MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

A military mosquito’s memorial

Early summer of 1966, I was stationed in Cape May, N.J. undergoing basic training for USCG. It was early..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training - Fort Ord

My basic training memory actually goes back before I enlisted in the Army. You see, I wanted to enlist in..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Surprising MOS classification

Entering the Air Force in 1963 with a test result of 97% mechanical aptitude would have made you think Motor..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Hospital corners and using the word "sir"

I was born into and brought up in the military (my father joined the Army in 1939 and stayed in..
2,107 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training, Fort Ord

My basic training memory goes back before I enlisted in the Army. You see, I want to enlist in the..
2,136 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Always toot your horn

It was January 1955 and I had just arrived at Great Lakes Naval training Center, and it was bitter cold...
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Don't never volunteer for nothing!

Upon completion of Basic, I was sent to Fort Bliss for the NIKE missile school. While waiting for the beginning..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Sweep ... two, three, four

Fresh out of high school, I joined the Army in 1951 and reported to Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Swim lessons

During Basic Training at Fort Ord in 1955, we were lined up by the swimming pool ready to separate swimmers..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Sgt. Ireland of D-6-2

Late in 1964 it became apparent that President Johnson would be expanding President Kennedy's war, so I enlisted in the..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Benefits of speaking broken English

Having escaped from communist East Germany into West Germany, I aualified under a special refugee quota to immigrate to the..
2,442 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

M-14 cleaning

It was a rainy day at Ft. Jackson SC in November of 1964. Our Company Co B 4Th Bn 1st..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Basic training: Army field expediency

I was taking Army ROTC summer camp training at Ft. Riley, KS in 1970. We were bivouacked in the..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

One time that raising my hand was best

I entered the Army at West Point, NY as a cadet on 1 July 1964 for New Cadet Training, or..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

A gas mask story

I took basic training at Field Artillery Training Center, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, back in 1953 and remember a situation which..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Mail call

I was going through a Navy boot camp with Marine Corp Drill Instructors. Mail Call with our Marine DI..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

My basic training drill instructor in January 1961

Upon entering basic training in January 1961, I had no idea what was in store for me at Fort Jackson,..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

First day of basic training

I went to the U.S. Navy "Great Lakes" boot camp in Oct 1965. Being from a very small town..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Fun reconnaissance

I took my basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky in the summer of 1954. I still remember an event..
2,461 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Perry "brothers"

In Air Force basic, we had two recruits in our flight with the last name Perry (not the real name)...
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

How'd you like it?

I went through Air Force basic in the summer of 1970. After our graduation ceremonies, we met in the..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Two short basic training stories

I was stationed at Ft. Dix NJ for basic and AIT in the summer of 1968. While we were out..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Picked to volunteer

After completing advanced training at Ft. Dix, NJ, in 1967, we were waiting for orders for our next assignment. They..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

What not to say

I did basic training at Ft. Dix in 1968. On the first day of land navigation training, the DS asked..
1,808 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Don't look back

It was the final PT test, the mile run. I had fallen off the bars, so I needed to..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Volunteer? Sometimes.

It was 1952 and I was at Fort Jackson, SC. I was waiting for my orders shipping me to..
1,876 views
MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Volunteering not always a bad thing

When I joined the U.S. Air Force in 1962 I stood a towering 5'3" and weighed a whopping 135 pounds...
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Luxury accomodations - almost

It all started in WASHINGTON DC on December 7, 1942 as I raised my right hand and became a member..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Woops!

I was drafted in August 1969. Drill sergeants called a special meeting and wanted everyone to fall out. Something didn't..
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MEMORIES OF BASIC TRAINING

Excuse me, Mr. Tree

One bright summer day in 1989 at a Fort Dix, NJ M-16 range, I made the unpardonable mistake of walking..
2,007 views