In my book, The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook (www.UltimateBasicTraining.com), I discuss many tactics drill sergeants use to exhaust a recruit mentally and physically. This is the second of a three part article that describes some of these common tactics and how to overcome such obstacles. Although the story below is true, the actual names have been changed.

It was the first day of basic training and recruit Jones, along with the other recruits, was being introduced to his drill sergeants. After a few hours of rolling in the mud doing push-ups and other exercises, the drill sergeants gave the recruits a break. The drill sergeants set out a table with cookies and juice. Surrounding this table was a series of cones with ropes intended to show the recruits to go around the cones to get to the juice and cookies. One of the drill sergeants shouted to the recruits “Time for juice and cookies everyone! Simply follow the cones to get to the snacks. Be sure to form a single file line”. Private Jones, being the first one in line noticed a much easier path to get to the juice and cookies rather than following the complicated series of cones. He simply went around the back-side of the table and grabbed the snacks. The drill sergeants watched as five others followed in Private Jones footsteps. All of a sudden, 5 drill sergeants were informing Private Jones that the world was going to change for the next 4 hours for what he just did (meaning he just received a ticket to push-up heaven for not listening to the drill sergeant). All the other recruits were also punished for Private Jones actions as they fell in line behind him and repeated his actions. The juice and cookies were then taken away so no one could have them.

The lesson learned here is to listen to your drill sergeants. They will not always give you the easiest or most logical way to do a task. The point here is that you listen and do what you’re told. This true story was intended to prepare you mentally for basic training. You can be Mr. or Mrs. Perfect when you go through basic training, but there is nothing you can do to avoid negative attention from a drill sergeant. This was a mental lesson, not a physical one. Remember, basic training is more a mental challenge than a physical one.

Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook. His book is available at www.UltimateBasicTraining.com and is available in paperback, e-book and audio-book format. Get ready for the all new Ultimate Interactive Basic Training Workbook!