Do you refrain from giving details of what these new recruits should expect in Basic and beyond?

I think anything we give them will only make them better prepared. Even though we know BCT is 90% mind-game, telling them this will not take anything away from what they get out of it.

I will give "blanket" answers or answers about regulation and such. Things change so often, and people tend to take what is said on here like it is the word of God. Then they go back and rag to a recruiter or get ticked when something doesn't go like you told them. It is best not to try to tell people exactly what will happen, because it is different for everyone.

Sure it has to be experienced, but telling someone is not experiencing it for them. I think its a good thing to tell these people what to expect. The living of it will still be in person in real time. A heads up is always a good thing.

Not active duty, but ex wife of a Drill Sgt.

I take a different tack.

If someone WANTS to know, I tell them all the good the bad and the ugly. I get into the warts, the buboes and the puss.

Then it's up to them.

If they can't handle STORIES, they can't handle it in real life.

However, I also tell them that things that other people have freaked out over, I've loved and laughed at... and things that I found disgusting and horrifying, others have gone through without so much as a shrug... so it is really all up to them.

You know, I give the standard it changes your life, it's 80% mental and the other half physical (yeah yogi-ism). Most people I talk to are so afraid of it, anymore I try to talk about afterboot camp, and let them know that only about 20% actually drop out, mostly for being overwieght or unable to perform basic PT.

The youth today is diiffarant then when i went in, in 1986 as a punk rocker, a punk rocker is now emo, so I don;t think tryign ot explain to them how it was for me, will help them at all.

You can only tell them what you experienced and it so different today. Stress Cards, really? Add to this that each base, service and cycle is different, what are going to tell them?

I think it's best for them to find out on their own - that way they don't go in with any preconceived notions of what will happen.

I'll tell them anything they want to know.

Of course I joined up a decade ago, so I'm betting enough has changed to keep them on their toes...