Maximize your RSP experience.

[VICEROY06]

I seem to be getting a lot of PM's about what to expect at RSP drills, so I guess I'll just start up a thread on maximizing your experience. By the way, I'm not even beginning to pretend that I'm an expert on this topic. I just want to provide any help I can to help people make the easiest and most enjoyable transition they can from civilian life to military life.

First thing everyone should do is scan the whole RSP thread. Cadre have different ways to run their drills in every state, so everyone will have different experiences. Second thing everyone should do is scan every forum on the rest of this discussion board--you should not only read every thread that relates to the questions you may have, you should also follow every link that someone provides within that thread that may take you to a website that may go into further detail about what was discussed in that forum, which leads me to the next step. Research every other military website available on the world wide web. The best place to start outside of this discussion board is military.com.

For those that are about to attend their first RSP drill: You will be designated Red Phase. In this phase you'll cover general information that is similar to information that any other large organization will have their new employees cover such as sexual harrassment and, in this case, the history of the ARNG. You will also cover other general information such as direct deposit, insurance, beneficiaries, etc. Chances are you may get the opportunity to go through 1-1-1 (1 minute sit-ups, 1 minute push-ups, and 1 mile run), and chances are your first whole two days of RSP drill may consist of covering more clerical formalities.

Understand that RSP is not BCT. RSP drills are designed to show you what your strengths and weaknesses are and what level of fitness you need to be at by the time you ship. If you pass the 1-1-1 great but if you fail all or even just parts of the 1-1-1 that doesn't mean they discharge you and send you home. Worst case scenario is you may get smoked and yelled at. But at the end of the day they will talk with you about what you need to do to improve your fitness as well as encourage you to stay motivated. They will also cover social issues with you such as staying away from bad elements back in your community and whatnot.

One of the best things about being in red phase is you're mixed up with everyone else from white to gold phase. Learn what to do and what not to do by observing how the Drill Sergeants and NCO's work with white through gold phase personnel. While you're in red phase you may be given a 'battle book' which is a thick binder full of various materials that cover a broad spectrum of ARNG material from enlisted and commissioned officer ranks to Guard benefits and a card with the Warrior Ethos and soldier's creed printed on it. It would behoove you to memorize the Warrior Ethos and Soldier's creed as well as the 1st and 2nd general orders.

Basically you're supposed to be given a break during red phase but when you come back for your 2nd RSP drill you will be designated white phase and the heat will be turned up unless you're 'broke' or have a profile, which means you're injured, which means you'll basically be sitting around doing nothing. On the other hand, if you goof off too much the NCO might decide to make you perform whatever duties you're capable of doing regardless of your injury.

Best thing to do is to start running, doing sit-ups and push-ups now. Even if you can only do 1 push-up and 1 sit-up and run a couple yards before getting winded. You have to start somewhere. If you have any knee injuries, then your best bet is to do as much low impact fitness as possible in the beginning. The elliptical and stationary bike are the best places to start. Also, you need to invest in some really good running shoes--not basketball shoes, hiking shoes or tennis shoes. I cannot stress strong enough how important it is to work on developing a breathing rhythm when you run.

Salt and sugar are your enemies. There is no substitute for drinking water. Stop drinking sodas and fitness drinks now. Stop smoking now. Stop drinking now. You will be amazed how drastically your level of fitness will change once you start eating healthy, well-balanced, small meals. In fact, I live primarily on a liquid protein and mega vitamin and nutrient diet with a few solid meals sprinkled in here and there. When you completely eliminate junk from your diet, keep your digestive system flushed, and take in a healthy diet your endurance will increase substantially, you'll require less sleep, recover quicker from a strenuous workout, and make significant gains with each workout.

[Fidd's Green]

This is some good info, thanks for posting it.

[VICEROY06]

This is some good info, thanks for posting it.

I'll try to post everything I learn as I go. Won't be too much more left to learn, though. April 2nd and 3rd is my last RSP drill before I ship that following Tuesday.

[VICEROY06]

If you haven't gone to your first RSP drill yet, then the best thing to do is to get yourself in the mindset of going to BCT now. Though you'll learn quite a bit when you do begin RSP training you have to understand that you'll only go to RSP once a month--RSP drills are not designed to have you at readiness when you hit BCT. RSP is only designed to give you a glimpse of what you will encounter once you are down range. You will have to learn how to become self-motivated (if you don't already have self-motivation skills) and train on your own between RSP drills.

Perform a google search and find the chart that shows you how many push-ups, sit-ups, and your ellapsed time frame for the 2 mile run. I don't care who tells you about doing 100 push-ups or 200 push-ups blah, blah, blah. Train according to what your max is in regards to your age. For example: I'm 38, so my max for push-ups is 70-something, and my max for sit-ups is 64-something. My max ellapsed time for the 2-mile is 14 minutes. Even though the standard requirement at BCT is 10 push-ups for men and 3 push-ups for women, try to train to the standard as applied to your age category and gender.

Hopefully, while you're at RSP drill, you may run into gold phase personnel (BCT graduates) that trained at your Fort. My MOS is 11B, and I'll be doing OSUT at Ft. Benning, so I talked at length with all the gold phase 11B that graduated from Ft. Benning. The best time to talk to BCT graduates is if you're lucky enough to have one teaching you something like weapons training or first aid while you're in a class session. The next best time is during AAR, which happens at the end of the day. You will assemble somewhere and a soldier or a counselor or an NCO will discuss with you the strengths and weaknesses of your RSP experience. You will have an opportunity to voice your concerns as well as talk to the BCT graduates. Do not be afraid to ask questions. In addition, BCT graduates are supposed to offer you as much advice on what their experiences were during BCT/AIT or OSUT.

[Hanson]

Viceroy, I just wanted to chime in and let you know that I appreciate your posts. They're useful to people who are new to the whole experience. You take the time to write out well thought out posts that are both informational and useful.

So in a nutshell, thank you for continuing to post

[VICEROY06]

Viceroy, I just wanted to chime in and let you know that I appreciate your posts. They're useful to people who are new to the whole experience. You take the time to write out well thought out posts that are both informational and useful.

So in a nutshell, thank you for continuing to post

You're most welcome. The RSP program is invaluable. Sure, Reservists, USMC and AD Army soldiers graduate from basic all the time. But none of them have the opportunity we have. Basic training will be hard enough as it is--who would want to make matters worse by being bounced around because you don't even know the simplest of the simple about being a soldier? I've never liked the thought of making such a drastic change in life like going from civilian to the life of a soldier blind, which is what the others are doing. Also, I've never liked the concept of being torn down and built back up. If a soldier needs to be torn down and built back up, then fine--and some soldiers need that kind of training. But for an older person that already has a significant amount of skill and professional experience, that kind of 'ground up' training is unnecessary especially if certain skills can be learned before going to BCT.

[TheCaptain]

Viceroy, I'll be shipping to Benning May 6th, so I'll be taking in all the **** with you bro. Thanks for the posts!

[housetr08]

Can you give an example of what your daily food intake looks like- or different suppliments that have helped you? Your post was very helpful-thank you!

[SteveLord]

Can you give an example of what your daily food intake looks like- or different suppliments that have helped you? Your post was very helpful-thank you!

The OP shipped a few weeks ago.

[Conor Fallon]

Salt and sugar are your enemies. There is no substitute for drinking water. Stop drinking sodas and fitness drinks now. Stop smoking now. Stop drinking now. You will be amazed how drastically your level of fitness will change once you start eating healthy, well-balanced, small meals. In fact, I live primarily on a liquid protein and mega vitamin and nutrient diet with a few solid meals sprinkled in here and there. When you completely eliminate junk from your diet, keep your digestive system flushed, and take in a healthy diet your endurance will increase substantially, you'll require less sleep, recover quicker from a strenuous workout, and make significant gains with each workout.

You should be careful about Hyponatremia, in severe cases you could have vomiting or nausea or even seizures or a coma, but less severe cases could leave you with fatigue, appetite loss, muscle weakness or cramps. You need to be sure to have enough electrolytes.

[BRNKNG]

Are the Warrior's ethos & Soldier's creed two different things?
I Google'd both of them but get the same search results.

[bigtex]

The Warrior Ethos is part of the Soldier's Creed. This is the Soldier's Creed with the Warrior Ethos in bold:

I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

I memorized it by watching YouTube videos over and over again saying it aloud as I watched. We were drilled on this at RSP, so make sure you know it before you show up.

[BRNKNG]

I understand now. Thanks!
Wrote it down on a pair of notecards and memorized it whenever I had downtime.
Have it down by heart now!

[Lance13A]

You should be careful about Hyponatremia, in severe cases you could have vomiting or nausea or even seizures or a coma, but less severe cases could leave you with fatigue, appetite loss, muscle weakness or cramps. You need to be sure to have enough electrolytes.

This is definitely true. The worst part about Hyponatremia is that its symptoms mimic Dehydration symptoms, usually causing the casualty to drink more water, increasing the hyponatremic condition. Just like every ounce of water you sweat out needs to be replaced, so does the salt. Hyponatremia is less common than dehydration, but it is definitely a heat casualty risk that needs to be managed responsibly through proper education of troops, as well as proper monitoring of food intake.
I definitely wouldn't recommend anybody renounce salt or sugar, as both are extremely necessary parts of any diet. Sodas aren't great for you, but a sports drink with electrolytes is great for you after losing a lot of electrolytes and water through sweat.