I 100% agree with this video, the only way to fail BCT is by quitting on yourself. We had one guy who was really fat and kept failing his PT. His first 2 mile run was 28 minutes, push-up was about 15..However, he never quit, he was giving 110% effort every single day, eating as healthy as possible, training harder than everyone else in the company. He eventually made it, and guess what. he even got promoted from PVT to PV2 because DS knew that guy was doing his best.
Yeah, seeing guys like that pushing it just as hard or harder than me(because I was in better shape) made me even more motivated. I helped my buddy go from 3 pushups on the 1-1-1 to 35 on the final pt test. He had so much heart it was insane. Really motivating and he always asked me for help with exercise and for me to do pushups and situps with him.
How fat would you say that guy was? (Not trying to fat shame or anything. I'm asking because I'm a big guy myself is who currently losing weight to join the Army.)
He used to be about 350lbs but lost over 100lbs so that he could join. But I think he lost it all via diet because he was one of the most unfit people I have ever seen. Literally
I'm 5'8 and 342lbs. I've been trying to diet, but I don't really have the discipline to do it. So I got a gym membership to workout. I did the math and I have to lose 15lbs in the next 11 months so I can join the Army for the 20th birthday, in April.
I literally just graduated from the hardest class Benning has to throw at you. Even as a semi out of shape guy, it wasn't even that hard. I was just as scared as anyone else to get here. Just don't worry
solgerboy 259 gotta lose like 50lbs lose 40 you might get a waiver just have to do a combat arms examination at meps unless your just all muscle and like 256 lbs of muscle and 20% or less body fat
If you struggle with PT, you're still very likely to graduate basic. The PT will whip you into the best shape you've ever been in. The only guys who failed in my platoon were the ones who never did the right thing; Cheated on APFT's, constantly disrespected DS's, etc.. Just always be high speed, respect your Drill Sergeants, and always give 100% and you'll make it. Sounds cliche but its the truth. Had a couple guys fail their first two APFT's, and excelled in APFT3 and passed with flying colors. If you go to Charlie 2-47, kick ass, trained by the best to be the best
What you said is very true. I did basic training over 20 years ago in the 90s. I always make the joke that I was like Mulan or Judy Hopps in the beginning of their training, except that I did not became the best, I just barely passed. I was the last one in my platoon to qualify in the shooting range, grenade, PT, you name it and I failed it. I still became a soldier because I never gave up and quitting was never an option for me. I just did what I was told and did what I could. I still remember the last time I went to the range in Basic, I was the only one in my platoon going there. Before I exited the barracks one of my drill sergeants stopped me, looked straight into my eyes and pointed at my heart and said, “right there, it is right there where you have it to make it.” He knew in that moment that I was weak in my resolve to qualify and I needed that pep talk. I qualified that day not as a marksman, but as a sharpshooter and I was one point away from expert. Everyone in my platoon celebrated and cheered when I came back. It is one of my most cherished memories from basic. TLDR; Drill sergeants are there to help you make it and If I became a soldier, anyone can as well.
@@HateTheIRS As a female soldier in the 90s no drill sergeant ever placed their hands on me, but my feelings were hurt a lot, lol! My male soldier friends on the other hand have told me that they would get beatings but it was behind closed doors. Drill sergeants in the late 90s were not supposed to place their hands on you. So it always depends on who you ask. I have never had a beating nor have I ever seen someone else get one
Taby1011 that’s crazy. When I was in basic a few months ago, I never heard anything like that. Basic is getting soft, all these dear colonel letters and end of training reviews.
I was drafted into the Army during Vietnam. NOBODY failed basic training during that period, the Drill Sergeants “fixed” it to make sure you graduated basic training. Uncle Sam needed body counts in the ‘Nam!
I just graduated basic training (Fort Sill) on the 28th of July and agree 100% with this video, believe in yourself, push yourself, and the drill sergeants do notice!
@@HateTheIRS I'm pretty sure that's because you're taught that you fail and succeed as a team, just because you're great doesn't mean everyone else will be. It's meant to teach the person failing that they have others that rely on them and they should work harder for the benefit for the entire team, not just themselves.
Very accurate! I did mine in 1993 at Fort Leonard Wood. If you fail at the AFPT or BRM, you’ll just try it again and again up to an extent. They want you to pass. They want you to make it.
Chris Mikesel I could barely do 5 when I joined, drills had me doing pushups nonstop. turned 25 in Basic done 3 or 400 pushups that day Drill asked me what are you smiling about and my response best dam birthday ever.
As a female struggling with PT, this gave me more confidence that I'll make it through. I'm a tiny person, but I believe I'll be able to go through it. Thank you
Wow, this actually helped me a lot because I could probably do the push ups and sit ups but running has always been the worst thing for me to do. I could probably only do 2 miles in 25 minutes which is pathetic but I've been overweight throughout high school and I'm finally trying to get my lungs in shape since I lost a lot of weight now.
I smoked for ten years bro, couldn’t run further than a football field without feeling like I was dying. So I decided to start running a mile a day. I’d run until I couldn’t, catch my breath, then finish my mile. I’m up to a 1.5 miles stop to finish, and now I’m going to the gym everyday. In my Opinion, consistency is the key. I’m thinking about enlisting, but I’m not there physically yet…..plus I’m 34 lol.
Their are hundred of youtubers who try these videos, sure they get the higher sub volume.. but.. Honestly your videos are true and to the dime. I thought I spent 10minutes watching.. It's been 2 hours. You definitely have my sub. Thank you for you help. Nowhere near done watching
I know this vid is old but I ship out in 2 weeks and all your videos have been so helpful Matt. I’m prepared for BCT to kick me in the butt, and I’m going in confident to finish. Failure right now isn’t an option for me, and your advice has given me more hope/motivation than I already had. Thank you so much
@@DCarloss I graduated basic training on November 8th and have been in AIT since then! :) basic training was insane. Constant training with little to no sleep and always eating MRE's. I had very strict drill sergeants and an even stricter senior drill sergeant, but towards the end of our cycle they started giving us advice on life and the big army. AIT has been great and I can't wait to reach my first unit!
@@DCarloss I'm a 25 series MOS and I'm enjoying it! It's IT work, very hands on and the instructors are those who are either prior service or still serving.
I'm enjoying your series. As an old Eleven-Bravo, who went through BCT and Infantry AIT at Fort Polk, LA almost 5 decades ago, during the Viet Nam era keep these things in mind. Enter into it with a I can do attitude, never sell yourself short you'll be surprised at what you can do. Millions of others before you have successfully completed basic. After it's over you'll realize that it wasn't as difficult as you thought it would be. Good luck to you all!
I watched your videos back in June before I shipped, fast forward I’m in the operational Army now as a 27D(elta). Thank you, these videos helped a lot.
D Benji I know but my recruiter said it’s rare that it’s open! But 42A is my MOs and I love it too but my major is Political Science. And I’m wanting to be a lawyer/ Military Judge
I leave next week for BCT and this video just gave me so much confidence since I'm really competitive and I don't give up easy at all. Honestly just changed my whole outlook on BCT.
The main things you need to pass are BRM and the APFT. After all the money that was spent to recruit someone and send him to basic training they won't send somebody home without a compelling reason.
@@guccigregg4643 That's not at all what he is saying. It costs money to make EVERY person, into a soldier. Everything from chow, to weapons, ammo and facility costs, etc... That's all funded by the DoD, buddy.
This helped me so much! I leave for basic training in 5 days to fort Jackson . I’ve been so worried about not passing because I’m so skinny I can barely do one push up. now most of my anxiety is gone so thank you for this info all of your videos have really helped a lot!!
Had 2 guys 1 in my flight in AF BMT who smoked the day before they shipped and one 3-4 days before he shipped. One of 'em them did it to spite his parents and the other guy was just a dumb ass.
My recruiter told me 16:36 was for me and I'm 24 yo so maybe he just wanted to set that for me as a goal but I think my recruiter was right if your 22-26 it's 16:36 I'll have to check tho.
I leave tomorrow morning and have been so restless. As I type, I’m waiting in my hotel room to leave for MEPS in the morning to get shipped to Leonard Wood for 17 weeks (12N) This helped me more than you’ll ever know. I kept second guessing this whole decision until I watched this. Thank you, sir. Sincerely
US Army 1985-1988, Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. I have to say it. In my Basic Training platoon, no one quit, and only one soldier had to be recycled.
@@thealaskanseparatist6786 In this context, I'm considering whatever the drill sergeants and US Army consider as overweight. In '85, at five seven, and 220 pounds, I was considered a 'fat boy'.
Plus they didn’t care back in 2008. My recruiter never taped me, all i had to do was 10 push ups in front of them N that was it. They were just taking anybody at that time.
This helped me so much! I ship out in a little under three weeks and I am so anxious. I'm not super out of shape, but if definitely not in shape. I am so happy to finally come across a video that is actually encouraging. I'm not going to lose sleep over this anymore!
this video has made me feel so much better Thank you @matt I felt so worried I wasn't going to pass everything because I myself am not in the best condition but I am also not in the worst. i was delayed shipment to reception just 3 days before I was supposed to leave original shipment was 7th of April and now is the 21st of July, less then a month for me now, wish me luck and ill never give up!
Thank you so much for this video, Matt! I’m a bit of a pessimist and I always try to cook up the worst-case scenario in my head in attempts to “prepare” myself for what could go wrong! I’ve been worrying a lot about graduating from BCT and not wanting to come back home a failure. I’m 25 and this is one of the biggest decisions I’ve made in my life. If I failed, I don’t know how I would come back up from that. Mentally, I know I would be very depressed. I’m going to give it my all, because I need to make myself proud for once in my life.
I'll keep trying, I'm mainly worried about the push ups but I'll give it my all and get there. Thanks for the video! It helped a lot, especially for people like me who are shipping sooner than later.
Matt thanks so much man, for your service and for your videos. You honestly have helped me so much and I appreciate that. I'm at the airport now waiting for my flight to South Carolina. And honestly you've helped me so much. Thank you!
got my MEPS appointment for next week. just for the eye thing so it'll be a long ass day of sitting for me, lol. i was expecting it to take weeks. thanks for the video, keep em coming!
I agree with what you are saying but one other way to fail basic is to get hurt to a certain degree. Chapter 5-11. If you already hurt that particular part of your body prior to basic then you'll get sent home.
Holly hell this video helped with my nervousness about leaving for BCT. Got the MOS I'm after, passed Meps, my major concern was Basic Training, secondary being AIT, but my main concern was what if I couldn't do BCT. I'm not the most fit, skinny-fat where it's more lack of muscle than weight, threw myself out during a practice PT doing more pushups than I probably should have (which only increased my concern), but I keep trying, so hearing that trying is enough, I feel a hell of a lot better!
I got kicked from basic for injury reasons multiple injuries in my knee made the army discharge me. Quitting on yourself isn’t the only way. I never gave up and that was the end result a busted knee for life but I’d do it all over again.
I have been so terrified about shipping to basic, i ship out feb. 27th and im very out of shape. I am running and working out constantly but not making improvements but just watching this video makes me feel alot more comfortable about joining the army. I will not give up, nothing they can do will make me give up but i know im in bad shape lol. Thank you for this video
Headed to basic in 4 days, very nervous. This was helpful. I am in very bad shape and end up wheezing about a quarter of a mile into a run. I have been running a lot more to try and get my stamina up but no is not in my vocabulary. I will run till I pass out if need be. I have been wanting to be in the army since I was 13 years old. I am 21 and am finally getting my chance to enter the Army. I appreciate your service and thank you for the video.
I ship in a month and I am not in great shape (not terrible, but not great, I'm working on it) and I really appreciate this video, because I am scared (not as bad as I was when I got hardcore smoked my first RSP drill). Thank you for the video Matt, I really appreciate this 'pep talk' for lack of a better word. 👍
I've been crash dieting to get to weight and tape so I'm scared shirtless when it comes to upper body strength, legs are a natural strong point so no worries there. Honestly, I'm looking forward to bettering myself and becoming the best soldier I can be and then some.
Did anybody else see the shadow figure at 3:33 - 3:34 over his right shoulder, above the door on the right in the background between it and the smoke alarm?
James Lights out is a bit harder now as some building, mine at least, have alarms on the doors that go off when it’s opened and the lights come on everywhere.
I may not be as physically strong but I am mentally, Both my mother and brother would always say I would fail high school, I know i high school isn’t hard but I wasn’t in the right mind state after my dad died back in 2013. Both my freshman and sophomore years, i really wasnt doing anything, I was mostly depressed about my fathers passing because I never really lost someone that close. I had 120 Credits out of 220 my senior year. My school councilor told my I would have to stay a extra semester or even a year, but it was clear that I wasn’t going to be class of 2018. It was really mentally frustrating having the only two people you care about just putting you down like that after receiving that news. Many people even my friends told me sincerely I wasn’t going to graduate. After all the crying, sleepless nights, I decided enough is enough. I wasn’t going to let everyone who doubted me get the best of me. I promised myself that I will overcome and I will graduate in my expected graduation class. I wasn’t going to let my dad down, no way in hell I would. I started taking night classes and online credit recovery classes daily. There were times where I wanted to give up, both mentally and physically. The odds against me were way too stacked there’s no way I could of graduate. But my minds and soul said no, I cannot. I am already half way there I cannot give up. Fast Forward to my last Night class I took, I can remember it like yesterday. I was done writing 10 essays to turn in for 5 Credits. As soon as the teacher checked them all, he gave me a thumbs up and signed my ticket to freedom. Those last five credits was all I need to graduate. I couldn’t believe it I actually did it. Before graduation I had my final senior trip to Six Flags at night with all my friends. They told me why did I come because I didn’t tell them about my graduation status yet. And I showed them on my online portfolio that I’m all set to graduate. That trip was the best night I ever had. Having fun for all that hard work that I did with some pals. I remember going to the bathroom and looking at my face. I used to look all gloomy and sad but for once I looked like I was smiling. I just bursted into tears of pure joy, I couldn’t believe I made it that far. After I graduated I came to a conclusion (after years of thinking about it then and their.) that the military is just what I need to improve myself and excel even more. If I can go through that much of hell then I can accomplish anything if I put my mind into it! Thank you mat, watching your videos always makes me be even more ready for basic. Again thank you, this video has given me more of a chance to prepare myself mentally and physically again.
Thank you Matt for the confidence/encouragement you’ve given to me... have been so worried about all what you said. Shipping out in a week time “Quitters never win and winners never fail”💪
Heading to Ford Benning next Monday, Nervous and excited at the same time. All your videos have been really helpful. Thank you for giving me an idea of what I'm in for.
WHAT?! I"M also GOING TO fort benning In June! Also, I just finished watching this video, and DUDE THIS HELPS SOOOOO MUCH. I can not thank you enough!!! You don't know how much this means to me
Getting hurt lol, that's what happened to me. 14 weeks into 31 b osut I somehow got 3 stress fractures and they put me out. Got to wait 6 months before I fully healed to go back
Thank you so much for your videos. My son is at basic training right now. Because I cannot speak to him your videos have really helped me to understand what he is experiencing right now! Thank you from a moms heart to yours!
Shoot im leaving in about 4 days i was thinking bout the failing thing but im in pretty good shape and have a determined mind so this video put me at ease
I'm 38 now (Congrats on your decision; you will hate it, but won't regret it) I was a weak runner. The Army knows what they are doing.... Ok they don't but they will get you to the level they need you at.
Great advice, I went through basic at Ft. Sill back in 2002, Aug. - Dec., I was 33, I felt that I should've failed because I couldn't complete the required amount of push-ups, I was only able to do only 32 where I needed 36 to pass, plus I had to go to sick call all the time, for small injuries that I obtained, lol!
Remember guys, Just because you graduate basic doesn't mean you're in the clear. We had guys that quit a few months after we graduated basic. They quit in 89D AIT training. Its also really easy to lose the discipline you get in Basic. You'll find that only 40-45% of soldiers actually live the army values. Be that guy and always bring you best. Never lose that discipline, never get complacent, and never stop trying. Most importantly, never quit.
Thanks sir i really appreciate that video i am worried a lil bit bcuz my process went so fast i am going to fort benning on may 16 but i feel like i am not physically ready.thanks for the motivation
Love your videos, they've been really amazing motivation for me since I became so out of shape after I had my kids and still wanted to join. Still have about 40lbs to lose and lots to work on with my run time, but now I know what to physically focus on and what not to worry about, your videos are great!
Lots of similarities of Army BCT and Air Force BMT. The standards might be different in BCT vs BMT but concept still the same Matt. I’m a retired USAF vet and enjoy your videos, man. Keep them up and thanks for your continued service and you are a great example.
Thank you sir, for all this information. I literally just recently joined the guard to pay for my school. Because I know my parents can't. I'm 19, and I've only ever really focused on making sure my family is ok and stable. So doing something really big for me to better myself is hard to believe at first. And I've had a lot of mental struggles with leaving home, being a good example to my sisters, and passing while reaching expectations. But researching my weaknesses is helping, and your videos are key. And knowing for a fact that I hate giving up on myself, it makes me feel better that the best I can give is gold. So, thank you again sir!
Awe I enjoyed the weaver. Gave me a huge scar but it was fun 🤧 leaving for basic in 12 hours. Been preparing. Was previously in sports in high school. Graduated HS this year. Been to drills. I’m ready. Just nervous because this is a BIG step.
So, as long you continue working extremely hard giving 110% and just believe in yourself despite how many times you fail you will pass boot camp. However, if I slack off, not trying at all, not putting effort into training and continuing doubting yourself then there will be serious consequences. This is all MENTALLY.
Shaun Maxedon going to meps next week and I’m shooting for the earliest ship date! So hopefully within a month if not less god willing! Anyway good luck to you man never quit
dont ever quit,youll be sorry,dont do it.and dont go to that doctors office,listen to yourself you can make it and will.and if you dont like your mos you can change it after basic.
I leave for basics at Ft. Leonard wood on october 2nd. I am super out of shape. I haven't ran a mile in 6 years but when I tried recently I'd run only 1 mile in 15 minutes and will be super gassed. I been trying to run 1 mile every day and getting my time down but its not going so well. I feel like everytime I run I get worse. I fear I might not pass basics but after watching this its giving me a little hope. I'm going to try my best and never give up. Even if I throw up or my legs stop working!
You will make it! Running is VERYYY mental more than it is physical at times. You will learn to improve your mental resilience and before you know it you will pass that 2 mile run! And yes pleaseeee keep running every day until you leave. EVERY SINGLE DAY. It's not long until you leave so you could improve your time by a few minutes if you really gunned for it. And yes you could cut that down a few minutes in just a week and a half. PUSH YOURSELF!
Yo mate great video. I have a question about basic.. I ship to Benning on June 7. One thing I am just a tiny bit...not excited about...is the sun. How shielded are you from the sun? Do they give you or at least allow you to have any sunblock lotion? Just curious. Couldn't find anything about it online.
Elijah Masquelier Yes they issue you some sunscreen. You can put it on whenever but you really just need to worry about your neck. Other than that you are in uniform outside most of the time. The sunscreen is great btw. Speaking from experience. Lol
Ferrit Asia You'll be fine. If needs be, you can always have the doctors at sick call prescribe a better sunscreen for you but I haven't had anyone I trained with go to that extent
Your absolutely correct! the Drills will push you to succeed, I had a little trouble with land nav. at first, then found someone who was real good at it he squared me away and I got a GO! no sweat. you will get through it!! I do advise you get into a little shape before shipping out, this way you wont be caught with your pants down, a good Soldier is a Prepared Soldier, Be squared away don't be ate up, and you will get through Boot!!!