In general, phone calls are limited to 5-10 minutes. Service members from all branches said that the length and number of phone calls allowed depend on the platoon's behavior. Phone privileges can always be taken away. Occasionally, a phone call may be offered as a reward.
Trainees are authorized access to their personal cell phones during the fourth week and at the end of the seventh week of training to firm up travel arrangements with family and guests.
Because calling home is an earned privilege (for your group) and is different for everyone depending on how your basic training unit performs, you may get only one phone call during your entire time at basic, or you may get as many as eight or 10 chances to call home.
Although many recruiters tell Soldiers not to bring their cell phone to basic training, many Soldiers are allowed to use them when they earn phone privileges to call home. Cell phone use depends on the drill sergeants. Some drill sergeants allow them, others do not.
Mobile phones are allowed in basic training, but can only be used at authorized times. In fact, according to Air Force policy, you are encouraged to bring your cell phone and charger with you.
If you enroll in boot camp, expect to be on duty seven days a week, though you might get several hours of personal time on Sunday since it's a day with lighter responsibilities.
Drill Instructors DO Read the Message Boards
These letters are intended for you and you alone.
Sleeping arrangements during Basic Training may differ depending on where you're at. Generally, you'll either bunk in a bay containing about 40 people or in a small room with three to six others. You can expect to get between seven and eight hours of sleep.
Getting That Morning Wake-Up Call
In military basic training, there's no such thing as sleeping in. You'll get up at 5 a.m. every single day. Waking up in the morning is an adjustment process that's the same for every single basic training class.
Soldiers are not given the opportunity to go home after basic training as most AIT school check-ins are required the day after basic training graduation. AIT schools Phase IV is usually three weeks long. It focuses on training soldiers in the values of the Army, and also starts a focus on their specific MOS skills.
There are no cell phones allowed in Basic Training. This is a consistent rule for all of the military branches: Do not expect your service member to be able to call you, text you, or receive your messages when they are in Basic Training. The Marine Corps does not allow any cell phone access until after graduation.
Often, drill commanders assign when and how long a unit has to shower. For example, you may have 1-2 minutes to squeeze in a quick shower in the morning after PT. Then, more time is generally provided in the evening right before or after “lights out”.
About once a week. Usually on Sunday afternoon or evening. A day or two after you arrive at basic you'll be allowed to call home very briefly just to let your family know you have arrived and are situated.
You'll get a lot of chances to make friends at boot camp. Keep an open mind, respect others, and be kind. Last but not least, remember that you're not alone and that both your fellow recruits and instructors are there to support you.
Unless you have a verified family emergency (death or serious injury/illness of an immediate family member), you're not allowed to take leave during basic training. If you joined the Navy or Air Force, you're not usually allowed to take leave until you finish your military job training.
Crying during USMC boot camp is not uncommon and may occur due to the stress of training. However, recruits are expected to quickly regain composure and continue with their training, as showing prolonged emotional vulnerability may result in disciplinary action or dismissal from the program.
Drill Instructors/Drill Sergeants don't physically touch recruits. They don't hit or physically assault recruits, ever. They come close, but they never physically hurt or even touch recruits. Another thing that is important is that everything they do is for a purpose, a rehearsed, manufactured, and engineered purpose.
How Long Is Army Basic Training? Basic training at Fort Jackson takes 10 weeks to complete. Unlike high school or college, where you may have been in class and studying around six hours a day, the Army trains for about 12-14 hours a day, six days a week.
In basic training, you take group showers. There's no way out of communal showers. They're required. Everyone in your barracks will enter the shower room assigned to your barracks when commanded.
Body Changes
If you are adding a resistance program (calisthenics, weighted exercise), there will be tearing down and building up of muscle. At first, this micro-tearing of the muscle fiber causes water retention during the healing process, which can result in some weight gain.
Recruits spend a lot of time running during boot camp. In the first week, expect a 1.5-mile formation run and several rounds of an 880-meter combat conditioning course. This is just where it begins. In Marine Boot Camp running is foundational to combat fitness.
Yelling is, by far, the most common corrective action in military basic training. If you perform some boneheaded stunt, your training instructor is going to let you know about it ... loudly. Don't discount being yelled at as a punishment.
We recommend that you work out at least 3-5 times per week, and at least six weeks prior to Basic Military Training. (Note: For your health and safety, you should consult a doctor prior to beginning this or any physical fitness regimen.)
Recruits are allowed to have pictures of their loved ones, in fact, they may be allowed to hang one or two on the outside of their locker [The details of this are definitely subject to the opinions of each Drill Sergeant]. Include a photo from of home, family, friends, or motivational photos or quotes.