“Follow Me” - U.S. Army Infantry Basic Training (OSUT) Fort Benning, GA, circa 1988 

The army will never have a duty uniform that looks as good as the old BDUs

Oh boy does this bring back memories...I went thru Harmony Church in 1984. Nobody believed my stories from Fort Benning and now I can show everyone what it was like. My favorite part is at 47:00 where the instructor asks "do you understand English?", made me laugh for 20 minutes...

80s and 90s were the best.

"Be All That You Can Be" Best slogan ever....Sold me. No regrets.

This is exactly how it was in the 80s. Very chill atmosphere, chinstraps optional. Lots of relaxing music while you clean. Rarely a drill sergeant yelling or trashing wall lockers upon failed inspection.

This what the army needs to get back too

I was there in ‘88. 2/54. Graduated in December then got shipped to Korea in a package platoon.

Harmony Church B-10-2 3rd platoon Graduation January 1986 Best days of my life.

I was there November 2nd 1988. In Sand Hill then after OSUT Harmony Church for 11M. I don't know how I found my way to all of this. Thank you brother for the memories.

What an awesome video. Brings back memories Alpha Co. 1/50 summer 1997

I was in A 2/54 in 2018, I left the army in 2021. Since then I've started collecting 1980s and 90s gear and doing living history events, I appreciate you uploading your video so that I can learn more about the past.

The whole time there, I thought the Army was playing mind-games with us....(road marches constantly) Every time a car would drive by...🎶...Don't worry....🎶Be happy...🎶 was playing on their radios....

E-4-2, Summer of 1983 and the airborne school drill sergeant Sergeant first class Jones was the best

Crazy how this place looks exactly the fucking same in 2020

We never got to play football or used the Day Room, or the Brigade gym ever during Basic and AIT at A-10-2. No fucking way! Our Drill Sergeants made sure we were doing PT all the time getting smoked for anything. After AIT we could do all that stuff because at Airborne School we had the weekends off and during Zero Week after you finished with your details.

Sandhill June 1989. I hope everybody is well.

I went through basic in 1993 and we didn't get no meal or bed the first night we got there.

This was my platoon.

Hoo-wah to all my fellow 11B-P infantrymen, Brings back a lot of memories. This video made it look a lot easier than it was, and made the Drill Sergeants look a lot more gentle than they really were. I didn't see much footage of Harmony Church in there or the cattle cars they used to carry us in to the ranges we went to each day for training. . I was there at the Harmony Church barracks A-9-2 (4th Pl) from September to December 20, 1984 for BASIC and AIT, then after doing hometown recruiter's aid for 30 days afterward (in NH), I was stationed at Ft Benning with C Co, 1/58th Infantry, 197th Brigade for the first half of my 3 year tour. The Army slogan was Be All You Can Be. That's why the Lord had me in the Army and stationed there at Fort Benning. Because there at Benning after I completed Airborne School, I cam to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior through a fellow Airborne Infantryman, who led me to the Lord. Only then was I able to be all I could be. You can read my testimony here: budapesttestimonies.blogspot.com/2011/02/truth-set-me-free.html I later went on to serve in Berlin with the Berlin Brigade where I was a Recon Scout on the Berlin Wall from 1986 - 87, and later a Lt Colonel's driver (Battalion Cmdr). Thanks for posting this video.

C-2-54 Summer 1991. This brought back a lot of memories and some I even forgot about! We never saw the inside of a day room, or free time on Sundays.

B-2-2 May-Aug ‘86 COHORT to 25th ID, Activated 5th Bn 14th Inf, Schofield Barracks. Harmony Church Alumni for life❣️🇺🇸💪🏽❤️

Very cool that you took the time to convert and upload this- many thanks! I went through A-9-2, Harmony Church, 1987 and this was a nice bit of unexpected nostalgia!

Jeez, I forgot everything I did back then until watching this film. class of 84.

B-9-2, Class of 1987, 11C. Whoever made this video back in the day did not capture the reality very well. They left out the Shark Attack. They left out all of the yelling, screaming, and profanity. The cadence calls alone are X-rated and would melt a Snowflake of today in two milliseconds. There was no "preparing for the gas chamber". We were ambushed. That's when you found out if your mask worked or not. Still fun to reminisce.

D-9-2 4th Platoon Harmony Church Sept to Dec 1984 The further away I get from those days, the more I miss them.

By now its all mostly forgotten which sucks! I was there 7/82-11/82. I was 19 yrs old then. What a great experience. I always wished i could go back for a walk thru. Then My son enlisted and went thru in 2007. I had thoughts of how i remembered it. When i went to my sons graduation it was difficult to figure out where everything was as i remembered it. Man they did some building in 25 years. It was still cool. I was in E-1-1. Great times. Thanks for this video, enjoyed it!

I was there from July to October 88....Charlie 2/58 Sand Hill.... brings back memories... thanks for posting

By the way - does anyone remember the barber with the handlebar mustache? He and the other guy were there in 1988.....Mustache-man actually cut my hair the first time.....I will never forget watching it all fall into my lap.

The 1980s US Army was the best! Raaaaaaahhhhh!!!!

10th mntn, ft benning, 3/14, 1985-88!! Sand hill!

I was A-71 1983 Did this and then straight across base to Jump School

Harmony church class or 1980 we wore the old lizard skins boots tee shirts and dog tags for PT. Sad to see my old home go. Makes me feel hella old. Berlin before the wall came down What a party city..We used the Darby Queen as our obstacle course . Low crawl weapon is carried on the bicep close to the body.

My dad went through In 87 and got out of RIP in early 88!! Love you pop!

I was there in '81. Harmony Church! Roster #147 3 platoon D 2-2 Delta dogs we took all but one streamer THANKS MASTER DRILL SARGENT JOHNSON your the best! i think you taught me how to get through life! dose any one know when they stopped sending people through harmony church?

I laughed my ass off when I saw the pt shorts they were wearing lol... We did PT in our fatigue pants and t-shirt with our combat boots on as well during our daily PT runs too... I went through OSUT back in January of 1982 at E-7-1 at Sand Hill....

I will never forget that Summer. The senior drill was having an early Sunday morning class right after breakfast. He made us sit on a rocky surface between the barracks. I sat on the ground and in the midst of his speech, I inadvertently farted. The Senior drill stop talking and look straight at me and said "Son, farting in my class is like farting in Church. So go beat your face and knock them out till I tell you stop..." I died that day but learned to keep my farts in check!! E-4-2 & C-4-? 1986 and 1987!

We trained Marines in gunnery for the LAV 25, we had transitioned to the BFV in Germany and the LAV had the same turret system. Army Infantry training Marines, Truth!

Was at harmony church summer of 1988 Echo 1/38th split option. 2nd platoon, those memories remain with you forever ...

I had this on vcr tape but it went bad i was at the sand hill star ship D 2/58 thank you for the upload it brings many memories.

i went through Benning jan 1985 . they just opened the star ships . i was a Navy Brat who went ARMY

This cool video sure brings back some fond memories. Thank you for sharing. A 4/2 Harmony Church July - Oct 1983.

My blue cord rides the right side of my rearview mirror. C-6-1 1985. Sa.nd Hill graduation: 6 December, 1985.

Whoever did the sound track for this was on fucking point!

OH GAWD!!! I was there then!!! The NEW Star Ships of Sand Hill!!! The Cattle Trucks and the thunderous sounds of drills running up nd flinging open those doors and having your soul ripped from your body!!!! Aww the good Ol' Days of Benning!!!

E-4-2 Harmony Church AUG-DEC 1985. This was like a time capsule transporting me back. I always thought the packs would get lighter once in permanent party, lmao. Nope, they only got bigger, heavier, and more stuffed. Bivouac was the ONLY I’ve I ever got to use a shelter/tent and sleeping bag. Rest of my time I only had a poncho and poncho liner even in below freezing. Went on to Airborne School, 101st Airborne 1/327th Inf. Regt. And immediately went to Ft Sherman Panama Jungle Warfare School. Still wonder what became of my Drill Sgts Wall, Soto, and Crespo.

Hey Brad. I was at Harmony Church Apr - Jul 1988. Thanks for the post. 3rd Platoon, A 1/38 Inf, 2nd Training Bat.

I did OSUT at Benning Aug-Nov 87, Sand Hill. The good ol' days!!

Harmony Church A-2-2 3rd Platoon Warlords Aug-Nov 1984 "No Slack" .. I wish I still had my blue "Infantryman's Bible"

Bravo 2/54 Sand Hill DS Askins, Hall whew great times

Showed up December 1984. Went to Harmony Church. Echo 9/2.

11 bravo Delta Dragons 1984 Fort Benning here

I remember firing that M203 grenade launcher. They had an old truck down range and for some unknown reason I was able to send 2 or 3 rounds right into the window. After we all fired, the cadre gave me an extra 10 or 12 rounds which were leftover and watched me nail it though the window several times more. Shout out to Drill Sgt Cameron & Bland.

B 4-36th 1st Platoon Sep Dec 88. Cohort to 1-27th Wolfhounds 25th ID(Light)

Bradford, I was there in june 87 Bravo Company 3/32 infantry. You were there almost a full year after I was. Those barracks look awfully familar. The NBC training grounds may be the very ones I was at. During the time we switched from Piss Pots to Cavalar helmets. We had M-16a1s. I went to Ft. Wainwright Alaska. This video is a video of a time long past. Thank you so much for sharing it.

That's me on the 60 during the graduation. B 2-54

A 5-1 training battalion 2nd plt. Sand Hill Albaneese barracks. Went through osut in feb thru may 83. Was in a cohort platoon then after graduation went to 2 A.D. 2/41 infantry battalion Ft.Hood Texas.

Was C Co 4/36 Harmony Church Sept-Dec 1988.

I was in echo 4bn 2nd inf. Harmony Church was the location. It was different in 1984, the reception center was like a jail cell. We then went to our company barracks and put our civilian clothes, stuff in a plastic bag and was stored in a room in the barracks. No finance or whatever, straight to the barracks and the drill sargeants. This video is alot of fluff. It was hard, we had a fight everyday. I always would just watch the fights, someone pushing someone else.

The good old days, Harmony Church 1987 to 1988.

B-4-2 Harmony Church OSUT grad date May 10 1985

E-Co 2-29, 4th Platoon, June/2021 This may have bin made in 1988 but i truly do feel a connection with these men. It's beautiful more of a reason to be proud of my Blue Chord. I wish i could have bin a NCO and trained the next generation of brothers. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!

We used to have a copy of this on VHS when w were kids, sent to us by our brother, we would always watch it when we got bored of all the other movies. I was such a little kid but man this brings back memories, I'm pretty sure hes in this video too

Thanks for posting. Good times.

B-5-1 Harmony Church ‘80

41:45 Half right Face!

A-9-2 14 Aug-8 Nov 1985. I seem to remember it much more intense than what I’m seeing here. I saw the title and hoped to share it with my three sons, but after watching the first few minutes and then skipping through it it’s just not what I’d want to share with them. This video isn’t anywhere close to the reality of OSUT.

Damn. I was there in 88-89, and we were pressured to buy this chiinzy videotape. I'm glad it's here on RU-vid. But what a poor job. And we, too, never saw the inside of any "day room," or any other pleasure. We got a weekend pass after 8 weeks and passing BRM and other stuff, but that was it. Ft. Benning is a beautiful post, though, and the leaders and drill sergeants were second to none. They prepared us for our regular Infantry units.

C-6-1: 4 September 85 through 6 December 85. Airborne school then off to the 8th Infantry Division in Germany. Lee Barracks in Mainz. Now looking back, I had forgotten how calm it was at Johnston Hall.

Sandhill October 1986 C-7-5

Years latter I went to the light leader course from Ft. Campbell and heilocasted in that same lake.

Brings back memories. C-2-2 2nd Platoon Commandos

I remember the telephone poll when we were gassed..alot of guys hit that poll

In 1982 we in-processed in Ft. Jackson SC. then were bused to Ft. Benning.

Hey there Bradford. Yes Brother I was there, last cycle out of Harmony Church. Y’all had the “condos” at Sand Hill. I remember seeing those on the way to where we were “2 feet from hell, 7 feet from water” 😂. Thank you for posting this. It was fun to watch. ✌️

we did the leppard crawl with a frag vest and tactical vest while carrying "wounded" people with all of our equipment that digged deep in the mud slowing you down constantly 200 m back and forth.

C 2/19 Wolfpack October 1998. Drill Sergeants Santiago, Lesure, and Kerlin. Definitely some memories of good old sand hill.

F Co. 2/58 - 2012. Damn the years are flying by.

Same unit, in 1990. Thanks for putting this up. Looks very familiar.

B-8-2, Harmony Church July 1987.

C-2-2 summer of '84

C-2-2 Summer of ‘86’ Was like it was yesterday. They smoked the crap out of us. lol Cattle trucks lister bags no A.C. Cold Steel!

Always fun to see these old videos to see just how poor MOUT knowledge was pre GWOT

damn they had no idea that every single one of them would go to war in like 3 years

Charlie 1-1 3rd Plt. Sand Hill. 11H boloed in AIT defaulted to 11B. March - July 1983 . My reception station was at Ft.Jackson for three days.

D-3-1 Nov 1986 through Jan 1987. DS Belch and DS Mateo. I was blessed to be an Infantry Drill on Sandhill, having graduated from Drill Sergeant school there at Benning years later, after getting out for a bit, 1999 - 2001 1-50. Great memories and glad I saw this.

Lol! An SFC DS got on the bus. Looked at us with a look of hate and disdain. Quietly he said, "You have ten seconds to get off this f**king bus." It was more intimidating than yelling and we nearly ran him over trying to get out, lol!

1983 Harmony Church 11B

11C. Echo Outlaws May ‘83. Jump school July. Nothing like the gig pit in July heat and humidity

E Co. 2/58 4th plt House of pain 12 Feb thru 4 June 1998 was hard core.

The one guy with the red shirt....his face said it all"awww man!!!MY HAIR!😲"

the memories… and the music at 25:50… and also some of those drill sergeants way more chill than the ones in the 2010s era…

"Peace by force, the A Team." Sand Hill, May 1985.

E-8-2 Harmony Church Oct 84

Awesome. I was there in '84. Harmony Church baby! Roster #127, Bravo Bulldogs. I thought it was B-9-2. I certainly could be wrong, but not about the roster #!

B-5-1 3rd herd Sand Hill Dec 1985. I think I actually had fun.

Dco 2/58 1998, never thought I'd see 30th AG again. wow.

C-4-2 harmony church 11B October 14 1981grad. Charle cobras

That was me in 1987. AAFES makes you pay for that haircut. U.S. Army 1987-2008. 11Z5V.

I graduated in February, 1988. We were E 2-58. I became a USAR drill sgt later (93) for C 2-54.

'86, E-2-2 (the last cycle for Echo company). I hated Harmony Church. But now that I look back on it, it makes me really nostalgic when I hear Ray Charles sing "Georgia On My Mind". Oh, my sweet Georgia.