The Absolute WORST Thing You Can Do At Basic Training... 

I thought dating your drill sargents daughter was the worst thing you could do.

Those sneaky drill sergeants will steal your weapon if your not paying attention.

This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine!!

Also, don't ever have an accidental discharge of a weapon, even if it is blanks. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard! At Advanced Camp at Bragg in '96, a cadet had an accidental discharge of an M-60 (blank), and the senior Tac Officer, made him write a letter home to his mother explaining how he had "killed" himself. Of course he didn't actually mail it home, but he did have to read it to the platoon.

Your weapon eventually becomes an extension of your body and you feel odd without it.

The part about the guy holding a service for his gun😂😭😭

A mock burial!!! That's crazy lmao. I can't get over that he had to eulogize for the rifle... classic

Things Not to do at BCT: -☝️ Lt is correct, don’t lose your weapon, keep it on you at all times and make sure it’s on safe until you’re ready to fire it at the range. Muzzle awareness, Guy! -Never talk back to your DS, for the sake of the rest of your platoon. -And Keep your hands to yourself, SHARP charge is no joke and you can get kicked out if you are flagged. Good luck and have a great Army day!

Or you can say "Wassup, sir" to the Drill Sergeant - instant death. Edit: Spelling.

I've always thought that drill sergeants are the most interesting form of comedy I've ever come across. It is a different type of humor in most cases that might not translate to people that have never encountered a drill sergeant. I remember Lee Ermey's performance being funnier watching it after I had gone to BCT. BUt the burial story is AMAZING. I've never seen that before... I can imagine how it would be hilarious to make a soldier do in front of an entire company. And I bet the drill sergeant managed to explain the task to the soldier that had to do it with a completely straight face. I bet that soldier still tells that story to this day and laughs about it.

Imagine if the drill sergeant made him sing " hello rifle my old friend, I will never lose you again. Because I lost you the sergeant will smoke me again, now I will have to start over again"

By far my favorite thing to do when I find an unattended weapon is to just to completely disassemble it and just leave it.

I left my weapon in a pile so I could help serve chow. Everyone got theirs before me and the 1st Sargent took my rifle...... i didn’t get smoked. BUT They told me I was getting recycled. That means I go back to day freaking one. Way worse then any smoke

The one dislike is someone who did this

Back in '97 we had 2 soldiers get caught having sex at night(boy/girl) in the barracks. This resulted in the drill sergeants pulling an immediate fire drill. The entire barracks was smoked in the middle of the night, some only in their underwear for 3 hours straight. During that time the sprinklers came on to water the grass and most of the soldiers being smoked. The 2 soldiers that got caught one was discharged and the other was washed and had to restart basic, we were on week six of eight at the time. The people that were on floor guard also got into trouble and received article 15's(drill sergeant had walked onto the floor without encountering anyone until he came upon them having sex and also should of never let the female onto the floor.) There were also another couple of hour long smoke sessions during the day after this when someone got caught talking about the incident and laughing.

In bct, I was the "odd man", (no "battle buddy"). On the first bivouac, I asked my D. I. if I could use my rifle in place of the second tent pole, (each recruit had 1/2 of the equipment required to erect a 2 man shelter). He thought about it for about 2 seconds and replied; "I don't recommend that you do that, Allen." Sometime around 02:00 I was awakened by my D. I. who asked me; "Allen, where is your weapon?" I promptly poked the barrel of my M-16A1 out of my fart sack and asked him; "This weapon, drill sergeant?" "Go back to sleep, Allen!"

I feel asleep on 🔥 guard for few hours, what a mess lol

Leaving this weekend, appreciate all the help, im slightly nervous but pumped at the same time and I know i can do it🙏🇺🇸💪

Can confirm, my platoon had to low crawl through sawgrass in 106°F on a humid OK afternoon during FTX3/Forge. Just keep track of your self and keep tabs on your battle buddies.

Matt ward I love these videos! I'm 21 and about to join the Army. Your videos have helped me through my choice of the army and I just wanna say thank you for taking time for your days to make these

Trainee: *ties boots and weapon touches the dirt The entire US Army: DROP WITH IT

But our presenter here is absolutely correct: DO NOT allow the weapon out of your sight; administrative contingencies aside. Stack Arms, Guarded Collective Weapons points, etc. In 1989 we had a troop "lose" a weapon. Training actually stopped for three hours while the entire company low-crawled through mid-July Ft. Benning weeds and sand to find that weapon. DO. NOT. LOSE. A. WEAPON.

Thanks Matt! I leave for basic at the end of this month for Missouri and I appreciate all the tips and all. Keep up the good work!

Your videos are reaaaally helping me. I’m planning on enlisting in the Navy as soon as I hear back from a recruiter. :)

Great advice. Thanks Matt!!

Thanks Matt enjoyed your video. Keep up the good work! I am at meps I enlist and pick my job tomorrow.

Thanks for all your videos, they’ve been real helpful to me these past couple of weeks. I ship out this weekend so I’ve been taking all the info I can and memorizing it. Already have the soldiers creed down. Wish me luck and good luck to the rest of you all as well!

Great video I enjoy listening to your stories

Loved the video thanks for the help!

RIP Rifle 😂

One of the most interesting videos you've made so far. Really cool

Just found your channel, have been considering going army for years now. I think everyone whose family isn’t military is a bit intimidated by basic and doesn’t know what to expect, such as myself. I appreciate this

On my way home from AIT right now, going through Basic was tough but I'm glad I got through it, definitely gonna be worth it in the long run

I remember people in my platoon "dying" and yelling for help when they walked around without their battle buddy. Good times.

Awesome video. Keep up the great work

Thank you Matt helped me with a lot of questions ship out for Fort Benning tomorrow and want to thank you for everything

Thanks Matt. I leave for Basic Training next month. 😊💪🏽

I served from 86 to 89....still to this day when I jog I listen to running cadences

Your videos are so helpful cuz I'm going into the army medical and I do have to go through BCT still. Thank you so much ❤️🇱🇷✊

I’m leaving to Fort Benning Monday, I really appreciate all your advice in your videos, can’t wait to go through everything, these videos get me hyped😂🤙🏼🇺🇸

When I was in ITB for the Marine Corps, we had an instructor steal a Pvt's weapon and sprinted away with it. He made the Private chase him all around base before he gave it back to him after blasting him for not keeping it within arms length and in sight

Hey Matt! Thanks for the massive amount of videos! I leave for Fort Benning on the 21st of this month! All of this has really helped me prepare for my Basic Training. I'm going to be an 11X.

Thank you for your service sir.

Hey there sir, it's been a bit. Great video! Glad you're making it on RU-vid and other social platforms.

Hey man never really commented before but your videos have helped me more than you know , I really appreciate it I leave for basic aug 12th infantry

I took basic at Ft. Gordon , GA back in the summer of 1969. After an extended march into the woods with full-gear packs, we stopped for lunch in a clearing and opened up our C-rat boxes. After I finished eating, I laid my M-16 against my field pack and walked over to dump my C-rat box into the dump area a short distance away. When I got back my M-16 was missing. I sheepishly walked up to the command tent where the Lieutenant and the senior Drill Sergeant were sitting together - with my rifle. As punishment, I had to low-crawl through wet red Georgia clay to get to where they had placed my rifle. Needless to say, I never let my rifle leave my side after that.

Love the army patches

Just found you I ship out on August 27th and ima binge watch you thank you for the heads up on a lot of things we should do/not do!

This was a really enjoyable video to watch. when you said they had him dig a grave for his weapon and talk to it I laughed so hard. Great Video man keep up the good work. I fixed my internet as well so i wont keep getting kicked out of games like on the live stream, so when that black ops 4 beta comes around we can destroy kids in that game too if you're down lol. Also im doing the future soldier program right now to help get me ready for basic training and im stuck between picking 11b for my MOS or something with computers. I feel like doing something with computers in the military like what you do will help me in the future after the military but Infantry seems more interesting and exciting.

I ship out September 4 can’t wait

Thank you for all your videos... Good advice i ship out in 5 days.

I just completed basic training at ft Jackson e 2-60th cycle 18-03. Your videos helped me alot

"Why are you speaking in my dinning facility trainee, What is so intresting in this dining facility on why you are talking!!!!" " Sir, the rolls....."

Trainee: loses rifle DI: so you have chosen, smoke

All these are very helpful for me, I'm going to be heading to Basic Training in 2 weeks so I'm trying to get as much help as I can lol

Your videos are great you have awsome advise I am currently in the process of enlisting in the army once again great advise and videos 💯 you sir have a new subscriber

batallion recall and lock down for up to 72 hrs at for us at ft carson

Almost lost mine at NTC...my buddy saved me and I bought him a case of beer when we got back

Great video Matt

While not actually at boot camp, I recall someone losing an M16 in a Land Navigation course about 21 years ago. A controlled burn was made in that area to help locate it. My involvement in the incident was helping prepare sandwiches for the firefighters and other personnel involved in keeping the fire under control.

Huh I never thought of that but it makes total sense

LMFAO I couldn't stop laughing at the burial for the weapon and how the guy let his weapon down and how he left it and it died I'm laughing while I write this LOL

That's awesome, they're still doing that. The Drill Sergeants when I was in basic would try all the time to get your weapon. Even if you were only a few feet away from it, if it wasn't in your line of sight, they would try to grab it and hid it. Don't know if you still have weapon cards to check your weapon out of the armory, but losing that was a pretty big deal too.

Nice video and thanks for the info

thats bad but not the worst thing. the worst thing is murdering someone. the worst common thing is quitting boot camp

Same thing in finnish military. There is two places where the gun is. Either in the locked gun cabinet at the barracks or in your hand. In finland if you lose your gun in military and it cant be found, police have a search warrant to your home for the rest of your life. And our drill sergeant also was a dick

Love your videos man. Keep up the good work. Kinda surprising how similar the US Army is to the Serbian army. I remember the whole platoon low crawling on asphalt because a mate lost his rifle.

I have my physical at meps and then I should be good to go. So excited 🤟 Wish me luck.

"If you want to go to the latrine" lol Good luck with that

The oddest thing i experienced in basic training was after leaving the firing range a fellow trainee had left a live round in his M16. A couple hours later the weapon went off. Amazingly no one was hurt the trainee was not called out or punished. Our Drill Sergeant calmly reminded everyone to always check their weapons prior leaving the firing range. He was lucky that day.

Matt ward Mite have already but a good topic for people going in is how to prepare in ait/osut for when you get to ur first duty station. IE preparing finances, moving, housing etc so when you get there you won’t be lost and pretty much screwed. Also to bug the cadre to handle things for you that are out of ur hands, bah etc. so many people are too scared to address this bc of the Mind set you get put in. Get ur spouse to call and get on the waiting list for on post housing or risk waiting weeks or more in hotels $$$. So many things that can be done while in ait/osut to make the transition smooth.

You hit the nail on the head on that one haha. Someone in my company during basic lost there weapon. And everyone acts brave and fearless til they witness the wrath of a d.s when someone lost there weapon.

I would have totally had fun saying a speech for my weapon that died lmao 😂 I would have wrote a totally absurd speech about it!

,,If you lose your weapon you're not really a soldier" -Definitely not Desmond Doss

GOOD VIDEO. NEVER..and I mean NEVER leave your weapon unsecure!!!!

Heading to meps next week, and basic next July! I'm excited and nervous!

While I was in basic training before I was sent home due to injuries we were doing our rifle qualifications and this private took his weapon apart at the range and ended up losing his firing pin , this ended up sending the drill sergeant into a huge rage and we all got smoked for it and then we later found out he had it on him the whole time. So just never lose your rifle , parts to your rifle or your boots you will get smoked for that guys

Someone: *does this* Drill Sergeant: You know the rules and so do I. Say goodbye

Someone in my platoon lost their weapon before first formation and we were stuck outside for two hours in 10° weather. Eventually the drill sergeant found it behind a bed and we got fucked up so bad. Nothing but low crawls for the rest of the day. What’s even worse is the fact that the kid lost it again, but thankfully he wasn’t caught that time..

We had a fire drill one day and everyone just panicked and ran out. Myself and another guy noticed that everyone left their weapons hanging on their bunks, I told him I’d get the ones on this side and he get the ones on the other side. Once I gathered 32 M16’s including my own, I used the the stairs that were only used for the DS’s and the females to get down 2 flights of steps. When I got to the bottom, all the DS’s were there waiting. My female DS looked and pointed at me, she couldn’t say anything, she was speechless. I ran to formation with all 32 rifles. We held everyone’s weapons that left theirs, while they proceeded to all get smoked while we had to watch.

Lol I can imagine that while burial for the weapon was pretty funny to witness. Did anybody laugh? If they did or if you do laugh at something like that how much trouble do you get in?

When I was in the Army my weapon was with me wherever I went. Hell it even went to the shower when I deployed

Man its different now watching these that I went through basic training and ait, now going to duty station this weekend.

Haha! I did it. Left it on the range after and the drill sergeants did the brass and ammo check. Turned around to run and get it and the drill sergeant was standing right there with it in his hand. Don’t know if there was an angel over my shoulder but I never got smoked for it and neither did anyone else.

*_Oh God, the flashbacks_*

One guy in my platoon left his m4 in the laundry room. It took him 3 hours to realize it was gone and the ds's smoked us

Going to be even more vigilant. Thanks Matt

LMAO I was falling asleep until I heard the funeral part! 😂😂😂 made my night!

Well I'm leaving for basic today, your videos have been so helpful these past 5 months thank you so much!

Who remembers "Drop with it" Edit: if you're going to be the nice guy who finds a weapon and ask who's it is, try not to do it within ear shot of your drills. You'll be just as fucked as if a drill found it.

Same goes for a bayonet. Bivouac, FLW, 1972. Guy lost his bayonet, we were out there 12+ hours, the entire company, and I can't remember if it was ever found.

Thank you for this. I ship out next Sunday (08 26). I'll take any advice I can get till then.

Somebody lost their red dot in the middle of the night but we found it

don't try to fight a DS haha but ya misplacing your weapon IS the worst.. makes sense

We did the burial service too. It was pure gold as long as it doesn't happen to you.

I remember someone from the National Guards had this happen to him but luckily it was one of the smartass drill sergeants that picked up the rifle instead of the most aggressive and this being his first time he just got some friendly advice if a different drill sergeant got it.

Thanks for sharing this with us. I wouldn't of guessed how big of a deal it would be to leave or lose your weapon in basic training. It sounds like a good idea to keep it within a few feet of you that way your more likely to be sure that you keep track of your weapon. Great video. #notifactionsquad

When u said smoke sesh I literally thought hitting a blunt in the woods and like how the hell did they get away with that then yeah once he said it again I was like oh I feel dumb

True, also a qtip works for the pin in the housing bolt of a m16, 👍🍺

Once I fell asleep on my rucksack with my weapon on the ground next to me instead of in my arms/lap, I got a 20 minute lecture from my LT and had to low crawl from my rucksack 30 meters to the LT, grab my weapon and low crawl back...