Hooah!! Welcome back for your Week Eight update. This will be one of the funnest weeks for your Trainee during their time in BCT as they tackle the Obstacle Course and learn Combatives.   

WEEK NINE EXPECTATIONS: BLUE PHASE

Week eight is a week of reflection on all the achievements that have been made during the Basic Combat Training journey. It will also be filled with lots of time cleaning and preparing for next week’s big challenge, The Forge. 

You may notice that your Soldier is able to call you and spend some more time on the phone with you than before. They have earned those privileges by achieving and overcoming every obstacle that was put in front of them.

COMBAT OBSTACLE COURSE

The Confidence Obstacle Course (COC) helps instill Army values, build confidence and raise personal courage between trainees. The Confidence Obstacle Course is designed to test trainee’s endurance, stamina and willpower to boost their confidence in their ability to perform under trying conditions.

The Confidence Obstacle Course is all about overcoming obstacles and, as the name implies, building confidence. It also requires the trainees to face innate fears they may have such as a fear of heights.

COMBATIVES

This will be an exhausting week for your Trainee. They will embark on an extremely physical course known as Combatives. By now, your Trainee has definitely started to notice a distinct difference in their physical appearance and overall strength. The daily regime of physical fitness will be put on full display this week and they challenge their bodies in physical combat.

This week your Trainee will learn to use their own body as a weapon. Up until this point, they have been learning how to use the various equipment and tools provided to them. The focus of combatives is how to use your arms, legs, and even head to win a physical altercation with an opponent. They will learn how to position their bodies, apply leverage and submissions, and strike their opponents. Additionally they will learn to protect themselves against these techniques. 

One of the most exciting parts of this week is practicing for their impending culminating exercise The Forge and the Soldier Ceremony. This is what they have been working for since their arrival at BCT. The realization that they have finally achieved their goal is very exciting. They are getting more and more excited every day to finally see their family and show you the transformation they have made.

LETTERS FROM HOME = MORALE

TWO MORE WEEKS TO GO!! It is almost time to be reunited with your Soldier. I can’t imagine the excitement you are feeling. In this week’s letter, be sure you ask your Trainee how they enjoyed Combatives and be sure to wish them well as they depart for The Forge next week.  

Although Sandboxx letters arrive the next day with return stationery, a pre-addressed envelope, the return postage paid, photos, and a gift card feature, don’t feel like you have to use Sandboxx to send letters. We encourage handwritten letters and cards – these are super important.

THE MAKING OF YOUR SOLDIER

Stay tuned for more insights into Week Nine and beyond. 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)