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 Sill! This week, they face the ultimate test in Army Basic Combat Training: 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.
Week Nine Expectations: Blue Phase
Week Nine kicks off with full 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—graduation! 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.
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. And yes—they’ll face off in pugil stick battles, crawl under fire during the Night Infiltration Course, and tackle the epic Battle March and Shoot.
But the Forge isn’t just about muscle—it’s about grit. Your trainee will complete 44 warrior tasks while wearing full gear, running on fumes, and leading or following in mission-critical roles. They’ll train on IED defeat techniques, practice FOB and checkpoint operations, and execute every movement tactically. As the final challenge, they’ll step off on a brutal 10-mile road march, returning to garrison at sunrise as Soldiers.
There, they’ll pass through the symbolic Soldier’s Ceremony, signifying that they’ve earned the title. They arrived as civilians. They return as warriors—tested, trained, and ready to take their place in the Army. The Forge is where Soldiers are made.
Letter From Home = Morale
Your words matter. Letters from home are fuel for the fight—they lift spirits, inspire grit, and remind your Soldier they are never alone. A few kind words from you can make all the difference. In your Letter to them, be sure to congratulate them on everything they have achieved, they have just earned the right to stand amongst our Nation’s best and brightest as Soldiers in the U.S. Army!
The Making of Your Soldier
The journey is ending, and the road has been tough—but your Sodlier has risen to the challenge. Next week will be the week we have been waiting for! It’s Graduation and Family Day-get ready! There will not be a dry eye in the place. The ememse amount of pride for all you and your Soldier has accomlished will be on full display.
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)