Drill instructor Sgt. Donald Miller looks at the soon-to-be recruits of Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, from inside the receiving building March 3, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The recruits would momentarily pass through the building’s silver doors where Miller, a 28-year-old from Nacogdoches, Texas, and his fellow drill instructors waited to greet them. Alpha Company is scheduled to graduate May 30, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Octavia Davis)

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan (May 28, 2020) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Transportation Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, train in basic radio techniques on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan May 28, 2020. This training is part of an annual basic skills test all Marines must complete. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Courtney A. Robertson) 200528-M-HE677-1045

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When my grandfather was in basic training, several years before Vietnam, in order to reach the mess hall the recruits had to cross monkey bars, while an officer would look on. The pit below the monkey bars was muddy in the best of times, but right after it rained, if you fell, you would sink into the mud to your waist. This vignette shows several recruits crossing the monkey bars.

Next chapter in scanning pictures of my brother's service in the US Army during the Vietnam war. I have pictures of Terry's Basic Training, Military Police AIT and Infantry Branch Officer's Candidate School.

Basic Mandate Law Enforcement Training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center

Rct. David Vidal, Platoon 2101, Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, weaves through a Confidence Course obstacle Oct. 7, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The course is comprised of 15 obstacles designed to help Marine Corps recruits build confidence by overcoming physical challenges. Vidal, 19, from Chesterland, Ohio, is scheduled to graduate Dec. 12, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Jennifer Schubert)

Tech. Sgt. Chananyah Stuart reminds a trainee of the procedures for entering the dining facility Sept. 26, 2014, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Stuart is extra demanding on his trainees from the very beginning because he believes it sets them up for success. Stuart is a 323rd training Squadron military training instructor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen/Released)

Recruits of Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, climb a Confidence Course obstacle Oct. 7, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The course is comprised of 15 obstacles designed to help Marine Corps recruits build confidence by overcoming physical challenges. Hotel Company is scheduled to graduate Dec. 12, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Jennifer Schubert)

Military training instructor, Tech. Sgt. Chananyah Stuart, yells at his flight for moving while at the position of attention. The normally smiling MTI has the ability to change his personality on a dime to instill fear in his trainees. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen/Airman magazine)

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Platoon 1046, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, graduated June 14, 2013.

Platoon 1044, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, graduated June 14, 2013.

Chief drill instructor Staff Sgt. Marco Ibarra and drill instructor Staff Sgt. Beatriz Bautista, encourage Rct. Jeffrey Alexander, Platoon 1033, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, to be louder during his first moments inside the receiving building March 3, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. Ibarra, a 33-year-old from Houston, and Bautista, a 27-year-old from Arlington, Va., ensured recruits adapted to the fast-paced, strict nature of recruit training. Alexander, an 18-year-old from Jackson, Miss., is scheduled to graduate May 30, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Octavia Davis)

Platoon 1041, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, graduated June 14, 2013.

A team of recruits of Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, wait to begin the next obstacle during the Crucible on Jan. 17, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. Recruits worked in teams for the duration of the Crucible, reinforcing the importance of teamwork and cohesion. The Crucible is a 54-hour test every recruit must complete in order to graduate. Alpha Company is scheduled to graduate Jan. 24, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Octavia Davis)

Recruits of Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, climb a Confidence Course obstacle Oct. 7, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The course is comprised of 15 obstacles designed to help Marine Corps recruits build confidence by overcoming physical challenges. Hotel Company is scheduled to graduate Dec. 12, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Jennifer Schubert)

Platoon 1045, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, graduated June 14, 2013.

Recruits of Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, receive utility uniforms inside the receiving building March 3, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The recruits spent the evening receiving training gear and uniforms and filling out administrative paperwork. Alpha Company is scheduled to graduate May 30, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Octavia Davis)

Recruits of Platoon 3037, Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, rush to follow the orders of their shouting drill instructors March 1, 2014, on Parris Island, S.C. The recruits had just been introduced to the men who will train them for the following 12 weeks. Mike Company is scheduled to graduate May 23, 2014. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent of females in the Marine Corps. (Photo by Cpl. Caitlin Brink)

U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy Course Graduation

Photo by Walter Reed

This photo was used in the DVD "Camp Barkeley: History in Plain Sight," by the Abilene Preservation League.

Basic Mandate Law Enforcement Training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center

Bernard and I resting on the porch leading into the Barracks.

Cmdr. Octavia Ashburn, chief of Mission Support for Training Center Cape May, N.J., and Pete Zalesny, housing officer at Training Center Cape May, give a tour to Master Chief Petty Officer Michael P. Leavitt, the 11th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, and his wife Debbie of Coast Guard housing at Training Center Cape May, N.J., Dec. 3, 2013. Leavitt, the Coast Guard's senior enlisted member, toured housing to see upgrades to the approximately 170 units over the past several years, which have included remodeled kitchens, central heat and A/C, new high-efficiency hot water heaters, expanded storage facilities, and much more. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Jennifer Nease.

Pictures from my son's graduation from Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

the Gas Chamber

I just can't help but remember Bill Murray in the movie "Stripes", which was filmed at Ft Knox. "chicks in NY are paying top dollar for this stuff"..At one time I actually worked in the CIF (Central issue Facility) at Knox passing out clothes to new recruits.

U.S. Army Recruits and Soldiers with the New Jersey National Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program conduct the weekend drill at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, N.J., Feb. 9, 2025. The Recruit Sustainment Program is a program of the United States Army National Guard designed to introduce new recruits to the fundamentals of the U.S. Army before they leave for Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth Cohen)