Private Daniel Nations, Budoseeker and Army Guy

**David Craik** · 08-12-2007, 11:47

How does that work..you show up at Ft. Sam, complain that you were only issued X pair of socks and they give you more free? Or you are issued uniform items before you get to basic?

**AllanJGAnderson** · 08-12-2007, 12:34

Originally Posted by David Craik

How does that work..you show up at Ft. Sam, complain that you were only issued X pair of socks and they give you more free? Or you are issued uniform items before you get to basic?

At basic you can tell them you got X number of socks. When you get your shakedown. But you best do it before you come to TX. Because the good socks arn't anywhere to be found. The Military Clothing and Sales says they've been waiting 7 weeks for a shipment. I was there yesterday.

**David Craik** · 08-12-2007, 13:38

Ah, okay..I guess it differs from ours where they issue you everything in boot camp. It doesn't matter if you show up with socks falling out of your pockets or barefoot - you get 6 pair.

If you wind up going to Iraq, some lightweight socks are like gold there. The only thing commonly available were socks more suited to the Arctic than July in Al Anbar.

**Jeff C.** · 08-12-2007, 13:43

Allan, back when I went to Ft. Sam to become a combat medic (91A back then, transitioned back to 91B, transitioned to 91W, and now 68W!) Ft. Sam did not have drill sergeants and it was a party AIT. It was more like going to college with some annoying military stuff mixed in.

It was cultural shock for us coming from BCT at Ft. Bliss, which was pretty damn hard-core - they have since stopped doing BCT at Bliss.

I have plenty of Ft. Sam stories to tell you, but not on this open forum.

Jeff Cook

**Jeff C.** · 08-12-2007, 13:52

Oh, I forgot to mention, under the ESAR (Every Soldier A Recruiter) program, I get one thousand dollars when Daniel ships to BCT, and another thousand when he graduates from AIT. So I have something else to hold over his head.

Jeff Cook

**AllanJGAnderson** · 08-12-2007, 16:00

Originally Posted by Jeff C.

Allan, back when I went to Ft. Sam to become a combat medic (91A back then, transitioned back to 91B, transitioned to 91W, and now 68W!) Ft. Sam did not have drill sergeants and it was a party AIT. It was more like going to college with some annoying military stuff mixed in.

It was cultural shock for us coming from BCT at Ft. Bliss, which was pretty damn hard-core - they have since stopped doing BCT at Bliss.

I have plenty of Ft. Sam stories to tell you, but not on this open forum.

Jeff Cook

At basic we we're told Ft. Sam was a party AIT. It's alot more laid back than basic, but we look enviously at the other trainng battalions. We don't have the "2 man dorm-like barracks" or "Over night passes every weekend". All lies, they even put Adascosa on the off limits list

the chows great though and I'm still having a good time.

**Jeff C.** · 08-12-2007, 16:19

I didn't have it THAT easy - one pass to go into town during the day the entire time I was there (the Alamo, the River Walk, and of course get my first tattoo), and open-bay barracks. It WAS very easy to go partway up "the hill" to what we called "the meat market" after classes at that time to buy and drink beer out back (it was a shopette just up the hill from the theater). I saw "Full Metal Jacket" at that theater a year after it came out - that tells you how long ago I went to AIT!

Jeff Cook

**David Anderson** · 08-13-2007, 22:56

I thought he was just getting back up after being thrown...

**AllanJGAnderson** · 08-14-2007, 19:25

Originally Posted by Jeff C.

I didn't have it THAT easy - one pass to go into town during the day the entire time I was there (the Alamo, the River Walk, and of course get my first tattoo), and open-bay barracks. It WAS very easy to go partway up "the hill" to what we called "the meat market" after classes at that time to buy and drink beer out back (it was a shopette just up the hill from the theater). I saw "Full Metal Jacket" at that theater a year after it came out - that tells you how long ago I went to AIT!

Jeff Cook

What was your training battalion? Because we got a hill, with a store

that a soldier or two had walked up to aquire alcohol when we were still in phase 4. Doesn't amtter now that we're in phase 5.

**Jeff C.** · 08-14-2007, 21:20

Same battalion as yours - 232d! We did not have phases at that time.

How much fornication is going on in YOUR CTA?

Jeff Cook

**Erik** · 08-14-2007, 22:51

Originally Posted by Jeff C.

Oh, I forgot to mention, under the ESAR (Every Soldier A Recruiter) program, I get one thousand dollars when Daniel ships to BCT, and another thousand when he graduates from AIT. So I have something else to hold over his head.

I hope he gets a beer and a good jiu jitsu gi out of it, at least... :wink:

**Jeff C.** · 08-15-2007, 06:22

Originally Posted by Erik

I hope he gets a beer and a good jiu jitsu gi out of it, at least... :wink:

Erik, he gets a bottle of water and a GREAT ju-jitsu instructor!

Jeff Cook

**rgoad** · 08-15-2007, 09:04

Originally Posted by Jeff C.

Oh, I forgot to mention, under the ESAR (Every Soldier A Recruiter) program, I get one thousand dollars when Daniel ships to BCT, and another thousand when he graduates from AIT. So I have something else to hold over his head.

Jeff Cook

Dang, that's about $12.90 a pound for fresh meat! You could at least give him a taco.

**Jeff C.** · 08-15-2007, 11:23

Richard, if I could get paid by the pound, I would recruit for the Navy or Air Force, and double my money!

Jeff Cook

**rgoad** · 08-15-2007, 12:10

Ain't that true. My brother retired form the Navy and weighs maybe 150 when wet. But the rest of the pack are pretty big. USAF runs big, too. I had to push guys out for not making weight. It was a shame. Funny thing was, though, my team alway out ran the Army guys in the schools. Hmmm...

**bvermillion** · 08-15-2007, 12:14

Originally Posted by Jeff C.

Oh, I forgot to mention, under the ESAR (Every Soldier A Recruiter) program, I get one thousand dollars when Daniel ships to BCT, and another thousand when he graduates from AIT. So I have something else to hold over his head.

Jeff Cook

That must be nice. The CG would have gave you a letter of accomodation.