I love it; from one type of warrior to another, the transition from martial artist to a Soldier was intense and eye-opening. I had loads of fun camping, shooting at targets from different positions, throwing live M67 fragmentation grenades, and creating the inevitable camaraderie with your "battle buddies" as you all train, laugh, cry, sweat, sleep, eat, and congratulate together for 3 months. Upon graduating BCT, you go on to AIT to learn the specialty you signed up for. One important trait which was increased greatly by classes and field training was Situational Awareness (SA): being aware of your surroundings, having a strict attention to detail while instantly evaluating the variables in your surrounding to best combat a potential threat. The meticulous attention to details on such a minute scale which would not even be acknowledged by the average person, is an incredible degree of observation. Too many people take their sight for granted just like the rest of their senses. This, among other skills, greatly increases one's survival.
One bit of BCT I found somewhat darkly humorous, was back in 2004 when I was in a class to acquire my hunting license qualification, the instructor told us that you never call a firearm a "weapon" unless it's used against another human being. Now fast forward to a class given by my Drill Sergeant in 2009, he informed us that you never call a firearm a "gun," it's either labeled a rifle (if you have such) or---a weapon. And in the military, there is a strong possibility you may have to answer the call to arms and defend yourself and your fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, or Marines by shooting back and killing the opposing force. So this "firearm" has just become aptly named a weapon. Thank you classroom instructor guy, and thank you too Drill Sergeant!
Hooah.
