Fort Jackson!

[Seven_Babe]

I just got sworn in today and will be shipping out to Fort Jackson S.C. in November 16. I was just wondering is anyone else going there? besides that i leave in the West Coast, is it going to be way too cold there?

[Mac]

Uh . . . NO. South Carolina RARELY gets "way" cold. November / December it will be chilly, and even cold at times. It will not be intollerable.

[armygirl2007]

im shipping to Fort Jackson in august

[Seven_Babe]

I'm shipping out on the 16th of next month...And i was also thinking of coming back home for the holidays...How does that work? I heard of something about Exodus but didn't really understand it. How does reservation for traveling back home for the holidays work and will it be paid for? I just hope i could fly back to Cali. to spend the holidays with my family...I would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me out on this. Thank you very much..

[GoTiTbIg1013]

I dunno about all that but i ship to Ft. Jackson in May of '07.... but about the weather for a Cali girl you prolly will get kina cold... Hea i am from Georgia and I am already freezing soo.....


-Heather

[pritchard]

I went Oct 1997 and it wasn't bad... coming from Oregon the weather was similar always changing the big difference is how humid it is. During the day I could feel the sweat dripping off my knees in the chow line and then freeze our butts off later. It really isn't that bad, all my soldiers do well if they are prepared. Don't pretend that it will be easy, but do know that if you listen and pay attention to detail you're going to be fine. :o

[pritchard]

You generally won't know the Christmas leave dates until you get there. However, you will have to purchase your own tickets. Basically you are taking leave during that time. The tickets usually aren't to bad through the military channels. I think I spent about $300 but that was back in 1997, wow I'm feeling a little old now. Anyway I'm hearing from my soldiers that are at other BCT locations that they will be coming home around the 18th for Christmas.... don't bank on that just what I'm hearing

[Seven_Babe]

First of all thanks for the reply...I'll take your advice p.richard..another question though...i started working out today..Shooting hoops, stretching, push ups, and mostly running...Is it healthy to start out hard on yourself the first day? This might seem weird to say and ask but I threw up while doing this exercises, I'm I doing going over the limit of working out for basic? I guess i just don't want to fall behind in basic...What do you think?

[WIBecky74]

I'm not sure if you are going to Fort Jackson or not, but their website does list the dates for exodus this year, and some good information about it also. It was right on the home page last time I checked.

http://www.jackson.army.mil/

I knew I wanted to join the Guard a few months ago. I got right on it and started working out. I know that throwing up feeling all too well! Then I got really sick for over a month, and had stopped. (unrelated to the workouts, and also no lasting effects for becoming a soldier) I swore in just over two weeks ago. I opted to wait for basic until next September. I joined a gym the very next day. At first I had done it at home. But I wanted different excersises to work the same muscles. And the gym gives me more opportunity for that. Doing sit ups, push ups is great. But doing other type of excersises that work those same muscles, or even other muscle groups that support those muscles is great also. The PT tests are for running, push/sit ups, but there will also be a great deal of other wonderful (lol) exercises they will be having us do. I want to get EVERYTHING in great shape. I dont think they is such a thing as being fully prepared for basic, but my thinking is, if I work myself head to toe, maybe I wont be as sore? I know i'm as big of a novice at this as you are, but I have found a few things that seem to be working great for me. Mon/Wed/Fri I do cardio, jogging two miles or as much of it as I can. Power walking the rest. And I also work my upper body on those days. Doing multiple reps on different machines. I go thru about five different machines, doing three sets of twenty reps. After I complete them all, I start over on the first machine, use a little more weight, and do three sets of 10-15 reps on them all again. Then I try to impress that one cute guy that is always there at the same time (kidding!) and put on way too much resistance, and do all the machines again, doing three sets of as many as I can muster to get out. I try to target all of my upper body, on the aprox. five machines. Some get the same muscles, some do completly different ones. Then on Tue/Thurs/Fri I do the jogging still, but then work my lower body with about the same routine I explained on the upper. I havent figured out what my abdomin muscles are, upper or lower. So I target different areas of it on all the days. Plus i'm looking forward to next summer and showing it off! But you never want to work the same muscles on two consecutive days. You actually gain more from it, giving them a day of rest. (i'm doing the cardio-jogging-each day, because I need the most work on that and from what i've heard, you never stop running from the minute you get to basic) I wouldnt believe that at first, but found out first hand it has truth behind it. You do gain more strength by giving them a day of rest. Go figure. I've also done a little research on this. For instance, its not just your tummy that makes you push out more sit-ups. By strengthening...lets say....your thighs, that will actually get a few more sit ups outta ya in the long run. Muscle groups work together. I dont have tons of money to blow on a gym either. I joined a no frills one. I dont even get to shower there. A nice thing though, is they are open 24/7. I dont know if this is legal to mention a name of one....but....Snap Fitness is awesome! If you have one of those near you, check it out! Price is right. It's a chain. I live in a smaller community though, larger cities probably give you much more to choose from. You can go all out, or look around and find one that just gives you what you need, and nothing more...and you only pay for that. I fortunatly could fit it into my budget, but if not, you can find gyms that are cheap enough, to maybe just give up one 'frill' a month that you like to do, and use that money for the gym. Or even get a ucky part time job a day or two a week for a few hours. I was never a gym going type of person. I have some equipment at home. But really have found that this gives me the variety I want, and will prepare me the best. I've only been at it for a short period of time, but do feel I will be as prepared as I can be when I go to basic. Oh, and hey....that throwing up feeling does go away after awhile! So do other ucky feelings you may be experiencing. Just keep at it! Maybe cut down a little bit if it feels just terrible, but do keep at it and you will work up to being able to do more. :) Scary as it sounds, likely you will actually start looking forward to your workouts. It is a nice feeling of accomplishment. Drink extra water also! Listen to your body about eating. It should let you know if you should be eating a little bit more too. You will probably get more hungry. And getting all healthy by working out now, I think you just naturally start craving healthier meals. Why put junk in there, when you spend so much time working out.

-Becky

[WIBecky74]

I'm not sure if you are going to Fort Jackson or not, but their website does list the dates for exodus this year, and some good information about it also. It was right on the home page last time I checked.

http://www.jackson.army.mil/

I knew I wanted to join the Guard a few months ago. I got right on it and started working out. I know that throwing up feeling all too well! Then I got really sick for over a month, and had stopped. (unrelated to the workouts, and also no lasting effects for becoming a soldier) I swore in just over two weeks ago. I opted to wait for basic until next September. I joined a gym the very next day. At first I had done it at home. But I wanted different excersises to work the same muscles. And the gym gives me more opportunity for that. Doing sit ups, push ups is great. But doing other type of excersises that work those same muscles, or even other muscle groups that support those muscles is great also. The PT tests are for running, push/sit ups, but there will also be a great deal of other wonderful (lol) exercises they will be having us do. I want to get EVERYTHING in great shape. I dont think they is such a thing as being fully prepared for basic, but my thinking is, if I work myself head to toe, maybe I wont be as sore? I know i'm as big of a novice at this as you are, but I have found a few things that seem to be working great for me. Mon/Wed/Fri I do cardio, jogging two miles or as much of it as I can. Power walking the rest. And I also work my upper body on those days. Doing multiple reps on different machines. I go thru about five different machines, doing three sets of twenty reps. After I complete them all, I start over on the first machine, use a little more weight, and do three sets of 10-15 reps on them all again. Then I try to impress that one cute guy that is always there at the same time (kidding!) and put on way too much resistance, and do all the machines again, doing three sets of as many as I can muster to get out. I try to target all of my upper body, on the aprox. five machines. Some get the same muscles, some do completly different ones. Then on Tue/Thurs/Fri I do the jogging still, but then work my lower body with about the same routine I explained on the upper. I havent figured out what my abdomin muscles are, upper or lower. So I target different areas of it on all the days. Plus i'm looking forward to next summer and showing it off! But you never want to work the same muscles on two consecutive days. You actually gain more from it, giving them a day of rest. (i'm doing the cardio-jogging-each day, because I need the most work on that and from what i've heard, you never stop running from the minute you get to basic) I wouldnt believe that at first, but found out first hand it has truth behind it. You do gain more strength by giving them a day of rest. Go figure. I've also done a little research on this. For instance, its not just your tummy that makes you push out more sit-ups. By strengthening...lets say....your thighs, that will actually get a few more sit ups outta ya in the long run. Muscle groups work together. I dont have tons of money to blow on a gym either. I joined a no frills one. I dont even get to shower there. A nice thing though, is they are open 24/7. I dont know if this is legal to mention a name of one....but....Snap Fitness is awesome! If you have one of those near you, check it out! Price is right. It's a chain. I live in a smaller community though, larger cities probably give you much more to choose from. You can go all out, or look around and find one that just gives you what you need, and nothing more...and you only pay for that. I fortunatly could fit it into my budget, but if not, you can find gyms that are cheap enough, to maybe just give up one 'frill' a month that you like to do, and use that money for the gym. Or even get a ucky part time job a day or two a week for a few hours. I was never a gym going type of person. I have some equipment at home. But really have found that this gives me the variety I want, and will prepare me the best. I've only been at it for a short period of time, but do feel I will be as prepared as I can be when I go to basic. Oh, and hey....that throwing up feeling does go away after awhile! So do other ucky feelings you may be experiencing. Just keep at it! Maybe cut down a little bit if it feels just terrible, but do keep at it and you will work up to being able to do more. :) Scary as it sounds, likely you will actually start looking forward to your workouts. It is a nice feeling of accomplishment. Drink extra water also! Listen to your body about eating. It should let you know if you should be eating a little bit more too. You will probably get more hungry. And getting all healthy by working out now, I think you just naturally start craving healthier meals. Why put junk in there, when you spend so much time working out.

-Becky

[Seven_Babe]

Thanks Becky for the word of advice and the website leading me to Fort Jackson...Do we get paid for basic training and how much? I only hope my check comes out big so i can afford to pay my ticket to go back home for the holidays...

[Seven_Babe]

I just got sworn in last month and will be shipping out to Fort Jackson soon. I didn't initally pass my asvab test but i got drafted from the CAT 4 applicants and i just have some doubts on my paperworks. I'm hoping someone out there can help me out. During the paperworks, my recruiter asked if i had been in any JROTC program in high school and been to college and i said yes. He left the blanks answered as "NO"...I told him i've gone to college but wasn't sure how many credits i had all together. I do understand that if he left the blanks as yes i wouldn't start of as an E-1 and this is my concern. If i had papers that i've gone to college with 24 credits and been apart of JROTC could i still get it change when i get to reception?

[WIBecky74]

They were left blank because they need to see proof of the credits. It can be changed and you promoted at anytime. I would get a copy of your transcrips, run them on down to recruiter, and that paperwork can be changed to reflect how many credits you have. I have some credits, although didnt complete my degree. I couldnt obtain them before going to MEPS. Worked for me to give them to recruiter at a later time. Recruiter kept saying bring them in before leaving for basic training and the papers can be changed and you can be promoted. So i'm not sure if its something that HAS to be done before basic, or he was looking out for my best interest and saying to get it changed before then so my pay would be higher during basic/ait since pay is determined on rank. Depending on when your basic starts (sorry, I dont have your post handy and dont remember when yours is) you should have plenty for airfair. E-1 is about $1200/month and E-3 is about $1400/month...give or take a little, I dont remember EXACTLY. So as long as you have been there, there should be enough in the account. Dont quote me on this one, but I also remember reading/hearing something about the military paying for it, and you reinbursing them. I assume by them docking your pay. But I dont have the specifics on that one or the source I heard it from.

[Seven_Babe]

I've heard from some people that the military issued i.d.'s could be used for a driver's lisence which not many of you would know, is that true? I don't have a driver's lisence and was thinking of getting one before i ship out, but word going around that i don't have to because military i.d.s are also used as driver's lisence...can someone clarify this for me. Thanks.

[flguardgirl]

Hm, that seems highly unlikely. I know for certain that the military ID can be used as a form of ID, so if you didn't have a driver's license you could produce the military ID instead. But by law, motorists are required to have an operator's license issued by the DHSM. Because someone has a military ID that doesn't make them qualified to operate a vehicle in the eyes of the law. And this is just me thinking "out loud," but drivers are required to be insured before obtaining a license. Just because someone has a military ID you can't assume they are insured and thus street legal.