Pleeeeeease don't take this the wrong way, but you can ignore most of what the good lieutenant said here. He is NOT wrong, but here is what you NEED to know before going to basic: Drink water. Do what you are told. Take care of your feet. Don't worry about anything else. The Drill Sergeant will make sure you know what you need to know. And be prepared to be wrong, about almost EVERYTHING. Think of this situation: Your water supply should ALWAYS be full. You should always be drinking water. Both are not possible at the same time. You will be punished for one of those situations. Just remember, the Drill Sergeant has two things to accomplish. First, to make sure you are trained on all of the basic elements of military. Second, to see how well you handle under pressure. Most of what 2LT Ward tells you about in this and many other videos is GREAT advise. But, less than 1% of you will remember beforehand. A good amount will remember after getting smoked..... repeatedly. The two pieces of advise I remembered that saved me, were about my feet, and the first PT test. I was warned the people who measure and give out the clothing do not care about you. Slide your feet ever so slightly forward when they measure, and don't let them crunch your toes. You NEED your feet to be in perfect condition and if you have too small of boots, it'll be horrendous! Second, don't attempt to max that very first PT test. Don't fail it, but don't try to be a PT stud, yet. Your Drill Sergeant will want to see an improvement over the course of basic, otherwise he/she is failing. It doesn't count toward graduation, it only tells the DS what shape you are in and how much they need to work on you physically. If you max it, they will expect it and then some. I scored a 250 on that one, and a 300 on every one after. It helped me stay under the radar. If you are NOT in great shape already, don't worry, you will be by the time you are done.

Who here is a teen planning to join the military after high school

Need to know the rank structure Soldiers creed General orders Army values Land navigation Reception takes a while Have a good PT score Pay attention to detail Accountability Be in the right place, time right uniform Listen to your drill sergeants Dont talk to the drill sargents Focus on the task at hand Its gonna suck alittle bit Basic training isent the real army I still wanna join

My best advice was given to me by my recruiter in 2009 - "Do what your Drill Sergeant says." Just period. Full stop. End of discussion. From my personal experience: You will get smoked. You can be perfect and still the DS's will smoke you. Try to be perfect though. Work hard. Matt is right; there is a very high standard, especially concerning accountability and attention to detail. You really will do best if you do follow what an old SGM told me about being squared away. He said "There are four sides to a square: right place, right time, right uniform..."; people miss this part, "... right attitude."

Fake it till you make it bro. Nothing you do is going to be right so go head and take that smoke sesh my guy

Alright but why am I most scared about not making my bed perfectly other than anything else

Reception is literal hell

I’m joining the Army after this year and you’ve really opened my eyes I was scared of basic training but I now feel like hey this isn’t gonna be hard I just need to focus mentally.

Sitting at meps right now waiting to go to the airport. Ft. Benning. Thanks for the great videos Matt.

Yeah I’m going to the Army after high school, I’m trying to stay fit, eat healthy, and see what I can do when I get there. Also, good luck to everybody out there who’s also joining the Army y’all got this!!!

Awesome video man, one of my new favorites! Good luck to all who are heading to basic now or soon.

Thanks matt for the great video. I really enjoy watching your videos. They help motivate me and keep me going. Last week I joined the future soldier program and am loving it.

I'm gonna rewatch this over and over so by the time I join I have these things memorized. Thanks, Matt!

Thanks for all your videos Matt it really prepared me for my experience! Today I graduate from my 19D OSUT! Your videos really helped prepare mentally and physically for basic and AiT! I’m proud to finally be apart of our nations army and the brotherhood of the army!

Thank you! Seriously,all your videos are very helpful,especially to us that are soon to go to BCT. Thanks for your service,and keep the good content going!☺

Thanks for all the advice. Your videos have gotten me motivated and helped me become more knowledgable before I leave tomorrow. I appreciate it

Made it to the end! I've watched almost all of your videos now in the past week and am planning on enlisting this year after i graduate college in may!

Thumbnail is my cycle, that’s 4th platoon 24-7 foxtrot. Love your videos, they really prepared me for when I went through 💯

Thanks for doing all of these videos. I’m considering joining the Army National Guard but do not know much about it and was scared about BCT but you’ve really opened my eyes

Made it to the end, overall knowledge you have told us in past videos, but it is always nice to have it bunched together in one video. Great work!

Made it to the end of the video, shipping tomorrow to Fort Leonard Wood. Thanks for all the tips, your channel is very informative

I loved the land nav vid

Matt thanks for all ur advice and ur videos because they always motivate me to do better and helps me understand if the military is for me now I feel like it is and am ready and am working on my self thanks to u and again thank u

MADE IT TO THE END AND IT WAS SO HELPFUL FOR WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE ARMY.❤️❤️

I’m planning on enlisting in November, and these videos have helped me make the decision. Thank you for making these videos so people like myself can have an overview of what we will go through.

These videos are definitely lifting some of my worries about going to basic

You have given me many useful tips and have given me more confidence in my success for my future military career. You are a great person, thank you man👍

Thank you for your videos, I’m shopping out January 7th. Super excited and thankful for all your videos helping me prep for basic.

Awesome video - thanks so much for your insights, Matt! Waiting to receive my BCT assignment, should find out next week

I’m only 12 years old and I’m still getting info on Basic Trainings. I keep watching videos all the time and I can’t wait to talk to a recruiter in High School.

Awesome video, man. Really glad I have resources like your channel to better prepare myself for what’s to come. Wish you the best and I can’t thank you enough for videos like this.

Thanks Matt! Leaving for basic Monday this was super helpful

you just gotta embrace the suck

Approaching my 1st year in and I miss all the craziness that was Basic Training back at Fort Sill.

I leave Monday and you're videos have helped me and my wife with a ton of info thank you Matt

Dude, thank you so much for your videos. These are so helpful.

Watching from Fort Benning haha COVID has messed up a lot here but happy to say I graduated!!! Watched this before I left and I’m watching it again haha and this is so true! Love it bro keep it up!

OMG! I'm leaving to fort Jackson this month and your videos have made my comprehension of this process a lot easier. Thank you Ward! I really appreciate this! Looking forward to grow as a person with this. 💪💪

The last little bit was very motivational. Been thinking about joining the air force but been really worried about basic and if the military is something I want to do. Thanks

I made it to the end and I want to thank you for the advice I am going into basic in one year and I am trying to prepare myself way away ahead of time.

While I don't plan on joining the military anytime soon, I still enjoy these videos

Thank you for explaining it greatly. I myself am joining the army and I leave June 17 to Fort Jackson. I am trying to get as much information as possible. It would be great if you can keep doing videos like this so I can better prepare myself. Thank you for your service.

I leave in week and have been watching you videos ever since I enlisted , thank you such for what you put on KZfaq

Thanks for posting this. I'm planning on going Army reserves but I am still trying to get as much information as possible.

I like your advice. This video answered a few questions that I hadn't asked my recruiter yet. Im trying to join the army at 32 years old. I tried joining when I was 19 but it didn't work out at the time. This is something I have wanted to do since I was only 13. I am really keeping my fingers crossed that my recruiter this time around can help me fulfill my dream career. Anybody reading this, wish me luck if you would please. I can also offer one piece of advice for people considering joining the military: STAY THE HELL OUT OF TROUBLE!!! I don't care how young & invincible you feel or think you are. Trouble with the law is what's causing me such a headache. It was all petty stuff too, not a single felony. I screwed up my future and career before I turned 17. It's still not a for sure thing this time either but I've got faith & confidence in my recruiter. Just know that serving in the military is an honor & a privilege, not a right.

Leaving for the Marine Corps basic training at Parris Island in a few months but I've still watched every video you've put out because your tips seem mostly universal besides things like "dont call your DSs(DIs) 'sir'". poolees/recruit/trainees call all Marines sir/ma'am until they get the title then it's by rank. almost wish I was joining the army though just so i could get the most out of your videos because they're so good. plus basic training is 14 weeks for Marines (plus a month of combat training for POGs, straight to school for infantry) after that, where as my understanding for the Army is 8 weeks then straight to job school/infantry school.

Thanks matt for all the info I leave tomorrow for Fort Jackson. These videos have better prepared me for basic and what to expect.

Thank you for telling us about this cuz I really do need to know and learn about this when I go to basic training

Shipping out June 26th, Fort Leonard Wood, 12B. I’ve spent hours watching your videos because they have been helping me out a lot!

This is so beneficial even a year later from the upload date!!! I’m about to leave for Benning

You're the best man. Thanks for taking the time to make all these detailed videos for us noobs. I am going to a recruiter today. I am planning to ship on the next cycle, not this one. That way I'll have time to get my push ups above 50, sit-ups above 60, and the run under 13 mins. I will also have plenty of time to memorize all the stuff you said and study for the ASVAB as well. Cheers !

Leaving for Fort Bennet, Georgia two weeks. Thank you for these videos helps a lot.

I’ve been watching you since I enlisted in the army back in September under the DEP and now I leave this week for Benning

I think most of your Vid is good, but one thing that is extremely important is doing well with the rifle, marksmanship is absolutely in my opinion the most important skill, I know not everyone can qualify for an expert badge but it is essential to do the best as you can. Maybe many things have changed when I went through it many years ago, my senior Drill Sargeant did three tours in Nam, and that was the most important thing to him.

im going to basic training on the 28th of decemeber im really glad you told me what i need to no. im getting hang of the soldiers creed, and the general orders, and getting the ranks in the bag. just gotta keep reapeating it over and over again. thanks for the tips man. defiantly will help me in basic training.

Im leaving for BMQ this Saturday , your video is surely gonna be really helpful to me even though im in the Canadian Forces! Thanks alot!

made it to end good video matt👍🏻

Leaving to the hotel today

I watched to the end, thanks for the tips. I’ll try to utilize them well.

Been doing some serious research into joining the army. Nice to see a video from a fellow 49er.

I ship out the 6th of march (3 days) Edit: I'm heading to Fort Jackson

Leaving in 25 min to the hotel lol. You can definately say im nervous.

Thank you for all the videos about the army. I've learned a lot from you. I leave for basic in 8 days!

This was a blessing to watch, I am considering being a army Chaplain, look forward to the adventure.

I ship out tonight and I couldn't be more nervous

Ill be shipping out this June 17 🤙🏻✊🏻😁

Made it to the end man. Thanks for the tips. Am taking asvab tomorrow and hopefully basic after MEPs. Appreciate your videos. I have a few more personal questions if you had some time. Thanks man

I really appreciate these videos man! I leave for Ft. Leonard Wood in 4 days and feel so much better about what I’m going to be going through and what to be prepared for. Keep making these great videos!!

Headed to bct tomorrow. Great vid

Leave on July 9th. Your channel has definitely helped me. Also I have a run plan I am going to do for the next month. I want to know your thoughts on it. I currently run a 15:20 2 mile run. I want to get it down to 14 30. I want to know your thoughts on it. Monday- I jog for 5 minutes. I sprint for 100 meters 10 times Tuesday- 5 mile run (no stopping) Wednesday- interval training. Moderate pace for 2 laps. Then sprint a lap. Thursday- 5 miles (without stopping) Friday- same as Wednesday

thank you for making these videos I'm going to basic soon and you have completely changed my thoughts about basic I know this is one of your older ones but I've watched a ton of them some being newer but you have helped me alot and it's greatly appreciated

Made it to the end, thank you for the tips for basic!

I'm watching while on the bus to basic💀🤣

Leaving in April 🇺🇸

Thank you for making this video cause i needed this

Made it to the end, and awesome and great informational video!🤘🏽💪🏼

I leave to Fort Sill in 2 weeks ! Going as a 15P

300 pt score and 40/40 range? Jeez we’re not super human haha

Made it to the end. Thanks for all the tips and advice.

Great video man, really helpful. Im getting ready, im still in the registering process i should be leaving in a few weeks. This video is a good eye opener

Hey! My boyfriend is at basic training...I'm pretty sure it's his last week of red phase and I was wondering if you can do a video on graduation information..who can attend, how to get there, so we have to stay in a hotel, what can we bring and what we can't bring to graduation, what to wear, etc..it would be very helpful!

Who else squading up at fort Jackson june 10-12?

Leaving tomorrow for Fort Jackson. Perfect timing. See you soon and thanks for everything Lieutenant Ward

Going into boot camp at the end of the month 13 Fox trot fire support thanks for your videos always love getting an edge

Im already in the army, i just watch your videos lol

Leaving June 18th to Ft. Jackson!! Little nervous 😬

Made it to the end. Leaving for Ft. Jackson on April 1st. Thank you for ALL your videos.

I’ve watched every one of You’re videos sir… and I really just appreciate all your insight before I make my enlistment … I saw you haven’t uploaded anymore recently , I hope you are doing well , thank you for your service

When you were talking about physical requirements for males, you said that our run time should be at least 16 minutes...is that for the one mile or something else? I am a female but I would like to know the male PT requirements so that I can work to achieve those scores instead. I know that there are requirements for females to meet but that seems a little too compromised for me. Thank you so much for this video..super helpful.

Important question: what medical records do you go over at reception?

Im going this summer to BMT. Thank you for this 2LT Ward❤️

Thank you very much for the help I leave for Jackson in exactly 2 weeks from today and watching your videos makes everything a lot less intimidating for me.

Why am i watching this. I already Did Basic

I leave march 18th 🎉

Thank you for all your videos!

Awesome Video!! Thanks for the Information..Thanks for your service!!

Damn i leave to basic on the 3rd of September🤘🏼

umm then who do i ask to go to the bathroom 😂 and will they get mad if i ask

I am enlisting currently in the army and this helped me dramatically thank you

Enjoyed your video, alot of helpful tips!