Army BCT and older ages

Karver · February 16, 2016

Is it uncommon to find mid 30s guys going through BCT? Are they singled out by the drill sargeants?

Joe_P148 · February 16, 2016

Only if you single yourself out. Don't over think it. Do your best, keep your mouth shut. You will be ok.

There are still 30 year Olds joining the army, not as common but, the economy isn't great.

I know 2 30 somethings who have been to basic in the last year.

zack.colorado · February 16, 2016

When I went through there was a guy that was 40 or 41. He did some time in another branch decades ago, so they subtracted that from the age requirements and there he was. I was 17. We both got noticed.

Be the grey man. Mid 30s will go unnoticed.

Karver · February 16, 2016

And once you get to your Guard/Reserve base I would think it's very mixed?

Flim · February 17, 2016

I went when I was 33... you learn how to humble yourself!

Pirate04 · February 17, 2016

I was 28 when I went, there were a few of us on the older end. No special attention except I was made bay leader but I also went in as an E4.

Right time, right place, right uniform.

MuffinMan · February 17, 2016

I was 28 when I went, there were a few of us on the older end. No special attention except I was made bay leader but I also went in as an E4.

Right time, right place, right uniform.

What did being a bay leader actually entail?

Pirate04 · February 17, 2016

What did being a bay leader actually entail?

Having most every other female hate me because I made them clean. How awful of me.

I also had to go to the DS every time anyone needed toilet paper. Don't know about y'all but TP was hard to come by during BCT. I went back after HBL with a 12 pack of the stuff.

Tesla · February 17, 2016

I was probably the only one who didn't mind babywipes.

Cantankerously · February 17, 2016

I was 28 when I went to Benning.

dieseldan17 · February 18, 2016

When I went through Basic - the army was taking new recruits up to 42 years old. This was when the surge was happening and we needed to boost our numbers. At any rate, I had several recruits in my BCT Company who were in there 30s and 2 guys who were actually 42 years old. The biggest thing that will make you stand out is like what was said above... if you don't keep your mouth shut. BCT is not about standing out. There are no kudos for people who speak out or demonstrate amazing leadership... everyone graduates the same. Don't constantly tell the bulk of other recruits that they are younger and should listen to you or they should grow up and be more mature. They'll hate you and you will sound like a whiny little b**ch. You have to learn to embrace people half your age as a peer - because age irrelevant, that is what it is at that point. Just go, do what you are told, and graduate. Be at the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform - and move on with motivation. If you can do that, a drill sergeant doesn't give a damn how old you are. -Out

Karver · February 19, 2016

When you're at BCT and AIT, does the Army cover for food, insurance, and things like that? Also, for AIT, I'm assuming you're not allowed to have your vehicle with you?

Pirate04 · February 20, 2016

You're not allowed to drive at all while in IET (initial entry training) status. (BCT/AIT)

Food, housing, and all health expenses are covered while in IET. At AIT, you should be granted privileges to go to on-post places and maybe off post places which you will have to pay for. This of course is dependent on your AIT and personal performance if you phase up.

While at Whiskey school (68W, medic) we had a PX shoppette right across from our barracks that had fast food places where a lot of us would eat instead of using the DFAC.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

dovq2011 · February 20, 2016

Be at the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform - and move on with motivation. If you can do that, a drill sergeant doesn't give a damn how old you are. -Out

I'll caveat even further, and this is something I tell junior officers when they arrive. No one in the Army gives a damn about your background (age, ethnicity, gender, where you went to school, what your major was, etc.). They care about someone who can be mature, take care of themselves, have the physical and mental endurance to do what is expected of them, and just do the right thing. If you can remember those simple (which you will experience - is not quite that simple for many), then you will do fine.

zack.colorado · February 20, 2016

You're not allowed to drive at all while in IET (initial entry training) status. (BCT/AIT)

This is news to me. At what point in the WOFT pipeline are you no longer considered in IET?

Do you actually PCS to Rucker in anticipation of the length of training or are you TDY for the first portion(s) then get PCS orders at some point?

Brian101193 · February 20, 2016

This is news to me. At what point in the WOFT pipeline are you no longer considered in IET?

Do you actually PCS to Rucker in anticipation of the length of training or are you TDY for the first portion(s) then get PCS orders at some point?

It can't be right, because I'm sure a lot of people live off base and have to commute.

Pirate04 · February 20, 2016

I honestly can't speak for street to seat candidates. I went through BCT/AIT last year. In which case, we were not "allowed" to drive for up to 48 hours after graduation from AIT. I do know you aren't allowed to drive during WOCS, although you can bring your POV with you.

If I had to guess, driving would be allowed after WOCS.

Brian101193 · February 20, 2016

I honestly can't speak for street to seat candidates. I went through BCT/AIT last year. In which case, we were not "allowed" to drive for up to 48 hours after graduation from AIT. I do know you aren't allowed to drive during WOCS, although you can bring your POV with you.

If I had to guess, driving would be allowed after WOCS.

That would make sense to me, at that point you're a Warrant officer. I really couldn't see them not allowing you to drive after you graduate WOCS.

napoleonpp · February 20, 2016

I wasn't a street to seat, however I'm sure they will just let you drive from Basic to WOCS. Atleast I would hope they would. Obviously you can't drive during WOCS, however you can go start your car once a week though. You can definitely drive right after you get through WOCS.

StockTrader · February 20, 2016

Street to seat goes straight to WOCS from BCT. You will get your car after WOCS on your 10 day TDY to get your stuff.

cwil7280 · February 22, 2016

Street to seat goes straight to WOCS from BCT. You will get your car after WOCS on your 10 day TDY to get your stuff.

This is true. You can even be driven from BCT to WOCS as long as you "aren't the one driving". WOCS has a long term parking and doesn't differentiate between the street to seaters or prior sevice guys, so if you wanted to have a spouse drive you to WOCS (assuming your BCT is within like 250 miles of Rucker) and take a one way flight home, then that would mean you have one car at Rucker when you graduate and, if you have multiple vehicles, it will be one less to PCS. WOCS does allow you to drive your car to the long term parking and around the post area before you actually start training. This is during the time that you wear the "snowbird" rank and belong to HHC but haven't technically started WOCS

WOCS isn't as strict as BCT on driving because they occasionally allow people to drive government vehicles on certain details during actual training. For example, I was the "social officer" and took a GOV off post to pick up the class cake from publix for our graduation.

Brian101193 · February 22, 2016

This is true. You can even be driven from BCT to WOCS as long as you "aren't the one driving". WOCS has a long term parking and doesn't differentiate between the street to seaters or prior sevice guys, so if you wanted to have a spouse drive you to WOCS (assuming your BCT is within like 250 miles of Rucker) and take a one way flight home, then that would mean you have one car at Rucker when you graduate and, if you have multiple vehicles, it will be one less to PCS. WOCS does allow you to drive your car to the long term parking and around the post area before you actually start training. This is during the time that you wear the "snowbird" rank and belong to HHC but haven't technically started WOCS

WOCS isn't as strict as BCT on driving because they occasionally allow people to drive government vehicles on certain details during actual training. For example, I was the "social officer" and took a GOV off post to pick up the class cake from publix for our graduation.

Hold up....we get cake at WOCS!?