You never forget your time at boot camp. There, you make the transition from civilian to US Military personnel. Whether you were a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard, these experiences proved your courage and bonded you with fellow recruits for life.
Arrival
Who could forget the moment they stepped off of that bus? From that moment forward, you left your civilian life behind to soon become a Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Airman, or Coastguardsman.
At this point in your training, you probably had a hard time telling a Sergeant from a Staff Sergeant.
Test your knowledge and see if you still know rank & insignia marks after all these years here.
First Phone Call
Getting to talk to your loved ones after so much time had passed was such a relief. Whether you were calling your Mom, a buddy back home, or your significant other, you never wanted that phone call to end!
BC Glasses
If you wore glasses back then, you’ll never forget having to wear your ‘birth control’ glasses. Named this way due to their large and somewhat comical appearance, getting contacts might have been a top priority for you.
Upload photos of you in your BCG’s to reminicse with fellow Vets here.
Your Drill Sergeants
Everyone remembers their Drill Sergeants, and how they helped shape everyone into respectable Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Coasties, and Airmen. All the yelling, drills, and cleanup they had you do will not soon be forgotten.
If you would like to get in contact with your DS, click here.
Your Battle Buddy
Not all Vets have had battle buddies, but those who have know that they are a friend for life. You and your assigned friend kept each other accountable and alive throughout basic training, and your shared experiences will never be forgotten.
Your Nickname
Boot camp nicknames have been known to be pretty brutal. Anything from Milk Dud to Tweedledee & Tweedledum is not off limits.
If you had a nickname, either during basic traning or later on in your Military career, you can add it to your VetFriends profile so others can find you here.
Getting ‘Smoked’
You know how it happened – ususally one person messed up and you all had to take the fall. Getting smoked was a regular occurence during basic training, and the simplest mistakes (i.e. an unlocked locker) could result in countless push-ups.
Click here to upload and browse the cadences you had to sing while getting smoked.
The Gas Chamber
Going to the gas chamber is a rite of passage for all recruits, regardless of their branch. If you went in expecting to defy the odds by not crying, you were quickly proven wrong!
If you have your ‘exiting the gas chamber’ photos, upload them here to remember the experience with 2 million+ other Veterans.
Graduation
The day had finally arrived where you got to put on your dress blues and call yourself a true Marine, Sailor, Soldier, Airman, or Coastguardsman! On top of that, many recruits got to see their loved ones for the first time in months.
Your Yearbook
You may still look back at your Boot Camp yearbook and remember names and faces you haven’t seen for years. These young men and women were your friends and teammates, and always had your back.
If you would like to reconnect with old buddies from Basic Training, click here.
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