My memories of basic training are all positive. It was the most fun I had in the Army. You awoke early but did fun things like rifle shooting, taking long hikes in new territories, throwing hand grenades, shooting rifle grenades and performing infiltration.

I didn't care for the Mickey Mouse stuff, such as weapon cleaning, kitchen patrol, or barracks maintenance. The coal-heated barracks caused respiratory problems and each morning waking with coal dust rings around your nose. After basic and being assigned to my regular job is when things got boring.