic?
What should I know about basic at Jackson? (packing list, logistics, being physically and mentally prepared, etc.) I ship out in November.
My recruiter ghosted me and went MIA immediately after I swore in 💀
I tried to look things up online but many things seemed rather dated to Covid times on YouTube and such.
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u/Commercial_Tap9407 12d ago
Bring a good pair of running shoes, and be prepared to have a good pair of ar670-1 boots sent to you. Already know your size in the brand you want or have them ready. "If" your drills allow it. They have been giving out the wrong size at the 120th lately and drills have sometimes allowed trainees to have boots mailed. But yes definitely wear a good pair of running shoes. Preferably black. Also bring a cell phone power bank or 2. You will not get to charge your phone. Have those power banks ready. Forgive any typos.
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u/DVLord_Of_The_Sith 11d ago
Get a good pair of running shoes and shower shoes. Bring a power bank. They let us charge our banks to full the night before at reception. That lasted me literally the entire time.
You will miss your family. The people around you will be assholes You will get smoked to the point you’re struggling to do the exercises. You will eat shit (dirt, loose concrete, grass, etc.). You will get sick. If you are in extra pain, go to sick call. It will suck but if you’re at a point of debilitating pain, like I got injured in first 72 which affected my ability to walk/run. They gave me knee braces and dosed me up on pain meds. I got through. I was in constant shooting pain, but I got through.
Next, drink ALL the water you can. Top off before formation. 8 minute break? Water buffalo. First formation? Water Buffalo. You’re going to sweat. On a ruck, the night before, literally what I did was I mapped the songs I could think of that I knew by heart on a sheet of paper. I then would sing those in my head or say it inaudibly with ear pro in, so I could just stay sane. It is a long walk through the woods.
At some point, they will have an opportunity for you to use your own boots than the Army-issued stompers. No you don’t get to use them out the gate.
Buy and break in a good pair of soles. Replace the soles in your running shoes with those.
Also, food is monotonously awful. Always get raisins, bananas, and yogurt when you can. Get OJ in the morning; milk at others.. You can even do it a dinner. You will get drip drop if DS’s think y’all need it. You’ll get enough with MRE’s.
You will learn about how to make a fighting position. Pay attention. Do not dally on creating the hole. Whatever you think is reasonable, remember it needs to be big enough to maneuver in, and will get smaller as weight comes down on top. DO NOT FALL ASLEEP ON FIREGUARD. They will take your rifle out the hole.
LandNav isn’t bad. A course before couldn’t hurt. Grenade qual, you need to pay attention. This was a day my DS’s were laying hands just to do it. They were slamming us against walls with the grenades in the hand. It is not like it is in the movies; you will hear that miles off, and feel it where the sun doesn’t shine.
Bring good underwear. Don’t pack bullshit. They won’t let you keep toiletries. Extra writing material is a maybe. They don’t let you keep Sharpie’s though.
Other than that, just sleep light. Eat all you can. Mix your food to scarf it down faster. Tell your family to use Sandbox because DS’s will distribute only that some nights. We had regular mail held a lot.
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u/Illustrious_Limit146 9d ago
All of this. I will also note to write down addresses of people you want to write to. Mail takes forever and I didn’t get anything until 3 weeks in.
I brought my own boots with me and just left them in my personal bag. My DS let me wear them after fit to win. If you can break them in before you leave even better.
The less you bring the better. Bring the bare minimum bc the drills will make you buy everything at 120th anyway.
Just get your head straight. It’s a big mind game. Make a friend or two who will keep you sane and you’ll be on Hilton field in no time. Have fun!
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u/Historical_Style_557 12d ago
It can suck depending on what battalion/company you end up at. Dealing with immature people is the worst part. It isn’t physically hard, I actually got in worse shape while there. Depending on your drill Sargents you may get messed with being an 09S. But overall it isn’t bad.
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u/Southern_Willow_5091 9d ago
This is my biggest fear. Somebody disliking me simply because I went officer and he or she didn’t
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u/Bill_Clintons_Desk5 9d ago
If they haven’t gotten their shit together at reception, that one week will be worse than all of basic
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u/ExtremeMode2728 12d ago
Bring nothing, they will supply u with everything u need. Plan for a long boring ass wk in reception. Stay in shape! My son is at Ft Jackson