by Michael Volkin

I have spoke to thousands of recruits, countless drill sergeants and hundreds of soldiers about basic training. Many recruits aren’t aware of the secret tips you can learn before you arrive to basic training to make your time at boot camp much more enjoyable. Therefore, I bring you the top 5 secret tips you should know before you arrive at boot camp.

Top 5 Secret Tips You Should Know Before You Arrive at Boot Camp:

5) Experiment with Phone Cards
Staying in contact with friends and family is a necessity for your mental well being at basic training. However, phone cards are prone to advertisements and long operator recordings. With a phone card, after you get finished dialing your long access code, an operator will give you further instructions, which for the most part you will not need to know, or already know. This process wastes valuable time when you only have a few minutes to talk to your loved ones. Experiment before you leave for boot camp and find a phone card that has no advertisements and allows you to connect with your family the quickest.

4) Don’t Let Your Luggage Get You in Trouble
Your first day of basic training will undoubtedly be you’re most memorable. On this day, you will meet your drill sergeants. I can tell you from experience the first thing a drill sergeant looks for is your luggage. If they see anything but plain black luggage you are asking for push ups. Do not bring luggage with flowers, bright colors, designer labels or anything that can draw attention to you.

3) Break the Habit
Tobacco products, alcoholic drinks, even snacking are addictive and none of them are allowed at basic training. In boot camp you will have access to 3 meals a day. You will not get smoke breaks, you will not get to go out for beers with your buddies and you will definitely not get chocolate cake for dessert. I suggest you practice breaking your habits before arriving at boot camp. In my book, I always stress it is easier to break your habits under your own terms rather than your drill sergeants terms.

2) Bring the Ink
You will be issued many items at basic training and you will have to keep track of everything, or you will be paying for it. Unfortunately, recruits tend to lose or damage some of their equipment. Instead of telling their drill sergeants, they are sometimes more prone to taking the equipment of others. To prevent your items from getting lost or stolen bring a black marker with you. With this marker you can initial and label everything you own. Having a marker with you will ensure that nothing you own accidentally turns up missing. You will also make a few friends because recruits who did not bring a marker with them will want to borrow yours; you can never have too many friends at basic training.

1) Happy Stomachs Equal Happy Recruits

Learn how to eat an MRE before you leave for basic training. An MRE stands for Meal, Ready-to-Eat. I explain how to eat MRE’s in my book. The first time you see an MRE you will be in the field and your drill sergeant will give you 10 minutes to eat one. Unfortunately, it takes most recruits about 15 minutes to learn how to open and heat their meal. This will be your lunch, your dinner and sometimes even your breakfast. You do not get many luxuries in basic training, so at least make sure you eat well.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of the very successful book: The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Surviving Boot Camp, available at www.UltimateBasicTraining.com.