FT Jackson / Relaxin Jackson

[VENCERE]

Anyone going to FT Jackson on June/08?
or FT Belvoir August/08 for 21U (Topographic Analyst)?

[Hinton]

i leave 20070507 maybe ill see you there?

[Pv2 Jalette]

Relaxin Jackson!!!

[Hinton]

i keep hearing that relaxing jackson thing...i hope that everyone is wrong about it, because im dissappointed that I have to go there instead of LW or knox...

[Gojeero]

i keep hearing that relaxing jackson thing...i hope that everyone is wrong about it, because im dissappointed that I have to go there instead of LW or knox...

Met 2 guys this semester of college that went to Jackson in the spring and they both said they were disappointed...

[VENCERE]

I hear both ways ,it's either relax, or hard, depends on the source, I've seen people on RSP that just made it back from BCT (Jackson) and they claim it was quite an experience, So I'll see once I get there,,

[SteveLord]

Benning has yet to disappoint =)

[Schramek]

Jackson was easy. It all depends on your Drill Sergeants, though, they're the ones that make it what it is ;) Regardless, it's an experience that everyone should go through.

[mconstiner]

There are two main factors that will determine what kind of experience you have at Fort "Relaxin" Jackson... The first factor is the people in your company... If they screw up a lot, you all will pay for it... The other factor is your DS. Some DSs are very strict and some are very laid back. It all depends on who you get.

[Gojeero]

Benning has yet to disappoint =)

Hooah to that, never found anyone that was disappointed with Benning.... myself included.. FOLLOW ME!

[Mr_Loki]

i went to Jackson for basic and it was anything but relaxing there. Times has changed though...the new army is upon us.

I also work at fort belvoir. Note, dont go to ANY HQ for directions if they dont give you an address to where you're supposed to be...the HQ buildings do not know. I've had 3 people ask me where the training was for 21U and said that HQ couldnt help them. If you want, give me a PM and ill give you a map of Belvoir with your barracks circled. Give me time though, cause there isnt no good map of Belvoir =)
Good luck and maybe I'll see ya there!

[T Eckard]

i go to Ft. Jackson for BCT 20080207

[Hunter04]

I report back to the MEPS station on Jan 14th and then I have to report to Jackson on 20080117. Anyone else???

[Ranger 523]

Well, when you get to BCT, and find that it's too easy, just tell your drill sergeants that it's too easy and they'll hook you up.:D

[Schramek]

Hooah, ain't that the truth!

[mich_ng_girl]

When you get to reception you'll see in the main building where you do your processing "Welcome to Action Jackson." They are trying to shed the "Relaxin Jackson" nickname - and while a lot of companies still are lax, mine (E 1/34) wanted to set the standard.

We had to meet 60% on our PT and had to retake it until we did so, we had 9 hours of classroom training in BRM before even starting BRM... apparently the program my DS put together was being tested on us and 3 other companies next cycle to be implemented army wide, anywho - the last week we still weren't allowed to wear our berets or high speeds while every other company did, if we dropped our weapon we had 50 pushups instead of 25 like delta and alpha had... so it really does depend on the company you get put into. Some holdovers that came into my bay told us that on sundays they were allowed to sleep in their beds and get the tv out because their drill sergeants didn't really care... we weren't allowed to even sit on our bed the whole 9 weeks and we'd all get smoked if we did.

Just hope that you get into a company that has high standards and that really pushes you and makes you miserable - if you're miserable then they're doing their job.

Listen to what they say, volunteer (I did for everything and my DSs noticed and I was up for Soldier of the Cycle and received the Most Improved Soldier of the Cycle award.) Details ****, but it makes time go by.

And stay away from sick call if you can! I have 5 battles that missed requirements and are still sitting at Fort Jackson while the rest of us graduated on Friday.

Good luck! It'll be over before you know it and you'll find yourself missing your battles (and even your DSs!)

[nationalguardchick1990]

I'm going to fort jackson this summer can anyone tell me what i should do to get ready for bct how much should i run everyday i run two miles every morning is that enough?

[Schramek]

Make sure you're doing pushups and situps too, nationalguardchick1990. You need to be sure you're in excellent shape before you go. I can honestly say that I rarely ran before I shipped, this made it difficult while I was there, but I still made it with plenty of hard work. If you run 2 miles every morning, or even every other, you will NOT have a problem. They build you up to their running standards, you'll be fine.

[dancersoldier]

i'll be there starting june 11 08

[dancersoldier]

any one know if there will be time to use cell phone's at ft jackson? i have heard different things and want to clarify. i'm assuming we'll have limited time during the Red Phase, but i'm wondering after that if we get to use the phone more.

[XNikkiX]

I am stationed at Ft Jackson, but right now i'm home on christmas leave for 2 weeks. I go back for 3 weeks till I graduate then off to ait. I wouldn't call it "relaxin jackson". It all depends on what company your in. I'm in A co. and although we have our down days, we have days that are insane and exhausting. Like I read it certainly depends on the privates, we pay for other idiots all the time. I'm just glad it's almost over and that i've made it, it's a **** of an experience and my husband and kids agree that they see i've changed from bct already for the better.
Bct should be mandatory for everyone, people would appreciate their families more and would be more patient and squared away. The best thing is coming home in your acu's. I had more strangers come up to me and shake my hand, thanking me for my service to our country and I can't begin to tell you how proud I felt!!! It's an unexplainable feeling and I can walk with my head held a little higher. All of my family and friends went from pissed and unsupportive to just outright supportive and proud of me.
I now have something in common with my man, we can relate and talk about each others bct experiences. I wont lie, I thought it ****** at first, but it's all about discipline there, you'll see. The hardest part for me was being away from my family, but my DS's believe it or not helped me with it. Mail call is a huge moral booster. The highlights of my days there are mail, sleep and dfac!:rolleyes: Best of luck to all shipping there!

[dancersoldier]

how often were you able to call home?

[WIBecky74]

Every BCT company is different. I know of some at Ft Jackson that got many phone calls, even a few companies that were allowed their cell phones. We got three five minue phone calls the entire nine weeks.

[dancersoldier]

Every BCT company is different. I know of some at Ft Jackson that got many phone calls, even a few companies that were allowed their cell phones. We got three five minue phone calls the entire nine weeks.


good to know. i'm kind of hoping i get my phone, but not having it will make me stronger. i'm just kinda thinking about my current significant other. what do you think are the chances of me having my phone in AIT? my mos is 45g...apparently no one on these forums has this mos, but my ait is 20 weeks so i'm kinda hoping i'll be able to use it.

[Schramek]

It may take a few weeks, but you'll most likely get your cell phone during AIT. Since yours is a fairly decent length of time, it could be 5+ weeks, but you'll probably get it eventually.

No guarantees, that's just my guess :)

[WIBecky74]

yep, during ait you will get it at some point longer the ait, longer it takes...in some instances could even be you get it right away you get more opportunities in ait, what you make of them is up to you where there is a will there is a way!! ;)

[ARNG_1114]

how do you get leader of the cycle and pg and awards?
i ship to jackson 20080611

[betheny.schoenborn]

how do you get leader of the cycle and pg and awards?
i ship to jackson 20080611

heh.

i'm shipping that day too...

I've heard conflicting stories about jackson, my assumption is the truth is somewhere in between.

[dancersoldier]

I ship that day as well! Too bad we wont' know what each other looks like. but it's still really cool. Where you other June 11 shippers from?

[ARNG_1114]

I ship that day as well! Too bad we wont' know what each other looks like. but it's still really cool. Where you other June 11 shippers from?
i'm from upstate south carolina. it's pretty funny to know we'll all be down there at the same time. probably end up in the same platoon or something. what's yall's MOS? i'm 68W.

[WIBecky74]

Is your AIT also at Fort Jackson? You will likely be allowed a couple times during AIT to go home. You normally get a few overnight passes towards the end and you are allowed to travel up to 50 miles. Not suggesting anything, but thats just what they tell you during the safety briefing before the pass, they dont actually ask for an address or anything.


i'm from upstate south carolina. it's pretty funny to know we'll all be down there at the same time. probably end up in the same platoon or something. what's yall's MOS? i'm 68W.

[ARNG_1114]

Is your AIT also at Fort Jackson? You will likely be allowed a couple times during AIT to go home. You normally get a few overnight passes towards the end and you are allowed to travel up to 50 miles. Not suggesting anything, but thats just what they tell you during the safety briefing before the pass, they dont actually ask for an address or anything.


haha nah, my AIT will be at Fort Sam Houston.
Fort Jackson is about 3 hours away, not that bad.


anyone got any tips on getting PG or medals/recognition at basic?

[WIBecky74]

In a perfect world, PG is picked by observing ya'll during the first few days and seeing who is a natural leader. When others are acting up, in a polite way....correct them. When something needs to be done, organize it. Volunteer for stuff.

[frado2jr]

Anyone going to FT Jackson on June/08?
or FT Belvoir August/08 for 21U (Topographic Analyst)?

i leave june 26 u

[dancersoldier]

My MOS is 45g.

[RelicDavis]

I leave for Ft.Jackson on June 12th, MOS is 94F

[AZ Army Guard]

I ship to Ft. Jackson 20080429. Just today I had two prior Army buddies tell me that Ft. Jackson was know to be a little less intense than the other training sites. But again, it depends on your DS and how many knuckleheads you have in your unit.
Go in shape, and knowing your General Orders, Army Values, rank structure and a few other things and it should make life easier. Hooah!

[cook_in_texas]

I ship to Ft. Jackson 20080724. >.> Apparently it's the soonest they could send me where I could go straight through from BCT to AIT, so... >.>

:D I'm excited, I just swore in yesterday. ^^ Is there anything else that could be helpful for someone going there that hasn't been said yet?

[Cool007]

I ship there 20080605 and all i hear is relaxin Jackson and its really humid

[PVTAlmiladi]

20080611 for me, just like a few other Privates. You guys doing split-op or no?

[cook_in_texas]

Nope. I'm going straight on through to AIT as soon as I get done, so I can be back before Christmas. >.> With luck. ^^

[WIBecky74]

Good luck to ya'll at training. Just remember, its a very short chunk out of your life and goes by quickly. Pay very close attention to what you are taught and remember you could be using it very shortly.

[dancersoldier]

I'm going to Jackson on the 11th. AIT at Aberdeen Proving Ground.45g

[PFCWB]

I just got home from MEPs today. I'm due to ship to Fort Jackson Nov. 18th followed by AIT at Fort Gordon for 25U. I was kind of surprised that November was the soonest ship date but hopefully I can snag a cancellation spot from someone and go a few months sooner.

[cook_in_texas]

I guess I was lucky to get end of July. :eek: I only went to MEPS a couple of weeks ago.

[Mr_Loki]

Ask your RSP cadre any chance you get. Slots DO open up. 12 days after I raised my right hand, I went to basic training.