March 10, 2006, Newsletter Issue #7: Basic Training--Dos and Don'ts

Tip of the Week

Your journey into the U.S. military starts with basic training, which is physically and mentally challenging. The first--and best--thing to do once you've been accepted as a new recruit is to begin a fitness program. Get some advice from a doctor on what's best for you, but a good preparation for the rigors of basic should include running, weight training and stretching exercises. The better shape you can get into before military training begins, the better.

Once you are there, odds are the instructors will have a requirement on how much water you should be drinking. Don't ignore the minimum water requirements! Staying hydrated is a very important part of surviving basic. You may also be put on a restricted diet for the first few weeks you are in basic, which usually means no desserts, soft drinks or sweets. If you find yourself in this situation, don't make the same mistake some in your training unit will; some will jump right back into their old junk food habits. What happens most of the time is a period of stomach upset, sickness or vomiting. It seems like a such a small, harmless thing, but getting sick in the wrong part of basic training can set you back, and who needs that?

On that note, some who DO get ill or injured during training are sometimes tempted not to report it. Don't do this! If you have a legitimate complaint, it will get worse unless you seek treatment. Many people have been needlessly held back in their military training because they allowed an injury or sickness to go untreated--immediate care will keep you on the right track.

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