Hooah!! Welcome back for your Week Nine update. This is it—the moment your Trainee has been building toward since the day they arrived at Fort Benning! This week, they face the ultimate test since their arrival to Infantry OSUT: The Forge! The Forge is a legendary 96-hour Field Training Exercise (FTX) that challenges everything they have learned—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s where all the skills, discipline, and toughness they’ve developed are put into action under the most demanding conditions yet. This grueling event is a true rite of passage, and by the end of it, your Trainee will not just feel like a Soldier—they will be one.
Just a reminder, if you are attending this week’s Turning Green Ceremony you will need a visitor’s pass to get on Fort Benning. If you haven’t registered for your pass to visit Fort Benning, please do so now. All visitors are required to obtain a visitor pass to access the post.
Week 9 Expectations – Blue Phase
Week Nine is packed full of intensity as Trainees head into the field for four straight days of tactical missions, road marches, simulated combat, and survival challenges. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from your Trainee much this week—they’ll be fully immersed in their final test. The Forge is designed to push them beyond their limits and forge the resilience, grit, and teamwork needed to succeed in the Army. When they return, exhausted but victorious, there’s nothing more powerful than reading letters of encouragement from home. Your support will mean the world as they recover, reflect, and prepare for the proud moment that’s just around the corner—Turning Green! Hooah!
The Forge
The Forge is the ultimate test—an unforgiving, 96-hour crucible that pushes every trainee to their physical, mental, and emotional limits. This isn’t just another training event—it’s the final proving ground where warriors are forged. Trainees live in a tactical patrol base, grinding through nonstop missions that simulate the harsh realities of combat. Your Trainee will enter the Forge as a Trainee, but they will leave as a Soldier!
They’ll trek nearly 30 miles under load, conduct security patrols, face ambushes, and respond to rapid tactical shifts, all with minimal rest. Every lesson learned in the past eight weeks—from first aid to squad movements—is put on the line. Drill Sergeants create intense, real-world pressure with intelligence reports, simulated enemy contact, and chaotic battlefield scenarios.
One of the final events of The Forge is he Night Infiltration Course is where adrenaline, courage, and skill collide under the cover of darkness! Imagine moving silently through the shadows, navigating obstacles, and testing every ounce of your focus and training while the night surrounds you. This isn’t just a physical challenge—it’s a mental battlefield, pushing you to trust your senses, rely on your teammates, and embrace the intensity of the unknown. Every crawl, dash, and leap is a victory, and by the time you cross that finish line, you’ll feel unstoppable—hardened by the night, proud of your grit, and more ready than ever to face whatever comes next. This is where Future Soldiers prove to themselves that they are capable of far more than they ever imagined!
As the final challenge, they will depart The Forge on a brutal 10-mile road march returning to garrision at sunrise as Sodliers. There, they’ll pass through the symbolic Soldier’s Ceremony, signifying that they’ve earned the prestigouse title of American Soldier. They arrived as civilians. They return as warriors—tested, trained, and ready to take their place in the Army. It’s a day filled with pride, emotion, and honor, where the values of duty, loyalty, and commitment are not just words but a living reality, and every Soldier stands tall knowing they have earned the title they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Turning Green
In the 24 hours after The Forge, your Trainee will conduct their official Turning Green Ceremony. This is where they will be officially recognized as a Soldier in the United States Army and issued their U.S. Army patch if they have met all of their graduation requirements.
Family is welcome to attend the Turning Green Ceremony and also highly encouraged. This will mark the first time you will be able to see your Soldier since they departed on this journey. If you are unable to attend, don’t worry, the graduation will be here before you know if.
You – and your Trainee – are nearing the midway point of Infantry OSUT! It’s almost time to start thinking about reservations for graduation.
Letters From Home = Morale
This week is one of the most significant weeks of Army Infantry OSUT. They have put everything they have learned to the test. They have earned the right to be called a U.S. Army Soldier. In your letter to them, be sure to congratulate them on everything they have achieved. They will be happy to hear from you.
Now is a great time to send your Soldier an Exchange gift card! This way you can rest assured they have everything they need to get through the remainder of training. Plus, a gift card is a great way to say congratulations for everything the have accomplished so far.
The Making of Your Soldier
Stay tuned for more insights into Week Ten and beyond. This is where they start to focus on the detailed fundaments of becoming an expert Infantry Soldier. Follow us on social media for the latest updates, letter ideas, and more.
That’s a brief look at the intense but rewarding journey your Trainee is on. Let’s keep supporting them every step of the way!
You can always find me via chat in the Sandboxx app or happiness@sandboxx.us — just ask for Kris, and myself or another teammate will get back to you as soon as we can.
Hooah!
SGM Kris Broadus, U.S. Army (Ret)