Even after all this time, one Bootcamp memory still stays with me. I was in one of the integrated divisions. During one of the first events of Battlestations, we had an older female recruit, that everyone just called "Moms", roll her ankle pretty badly. They were going to pull her out and push her back to finish with another division, but the division came together and convinced the instructors to make a deal; If Moms was able to do the events, we would carry her between events. The instructors agreed, warning us that we just drastically increased our chance of failing. So for the rest of the night, on the runs between events, one of us carried Moms on our back so that she could participate in the events(which she did fine on). We passed Battlestations, with the instructors saying that they've never seen anything like it.Our division even got a shout out about it during Graduation.

It’s not a graduation that makes you a sailor. It’s who you are and what you do that makes you a sailor. Congratulations and thank you for being a wonderful sailor.

Great videos! I was a submarine Storekeeper. I knew I had made the mistake of my life in boot camp after several weeks. I didn't have a rough time, but decided that Navy ship life was not going to be what I thought it was. I wasn't even rated and had no idea what my job would eventually be. I was in class one day and a chief came in and shouted out a list of several of us to ask if we wanted to go to seminar to find out about the submarine navy. Luckily, my scores were somewhat above average and my name was called out. Immediately, I thought that this is my ticket out of the regular navy-not knocking them, but I just wanted to be something great and be part of an elite group in the navy. I was gonna make my time in exciting and special. This was the best decision of my life. After boot, I went to sub school in New London, CT. Then, again I lucked out, and was picked from a list of candidates to go to storekeeper school in San Diego, CA. I had to ask what an SK was.....But I was more inclined to be administrative/stock minded rather than mechanical. After that, I was assigned to the Rayburn and sent to Connecticut to await for the return of the Blue crew from Scotland. Turns out, someone aboard was diagnosed with diabetes and that left the complement of the crew one man short. I flew to London, then Scotland and to the sub moored at Holy Loch. I was completely green and was bowled over when I went below into a buzzing/humming million dollar piece of machinery. Ballistic missile submarines have every conceivable type of the latest technology in the world in one vessel. My whole point to this rather long comment is to those of you who are ready to enlist or ship out to boot camp. In boot camp, LISTEN and learn everything you can. Consider the submarine service if you qualify. I served with some of the tightest and finest crew members in the navy. You will go through some of the most extensive qualification and training the navy has to offer to earn your dolphins. Submariners - We volunteered twice! SK2-(SS) from '71-'75. USS Sam Rayburn SSBN 635(B)

Boot camp broke my daughter as well. She ended up with a stress fracture in her ankle and spent six weeks in RCU, She didn't get a ceremony either. After battlestations she spent another week in THU awaiting orders to her A school. She is a UT and just took her advancement exams , so I am hoping to have a UT3 very soon. Pound mom of a seabee.

Lol Us covid graduates watching this thinking “we were supposed to get a graduation?”

I went to boot camp in Orlando 1982. Before I went in I was into BMX racing, was on a swim team, worked out all the time and was in great shape. The PT was so easy in the Navy that I was in worse physical shape when I graduated than I was when I went in. Our obstacle course was a jogging path in the base park that had exercise stations placed along it. Jog, do some pushups, jog some more and do some sit ups, jog a little more and do some pull ups lol

You inspired me to finally go into the Navy! I graduated last Thursday and I am at my A school now. Thank you for inspiring me to go, even if you never see this.❤I always wanted to go but never really thought I could do it. But now here I am! Thanks so much Austin! 😊

Depression is part of navy life gotta handle it I recommend a good workout

I salute you sir for pushing through and not giving up to whatever pain you we're having. I will be shipping Dec 2019 and I'm really praying that my knees will work with me throughout bootcamp. I really don't know what i would do if i fail Navy bootcamp...

I've been retired for 20 years, and I still remember details like this from my Boot camp and active duty experiences. I've got stories for days.

Being a career Marine, I've served aboard many Navy ships, but the main highlight of my career was being a Plank owner of the USS WISCONSIN BB-64 from July 1988- July 1990. Some of the best men I've ever known have been sailors, I have utmost respect for FMF Navy Corpsmen, Navy Pilots, and sailors in general, You get us to the fight and help us with it!! Semper Fi, and Sail on!!

My best friend from bootcamp got ASMOD from week 6 to RCU and had to spend 2.5 months there for a stress fracture she got during a sustained run. She hated it there...

I went to Navy boot in San Diego and, loved it. Son went to Great Mistakes and hated every minute.

You inspire me I've always wanted to be in the U.S Navy.

Clickbait...you obviously graduated, just didn’t make the ceremony.

I did Navy basic in Orlando in '79. I was amazed how little pt we did, just the bare minimum to get by.

Hey Austen. Way to stay dedicated through the pain and getting out of Great Lakes. And don't worry about it, I cried after battle stations too. Keep up the content. I'm going to show your video about your self confidence to my son. He can learn a lot from it and I hope it motivates him to stay true to himself whether it's following in my footsteps and joining the Navy or not. Fair winds shipmate.

Good story. It illustrates that you have to be prepared for anything no matter how good you feel or bad... Of course we want to face challenges in our best shape but what builds character is when we successfully face challenges when we're at our worst. That in itself is what makes a warrior.

Made it through boot camp in 07. No sickness. Never had wisdom teeth pulled. Still have all of them. And im 30. No serious injuries

Much better then the army! I fractured my pelvis in 3 places when I was in basic training and they never took me out of training. Never gave me proper rest or medical attention. I had completed all graduation requirements except the last PT test but I genuinely couldn’t do it because the muscle and ligaments attached to where i fractures were would cramp up and swell and couldn’t move my hip at all. After 6 months of being injured they finally sent me home. Keep in mind this was an injury that should have taken only 6 weeks to fully heal.

I went through in November 1977. I didn't pass in review either. The night before Graduation, they asked who dosen't have any family coming to the Graduation? I stepped forward with about 6 or so other guys. They were looking for extra base security for the event. So, I agreed to that and I can say after 8 weeks, I had a awesome time that day! Plus after graduation, they gave us a full weekend of liberty.

Broke my hand 1 week before I was suppose to leave for boot. Chief was not happy. Lost my contract for airc. Have to wait till October to get cleared.

I enlisted back under Jimmy Carter. It was rough and there were a bunch of pits off Sailors returning from Vietnam. The techniques used, by today's standards will be considered ilegal. But they made me tough. 6 years later, I joinned the Submarine force. That was the toughest Duty in my 20 years in. I think one thing leads to another and everything made me tougher. I almost lost my left leg in an accident, I was hospitalized 60 days, I got out, they told me I was going to get a med discharge as I could not run. Well this is the Navy, I swam the PT test and I stayed. In Hong Kong, during the British Domination, I caught the Hong Kong bug. It manifested 2 weeks under way. I could not be medivac. Almost died. Survived and did my job, proudly. NAVY made me tough and I would do it again all over. GO NAVY.

I got pneumonia in the middle of boot camp. I thought I would get set back, but I was in the hospital during service week, so I got to go back to my company.

I was in bootcamp during the beginning of COVID and Also dealing with a gruesome knee injury to the point I literally couldn’t walk on it, I was able to push through the entire 8 weeks, almost getting pushed back due to my injury. We didn’t get a graduation or capping ceremony. all we got was a congratulations from our RDC’s when we got back to the compartment. It’s been 6 months throughout all this and I haven’t been able to see my family due to COVID

Ooohh idk if I'd feel comfortable doing battle stations with several injured people. Good on ya for getting thru it all without major injuries.

I went thru boot camp in San Diego in 1970. Had a real nice graduation ceremony. Have no idea what "Battle Stations" is. We never had anything like that. I enjoy these videos.

"...She loves to chew on stuff." - throws dog to the side. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

When I was in, we called that unit "Sick, Lame and Lazy." Lol

I was in the Air Force ' 71 - ' 75 . Being over weight I flunked my draft physical . Took me four months to get in due to the AF Recruiter had to get a weight waiver . I signed up in April ' 71 & finally sworn in in August ' 71 . I was at Lackland Air Force Base for 4 months instead of 6 weeks . I was in the Medically Repairable Squadron (aka fat boy program)for 2 1/2 months to lose weight . I lost 59 lbs . When I graduated my family couldn't afford to travel from New York due to my dads job was on strike & he had to be home for picket duty or the Union wouldn't pay my parents bills , give money for food etc . It was lonely for me not having any family to watch me march across the parade ground & see me graduate from basic training .

I almost lost my arm in basic. I had to finish it with only 1 good arm, the other went went completely numb but because it looked good on the outside, I wasn’t allowed to go to sick call until I got to AIT.

You're doing your best helping your brother Austen ,It's just speechless Austen Ahhh ;)

I fell in week 7 of Army basic training in the summer of 82. Moved a vertebra over in my back. After going to the hospital and being on bed rest and profile for a week, I tore my profile tag off and threw it away. Went back to training like nothing happened. Didn't go back to the Dr like I was suppose to. Finished basic and AIT with that untreated injury. It had been one of my dreams to be in the military since I was a kid. I wasn't going to get kicked out on a medical.

When I came down with Rubella five days before the big ceremony .My Company Commander had me lay under my rack in the day time.But then again this was way back in the 70's San Degio. Good Times.

Went through back in 2003. I absolutely loved Service Week/Fast Cruise. For Battle Stations, we were up for 24 hours. We woke up normal and had the usual day. After dinner, Battle Stations commenced. Battle Stations was essentially a normal day, followed by a night of drills. I didn’t mind the fact that it was pouring all night.

Had 88 in my company in 77' ended up with 50 graduating. My 1st class SK1 had a full beard and big ole gut! LOL

Sick trick at the end brooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I was offered medical discharge from basic for a knee issue, I failed my second PRT. I opted to do work week and retried the PRT and passed. That may be be one of the best decisions of my life. Austen, you aren't a failure or a fraud-you're a picture of what people who really want to serve are willing to do.

My son ran into some leg problems and had the same thing happen to him one week from graduation. His division went on without him. 7 or 8 weeks later they cleared him to do his PRT and Battlestations. No ceremony for him either... :/

That's what everyone is going through right now. I graduated on January 27th and no one gets a graduation anymore with the Covid-19 situation. They quarantined all of the RDCs so they sleep in the ships with the recruits! It's a crazy time to join.

I enlisted in the Navy because I thought it'd be neat to go to sea after my first tour ashore. Then I got orders for 1st Mardiv. I became a sand sailor. Close enough

Thank you for the video. I enlisted in the army a while ago, but my dream was to go for the navy. However, could not do it because it did not fit with my law school program. I love your videos and your insight, so keep going!!!!

I went to that Room because I had to escort recruit from my division was sick, his going to get better the next day. Because there was an inspection around the room.

Thanks for sharing. no matter what, ceremony or not, you accomplished your goals, Thank for your services. Love your eyes.

Enterainment👍enjoyment👍 your climbing everyday towards your goal.

Dang, sorry you didn't get the graduation experience, but at least you made it. I went in as an HM and wound up dropping A-school a little over half way through.. They put me at TPU and there I became the CO's driver. Now, I know TPU sucked, that's where they had ppl who were caught AWOL and sent back for Official process (and kept in restriction for 3 months upstairs), but as the CO's driver I had quite a bit of freedom! lol NTCGL was fun for the time I was there, but shot got real when I finally got sent to LSD 52. XD Hoo Yah! - AD3 VAQ-133- OEF 06

I’m actually planning to go/ looking into the Navy. How long are you usually on the ship for deployments? How did you go about choosing what you wanted to do? What should I consider when looking at what I want to do? Both my parents are army 😅 and your videos help out lots!

Precious little puppy

Austin it is clear and obvious to anyone who watches even one of your videos you are a true one hundred percent US Navy sailor I'm terribly sorry that you did not get to graduate at a ceremony in front of your parents and family but you are still an inspiration to our countrymen and and all around inspiration two young guys and girls looking to join

I went to Great Lakes and I have no memory of "Battle Stations". To me, the hardest part of graduation was the whole the first 2 days and the ongoing drill ceremonies with the spinning the rifle and all that marching stuff. Bootcamp was much easier than "A" School.

We called RCU recruit prison😭.

I had gotten stress fractures and shin splints along with problems in the arches of my feet during the first prt run, I ended up failing by 2 minutes and 1 lap left. I was sent to STEPS down the hall from RCU with the idea of 5 attempts to pass the run, first two were horrible, the following Saturday was a 2 hour PT clinic. All the Petty Officers ignored me limping and in tears running up until that Saturday when I collapsed onto a boot mate and she had to run and get help. They called an ambulance for me and I ended up on crutches for the next two weeks. They nonstop tormented me and screwed me over because doctors didn’t put some stuff on the chit so I’d have to go back and have it put on. I ended up going to SEPS and was taken off the crutches 4 days before I was sent home “fit for travel”. I can reapply after December. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

My worst depression was in AT A School in Millington, TN. It got so bad I took a voluntary 1 week set back because I couldn't keep up with my studies. That was in 1964.

o.0 was in 17 1/2 yrs. ill be researching this. have a nice day

I remember watching this video before joining the Navy, I didn't know much at the time and how RCU really was until I actually got there. I got sent to RCU during P-Days because of something that popped up at the time, they told me I had something called Cold Agglutinins (which thinking back on it, it might have been a miss-diagnose because all the symptoms I had were linked to COVID which wasn't very known at the time.) I was put into RCU for 2 months after being in the hospital for a week to make sure my blood count was improving, those were the worst 2 months of my life. Everyone in RCU (Purgatory as we liked to call it) all wanted to get out, whether it be medically separated or just going back into a division but I believe you whenever you say it gets gradually more depressing as the days go by.

Good ol' battle stations. I have glasses so I had the do some of it blind. Fun stuff.

Im shipping out in 2 weeks! Thanks for the Video!

Good story. In the marines I would never want to go to PCP similar to your RCU. We had a couple guys with broken ribs etc that hid it. Congrats anyway. I know ceremonies are important, but hey you made it out of that depressing recovery unit. Rah.

Boot camp is so different than it was back in the day (1977)

I had to skip graduation too bro in 06. Got on a plane, and left straight to MA A school.

I learned how to shave when I was still in my mum stomach lol 😂

i joined into the AF in 2013 and my friend was in Med Hold for 8 months before i joined and had the same shit happen to him, he finally graduated with my flight but man 11 month in basic training, thats gotta be rough

HPU Bahrain FTW 😂 Dude we used to get swole at the P9 gym together

I am a runner and hurt my bursa sac back in high school. While not as bad as you did I still had to hobble around and couldn't run for a week or two.

Do a video on hacks of boot camp! Of course put in the video how to shave fast and correctly

I have some kin folk in Alabama my granny was born and raised in Highland Home in Crenshaw County and I still have relatives there

Lit. I go to NAVY BOOTCAMP NOV. 19! PACT SEAMAN! GO NAVY! GO AUSTEN! ⚓⚓⚓⚓⚓🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Your bursa was filled with fluid. I am surprised they didn't drain it with a needle and syringe, then a compression bandage. I ended up having mine removed, piece of cake....Good to go.

You did not have the ceremony . You did all work. You did do this . If you have health problems do not let the disease get best of you .

Mine exploded 3 weeks into boot camp. Then ended up with septic bursitis and an infection. You were very fortunate. I was not so much. Then a week out of the hospital I had a second surgery for and ACL tear and lateral meniscus tear. Worst part they never rehabbed me. Just sent me out on a medical.

Your videos help me so much . Thank you

1980 boot camp was way different at Big mistake'' ( great lakes) lol Lot of one of the kind memories. O'' back in the dayz.....

My Son was screwed also. Went thru Battle stations, etc in 800 Division was 5th in His Class and 2 days before graduation they stuck Him in Hold for 4 months, because He saw a Councilor when He was 9, because His Recruiter told Him anything over 5 years is irrelevant.

Does your knee ever still bother you?

It's called percises, Austin one of my friends was Navy he gave up a full football scolorship

Hugs. Awwww. Thx for sharing. British guys are coming for you..🤣🤣😂🤣😂

Dude don't blame yourself,shit happens,invented gone to college and make more then most college graduates,thanks for your videos

Same thing happened to me in infantry training battalion camp pendleton the very last week i got a hernia and they dropped me to lima company marine corp equal to the the navy rtc. I ended up being stuck there for 7months. It was such a terrible place instructors where trying to kick marines out for dumb crap, but anyways i ended up having to take a heavy equipment operator 1345 mos and i went on to graduate 2nd in my class even tho i had nerve dmg and lots of other problems now im trying to get help its been almost 6 years since the doctor messed my surgery up and im just now able to seek help from the va. I had to get out of the corps been out for about 2 years now and i miss the lifestyle but also hate it at the same time because they just threw me to the curb when i got messed up by the navy doc. Now everyday is a struggle i live with chronic pain and have the worst thoughts everyday i just wish i could still be in but i cant my body is no longer capable i went from running 18 minute 3 miles and doing 100 plus crunches and 20+ pullups getting in the top percentage of the pft to barely even able to do everyday things. Anyways ty for your service and i really like watching your videos i like to see some of the similar things i used to do. And im also from alabama ROLL TIDE bet u have heard that alot lol😂

Hey man Im leaving November 7th as a HM. Its about 30 days from now but im worried im not in the best shape. I ran a 1.5 miles in 15 mins. i know i can get better I just need to practice these last weeks I have here. As for my weight im past the limit but my body fat is 25%. How worried should I be for the physical part of Navy bootcamp? Im working out and on a diet.

It broke me 2 months.....went through the same thing was stuck in bootcamp for 6 months.....i was in RCU for 3 months it was so depressing to be in RCU...i was stuck in a wheelchair for 2 weeks. You're lucky I passed everything n got hospitalized 4 hours before battlestations. I would give up anything to do battlestations and graduate

Well I must say you had an interesting life and events in the Navy I'm quite sure you didn't expect all the setbacks what happened to you quite sure you had a lot of anxiety you wanted to finish what you started and I understand that but thank God that you're okay you made it out and you doing the things that you want to do that doesn't work life doesn't work out for everybody like that be thankful and give God the praise

Hey Austen you should make a workout/lifting video!

That is so cool that you cut all your hair off for your friend ❤

Ik how you feel I only made it to week 3 when I got separated and the worst part was that I didn’t even get a chance to do my first PI or exam

So you graduated but you didn't get to have your ceremony. Whoopie dew! You still made it. Hold your chin high and don't look back.

What a crazy experience. When I was in basic I got pneumonia about half way through. I spent time in ward A then went to Balboa. I had to pick up pretty much from the start again.

I know what you mean about depression when you get pulled out of boot and send to recover. I contracted bronchitis my 4th week in and had to be quarantined for a month. I was a few years older than most of the other recovering recruits so I took on the roll of unofficial in-house advisor, counselor, mentor and sometimes cheerleader. I think I might have helped a few get their confidence back. BTW, always put up a warning for us weak stomach landlubbers. That shaving story was a bit graphic.

I love the vids bro. I leave to boot camp soon oct 3rd. I have my general orders, e/o ranks, Rtc maxim and the sailors creed memorized. Do you think I’ll be fine with just this knowledge going in? I don’t want to overwhelm myself with info either yknow. Thanks man!

Keep making videos...... And thank you for representing for The U.S.A. Sorry they didn't get an official graduation. Maybe one day of the military sees this video they can set up a special graduation ceremony just for you, cuz you deserve that.... Anyway cool videos, hope you and your girlfriend are going well and you guys find a place that you can call home/ with a yard soon so you guys can settle down and when are you going to meet eachothers family's? Call her dad! make it a habit to call him every week so that he knows your THE MAN who he can trust in to make sure his baby girl is going to live happily ever after. Really hope you guys maintain your relationship and make a family one day. You two are super cute together and I wish you both the very best!!!! Keep up all the good work!

Your free resources link is kind of malfunctioning. It recognizes I’m sign up as a basic member but when you go to click on the USMC/AF/Army/Navy prepa it takes you back to signing up. If you click below it on the “log in” portion, it kicks you out. This is on mobile.

Well my ( ok to say my friend?) I've never seen you in person, but I do my best to follow you on you Battle Bunker.. Fyi I'm non military. Any hoo I had fracture my tibia on my R leg/ knee. And my leg has never been the same ever since. Stay Blessed ✝️

I had a similar experience to yours except i graduated with my class. I’m army 11b and during our ftx (field training exercise) we got hit with rain for 3 days and at night it would drop to about 15 degrees during the day it was 40-45 one night it got so bad that my foxhole flooded. We didn’t have tents or anything more than our “wet weather” jacket to keep us dry I got frostbite on my hands and feet from my wet gloves and socks I’m no medical professional but I think in the moment I was suffering from the beginning stages of hypothermia I was shivering so bad that I started throwing up. The next day they had to pull us out of the field for a 24 hour recov to get our gear dry before we went back out and so people could goto sick call which a lot of us were forced to me included. They told me I had pneumonia in my right lung and gave me a week bed rest profile. We were supposed to go back to the field the next day and FTX was my last infantry school graduation requirement I had already passed my pt test with a 260/300 (im still working toward that 300) so I was waitin in line to give my ds my meds and what not and I said fuck this I’m no sick call ranger and ripped my profile up and just turned my medicine in. I never took it idk how I healed but I thank god every day for it only looking back now do I realize how dangerous that was. I went back to the field the next day it was hell but I made it hopefully my lungs don’t suffer the consequences down the road.

lol, I went and it took an act of God due to me having had both knees operated on when I was 15 and 16 from sports injuries. It can be done, and if you can tough it out for PT you will make it through.

The First 3 Weeks Of Basic Combat Training, I Could Barely Run, Because I Rarely Ran Before I Got In The Army So When Me And My Company Started Running My Leg Felt As If A Hamstring On The Side Of My Leg Was Pulling And I Never Went To Sick Call I Was In Pain For 3 Weeks, And Right Before We Got Our M4s My Leg Stopped Hurting, And I Felt Whole, I Didn't Feel Bad Because The Next Day We Had The PT Test And Sure I Was Close To Passing But I Felt Better, Because I Was Hurting On The First PT Test And I Failed That Terribly. Long Story Short First 3 Weeks, Red Phase Sucked, Lol.

I'm pretty sure I met you at the gym one time in your home town. Didn't realize you were in the navy lol.

Hi alex...ask some question..are you and sara engaged now

I got a medical discharge after only being in for 30 days and wish I could do my experience again

You are a good man.

Damn bro I'm sorry you never got a ceremony!

I know what doctor you are talking about. She’s a lieutenant commander and she was my provider when I was at RCU. That shit was as bad as you said it was