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Gender Differences in Basic Training
By Michael Volkin
Don’t be fooled guys; women have it as tough or tougher than you in basic training. Genetically, males are built stronger than females. Females are expected to perform to the male’s physical ability. I am not talking about fitness tests; I am talking about day-to- day activity. Furthermore, males and females living quarters are separate in basic training. When a Drill Sergeant appoints a male platoon guide, that platoon guide receives information from the Drill Sergeant and then passes it on to other recruits. If the females are in their separate living quarters, they miss out on important details (such as formation times).
Here are some tips that females should take to heart when preparing for basic training (males will benefit from these tips too):
Bring enough undergarments to last you about a week, having time to do laundry is scarce.
If you want to have a short haircut, go to a salon before you leave. I’m betting the salon at your basic training station wont give you the same care as your regular salon at home. I have seen females try to fix their hair with sewing scissors at basic training because they were so unsatisfied with their haircut.
Female recruits tend to arrive at basic training with more pieces of luggage than male recruits. I recommend you leave all the extra items at home. At the Reception Center (the place you stay before you begin basic training) your luggage will be screened for contraband (e.g. weapons, magazines, etc). Even if you pack items that you think you’ll need, you may get them confiscated. For a list of what to bring and not to bring to basic training, consult The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook (www.ultimatebasictrainingguidebook.com)
Last but not least, develop upper body strength before you arrive at basic training. Some of the fastest runners in my platoon were female recruits, but when it came time to do push-ups, often it was the females that struggled the most. Again, The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook has an excellent fitness routine for developing upper body strength.
I welcome all questions and comments at michaelvolkin@ultimatebasictrainingguidebook.com
SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook. The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook is available in both book and e-book format at http://www.ultimatebasictrainingguidebook.comSo, you have been waiting for this day for weeks, perhaps even months and now is the time to stare a drill sergeant eye to eye. You have completed the fitness program in The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook you memorized the terms and acronyms and you feel there is nothing that your drill sergeant can do to make your life miserable. Consider the following real life example. I know this is a true story because I personally was involved (names have been changed (except for mine) to protect the guilty):
Private Smith and Private Jones just finished polishing their boots to a perfect shine. The boots were so shiny they almost blinded you when you looked directly at them. The two privates walked downstairs and report to the drill sergeant for fireguard duty. While walking downstairs their boots kicked up dust from the dirty floor. Their newly shined boots still looked great, but were spotted lightly with dust. Upon reporting to the drill sergeant to begin their fireguard shift, the drill sergeant noticed their boots. The two privates, not realizing the stairs kicked up so much dust on their boots, smiled and were ready to receive a compliment from the drill sergeant. Instead of the compliment the drill sergeant yelled, “group, attention”. The two privates snapped to attention. The drill sergeant yelled “mark time, march”, and the two confused privates immediately began marching in place. The drill sergeant walked away. The two privates still confused continued to march in place because their drill sergeant did not give them the command to stop. One hour went by and the drill sergeant reappears. “Group, halt” he yelled. The two exhausted privates stopped marching in place after one hour. The drill sergeant lectured them about dusty boots and told them to go upstairs and get the recruits who were suppose to relieve them for fireguard duty. The privates complied and ran upstairs to get their relief, private James and specialist Volkin. After hearing what happened to the previous fireguard shift. The two recruits reported for duty walking down the stairs gently, as to not kick up any dust on their shiny boots. “Fireguard, reporting for duty drill sergeant”, specialist Volkin yelled. The drill sergeant walks out and yells “group, attention”. The two recruits snap to attention. The drill sergeant yelled “mark time, march”, and the two confused recruits immediately began marching in place. The drill sergeant leaves and one hour later returns to the soldiers. “Group, halt” he yelled. “How dare you have your fellow recruits come to fireguard duty with dusty boots” the drill sergeant yelled.
This true story was intended to prepare you mentally for basic training. You can be Mr. or Mrs. Perfect when you go through basic training, but there is nothing you can do to avoid learning the lesson and motto: An Army of One. When you are subjected to a task similar to this, and believe me, I have heard many stories like this, do not get mad at your fellow soldier, suck it up, learn from it and move forward, just like a good soldier should do.
SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook, available at http://www.ultimatebasictraining.com.
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