Typical Basic Training

As I was an Air Force MTI for a few years, I have been asked many times to describe what it is like to go thru basic training when first entering the military. It is easily described with three words; "It Ain't Fun!". Strictly speaking from an AF point of view, I will describe one day in basic. Keep in mind the the different branches all have their own training and standards, and some are much harder (Marines). I give them credit where credit is due.  If you can passed through Marine basic training, you can do pretty much anything.

Basic Training - When you arrive, not knowing what the hell is about to happen to you, it is stressful right at the start. We call new people "rainbows". Why? They come in wearing their street clothes of all colors and designs. They have all kinds of hair styles; from short, to bushy, to pigtails. The discipline starts immediately.  The "drill instructors" right away will let you know that this is NOT a vacation. They will get right into your face, start yelling about how sorry looking you are, and basically try to break you down. Does it seem cruel? It is designed to be. Their job is to instill military discipline in you from the start, and to "weed out" the ones who will just flat not make it in military life. There are always some who will "wash out" of basic training. They can't take the stress, the yelling, the orders, etc... If they can't take stress and pressure, how could they possibly make it in the real military? Real military people work with stress all the time. They must be able to be focused on the task, be disciplined, and be ready.  We cannot afford to have people in key positions that will fall apart under the pressure. They will get somebody killed.
When your "flight" (AF) is in place and accounted for, it's a straight trip to the barber shop. All the hair styles will disappear and become only "one" hairstyle; the military style. It's a bit tough on some people who have had long hair all their adult life, and poof!; it's gone. The barbers are not there to give you an even haircut or trimming; they are there to shear you bald. Now all of them start to look more alike; but the clothes have got to go. Next stop; uniforms. You will go thru the assembly line of uniform items. They won't ask you your size,  or personal preferences. They are expert at looking you over, picking your size, and dumping the proper uniform in your hands. You will be issued combat boots and tennis shoes. Oh yeah, you're gonna need those tennis shoes. Then you will be taken to your dorm, where you will get dressed and become a "pickle" (all green uniforms). Then you will spend the next 6 to 8 weeks being trained, verbally tortured, and physically put into shape. You will get your bunk, all your socks, undies, ect (alll military issue).  You will be taught where they go in the drawer, how to fold them correctly, and how to make your bunk military style. You better learn! Everything must be precise. You will be inspected continuously. Every morning the instructors will haul your butt out of bed at 4 a.m. You better get it in gear quick or get yelled at big time. You have a set amount of minutes to get dressed, including SSS (sh-t, shower, shave). You better be down in formation quick. Then your running begins. You will start off fairly slow, run about a quarter mile (in step running). As you get more into shape, the length will increase to the point where you will be running 3 miles every morning. Then back to the dorm area to go to breakfast. This is not a relaxing morning breakfast. You have to stand outside, in formation, at attention. There could be other flights next to you waiting their turn to eat. When your row is called, you will proceed to the chow hall door, and then stand heel to toe with the guy in front of you. When he moves up, you move up. If you delay at all, it will be seen by the drill instructors, who will be "all up in your face", sometimes pulling you out of the line, doing push-ups or whatever else they want to do to make you learn. Many people can't take this kind of pressure, or are not built to react correctly.  They become obvious to the instructors in the first day or two. If you think that they will feel a bit sorry for you, or let up on you a bit, you're dead wrong.  It will get worse. They will "make you or break you".
You will also begin daily classroom training; learning about the military, it's history, it's rules and regulations. You will be tested on this; both in writing and verbally. You must make passing scores, or, again, you could be washed out. You will learn miltary marching, drills, commands, etc. You will march to school, executing the proper commands as they are called out. You will march back to the dorm. There are hours set aside for marching practice. You will march everywhere. You will NOT walk in basic. When you are allowed to go to the dispensary or any other place, you cannot go alone, and you must march in step. If you are casually strolling along, thinking maybe now I can relax a bit, you're wrong again. You can be stopped by "any" drill instructor from "any" flight all over the base. They are all responsible for every trainee. I told you life is hell in basic training. But there is a method to the madness.