1st RSP Drill Weekend

[alphamikefoxtrot]

Where to start . . .

1st Day:
0800 - Arrived Ft. ******
0830 - Issued Uniforms (PT, ACUs, Boots, etc)
0845 - Barracks, change into PTs, take initial PT Assessment (1-1-1)
1000 - Personal Hygeine Time
1100 - Lunch (BBQ, Corn, Salad)
1200 - Red-Phase Classroom Instruction (Powerpoint)
1700 - Dinner (Ham Steak, Potatoes, Veg)
1830 - Change into PTs, Bus to Armory
1900 - PT
2100 - Bus to Barracks
2230 - Lights Out

2nd Day
0600 - Lights On
0620 - Bus to Armory
0640 - PT
0820 - March to DFAC
0840 - Breakfast (Eggs, Oatmeal, Pancake, Bacon, Sausage), pickup sack lunch
0900 - Personal Hygiene Time
1000 - Barracks Clear Out & Clean (and I mean CLEAN)
1100 - Group Counseling (Paperwork) in the Armory
1200 - Lunch on Armory Floor (Cookies!!)
1230 - Depart

Advice - HYDRATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, try to get a bottom-bunk, the top bunks are a pain to get up to and they are HOT if you're near a vent. Do NOT make unecessary noise, eye contact, etc OR draw attention to yourself w/ your Cadre unless you enjoy getting smoked / made example of. DO ask a lot of questions if you don't understand / know the answer. EAT your entire plate, even if you don't like it, you're going to need the calories. KEEP UP during PT, if you find yourself having an exceptionally hard time doing PT you NEED to start busting *** outside of drill to get in shape or at BCT you're going to be burger.

Items to make SURE to bring:

Razor, Shaving Cream, Soap, Deodorant
Comfortable (broken in) Running Shoes
Watch
Pen & Paper
Pajamas / Sleep System / travel pillow (thermarest makes a good one for cheap)
Water Bottle

MOST Important: Keep a positive attitude and you'll do fine, Good Luck!

[teddy13bu6]

This is interesting. I skipped that whole RSP thing LOL. I was Prior Service Non-Glossary when i came back in 2007. They told me I had to do that ****, I called my TNCO/Section Chief and I was doing Sling Ops in Fort. Drum instead with my unit.

Great info for new soldiers thou!

[HR NCO]

Advice - HYDRATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, try to get a bottom-bunk, the top bunks are a pain to get up to and they are HOT if you're near a vent. Do NOT make unecessary noise, eye contact, etc OR draw attention to yourself w/ your Cadre unless you enjoy getting smoked / made example of. DO ask a lot of questions if you don't understand / know the answer. EAT your entire plate, even if you don't like it, you're going to need the calories. KEEP UP during PT, if you find yourself having an exceptionally hard time doing PT you NEED to start busting *** outside of drill to get in shape or at BCT you're going to be burger.

This is very good advice

[VICEROY06]

Way to represent fellow specialist!!!

By the way, what is a sleep system?????

What the h e l l is the deal with the armed forces and BBQ?????

Can you buy multivitamins at the PX? Are vitamins even allowed?

I caught your screename. Funny!

[VICEROY06]

Way to represent fellow specialist!!!

By the way, what is a sleep system?????

What the h e l l is the deal with the armed forces and BBQ?????

Can you buy multivitamins at the PX? Are vitamins even allowed?

I caught your screename. Funny!

Update: Vitamins and supplements are a NO GO.

[MPThink]

Sleep system = sleeping bag/blanket/whatever you have to keep you snuggly. Haha.

[alphamikefoxtrot]

Sleep system = sleeping bag/blanket/whatever you have to keep you snuggly. Haha.

Indeed - I've experimented with a couple things in planning what I'm going to take when I go back with me - what works best so far is just sleeping in the silk liner that I have for inside my down mummy-bag that I have used when camping in early-Spring or late-Fall, adds 6-10 deg F to your immediate surround, the 'happy medium' temperature for me personally, but again it's all about you being comfortable so you can sleep. I personally didn't get more than 20-30 minutes sleep my first night and a large part of it was due to being overheated / uncomfortable.

[VICEROY06]

Son of a gun. We didn't get to spend the night, we all went home. Only a couple guys spent the night at the armory but that was because they were from out of town.

[FaryJ]

ok so I'm going to drill this weekend coming up from the 12-13. and I'm shipping to basic march 23rd so this will be my first and last drill before I ship. will I get issued an acu and boots? I'm doing the whole stripes for skills to get promoted to E-2, what should I expect? I'm really nervous about not being ready for pt. I've been running a (barely) mile, and thats with all ive got in 7 minutes. please advice.

[MPThink]

AMF - Our RSP 1SG liked to keep us freezing. He'd intentionally set the thermostat low in the armory (at least what he could control), so I'd always lose sleep to the opposite problem. Oh well, all the better to prepare you for basic!

Viceroy - It all depends on how your RSP is run. Each state and even each region in your state can run things a little differently. My last RSP after OSUT was my first overnight RSP. Not a great change to come home to. Haha.

FaryJ - For stripes for skills know your military rank structure (officer and enlisted, insignia and what you would call each person when addressing them), common military courtesy (how and who to salute, how and who to stand at parade rest for, etc.), the seven Army values (LDRSHIP), military time, the phonetic alphabet (alpha, bravo, charlie, ...), and the soldier's creed. I'm trying to remember everything from RSP, it's likely I missed something but that's the bulk of what you'll be tested on. You will almost certainly not be issued ACU's and boots.

And if you're nervous about PT, do more of it, simple as that. Though I, personally, don't do anything AT LEAST 24 hours before and usually up to 48 hours before a PT test. You can still squeeze in a few more push-ups, sit-ups, and take some time off that run working out the week of, but you don't want to be sore when it's test time. The real lesson is to be constantly working out, improving and pushing yourself, so that you're not so worried when it counts. This isn't really a one weekend a month job, you have to live it to love it!

[jaydez]

Wow. You get to sleep until 0600? In CT we have to be outside in formation at 0445. We also report Friday at 1700 and are dismissed Sunday at 1200.

[alphamikefoxtrot]

Like all things I'm sure training evolution lengths boil down to money - they're going to keep you on post (and on the clock) for as little time as possible wherein they can accomplish the amount of training required by regulation(s).

[FaryJ]

Tomorrow is my 1st and last drill before I ship to basic next month. What should I take with me? I will be at the freeport armory in ny. I know running sneakers and clothes, soap bath towel shampoo. But what else like how many sets of workout clothes, can i take jeans? I'm nervous what else lol

[MPThink]

If you're staying overnight take clothes that you'd be comfortable working out in (nothing with rude/vulgar sayings or images), something to sleep in (a t-shirt and basketball shorts works), and something to work out in the next day if you don't want to wear the same "PT's" twice. Bring hygiene items and a blanket to sleep with. Relax, listen, and learn.

[FaryJ]

So I just got back from rsp and it was awesome. Pt, weapons familirization, having to call the NCO's by rank and having to do push ups for messing up, seeing a cocky retarded Pfc get his ********* stepped on for thinking he can pull recruits out of formation, clearing rooms with airport guns, seeing a recruiter get an award from a Major, getting a speech from the 1st Sgt. And lastly picking cherries for an eternity lol can't wait for basic next month.

[Anthill]

So I just got back from rsp and it was awesome. Pt, weapons familirization, having to call the NCO's by rank and having to do push ups for messing up, seeing a cocky retarded Pfc get his ********* stepped on for thinking he can pull recruits out of formation, clearing rooms with airport guns, seeing a recruiter get an award from a Major, getting a speech from the 1st Sgt. And lastly picking cherries for an eternity lol can't wait for basic next month.

Whats an airport gun?

[SteveLord]

Maybe he meant airsoft? Except those are technically toys and can break easily. TG4 rubber duckies.

[EOrsini]

Maybe he meant airsoft? Except those are technically toys and can break easily. TG4 rubber duckies.

Maybe the simunitions? Those things are SWEET @ss SWEET lol

[FaryJ]

Whats an airport gun?

im sorry i meant airsoft. they are simulation m4 rifles, which shoot 6mm plastic bbs. they are fed through magazinez,they have safety switches, and they are about the same size as the real thing.

[Kevin Glover]

im actually looking forward to RSP after i swear in.. It may give me a good head-start for BCT

[VICEROY06]

im actually looking forward to RSP after i swear in.. It may give me a good head-start for BCT

The ARNG is the only component of the armed forces that offers RSP to their soldiers before they go off to BCT. Take 100% advantage of it. Learn every single ounce of info you can. create an account at military.com and listen to everything the NCO's and the Drill sergeant(s) tell you while you're at drill.

Next best thing to do is join the YMCA and find a location in your area that is the best equipped to serve your various fitness needs. I'm a member of a branch that has every conceivable form of machines and free weights as well as an indoor track and olympic-sized swimming pool, hot tub, etc.

You will only go to RSP drill once a month. Therefore, train like you're on an NFL team between drills.

Once every other day the first week.
Twice a day every other day the second week.
Twice a day everyday the third week.
Once a day Mon through Wed the fourth week.
Rest and hydrate the last two days before drill.
A light-warm-up for about 15 minutes before reporting to sign-in.


I'm no expert but developing this regimen is what helped me through the 1-1-1 with no issues.