Bootcamp!

[Omnius]

Wednesday next week I'll be starting my 1 year training at the Royal Military Academy of the Dutch Armed Forces. I'll be training to become an Officer in the Royal Netherlands Air Force. I picked up my gear today at the depot and had it sent off to the Academy.

Everyone was allowed to take 1 pair of boots with them to get used to walking in them. Now I got a pair of wooly socks with it that itch like hell! Is there a soldier's remedy against this? Except sucking it up of course .

Anyways, I'm starting with a 2.5 week bootcamp. I was wondering if anyone here had some experience or tips they'd wish to share with me!

 

[RevDMV]

Full Metal Jacket...

 

[Plecostomus]

Wednesday next week I'll be starting my 1 year training at the Royal Military Academy of the Dutch Armed Forces. I'll be training to become an Officer in the Royal Netherlands Air Force. I picked up my gear today at the depot and had it sent off to the Academy.

Everyone was allowed to take 1 pair of boots with them to get used to walking in them. Now I got a pair of wooly socks with it that itch like hell! Is there a soldier's remedy against this? Except sucking it up of course .

Anyways, I'm starting with a 2.5 week bootcamp. I was wondering if anyone here had some experience or tips they'd wish to share with me!

Sweet. So what's the Dutch Air Force flying these days?

 

[Omnius]

Full Metal Jacket...

Lol the real thing cannot be that bad...





right???

 

[JustKate]

Here's a deep, dark secret passed down from boot to boot (which translates to "from enlistee to enlistee") in the U.S. Marine Corps, or so my husband, a former Marine, tells me: You only wear those horrible socks in boot camp. After that, you find something else, something more comfortable. He actually wore white athletic socks his entire four-year enlistment and almost always got away with it because of the way the uniform pants "blouse" over the boot tops. Maybe you can get away with it for the same reason? He got caught now and then, but not very often, and only during everyday inspections. For full-scale inspections, he of course wore the regulation horrible socks.

But you might not be able to get away with anything in boot camp except the regulation horrible socks - at least if your boot camp is anything like his was. Unless maybe you could find some more comfortable socks that are exactly the same color?

 

[Omnius]

Sweet. So what's the Dutch Air Force flying these days?

Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Air_Force#Strength

I think we have a small but formidable Air Force. But I'm not going to fly any of those aircraft (unfortunately). Instead I'll be managing the Communications and Information Systems on one of the Air Force bases.

Here's a deep, dark secret passed down from boot to boot (which translates to "from enlistee to enlistee") in the U.S. Marine Corps, or so my husband, a former Marine, tells me: You only wear those horrible socks in boot camp. After that, you find something else, something more comfortable. He actually wore white athletic socks his entire four-year enlistment and almost always got away with it because of the way the uniform pants "blouse" over the boot tops. Maybe you can get away with it for the same reason? He got caught now and then, but not very often, and only during everyday inspections. For full-scale inspections, he of course wore the regulation horrible socks.

But you might not be able to get away with anything in boot camp except the regulation horrible socks - at least if your boot camp is anything like his was. Unless maybe you could find some more comfortable socks that are exactly the same color?

That's a good idea! Thanks!

 

[Plecostomus]

Sweet. So what's the Dutch Air Force flying these days?

Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Air_Force#Strength

I think we have a small but formidable Air Force. But I'm not going to fly any of those aircraft (unfortunately). Instead I'll be managing the Communications and Information Systems on one of the Air Force bases.

"Telephone Operator".

My father was a clerk in the US Army, his station was behind a typewriter, next to the file cabinet. Paid for his education, now he runs a computer repair business.

 

[FrontLine]

Here's a deep, dark secret passed down from boot to boot (which translates to "from enlistee to enlistee") in the U.S. Marine Corps, or so my husband, a former Marine, tells me: You only wear those horrible socks in boot camp. After that, you find something else, something more comfortable.

Winner!!!

Ok now for a hint from an old Infantry soldier. You want to know how to break your boots in so you dont get blisters....(Im assuming these are leather boots). Go swimming with them on for a half our, then go do a few hours yard work or walk for a few hours. What you are doing is breaking down the leather, and then as you work out in them you are getting the leather to form to your feet. The boots will be infinity more comfortable and less likely to blister your feet.

When you go on road marches (12 miles / 7.2km) here is another hint. Wear knee high pantyhose over your socks. Rub the bottom of the pantyhose down with a bar of soap. Your feet will glide in your boots.

 

[clint g]

Good luck at the academy!

I enlisted in the US Army myself in 2007 and commissioned as a second lieutenant back in may. Right now I'm currently at officer school in Georgia and following that I'll be heading to Signal School to become a communications officer

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Wear knee high pantyhose over your socks.

And hope to God your DI doesn't find out.

 

[Drogo]

Of course all military bootcams are designed to make a person miserable. It weeds out the strong from the weak. Once graduated, you will join real military and wear what you want.

Will you be going to a technical school after? Those are fun too.

PS: I retired as an E-9 in the USAF. Chiefs eat Lieutenants for lunch. "Yes Sir", isn't always "Yes Sir" for some...

 

[clint g]

Of course all military bootcams are designed to make a person miserable. It weeds out the strong from the weak. Once graduated, you will join real military and wear what you want.

Will you be going to a techical school after? Those are fun too.

This is very true. Whatever you do, don't ever take what they are saying personally. I had the opportunity to see what things looked like on the other side a few times (meaning, I got to work with Drill Sergeants outside of the Basic Training environment) and nearly everything is programed. From when they yell at you to how long they smoke you for, it is all pre-planned.

Also, I don't know how it works in your country but in the US military there are tons of secondary schools and optional training that you can take advantage of. If its the same where you are, jump at every school you can get. It's usually good training, you'll meet new people, and you may recieve a nice shiny badge for it

 

[Kirkman1987]

Good Luck!

I enlisted in 2006 in the US Army Reserve as a Human Resources Specialist (a clerk)

Boot Camp is miserable, but honestly not terribly difficult as long as you keep quiet, do what you are told, and never give up.

 

[MANT!]

Here's something to look forward to..

(Not safe for work BTW)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFNeBRc7W7s

USAF basic training was not too bad..but really you'll do ok..

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Whatever you do, don't ever take what they are saying personally. I had the opportunity to see what things looked like on the other side a few times (meaning, I got to work with Drill Sergeants outside of the Basic Training environment) and nearly everything is programed. From when they yell at you to how long they smoke you for, it is all pre-planned.

Well, that leaves me out then. I take everything personally, everything anyone ever says to me.

What the hell, I wouldn't last three seconds in bootcamp anyway. Not even if the drilling was like this.

 

[JustKate]

Well, that leaves me out then. I take everything personally, everything anyone ever says to me.

What the hell, I wouldn't last three seconds in bootcamp anyway. Not even if the drilling was like this.

I believe the USMC's boast is that it breaks you down to build you up.

And it probably works, too, but then I think Mr. JustKate's bootcamp was 12 full weeks. Eek!

 

[Drogo]

What the hell, I wouldn't last three seconds in bootcamp anyway. Not even if the drilling was like this.

Looks like some thing we used to call two weeks of motivation training. We used to do all kinds of things to make "uninterested" recruits fit in.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I believe the USMC's boast is that it breaks you down to build you up.

I'm sure they do say that. And to those who have the stomach to get through that, well, more power to 'em. But I, myself, would probably not survive it. I feel broken down enough as it is. And as I said, I take everything anyone says to me, personally. I would assume that my DI really would think I'm lower than dogshit or whatever, and thus, why would they want me in their military? So I'd just give up and go home. I don't have the courage for this kind of thing. I have a lot of respect for those who do, though.

 

[JustKate]

I'm sure they do say that. And to those who have the stomach to get through that, well, more power to 'em. But I, myself, would probably not survive it. I feel broken down enough as it is. And as I said, I take everything anyone says to me, personally. I would assume that my DI really would think I'm lower than dogshit or whatever, and thus, why would they want me in their military? So I'd just give up and go home. I don't have the courage for this kind of thing. I have a lot of respect for those who do, though.

Notice I'm telling Mr. JustKate's stories...not my own. Me, I know just enough about the military to admire those who serve and be grateful that I didn't have to.

Humorous side note: If anybody asks the mister about what his rank "is" - he's been out quite a while now - he'll say he's a "PFC." Which stands for one thing when you're in the USMC, but once you're out, it stands for "Proud F*cking Civilian." I thought you might enjoy knowing that, Laser...but I wouldn't recommend it's use to anybody who hasn't been in the military.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Notice I'm telling Mr. JustKate's stories...not my own.

Then I salute Mr. JustKate, 'cuz he can survive what I can't.

Humorous side note: If anybody asks the mister about what his rank "is" - he's been out quite a while now - he'll say he's a "PFC." Which stands for one thing when you're in the USMC, but once you're out, it stands for "Proud F*cking Civilian." I thought you might enjoy knowing that, Laser.

I do, in fact! Thanks, I needed that.