How to Avoid Getting Sick at Basic Training

You are reaching the end of basic training and your family has confirmed their arrival for your graduation ceremony. However, you wake up with a slight headache which turns into a fever, and eventually your drill sergeant sends you to the medical department for examination. 

If your fever is too high for you to continue with training and you could spend the next four days recovering. During your days of recovery you will miss required training and not graduate on your scheduled graduation day. Your family will have to repurchase ticket and reschedule travel plans.

It's normal to get a cough, headache or sore throat at some point during basic training. You will be living in close quarters with a large group of people. You will have little sleep and be experiencing a lot of stress. All of these things combined make it almost impossible for you to avoid getting sick. However, there are simple steps you can take to help keep these minor ailments from turning into the above scenario.

1. Shower regularly- When your instructor tells you to do the three S's, (Sh*t, shower and shave), don't try to save time by wiping your body down with wet wipes. You will do plenty of baby wiping during field training.
   
2. Use and reuse hand sanitizer- Apply hand sanitizer as often as you have the chance and wash with soap and water when available.
   
3. Don't touch your face. Rubbing your eyes, nose and mouth with your dirty hands is one of the quickest ways to spread germs and in turn, get you sick.
   
4. Change your clothes- Recruits often try to limit the amount of laundry they have by simply wearing the same clothes day after day. Change your clothes regularly, even your outer garments. Don't wait until they start to smell because most people can smell you before you can smell yourself.
   
5. Eat your vegetables- Your mom was right!  Your body will need all the proper nutrition it can get to fight off sickness. So be sure to balance your meals with the four food groups. (See the video tips on eating meals during basic training)

These are all basic hygiene principles that may seem obvious to you.  However, it is surprising how easy it is to disregard basic hygiene given your busy schedule at basic training.

SrA Nick VanWormer is the author of the ALL NEW book: The Ultimate Air Force Basic Training Guidebook available at UltimateBasicTraining.com. 

No matter what branch of service your entering, UltimateBasicTraining.com has advice and tips to make basic training an easier experience. Enter coupon code "getready" for $5 off any order.