What Females Should Know Before Joining the Army
83Check These Out!
|
Love My Rifle More than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army
Price: $6.22
List Price: $14.95 |
|
U.S. Army Survival Handbook, Revised
Price: $9.26
List Price: $16.95 |
|
The Ultimate Guide to U.S. Army Survival Skills, Tactics, and Techniques
Price: $15.26
List Price: $24.95 |
|
The Status of Gender Integration in the Military: Analysis of Selected Occupations
Price: $20.00
List Price: $20.00 |
|
The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq
Price: $13.70
List Price: $25.95 |
The Boot Camp experience is also known as: Basic Combat Training, BCT (the Army loves its acronyms), Basic Training, Boot, and Basic.
One of my preparations for BCT: chopping off all of my hair!
I was amazed by how many people were mad at me for shearing off my "Crowning Glory".
I cut off all my hair because of the intense training I was about to experience. I thought it would make my life easier if I didn't have to worry about moldy hair. In the end it was a very good thing that I cut my hair, though it made me sad to lose whatever cuteness my long hair gave me. Ok, on to "business".
Pre-Basic
Before I joined the United States Army I poured through the internet looking for any kind of information that could help me. I wanted so badly to know what it was like to be in the Army. I already knew what it was like for the Soldiers I'd already met, but none of them were females like me. Let's face it, there is a difference between males and females in the military, and I wanted to know that difference. Unfortunately I never found any helpful information, so I up and joined the U.S. Army and experienced it myself.
What to Do/Know Before Joining the Army:
- Decide if your hair is going to work for you while you're at Boot Camp. My hair was long and I wasn't about to fix my hair up in a bun every day. With the intense training I would have to fix my hair all of the time, especially with the sticklers the Drill Sergeants are about soldier representation. A soldier also told me that some of the female soldiers he knew got moldy hair; and when I started training, I could see how that was possible. The female's who didn't cut their hair always had to have it up in a bun. They took their showers and when they were done their hair practically just jumped into the bun position. Sometimes there wasn't much time to take showers, so then the Drill Sergeants were thoughtful enough to take us training in the rain and mud; and afterward we would all go camping, in the rain. It's easy in these conditions for a bit of mold to cultivate in the knot that is our hair.
- Exercise before you join. It is VERY IMPORTANT! Training is very tough if you are not a little physically fit when you get there. You don't need to be superwoman or anything, but at least give your muscles a little bit of training so the shock factor won't be so high. Basic Training is, on all levels, a rather high stressed affair, so be ready for it. There are physical ability standards that you must pass in order to graduate Basic Training. The Army's Physical Training Test is different than the other military branches tests. The test examines the soldier's ability to do pushups, situps, and a two mile run. The pushups and situps are each under a time limit of two minutes. The first test is the pushups, followed by situps, and then the two mile run. The pass/fail standards are based on age and gender. For example, How many pushups must I do in order to pass? Well, I'm a female, 22-26 years of age, and I must do 17 pushups in order to get a minimum passing score of 60%. If those seem too easy, then go for a 100% by doing 46 pushups or more. Still too easy? Max out the guy's standards. Go for 75 pushups. For any other age, gender, or event, go to this link and you'll soon know what the standards are for Army physical training test: http://www.la.ngb.army.mil/156BAND/apft.html
- Ask Questions and gain answers. Definitely find someone who is in the Army branch you are interested in, and find someone who has no monetary interest in what you decide. I don't care what the recruiter's say, they do twist the truth when it benefits them. I know because I got a bad recruiter among some better recruiters. I just wasn't lucky. Also, if that doesn't persuade you, an acquaintance of mine did recruiting, and it was confirmed that they do get benefits based on recruits gained.
- Break your habits now before you ship out to Basic Training. It will make your time there much less terrible. Smoking, drinking alcohol, snacking, taking naps etc, are all habits that plague trainees during training. If you break your habits, you'll be that much closer to just breezing through Basic Combat Training.
- Don't stress over the Drill Sergeants. They yell, dish out their punishments, and play mind-games; but they won't physically harm you. Everything is done according to what you can withstand, physically and mentally. If you can endure everything they throw at you and come out on top, then you are worthy to be an American Soldier.
- Note: living conditions may be tough compared to your usual standard of living. So enjoy nice living conditions while you can, because if you join the military sometimes you won't get the best living conditions one would hope for. One thing most soldier's learn: never take anything for granted. I, personally have learned to always live life to the fullest. It's better that way.
Military Females in the News
- Major Hasan of Fort Hood: A Patsy In A Drill Gone Live?Pakistan News Tribune6 days ago
In the wake of the massacre at Fort Hood Texas , two principal theories have emerged to explain the conduct of the accused shooter, identified by the U.S. Army as Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist of Jordanian-Palestinian ancestry.
Are You Having a Bit of a Hard Time? Hmm?
I knew military life was going to be difficult. I'd only talked to males about the Army and they all pretty much said the same stuff: "There's a lot of PT (physical training)", "You're gonna get very tired", and my favorite, "It's not that bad". No offense, guys, but I'd say the ego got in the way of the truth. Though honestly, Basic Training may have been worse than just bad it wasn't overly terrible. I really did expect it to be worse, despite the guys' comments about it. There were times when I thought I was going to die, and there were times I thought everything was too easy. But still, Basic Training is harder physically for a female than it is for a male.
Pushups are easier for males, and the Army is all about its pushups. Ruck marches are easier for males, BUT in situps we are equals (sadly the Army doesn't care as much about situps as it does its pushups)! I can honestly say that I could probably beat most guys in situps, and I can even say that there is another female who can beat me in situps. This female did 112 situps in 2 minutes. Just think 120 seconds in 2 minutes, she's almost pumping out 1 situp per second. Amazing, isn't it?
Two unexpected things that made Basic Training terrible for females: Other females, and Ruck Marches.
Those "other females" would rip each other and anyone to pieces. Just think about it: You woke up at 5 a.m. after going to bed at 11 p.m., you had a couple of females arguing next to your bunk until 11:30 and they wouldn't listen to you when you asked them to stop, you had 2 hours of chores from midnight until 2 a.m. and your relief wouldn't wake up until 2:30 so your head didn't hit the pillow until 2:40. Overall, you got 2 hours and 40 minutes of sleep. Just imagine doing that after a very full day of sweat, grime, and yelling. Now to add to this picture you have female after female griping about this and that, and ripping into you just because they're miserable. AH! I'm frustrated just remembering that. (Though this isn't as bad compared to other female related experiences I've had. Note: If you want more stories, just give me a holler and I'll regale you with some good stories.)
The second most terrible thing during Basic for a female was the Ruck marches. These marches were bad because most females don't make for good pack mules. I definitely don't. I'm 125 lbs. and the Drill Sergeants gave us rucks and gear that weighed up to 60 lbs. Now, for a male, in general, it's a little hefty but nothing to worry about. However for a female, especially me, that could very well be almost half her weight. I hated Ruck Marches. I would rather run miles than go on a march. Now, a stroll through the park with tennis shoes on and a heavy backpack, not bad; but a stroll with combat boots, hot uniform, heavy ruck with metal frame, weapon (M-16 Rifle) in hand, and an endless distance to traverse with varying terrain. Ugh.
There is a third aspect of Basic Training that was bad, but I was ready for this one. The males and their crude comments, though females could be included, the guys were still worse. This is something that is difficult to get away from in the military, especially during long duration type training and deployments. It's something to get used to, because it's pretty much a tradition. Let me make this clear though, once you get to your units males in particular are very careful what they say around females because they are afraid that they'll get a sexual harassment report against them. Unfortunately, innocent males get harassment charges all the time, and the blame goes to the females. So, understand this, because there will come a time when you enter a room full of males and they will all stop their hooting and laughing just because you walked in and yes, it's because you're female. On the other hand, I've had males try to be the nastiest they could be just to get a rise out of me. So, a female needs to be tough skinned to be in the Army. A lot of these males are good people and great soldiers, but everyone knows that "boys will be boys" especially amongst each other. Now throw a female in their midst and all of a sudden the males need to figure out which female she is: overly sensitive, or tough-skinned. So be ready to get judged, because it will happen with every person you meet in the military.
Everyone is judged in the military. It's really no big deal. The point is, though, that females are judged on many points. Is she a good soldier? Do I have to pick up her slack? Can she keep up? Is she going to tattle, like the last one?
There will always be a female who was there before you that completely screwed up. Once you show up on the scene, everyone will look at you and wonder if you're the same as the last one: the screw up. So, as a result they're careful, just as you should be careful. Never forget your professional attitude as a soldier, let alone as a female soldier representative.
The Female Polar Opposites
My first point is this, females can make great soldiers. Second, unfortunately there are many females that slipped through the cracks that shouldn't be in the military.
The females that slip through the cracks tend to be women who join the Army for any various reason and for the most part prefer not to work. These female soldiers make a bad name for other hardworking female soldiers. These females generally do the exact opposite of a hardworking female soldier and are easy to point out. I say this because these types of females have a name and it's close and almost on par with the term slut.
A harsh reality for a female soldier: You are considered a slut until proven otherwise. It is terrible and unfair for the rest of us, but that's just the stark reality. The sad part is, it's all so normal that no one thinks anything of it. But this is the Army and you just deal with it and drive on. There's nothing to do but prove everyone wrong, and rise to the top.
Now, the great ones are the females that don't make excuses about their gender. They don't complain about their menstrual cycle openly, they don't whine, snivel, or gripe about anything or anyone, and they work on their shortcomings. For example, a male can do things that females can't. Men are better pack mules and their bodies are better fitted for endurance. Where females aren't naturally good at lugging things around and lugging them around for great distances, a female can still strengthen that weakness so that it doesn't hamper future operations she may be involved in. On the other hand, she doesn't call attention to herself and her ability to do everything; if there is a job or detail that needs to be done, she just gets it done. No problem. She's a squared away soldier just like the rest of 'em.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Great Hub,
A must read for any female about to join any branch of the service. I would say this is as close as the real skinny your ever going to get without living it yourself!
TMG
Sweetie Pie, Wonky is definitely a good description to how I would feel to always putting my hair in a bun also. Thank You very much for your comments! You are such a sweet woman.
TMG, thanks so much for your feedback!
This is the only first hand info I've found online about being female in the Army. I think I may join soon, and its amazing how little info there is about personal female experiences!
Just want to say thanks so much for posting this. Just like sli said, you can't find too much info on a female soldier. I'm pretty I'll be joining soon so it's good to know what I should be expecting.
Sweetie Pie....good info. I've been scowering the web for useful info/insight of being a female soldier. I'm signed up, and shipping out in a month, and this post is definitely the best and most detailed info I've found. Thank you for taking the time to put this all in writing. It's hard enough for women in the military, and providing this info will definitely help the rest of us to be better prepared and not intimidated by this male-oriented organization. Thanks again, hope all is well for you and your family.
Sli and Tam, thank you so much for commenting on my article! It is definitely a good thing to do research on something as life-changing as the military! If you have any questions you'd like answered, just let me know!
Lena, Thanks to you for your comments. Also, I would like to thank you for joining up and serving our country in a time of war. Good Luck to you and Never give up. I did a 10 mile ruckmarch (with a ruck half my weight) with a severely sprained ankle, be prepared to do something similar. Succeed despite the pain, and do it better than the males! I believe you'll do well; I will be thinking of you and hoping for great experiences for you. If you want, drop me a note (if you remember little ol' me) when you get back- let me know how you did. Thanks again for your compliments Lena!
hey thanks for the post! It was very helpful. I am about to go to basic training, I leave March 17th, and am very nervous on what to expact. But your article was helpful. :)
Hey Jess! Thank you so much for your comment. If you need more info on something let me know and I'll try to help. Good luck in BCT!
Jessica: I spent 25 years in the Army retiring in 2001. My last 14 years was served as a drill Sergeant. I think your analysis of basic training is quite accurate pertaining to female soldiers. I trained a few battallions of female soldiers and I will add one additional comment to your hub which is the fact that female soldiers are much more motivated than males soldiers. Perhaps its the PMS (lol) - but whatever it is female soldiers are highly motivated, more dedicated, and have to endure more harsh psychological treatment than their male counterparts.
I congratulate you for completing BCT and I wish you the best in your military career. By the way, in my opinion - in your before picture you look like a teen run away with no sense of direction - a hazzard to society! In your after picture you portray the confidence of a mature young woman who knows what she want in life and is not afraid to go after it. I see it in your eyes and your posture. I can vision you accomplishing great things in life for the benefit of us all.
Take care young soldier and thanks for your service!
Jessica,
Great stuff! Thanks so much for this. I'm only 115 lbs, so I'm a little worried about the rucks. I think I'm motivated enough to complete it. I've had three kids...this should be a walk in the park! haha Thanks again!
Mindy
Mind emailing me and telling me more about the army experiance for females? I would like to know if I'm cut out, and if I can do something now in order to prepare myself if I do join. I'm 16 years old now, 10th grade. Considering Army. 4'11" or 5' even. Anywhere from 85-95 pounds from what I can remember...maybe more, doubt less. Cutting hair is no issue at all, I'm just worried about everything else. I really want to join and serve my country, but I'm, sadly, a sensitive kid. I've been trying to break myself from that (crying when yelled out, even when I tell myself and know I shouldn't cry, I do anyway. Like a bad habit.)
I wanted to thank you for this page, it was very helpful. My email is:
sharanealvarez@yahoo.com
If you decide to help me further. Thanks!
jxb7076, Thank you so much for your feedback. A DS for 14 years, wow. Thank YOU for your service and sacrifices. As to your comments pertaining to motivation, I think that females definitely seemed much more motivated if only because they had to work harder to meet the standard, whereas the majority of the males felt they could just breeze through. I know my motivation was not in just meeting the standard but in exceeding it. It is my hope that this article will help other possible pre-basics to know this and embrace it. Females, if they are motivated, are not pushovers. So thank you for your generous comments, and I thank you for serving our country... and becoming my fan lol
Mindy, thank you for your comments. Yes, BCT will be tough for you, but if you stay motivated and stick it out, you will succeed. Never quit! The ruckmarches are like endurance training, it stinks and its hard- for a long time. For me, after the first few miles, I just accepted the pain as normal because part of me couldn't remember anything else, and I drove on. The final ruck march should be around 10 miles, don't worry they'll work you up to it. There were a couple females around your weight, it was tough but they made it- just don't let yourself fall behind and you'll be good! Before you go work on your leg, arms, shoulder and back muscles, strengthen them up and you'll be good to go! GOOD LUCK!
Sharane, thank you for your comments, and thank you for researching your possibilities and asking questions. Based on your initiative to learn more, I'm sure I could help you with your questions. No worries.
Hi. I thought this article was excellent advice for females joining the military. I enlisted and will be leaving for training in June. Im pretty excited but also pretty worried. I have complete faith that i can get through BCT but i know its gonna be tough. I would really like to hear more about the experiences and maybe some more info on how to get through it being that you can't find any info on the net. Email me at: angelea0272@aol.com. Thanks.
Hello Angel! I have a lot of respect for someone enlisting during a time of war. You are a type of soldier our country needs these days, and I wish you all of the blessings in the world!
If you would like more info concerning the Army I will be happy to assist you. I have an army email account, so I'll send a test e-mail to see if you're interested. I've sent an email out to a couple of others who have requested but they didn't seem to care. If you but respond to my inquiry I will be happy to help.
HI JESSICA!! THX SO MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL POST! YOUR POST IS THE FIRST I'VE FOUND THAT HAD A SECTION CATTERED TO POTENTIAL FEMALE SOLDIERS. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO JOIN...... IF IT WASN'T FOR THE 4% BODY THAT I HAVE TO LOOSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN GONE!! I WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRESS I WOULD ENDURE BUT COMPLETELY WOWWWED TO THE HARSH TREATMENT THAT CAN BE INCURRED BY MALES. THAT WAS SO HELPFUL TO HAVE THE HEADS UP ON THE MIND FRAME OF MALE SOLDIERS AND THEIR PRECONCEPTIONS DUE TO THE FEMALES SOLDIERS THAT SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS (LOL) !!! THX A LOT!!!
Hello Allycat! It's true that it's near impossible to find any information on females in the military let alone females in the Army! I'm just glad that I'm able to help, even a little bit. My advice to you: Take up jogging and work on your pushups and situps. if jogging is not your thing, start up a walk-run program before you join: It's a 30 minute workout, and you basically start out at running for thirty seconds and speed walking for 4 min 30sec and when you're ready to push yourself more, increase your running time by 30 sec along with decreasing your walk time by 30 sec. It's the best way to get in shape without killing yourself!
Keep at it! If it's your dream, work for it with all you've got! Good luck Allycat
As a female in one of the toughest MOS's in the Army, I disagree with a couple of the points mentioned here. Mainly that we are different from the males. We simply are not.
However, the Hub is full of useful info for people considering joining, and very well written.
Eldritch Elegy, we are all entitled to our opinions and I thank you for yours. I too am in a rather tough MOS and I underwent a type of special ops training with a male female ratio of 10:1. Our experiences form our own opinions, it is obvious that you and I have had different experiences in a possibly similar MOS.
Thank You for your Comments, and be sure I'll keep what you said in mind.
Thanks a lot for posting this. I've been thinking about joining the army recently and I only have male friends in the military so it was good to get an idea what a female experiences in the army. :)
hi! great advices! anymore? i know that males and females do different things, and i know that theres different choices of class like, medical or whatever, but what do females exactly do?
hi! great advices! anymore? i know that males and females do different things, and i know that theres different choices of class like, medical or whatever, but what do females exactly do?
Wow, this page is really helpful! I've been thinking about joining the Army for awhile now..I think it's just the fear of bootcamp that's holding me back. Any more advice that any of you can give me? It would be greatly appreciated. =]
Helena, Stephanie, and Katie:
Wow, I guess I will have to write another article on this won't I?
I'll try to get myself working on it as soon as I can. I have been really busy with the Army lately, so hopefully I can accomodate you asap.
Thank You all for your uplifting encouragement! Thank You for reading my article!
This is really interesting and I'm joining either the marines or army in september when I turn 18. (I'm 17 now & my parents wont sign for me b/c they wanted me to take a more traditional and "proper" course for a girl). I was really wondering about special ops. I'd love to be in this program, but I heard only men can join. I'm just trying to get my facts straight. The other program I'm interested in is being in a k9 handling unit, but I can find next to nothing on it! If you have any info on this, it would be more than appreciated.
Well hello there Erni! You're one of the first females to approach me about Spec Ops and I'm super excited. I will tell you that I don't have much information on k9 handling units that you don't already know; HOWEVER, I do have good news concerning spec ops.
I am a 37F Psychological Operations Specialist. It is considered to be a type of spec ops job. There's not much information out there because it's so difficult to explain. It's such a multi-faceted job that answering what Psyop is would turn into an article. Which is exactly what I'm going to do. Check out my article on Psyop. It should be published soon. Thank You for your interest in special operations! We need good females in the Army, and having an interest in the spec ops field is definitely a promising start.
Hi! I'm joining the marines and I'm in the same situation as erni- my parents wont sign for me so I have to wait one month until I'm eighteen. Can you tell me what the experience is with the recruiter, what kind of tests and questions and forms you have to sign? what should I bring with me? Thank you!
ps. I'm already training for boot camp, how many miles should I be prepared to run daily? I've seen the minimum physical standards but how many pushups and situps do you think you did on a daily basis?
Hello grad'09! Thank you for your questions.
The marines have different and, in some areas, higher standards than the Army. You will need to get comfortable with the 3-mile run. Not only will you be running and pushing during your PT, but you will be doing all of that randomly during the day as well. The drill instructors will always keep you busy. Start training according to the male's maximum standard. If that's too much, train according to the female's maximum standard. Don't bother with the minimum physical standards. Make yourself as great as you can be, don't settle for weak.
Now, your question concerning "how many" pushups and situps we did on a daily basis would best be answered with the question "how long did they make you do pu and su on a daily basis?" The drill instructors would tell us to push and we'd push until we couldn't feel our arms and then we'd push until we'd be certain we couldn't hold ourselves up any longer. Then they'd tell us to keep pushing, so then we'd hold ourselves in the "rest position" which is just the pushup position but with our butts in the air, or sagging in the middle. The drill instructors would then toy with us. When we were all used up in the pushup department we'd do a different activity like running, or the "military press" which was holding our weapons above our heads, OR flutter kicks (which are easy with tennis shoes but terrible with combat boots). Once the drill instructors were sure that they hit every muscle group they'd continue their other less physical instructions. Until some other recruit did something wrong and then the smoking started all over again.
They teach you that you can endure much more than you would ever expect.
Recruiters are sneaky people. They have so many rules and regulations to follow that I don't see how they can be anything else. They do get extra money when they recruit someone. They'll disagree with that sentiment, most of them anyway. Everyone takes the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and your military job choices are based on your scores of that test... You know, I think I will have to write an article for these answers too. You're marines, so it will be a bit different, but at least the enlistment process will be somewhat the same.
Concerning the Marines, they are big on personal advancement. There are certain tasks a Marine must accomplish by a certain date in order to continue in the Marines and in order to get promoted. If a Marine doesn't accomplish his/her tasks and if they are deemed to be unmotivated, he/she can be removed from the Marines. Also, once one leaves the Marines, one can never go back. grad'09, you should find someone who knows Marine stuff, because I'm a soldier, not a marine. I don't want to mislead you. However, I will be publishing an article on joining the military soon. Also, check out hubpages.com because I'm sure there are others on hubpages that have published articles on enlistment and maybe some on the marines.
Good luck to you!
female standards and percentages:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/l/blfitfema
male standards and percentages:
Hi Jess, Its me again..... I finally got rid of the 4% body fat that was holding me back from being able to become apart of the army!! I'm proud to say that I joined the army on 05/22 and will be shipping out on 10/05/09. On the day I joined I was so looking forward to picking my MOS, when at that time I found out that the only jobs that was left, and that offered a soon leave date that I was qualified for was 88m,13s, and 92g. I was disappointed because I wanted an MOS in medical, but oh well I decided to choose the 92g. I was told that I could change my MOS down the line and retest to get a higher AFQT score to broaden horizons even more when it come time for me to choose a different MOS.Regardless of what job I hold in the army I'm going to give it 100% but when I think of army....... training for culinary and catering skills aren't one of the 1st things that come to my mind. So what I want to know from your point of view.... is how people are treated in that MOS because they might be viewed as not having a "not so warrior" or "glamorous" MOS?
Hi! You article was really helpful! I'm going to join the military when I turn eighteen, I've already started training for boot camp and I'm sure about my choice.
My parents have spent over a year trying to make me change my mind, but they ended up making me get even more determined..
Anyway, thank you so much for the advices!
Good advice from the female standpoint, Jessica W. I would also suggest, although some people think I'm crazy, to consider taking birth control pills back to back, skipping the placebo pills, so that you don't have to worry about your period while going through basic. Luckily I was in such good shape prior to and during basic that my body naturally stoppped my menstral cycle. Yes, lucky me. Now, after being in the Army for a few years, although I am still in shape, I am not as young as I once was and my knees have gone to shit. Anyhoo, when I gained some body fat, my menstrual cycle returned. I was not thrilled so I spoke to my doctor who suggested that I take my bc pills back to back. Let me just say, not having my period while deployed makes life so much easier!!!
This is for Erni regarding K-9 in the Army. First of all, K-9 is the best job in the Army. I'm a Military Working Dog (MWD) handler currently working a PNDD (Patrol Narcotic Detector Dog). First, enlist as 31B, then, put in a DA FM 4187 to go to K-9 school to get your Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) which is Z-6. That may seem simple enough, but trust me, it’s not. Don’t think you’ll get to go straight to K-9 school either. Not gonna happen in the Army but the Marines do it. Also, just because you request the school doesn’t mean you’ll get it. Not only that, you will most likely be put on a trial period at the kennel where you will clean up lots and lots of dog poop. You may get the opportunity to catch a dog (be the bite bitch). If the handlers don’t get a warm and fuzzy about your confidence, learning ability, leadership ability, motivation, initiative… you get the idea, you’ll be a no go. K-9 is not for everybody and it requires more than a love for dogs. Ok, so I sound like a total cunt. I’m just passionate about what I do and see too many people try to go K-9 just for the image. We have very long hours. Not only do we have to complete our MWD training hours, we have to complete our 31B training, work the road, and you may be on call for months on end (say goodbye to any social life). If you’re still interested, remember it’s not IF you’ll get bit, it’s WHEN you’ll get bit. Good luck J
Jessica W , I am female and about to join the army. I am 27 years old and I was wondering if you could tell me more stories about your personal experience and what to expect as a woman in the military and going through basic training. What would you say the toughest part of basic is?
Great Info. I like the fact that you didnt sugar coat anything. You were absolutely honest about what we could be getting ourselves into and that we have to be tough. =]
Thnx jessica it was really worth reading...i m a pakistani n wanna join army soon.. u did a great job for gals to make up their minds about joining army...i must say that our army isnt the same as urs but in many aspects its the same....well this article really worked for me thanx alot...stay happy...by the way u r very cute n pretty :)
I was wondering what would be good jobs to choose from?
Wow, great article. It seems like there aren't many articles out there written about the "female experience" in the Army, but this one has really helped fill me in on what I should expect/prepare for. I'm currently in the process of enlisting, so I was wondering if you could share a little more information with me about the experience from a female's point of view. My email is cheryllr@wharton.upenn.edu Thanks so much.
Jessica, I am a 20 year old female & have recently been talking to recruiters about joining. I'm in a rock & a hard place right now, because I have a 1 year old daughter, but dont have custody of her, I recently lost my job due to company down-sizing & havent been able to find another one, & i dont have a permanent residence because i've run out of money..so sometimes i stay in my car. I feel like the service might be my last option. I'm not a very tough girl, but I want to be able to provide for my daughter int he future when I get custody back. The things the recruiters are telling me make it sound so good, so im wondering if you could give me a little advice..? I attached my e-mail address, so maybe we can talk back & forth because i'll probably forget about this website (im on a public computer) I would appreciate it very much if we could talk. Thanks so much.
-Kaycee
Thanks for info! I've been looking everywhere for a female's view of basic. I leave in 3 weeks for basic and wanted more info.
Wow this is the first article i ever read that actually tells me what to expect. thanks a lot. it gives me good advice on what to expect during basic.
Hey Jessica,
I'll be going down to Fort Jackson in November and like you I have been searching the net for female perspective on the military especially BCT. It seems your article was all negative was there anything good about BCT? Also I received a packing list do you really have to have all white undergarments or is it neutral colors; according to your skin tone. Can you e-mail me (tialil2002@yahoo.om) some inside stories that you experienced that could aid in surviving BCT?
This is for those I haven't responded to: I apologize. I'm getting ready for a deployment so things have been chaotic. For those of you who have already shipped off for BCT-Good Luck and Stay Strong. For those of you who wanted advice or more stories- please email me personally with your questions ready.
Specifically, Julia, a good job to choose from would be something that YOU are interested in. Research that job and figure out if it is for you. Do not settle for any old job, because it's easy to wash out when you hate your job.
To everyone thinking about joining the Army or any other military branch: Do NOT rush into your decision! Research and train up first, then decide!
LilLady, The good parts of BCT come after. Also, as to the undergarments, I just can't remember. I remember all of us had white undergarments, and they only sell white at the px. I would stick to white just in case. Your undergarments are honestly the last thing that you'll worry about.
Thanks everyone for your comments! Please email me with specific questions and I will attempt to get back to you as soon as I am able.
i was thinking of joining the army ever scince i was a little girl and now that im going to be 16 i cant wait to turn 17 and graduate from high school im getting so exited now that i know more about it thank so much
I am already nervous about BCT and your article just confirmed everything..lol I will be going in as an E4 SPC then attending OCS. But, honestly can you give me any tips on how to prepare myself before I leave? I need to get my run time down and get more push ups in. Do you run everyday? How often are you dropping down to do push ups? I have been working out for the last month, but I think everything I am doing may not prepare me for what I am signing up for..
Thank you for your input and giving us females a clue,
Devon
Hey Jessica!
This was such a great post! thank you so much, it def. gives me a great insight into what I would be getting myself into!
If you could email me at mandym9073@yours.com
I have a few questions for you about the kind of jobs women do and what you did!
Thanks,
Mandy
Wow I love this i'm thinking of joining !
I'm 17 and I'm about 5"2 and I weigh about 124pds
I have an athletic build mostly because of swimming
And other sports.
I want to know more about the army
And what I can do please If you can you e-mail me at
Nabeta_105@hotmail.com
SweetiePie says:
10 months ago
This is an amazing hub packed with great advice. By the way I think you look cute with short hair too, but I can understand not wanting to cut it either. I used to have really long hair down past my butt until I was twenty, but I decided to cut it short for a few years. I have it longer again now, but I think both long and short hair can be cute, but short hair is definitely easier to take care of. My sister is not in the military, but for her job she always has to put her hair up in a bun, and I think that would drive me a little wonky because I hate putting my hair up.
These are really good tips for women thinking about joining the military, and I am sure lots of people will get some good information here.