In my book, The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook (www.UltimateBasicTraining.com), I discuss many tactics drill sergeants use to exhaust a recruit mentally and physically. This is the first of a three part article that describes some of these common tactics and how to overcome such obstacles. Although the story below is true, the actual names have been changed.

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 reported 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 Private Baxter.  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”, Private Baxter 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 negative attention from a drill sergeant. This was a mental lesson, not a physical one.  The drill sergeant wanted to teach the recruit that no matter how perfect you are, there is always something wrong with you or the way you handled a situation.  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.  Remember, basic training is more a mental challenge than a physical one.

Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook. His book is available at www.UltimateBasicTraining.com and is available in paperback, e-book and audio book format