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Originally Posted by beedlesw
I just got back from tdy at Ft Jackson a week ago, and it's the same way. Part of the initial briefing when we got there was "don't talk to the trainees". One of the DSs I talked to told me that now they get to keep their cell phones, weekend passes every weekend, they can smoke and chew now, in BCT. The only time they really feel any hardship is the first two weeks, if then.
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I would beg to differ with these statements, having just returned from BCT at Ft. Jackson 24 hours ago. There are no cell phones, passes of any kind, tobacco products or caffeine. Smoking by the DS's is alive and well, and I can personally vouch for that after being in a platoon that was kept in Red Phase for six weeks straight. Average sleep is about 4.5 hours per night, not the 7 widely advertised.
Is the the stress level at BCT still high? Yes. Recruits still experience the cumulative effects of sleep loss, constant exertion, and DS-enforced discipline and attention to detail, as they rightly should. Not everyone makes it - we had 3 AWOLs in my platoon and my battle buddy is being chaptered out of the Army after suffering from a complete breakdown in week 8. Everyone still has to pass the APFT - I had to complete my final run on a broken foot so that I could graduate. However, there was no intimidation on the firing line in my Company, and BRM was probably the most professionally-run part of the training that I experienced. It was impressive to see the gains that brand new shooters made in only ten days, and we received some very good follow-on training during the MOUT, team and reflexive fire ranges from our Combat Arms DS's.
Next stop: BAC and OCS at Ft. Benning, GA.
