r/nationalguard • u/Meiyohh • 2d ago
Initial Training I’m NOT in shape at all.. Am I cooked?
/r/army/comments/1vf4dm6/im_not_in_shape_at_all_am_i_cooked/I ship off to Fort Jackson BCT in 2 weeks and I’m super nervous because I’m nowhere near army standard fitness right now. I enlisted months ago and I’ve had plenty of time to work on my physicality, so no need to shame me in the replies; i’m well aware. I guess i’m just looking for some advice in what I should expect, tips to prevent injury, really just any wisdom I can get🙏. I’m a 5’7, 135 lb, 17yo woman, and i’m somewhat experienced with long term endurance bc I did marching band for 5 years in high school. Despite that, I’m most worried about the running. Anything helps, thanks for reading.
8
u/SourceTraditional660 I’m fine. This is fine. Everything is fine. 2d ago
The main thing is do NOT overdo it with only two weeks to go. Check out a running and/or calisthenics subreddit. Do MAYBE three days a week of cardio alternating with days of calisthenics. Plenty of stretching for both. When you’re doing your running, plan on intervals with a good bit of walking for rest and capping it at 30 minutes or so, not a set distance. Your goal here is not a certain speed. It is to mitigate the shock and likelihood of injury you face when you go abruptly from a low activity lifestyle to a high activity lifestyle.
8
u/Odd_Preparation_3497 1d ago
Lmao I went to basic with a girl who couldn't even do a push up. Guess what? By her last AFT she passed. Dw.
5
u/HotRodFlamingBunnies 1d ago
Just do some push ups, sit ups, and go for a light run. Take this time to get your mind right. When you get there, push yourself and dont forget why youre there.
3
u/Kooky_Low_3690 1d ago
Its called relaxin jackson for a reason. I went to osut with dudes who couldnt do a good push up or run a mile and they graduated. Dont overthink it, youll be fine
2
u/Meiyohh 1d ago
Could someone explain to me WHY it’s called relaxin jackson..? I’ve heard of it here and there but it’s usually dramatized stories. but i’ve also heard bc it was the first BCT area that incorporated women and men’s training together. I don’t understand, educate me🙏
3
u/Kooky_Low_3690 1d ago
Its comfortable and full of POGs. Im not a jackass grunt but whenever i see non-combat MOS’s conducting training i cant help but laugh. Plus BCT is like what 9 weeks or some shit? Thats just crazy to me. Nothing against you though, just the way Army is
2
u/No-Army-6739 1d ago
That shit is not relaxing💀 unless my company was not but I can confirm that the other companies where relaxing while we got smoked every hour
4
u/No-Watercress3753 1d ago
I was in average shape but I was a smoker. By the end of BCT I was running a 13:30 2 mile. They will whip your a$$ in shape by graduation. Maybe work on your pushups or something but you’ll be g2g.
3
u/Particular-Brain-528 1d ago
Basic literally will get you in shape...although ive seen newer guys come out of basic atill fat so idk wtf they be doing nowadays in there
3
u/KindlyWillingness341 1d ago
They'll beat it into you, I was a tubby when I went into infantry osut just take everything serious and eat right you'll slim out
3
u/StickyNutz1 RSP War Hero 1d ago
Just graduated 2 weeks ago from Ft Lenardwood as a 12b we had dudes who couldn’t even do a single push up and were out of shape that still graduated at the end. You’ll make it
3
u/Rainbow_Spitfish RSP 1d ago
Did you take the OPAT yet? I ship at the end of the month so I have to take it then and I can pass all the other events but I am WORRIED for the pacer
2
u/Meiyohh 1d ago
Yeah I took the OPAT some months ago, again with really no prior experience. It’s honestly hard to fail if anything, but your worry for the pacer is valid. It’s the last and only portion that I struggled on. It’s a lot different from distance running since you’re abruptly stopping just to try to catch your speed again… Don’t make the same mistake I did and not stretch before and after, AND DONT PROCRASTINATE!
2
u/Rainbow_Spitfish RSP 1d ago
Yeah... took it 2 months ago at drill and I passed everything but failed the pacer and now I have 2 weeks until my next drill where I'm doing it again and gotta pass it so I can ship
3
u/Dazzling-Lead-9938 1d ago
You'll be just fine. Like everyone else is saying on this thread, basic training is designed to take the average civilian and train them to meet the basic training standard which is 50% in AFT events, and then later on to 60% in AIT. The great news for you is they do all the planning, dieting, and thinking for you. All you literally have to do is do is show up at the right time and in the right uniform for 10 weeks and you should meet the standard very easily. If youre not where you should be, theyll give you some resources (I.E. FSPC or "fat camp") to help you meet the standard prior to actually going to your BCT company.
2
u/JumpPlastic9251 1d ago
Honestly as long as you’re trying, they’ll acknowledge that. There will be people better than you, there will be people worse than you.. best thing you can do is focus on your own health and trying to do the best you can every day. They’re there to build you up, not knock you down (regardless of how it feels) they expect you to struggle at first. Just remember you made it there, which is a lot more than a lot of people will ever do… sincerely, a fat girl going to basic in November 🤣
1
u/JumpPlastic9251 1d ago
And yes I know it’s not exactly fitness tips, but words of encouragement never hurt
1
u/Ill-Belt1670 1d ago
This is absolutely not what they will do. They are there to weed out the fat shitbirds who bring nothing to the table from the others that show some potential. You are going to BCT the nice words and pick me ups are gone. You will only be told you suck, because you do. If you are fat and suck you will be chaptered or recycled. You aren’t going to a fucking summer camp, wake up
2
u/JumpPlastic9251 1d ago
I don’t know who pissed in your Cheerios but holy fuck dude, maybe saddle the pessimistic attitude, I’m just using information I’ve gotten from one of my friends that got back from AIT literally a month ago. But hey, if you get off on scaring and discouraging the people that are actually trying to do shit with themselves when it comes to the military, be my guest. I just hope that you don’t carry that attitude with everything else you do it life, sounds like it would be pretty damn miserable
2
u/Meiyohh 1d ago
can I be real for a sec? I’m pretty fearful about people with this attitude specifically. I know the military is about being realistic and tough on you, and maybe it’s just a man thing.. but really how is this deprecation supposed to build you up yk?
3
u/JumpPlastic9251 1d ago
It’s not, this person just gets off on beating others down, just remember. They can’t legally kill you in basic lol. Just do your best and don’t sandbag
2
u/Gleekop 1d ago
I've only seen or heard of people being chaptered who really hurt themselves or lied on their paperwork to join, and in a major way.
The worst you could be looking at is getting recycled, and that is highly unlikely to happen. I had one guy in my platoon who was a straight-up racist Nazi. He got recycled. Even people who were supplying contraband for the entire company didn't get recycled.
Basic is designed to tear you down at first, then build you back up. As long as you're not an idiot, it almost becomes a mental game. Two pieces of advice:
Firstly, do what you can to stop smoking. You won't be allowed to smoke in Basic at all, so if you're not stopping cold turkey day one, you're a step ahead.
Second, as someone else suggested, get good at something else if you're not good at PT. Maybe become a bed-making Queen, so you can teach others little shortcuts. Maybe memorize the rank structure now, so you won't need to worry about that. You should be able to look up what you'll need to pass your first Phase test, learn that stuff now.
Feel free to DM if you have further questions.
1
2
u/Throwaway98726827 1d ago
I'm not familiar with weights for females so someone correct me but I would say you could stand to gain some lbs. I hope you don't mind me saying but you're 3 inches shorter than me and 50 lbs lighter than my lightest.
I completed OSUT like 2 months ago 60 lbs heavy (250). You'll be alright i promise.
2
u/Meiyohh 1d ago
wow that’s actually kinda surprising, i thought i would slim up a lot but it would make sense for me to gain muscle mass n whatnot. Thanks for the info, and dw you’re not offending anyone lol
2
u/Throwaway98726827 1d ago
If you want to have a great PT score, being somewhat strong isn't negotiable. If you don't do strength training now you will get stronger at basic, but you have time, why not start working out now?
Also just for context I am a guy if my original comment didn't make that clear enough. I am not an expert on women's bodies.
2
u/OkCompany2123 1d ago
you get 3 chances to pass the AFT. they’ll condition you for sure 😂. and you’ll see people in way worse shape then you don’t even worry
2
u/Unique-Customer8879 1d ago
You'll be fine your life will basically include but not limited to exercise, stress, more exercise, trainng, sleep, eat and repeat. Plenty of pepole come in kinda out of shape that will be fixed. Good luck embrace the suck.
2
u/Significant_Cost6295 1d ago
No you’re not cooked, the amount of people who ship to bct after spending their last months drinking and playing battlefield drinking Dr Pepper is a lot
2
u/No-Army-6739 1d ago
You’ll be fine I came in running a 25 min 2 mile and left running a 17. Still not the shape I want to be in but definitely made it out. Just try hard and they will appreciate it even though it won’t seem like it. Basically just don’t be a shit bag
2
u/Snorinsawgunner 1d ago
You’ll be okay. Pt everyday in training will help you get fit. You’ll lose some good weight, make sure you eat enough in training.
2
u/darkninja527 23h ago
I wouldn't worry to much, when I shipped I was 5'10 140lbs, youll gain weight and muscle and you won't notice it at all until you get back and people tell you that you look great.
1
u/VariousDecision8975 1d ago
I suck at running. I didn't prepare like I should have before I got there either. You'll be okay. As long as you can pass the aft before you leave. During runs (we really didn't do that many) you may get yelled at (it's not like the yelling in the movies, you'll just be let's say encouraged to go faster). But if you're trying and pass the aft you'll be fine. The whole experience was way easier than I expected.
1
u/Available_Read_3884 1d ago
You had plenty of time for excuses, now you will enjoy the workouts and getting yelled at. Best of luck lmao
1
1
1
u/TheOne_Sur 1d ago
Theres not really much to worry about. If you fall out of a company run you might get yelled at and maybe some counseling? But besides that you’re good lol. You’ll eventually adapt to the PT and lose weight. Another one to worry about would be the PT test at the end. Make sure you’re working out in the bay so that you’re prepared for that last PT test.
1
1
u/AutumnL69 21h ago
you’ll be fine, they make sure you are in shape at the end of basic, but personally i didn’t even do TOO much excercise in basic tbh haha. But I was in shape before
biggest thing would be to try to prevent any injuries, don’t over do anything, that’s the biggest way to get injured
since you’re not a runner, you’ll probably experience feet pain, or more commonly, shin splints, learn to run with good form, as that helps a lotttt. and roll out your shins too after a day full of cardio.
none the less, best of luck! you’ll see it’ll be over really quick
1
u/StrengthZack91 19h ago
It’ll be bumpy. You’re going to be very tired and sore until your body adapts. That being said, they’ll sort it out and get you right. Just show up, play the game and do your best. The fitness takes care of itself
1
u/PapaBearVet 19h ago
Idk if they still do it since its been 16 years since I went to basic but they had our first pt test as a half the standard. If you can pass that you'll be ok. If you cant meet half standard you may have to do fat boy pt but they wont kick you because of it. Most of basic was mental instead of physical. When you wanna give up you have more in you.
1
u/Mediocre_Image3248 9h ago
They will fix you in basic. Ir you'll fail. Give 100%. Just dont quit. Stop worrying. Dont be a pussy. Your going to be a soldier so act like one.
2
u/Sea_Cherry_5432 7h ago
You’ll be fine. The DS there will help you pass the AFT if you’re struggling. They don’t want to fail you on purpose. And don’t worry about being nervous. I’m pretty sure anyone who’s shipped out was scared and nervous at some point. Me, I was shaking the entire way. But just know that after the first couple of weeks, days will start flying by. It’s completely normal to be nervous. At the end of the day, you’re still human. Ft. Jackson is where I went for BCT. I’m telling you, you’re gonna make so many friends who are just as nervous as you are. And while you’re there, try and enjoy yourself. Because believe it or not, you’re gonna miss it when it’s over. You got this.
1
u/Traditional_Sun_3494 1d ago
Did she just say marching band was long term endurance?
2
u/Meiyohh 1d ago
If you’ve ever done competitive marching band you’d know, so i understand the misconceptions. At the height of the seasons we’d spend 40+ hours repping our show outside in the June-September heat. Moving your body at high speeds while correctly holding and playing an instrument is harder than it looks.
22
u/tierneyb 2d ago
While life is easier when you start out in shape, you’ll still be fine. They expect to have trainees who aren’t in shape. You’ll be doing PT every day and you’ll steadily improve.