6 Things you can do to get ready for Basic Training

The days are counting down until you leave for Basic Training and you’re trying to do everything you can to get ready for the next four years of your life. While Basic Training will shape you into a productive member of the Armed Forces, the training up to the day you leave will help you get a leg up on the competition and make sure that you aren’t falling behind during parts of Basic Training.

In this post, we share our 6 things you can do to get ready for Basic Training.

Run, Run, Run

One of the main things that will ensure you are appropriately prepared for basic training is to start logging some miles. Cardio endurance will ensure that you can keep up on platoon runs and helps you train your mind to stay focused during long sessions.

Strength training is essential as well. Doing pushups and situps often and of course, if you belong to a gym, lifting weights will help you a ton. But the military loves any fitness exercise that uses bodyweight so the sooner you can start training with running, pushups, pull-ups, situps, the better off you will be when you enter Basic Military Training day one.

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Basic Training Physical Fitness Tests

While at basic training you’ll be required to pass the PT test. See what each branch’s PT Standards are so that you’re fully prepared.

Air Force PT
Marine Corps IST
Navy PRT

Read The History of Your Branch

While the military preaches physical fitness at all times, keeping your mind sharp with reading will also improve your knowledge that is needed before entering basic military training.

“Keeping your mind sharp with reading will also improve your knowledge that is needed before entering basic military training.”

Learning about the history of your branch you have decided to enlist in will give you insight to the most significant battles, events, and leaders. Some of the best leadership lessons you will be able to learn will come from the great generals, sergeants of your branch.

Also, some of the best stories of bravery, courage, and honor come from the stories of those who were awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor one can receive for heroic actions.

Level Up Your Nutrition

While hitting the road or lifting some iron at the local gym will help you make some significant gains, a good solid diet will help you ramp up your training and get you in shape a lot faster. It’s essential to incorporate the right amount of vegetables, protein, and limit the number of processed sugars and carbs you are intaking into your diet.

Don’t get us wrong or confused with us being a bunch of health nuts; we like a good old-fashioned cheeseburger as much as everybody else but as the saying goes, everything in moderation. Reward yourself with a cheat meal for your hard work but don’t overdo it.

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Get Tough…Mentally

A lot of what you’ll experience in basic training has to do with sharpening your mind to handle the amount of adversity that comes at you in the service. You’ll have to deal with change and situations that aren’t ideal. Practicing the art of improvising will help you immensely when you’re getting ready for basic training.

A great way to do this is with your fitness. Before you go on a run, write a bunch of numbers on a sheet, cut them up and throw them into a hat. Shuffle the hat around and pull a random number out. Whatever that number is, that is the number of miles you will run. To speed up your ability to adapt, try not to have an opinion about the number. Instead, tell yourself that you will run that number as fast as possible.

You can implement the number exercise into any fitness routine you are on. Make sure you take notes as well with how you are feeling when you have to deal with change. Keeping progress will help you see where you are and how far you have come.

Remember Why You Joined

During Basic Military Training, it can be a grind day in and out with the speed and intensity you will experience in physical training, classroom learning, and also lack the right amount of quality sleep. At some point, you will feel low energy, and you may wonder if joining the service was the right thing to do.

Basic Military Training is designed to mold you into the best servicemember you can be. The best thing you can do when times get tough is to connect back to the reason you signed up in the first place.

Often, reflecting on the one or many reasons you join, provides a bolt of energy or a second wind during those challenging times. The next time you are out on a hike, a run, or training for Basic Military Training, practice connecting to those reasons and dig deep. You will be surprised how much farther you can run, and how much further you can go.

Learn the Ropes

Another way to help you get ready for basic training is brushing up and nailing down the customs, rank structure, and core values of the branch you are joining. This will help you get ahead when joining the military and have a faster grasp of the military.

You can learn more about what you’ll need to know before you go from the links below.

Army Basic Training
Marine Corps Boot Camp
Navy Boot Camp
Air Force Basic Training
Coast Guard Boot Camp