Blue Phase

After the white phase of basic training, you will transition into the next level, the blue phase.  The blue phase encompasses weeks 6 through 9 of basic training.  In this phase you will wrap up your series of classes in Army values.  Your morning physical fitness sessions will be more intense and longer in duration.  Many recruits like this phase the best because of the numerous confidence builders.  This first confidence builder is called a confidence course.  This confidence course is a series of 24 obstacles, which will test a recruit’s mental and physical capability to negotiate certain situations.  The second confidence builder a recruit will undergo are foot marches.  During red and white phase, you might have to go on a couple road marches, but not to the extent you will have to undergo during the blue phase.  The foot marches in this phase are long and arduous, about 10 kilometers carrying all your equipment.  

All of the knowledge you gather throughout basic training will culminate to a 3-day field training exercise (FTX), which combines all previously taught basic combat skills.  During this FTX, you will complete teamwork exercises and missions.  The last night includes the night infiltration course.  During the night infiltration course you will learn to shoot your weapon at night.  If you have never seen a tracer bullet, pop a star wars movie into your DVD player.  This exercise was my personal favorite in the entire 9-weeks of basic training.  Not only is this exercise neat to watch, but it also gives you tremendous confidence in your weapon. 

Once you successfully complete the 3-day FTX, your company will have a ceremony recognizing the successful completion of this challenging exercise.

One of the worst things that can happen to a recruit during basic training is to get what’s called “recycled”.  Being recycled is the military’s term for starting all over again. Yes that’s right, it is possible for a recruit to make it to the last day of basic training, and have to start all over again because of disciplinary action.  I have personally seen it done.  The best advice I can tell you in this phase is to never let your guard down.  By now, recruits are getting cocky, their confidence is high, they have been accomplishing tasks they never thought they could and they are getting used to their dill sergeants.  If you let your guard down and do something to get you in trouble, your liable to get recycled.  Don’t assume your going to graduate basic training until you are on the plane ride home. 

Don’t forget before you graduate to get your friends phone number and/or addresses.  It is amazing how fast you leave once you graduate.  Sometimes you never get to say goodbye to your friends, which you might regret later in life. 

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Series