So, you have decided to join the military, good for you! You are about to join only 3% of the population that will defend the only remaining superpower on this plant, the U.S.A. Joining might be easy, as there are recruiting centers everywhere, the difficult part is passing basic training. But basic training doesn't have to be difficult, most recruits just make it that way.

Of all the branches USMC training (Marines) has the hardest boot camp to pass. Army fitness is very similar to marine fitness too. Military fitness in general is not easy, you have to be prepared, but most recruits prepare the wrong way. First, don't go to the gym to prepare for basic training. There is no gym at basic training, so why go to the gym to prepare? It doesn't make sense. Use exercises that are similiar to those you will be doing at basic training. If you need a reference of those exercises, consult Chapter 2 of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook.

In all branches of military basic training, like Army basic training, you will drill sergeants that don't seem to like you very much. Just remember, it's all a head game. Their goal it to turn you into a military soldier in just a few weeks, that doesn't come by being nice. They do not personally hate you. Army training is passable, millions of people have done it, however you have to prepare properly to take as much stress out of it as possible.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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I would like to announce a special Ultimate Basic Training Radio show this Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 9:30am. Click here to listen live and call the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Michael-Volkin . We are going to be interviewing other soldiers about tips on basic training, including 2008 NCO of the year. We will be on location at an army base. It doesn't matter if you are going to usmc training, concerned about army fitness or just military fitness in general, you will benefit from this show. I am trying my best to prepare you for military basic training, please take advantage of all the resources that are available to you.

I get asked a lot of questions, especially by those recruits about to leave for Army basic training. Army training with drill sergeants is a lot easier if you prepare properly. Drill sergeants are not going to be nice to you and they aren'g going to be your friend, so you have to go into basic training prepared thoroughly.

Joining the military is definately an adventure, be sure to make it easy on yourself.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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I would like to announce a special Ultimate Basic Training Radio show this Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 9:30am. Click here to listen live and call the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Michael-Volkin . We are going to be interviewing other soldiers about tips on basic training, including 2008 NCO of the year. We will be on location at an army base. It doesn't matter if you are going to usmc training, concerned about army fitness or just military fitness in general, you will benefit from this show. I am trying my best to prepare you for military basic training, please take advantage of all the resources that are available to you.

I get asked a lot of questions, especially by those recruits about to leave for Army basic training. Army training with drill sergeants is a lot easier if you prepare properly. Drill sergeants are not going to be nice to you and they aren'g going to be your friend, so you have to go into basic training prepared thoroughly.

Joining the military is definately an adventure, be sure to make it easy on yourself.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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I would like to announce a special Ultimate Basic Training Radio show this Monday, June 29th, 2009 at 9:30am. Click here to listen live and call the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Michael-Volkin . We are going to be interviewing other soldiers about tips on basic training, including 2008 NCO of the year. We will be on location at an army base. It doesn't matter if you are going to usmc training, concerned about army fitness or just military fitness in general, you will benefit from this show. I am trying my best to prepare you for military basic training, please take advantage of all the resources that are available to you.

I get asked a lot of questions, especially by those recruits about to leave for Army basic training. Army training with drill sergeants is a lot easier if you prepare properly. Drill sergeants are not going to be nice to you and they aren'g going to be your friend, so you have to go into basic training prepared thoroughly.

Joining the military is definately an adventure, be sure to make it easy on yourself.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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Ultimate Basic Training has just finished it's 70th broadcast, and each broadcast has gained in popularity. I would like to thank everyone who has not only listened to the show, but told their friends about it.

Those going to army basic training, usmc training, or any type of military basic training can benefit from this half hour online radio show every Monday morning. I have recieved lots of calls during my 70 shows, mostly on how to deal with drill sergeants. If you know of anyone who is considering joining the military, I suggest you tell them about this free radio show.

During the last show, we talked about Army fitness and other types of Army training. Military fitness seems to be the top concern of people who are joining the military, so I am going to try and focus more on that during future episodes.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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Many people ask me how USMC Training is different than Army training, the answer is, a lot. First, in the Marines, you train longer, and harder. Sorry Army guys, but it's true. Army fitness however is no joke, you have to prepare properly for it. You should prepare for military fitness regardless of what branch you are entering. There is a lot you can do to prepare for military basic training, be sure to buy The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook to learn how to prepare properly.

With Army basic training (just like Marine basic training) you have 9 weeks of intense training with drill sergeants. With the Marines, it's 12 weeks. Even though Marine basic training is tougher, you should still prepare for army training

Joining the military is a life changing experience, be sure you are ready for those drill instructors!

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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Many recruits ask me if I can send them the fitness standards for various branches of the military so they can get started with their military fitness routine. I usually just point them to one of a dozen websites that post the Army fitness standards. It doesn't matter to me what branch of service they are in, if they can pass the Army or Marine fitness standards, they can pass the standards of any branch of the military. Army fitness and Marine fitness are similar (Marines is more tough), so when using them as standards, you should have no problem completing any military fitness routine.

The Army physical fitness program consists of a 2-mile run, 2 minute timed push-ups and 2-minute times sit-ups). If you can pass the standards before you leave for basic training, then you will have no problems completing the Army basic training working in front of a drill sergeant. The Army basic training schedule is tough, but there is a lot you can do to prepare ahead of time.

So, don't worry if your going to Air force boot camp or the Navy, if you prepare properly, you'll have no problem surviving boot camp.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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Let’s face it, surviving boot camp is tough. This article applies to all military branches, whether your going into Air Force boot camp or the Army. For the first time you will be dealing with Drill Sergeants who love to yell at you and hang on your every move. I made it through basic training hardly ever getting yelled at, here’s how I did it:

In my best-selling book, The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook I teach recruits how to make basic training as stress free as possible. It’s important to understand that nothing will make you “yell-proof”; however, there are preparations you can make to reduce the amount of personal attention you get from Drill Sergeants.

• Understand the Game- Drill Sergeants don’t personally hate you. If you take the yelling and insults a Drill Sergeant gives you personally, you will add extra stress to an already stressful situation. A Drill Sergeants goal is to motivate and train you in the quickest time possible. Their job is to break you down as a civilian and turn you into a member of the U.S military in the shortest time possible. That job is not easy and would be difficult with a Richard Simmons type motivation approach. The Army basic training workout is tough and you need to be trained properly. Military fitness (and Army fitness) is different that civilian fitness, and requires different motivation. If you get personal attention by Drill Sergeants at basic training, just remember it’s for your own good. Just know, that when you pass basic training, you will be able to surpass any Army fitness standards. If you have any doubt, check out the Army physical fitness program in The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook.

• Don’t be Friendly- Your Drill Sergeant isn’t looking for a friend, so leave your manners at home. Don’t attempt to have a leisurely or friendly chat with a Drill Sergeant because you will find yourself doing push-ups in the mud. 90% of what you say to a Drill Sergeant should be “Drill Sergeant yes Drill Sergeant”, or “Drill Sergeant no Drill Sergeant”. The other recruits should be your friends, the Drill Sergeants should be your motivators and trainers.

• Don’t be a Know It All- Drill Sergeants aren’t impressed with what you know, or think you know. Many recruits come to basic training hearing stories and learning lessons of when their friends and family attended. Don’t listen to those recruits as stories are often exaggerated or interpreted incorrectly. Even if you know the answer to something, don’t shout it out unless you are specifically called upon.

• Speak with Confidence- Drill Sergeants love to pick on recruits who answer or talk in a quiet or timid voice. Their job is to turn you into a lean mean fighting machine. When asked a question, only respond with a confident voice, even if you don’t know the correct answer. A wrong answer spoken confidently sounds better than a right answer spoken timidly.

• Don’t be Late- When a Drill Sergeant asks you to be somewhere in 45 seconds, you better be there in 15. Arriving on time is the same as arriving late to a Drill Sergeant.

The Army basic training schedule, and other branches, is demanding, be sure your prepared!

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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Many people ask me if they are too fat for basic training? The answer is, it depends. If you are going to Air Force boot camp the standards are different than the Army fitness standards. Surviving boot camp is a lot easier without the extra weight, so try and lose as much as you can before you meet a drill sergeant. When you join the Army, the Army basic training schedule will force you to lose weight. I don't know of one person that gained weight in basic training. The reason for this is two-fold. One, there is no snacking at basic training, so the calories coming in are less than the calories being burned during your workout. Second, the Army basic training working is a 7 day a week regimine whether you like it or not. Military fitness has withstood the test of time and the discipline and structure of Army fitness routines has proven to change a recruits body in a short amount of time. Because of this success, the Army physical fitness program has not, and will not, change anytime soon.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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Ok this is the grossest blog post I have ever done, but I just recieved a question on the white powder myth and thought I would address it. A recruit going to Air force boot camp next month asked me: "SGT Volkin, I have heard of white powder being put into recruits drinks at basic training, why does the military do this?" - Jeremy

Jeremy, the military does not do this, it is a myth. The myth is that the military puts white powder in the recruits water to constipate them so when they are training in the field they don't need to use the bathroom. This is not true. There is so much more to learn to survive basic training, let's try sticking to the facts.

There is some truth to this answer though. When I went through Army basic training, I didn't go to the bathroom for weeks. Why? Becuase I didn't have to go. My Army basic training schedule was so packed with stuff to do and my body was so taxed by the Army basic training workout, that my body was utilizing all of the food I was putting in. Military fitness programs, especially Army fitness programs, are taxing on ones body. When I was training to surpass Army fitness standards I had to idea how much of my food my body would consume. The Army physical fitness program is a day in and day out exercise regimine and with the lack of snacks and extra meals you get at basic training, you can imagine how taxing it could be on ones body.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival Ultimate Basic Training.

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