Hooah!! Welcome back! Hopefully by now you have confirmed your reservations and you will be able to attend the upcoming Turning Green Ceremony. Huge Congrats to you and your Trainee. You are in the final stretch of the Basic Training portion of OSUT, the Blue Phase.
In the upcoming weeks, your Trainee will be participating in the Forge where they will draw upon everything they have learned thus far. Then in week ten, there will be a Turning Green Ceremony. This is where they will officially be recognized as Soldiers and no longer called Trainees. Please ensure you register for your pass ahead of time at the following link:
We welcome and encourage families to attend the Turning Green Ceremony. You will not be disappointed. If you are able to attend, your Trainee will be able to join you in the local area for a weekend pass. Wish your Trainee luck as this week they have some significant milestones ahead of them to prepare them for the Forge.
Week 8 Expectations: Blue Phase
Get ready—this is an action-packed, adrenaline-charged week for your Trainee! Training will shift into full combat mode, focusing on the fire and maneuver tactics that are at the heart of every combat Soldier. During these intense sessions, your Trainee will learn how to shoot, move, and communicate as part of a two-person buddy team—skills that are absolutely critical on the battlefield. They’ll master the basics of Individual Movement Techniques (IMT), learning how to low crawl, high crawl, and rush from cover to cover with precision and speed!
But the excitement doesn’t stop there! After drilling their movement skills, your Trainee will gear up—vests, helmets, ear plugs, and eye protection on—and head to the live fire range to practice running the lanes under real-world conditions. Every movement, every shot, every command builds their confidence and sharpens their warrior spirit. And just when you think the week couldn’t get any more thrilling, it all caps off with one of the most exciting events of Basic Training: the Confidence Obstacle Course. It’s a week packed with challenge, teamwork, and huge moments of pride—and your Trainee is ready to crush it!
Hand Grenade Range
Your Trainee is diving into some of the most thrilling and unforgettable experiences of Basic Training as they learn about their supporting weapons systems, including the powerful M320 Grenade Launcher and the legendary Fragmentation Grenade! Just like during Rifle Marksmanship, Trainees will spend the day out on the ranges, practicing and qualifying with these incredible systems. The energy on the range is electric—Trainees typically describe the M320 and Frag Grenade ranges as absolute highlights of their entire training experience! There’s nothing quite like the excitement (and adrenaline rush) that comes with handling real explosives—and you can bet your Trainee will have some awesome stories to share about it.
One of the most memorable and nerve-wracking moments will be the very first time they throw a live fragmentation grenade. It’s a true gut-check moment—standing there, grenade in hand, heart pounding—and then pushing past fear to execute with precision and courage. Every Trainee must successfully throw two live frag grenades, and when they do, they earn a qualification badge that they’ll wear with pride. It’s a huge confidence boost and a true symbol of how far they’ve come. This isn’t just training anymore—it’s becoming a Soldier, one unforgettable moment at a time! Hooah!
Buddy Team Live Fire
During the Buddy Team Live Fire, the training will focus on the fire and maneuver tactics central to Soldiers moving on the battlefield. The main training event is the Tactical Training Days (TTD 1-4), where the Trainees will learn to shoot, move, and communicate in two-person buddy teams. The Trainees will learn the basics of individual movement techniques (IMT), the tactical method of driving in combat. Then, they will go to the live fire range, wear protective vests, helmets, ear plugs, and eye protection, and begin practicing the lanes.
The live fire exercises (LFX) are some of the most stressful events a Trainee can experience as they are required to move and accurately fire live rounds while another Trainee does the same thing next to them. A Trainee must be constantly aware of their surroundings and keep their weapon pointed in a safe direction. Their drill sergeants continually supervise them, and once they complete the training, they have a tremendous respect for their weapons and confidence in their ability to employ them safely.
Confidence Obstacle Course
Closing out this week your Trainee will take on one of the most thrilling and transformative challenges of Basic Training: the Army Confidence Obstacle Course! Designed to test both physical toughness and mental grit, this course is all about pushing past fears and discovering just how capable they truly are. Trainees will climb towering obstacles, swing across ropes, leap over barriers, and crawl under wire—all while battling their own doubts and cheering each other on. It’s loud, it’s intense, and it’s packed with the kind of energy that bonds Soldiers together for life!
The Confidence Obstacle Course isn’t just about strength—it’s about heart, courage, and determination. Every wall they scale and every rope they conquer fuels a growing sense of pride and belief in themselves. Drill Sergeants will be right there pushing them forward, and their battle buddies will be shouting encouragement every step of the way. By the time your Trainee crosses that final obstacle, they’ll stand a little taller, move with a little more swagger, and know deep down that they are capable of facing any challenge head-on. This is where fear turns into pride—and Soldiers are truly forged!
Letters From Home = Morale
Your words matter. Letters from home are fuel for the fight—they lift spirits, inspire grit, and remind your Trainee they are never alone. In your letter to your Trainee this week, ask them how they overcame thier fear and what throwing a grenade was like.
In the upcoming week, your Trainee will be participating in the culminating event of the first ten weeks, the Forge, where they will draw upon everything they have learned thus far. Then in week ten, there will be a Turning Green Ceremony. This is where they will officially be recognized as Soldiers and no longer called Trainees.
We welcome and encourage families to attend the Turning Green Ceremony. You will not be disappointed. If you are able to attend, your Trainee will be able to join you in the local area for a weekend pass. Wish your Trainee luck as next week they will learn to use their body as a weapon and tackle hand to hand combat and tackle the Forge!
Sandboxx makes letter writing easy—with next-day delivery, return stationery, pre-addressed envelopes, photos, and even gift card options. But whether you use Sandboxx or send a handwritten card, your support means everything. Every letter is a lifeline.
The Making of Your Soldier
The journey is just beginning, and the road ahead will be tough—but your Trainee is rising to the challenge. Next week, they’ll is another major milestone as your Trainee will take on the Confidence Obstacle Course, and go back to the range for Buddy Team Live Fire. Stay tuned for more insights as we walk this journey together.
In the meantime, follow us on Instagram and Facebook for inspiration, contests, and encouragement for your Soldier-in-the-making. And if you ever need anything, reach out to me through the Sandboxx app or email us at happiness@sandboxx.us—just ask for Kris, and I’ll be there.
We’re honored to be part of your family’s journey. Let’s keep the fire burning.
Hooah!
SGM Kris Broadus, U.S. Army (Ret)