[QUOTE=Amerigo;33772820]I think it's not all that much. I have an old, deactivated grenade I bought at a gun show, and, assuming it's more or less the same, you can hold down the spoon with about the same force it would take to crush an aluminum can. Maybe a bit less.[/QUOTE]
Good to know, I'll be going to the army soon and I don't want the spoon to overpower me.
People should probably ask legit questions about the military and its training. What was the hardest part of your training?
[QUOTE=Garik;33771743]How much force is needed to keep the spoon in place?[/QUOTE]
Never tested the minimum needed as I very much so enjoy my fingers, lol. I was too afraid to ease up on the spoon. It's spring loaded with a small spring so the spoon can pop off when thrown. I can tell you it doesn't take much force to keep it depressed though.
Now throwing the grenade is a different story. It's heavier than you think and has this weird arc when you throw it. You have to throw it more in a straight line rather than trying to throw it high.
Imagine throwing a metal baseball.
[QUOTE=TGKhaotik;33780930]People should probably ask legit questions about the military and its training. What was the hardest part of your training?[/QUOTE]
It's a lot of physical and mental, however it takes more mental will to power through BCT than physical.
BCT is one giant mind-fuck. From the lack of sleep, to the small portioned meals, to battling the elements.
Lights out is at 2100 (9PM) and wakeup is about 0500. This is exactly 8 hours. Now, you're probably going to be up getting ready for the next day, so minus 30 minutes. Then you get in bed, and listen to everyone talk for another 30 minutes. Now you have 7 hours.
But wait, then you have fireguard, which in BCT is one hour. You need to wake up about 20 minutes early to change from your PT's to your ACU's. You then do your shift for an hour, change back, so now you're down to 5 1/2 hours. It might take about 20 to 30 minutes to fall back to sleep because you're a bit wound up from your shift, so 5 hours of sleep.
Now a lot of you would say, "oh, I normally only get 5 hours of sleep... that's too easy."
Well imagine getting only 5 hours when you're being limited calories, and you're constantly doing physical labor, while being pushed mentally. Your body and mind do not get a chance to rest at all during BCT.
As for battling the elements, where I was stationed, it was brutally cold during the early mornings and yet they would not let us dress appropriately, even when the wind chill was in the low 20's. I almost became hypothermic a few times, and I have completely lost sensation and gross motor movement in my hands as well a few times. My hands have turned a grey, ashen-blue color almost every morning from the bitter cold. They refused to let us wear gloves on many occasions.
They also like to tell us "that it's going to be warm that day" so we can't put on any of our thermal gear. Nope, it turns out it's going to be in the low 40's and rainy.
Shit, our last feild training excersixe (FTX) was a 4 day event. On the third day, a waterfall fell from the sky. We were soaked all the way to the bone. It was a steady 40ish degrees F outside during the day with 25 MPH winds and dropped to the upper 20's, low 30's at night. Luckily that night we were allowed to sleep in the 20 person tents where it was slightly warmer, but not by much.
So yeah, imagine being in a soaking wet uniform in the bitter cold, while constantly being wind whipped.
Whats the procedure if you take an arrow to the knee?
[quote]It's a lot of physical and mental, however it takes more mental will to power through BCT than physical.
BCT is one giant mind-fuck. From the lack of sleep, to the small portioned meals, to battling the elements.
Lights out is at 2100 (9PM) and wakeup is about 0500. This is exactly 8 hours. Now, you're probably going to be up getting ready for the next day, so minus 30 minutes. Then you get in bed, and listen to everyone talk for another 30 minutes. Now you have 7 hours.
But wait, then you have fireguard, which in BCT is one hour. You need to wake up about 20 minutes early to change from your PT's to your ACU's. You then do your shift for an hour, change back, so now you're down to 5 1/2 hours. It might take about 20 to 30 minutes to fall back to sleep because you're a bit wound up from your shift, so 5 hours of sleep.
Now a lot of you would say, "oh, I normally only get 5 hours of sleep... that's too easy."
Well imagine getting only 5 hours when you're being limited calories, and you're constantly doing physical labor, while being pushed mentally. Your body and mind do not get a chance to rest at all during BCT.
As for battling the elements, where I was stationed, it was brutally cold during the early mornings and yet they would not let us dress appropriately, even when the wind chill was in the low 20's. I almost became hypothermic a few times, and I have completely lost sensation and gross motor movement in my hands as well a few times. My hands have turned a grey, ashen-blue color almost every morning from the bitter cold. They refused to let us wear gloves on many occasions.
They also like to tell us "that it's going to be warm that day" so we can't put on any of our thermal gear. Nope, it turns out it's going to be in the low 40's and rainy.
Shit, our last feild training excersixe (FTX) was a 4 day event. On the third day, a waterfall fell from the sky. We were soaked all the way to the bone. It was a steady 40ish degrees F outside during the day with 25 MPH winds and dropped to the upper 20's, low 30's at night. Luckily that night we were allowed to sleep in the 20 person tents where it was slightly warmer, but not by much.
So yeah, imagine being in a soaking wet uniform in the bitter cold, while constantly being wind whipped.[/QUOTE]
Thanks. I am leaving in March for BCT and my dad told me its mostly mental training. I am used to being in really cold weather. I'm looking forward to the experience.
Since you are posting this, you must have been in my training cycle and are now on VBL. What brigade, battalion, and company were you in? I was in the 193rd BDE Fox company 2/60th inf. I also hear what you are saying about the weather, but the uniform was 100% full winters every morning, so I guess I was not in as sadistic a company. I could have sworn I have marched by those trailers you described on the way to EST or the DFAC for thanksgiving. By the way, I got action Jackson too. My company was named the "House of Pain" for a reason. We were the most disciplined company in our battalion. I weigh 143 pounds and I was assigned to carry an M240B for the last 4 weeks on top of my M16A2.
What is the meaning of life?
[QUOTE=TGKhaotik;33796863]Thanks. I am leaving in March for BCT and my dad told me its mostly mental training. I am used to being in really cold weather. I'm looking forward to the experience.[/QUOTE]
It will be significantly warmer in March.
The thing is, every day you look back on, you're almost like, "it wasn't actually [I]that[/I] bad. Don't get me wrong... the day it's happening, it's probably the worst day of your life, but just know that the day will end, and each unit of suck you experienced will soon be in the past and nothing but a memory.
Just keep pushing forward and [I]do not quit.[/I] Ever. No matter how much you think it sucks, just realize it could be a hell of a lot worse, so you just have to be glad it's not.
Where are you going for BCT?
Drill instructors say some of the funniest shit. Where do you think they come up with it?
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
[QUOTE=SKEEA;33798736]Since you are posting this, you must have been in my training cycle and are now on VBL. What brigade, battalion, and company were you in? I was in the 193rd BDE Fox company 2/60th inf. I also hear what you are saying about the weather, but the uniform was 100% full winters every morning, so I guess I was not in as sadistic a company. I could have sworn I have marched by those trailers you described on the way to EST or the DFAC for thanksgiving. By the way, I got action Jackson too. My company was named the "House of Pain" for a reason. We were the most disciplined company in our battalion. I weigh 143 pounds and I was assigned to carry an M240B for the last 4 weeks on top of my M16A2.[/QUOTE]
Fox company... Heh. We had a thing against Fox company in our batallion, lol. I was A Co. 1-61, 165 BDE. Hell man, it's a small Army. You just graduated?
Yeah, you did see our trailers. We were literally across the street from EST.
The DFAC we went to was a half mile away, over near 3-34.
You must have gotten nicer cadre in terms of what uniforms to wear. Shit sucked dick for us. If they did let us wear the PT pants, they'd make us take them off for the PRT.
[editline]19th December 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=l33tkill;33805625]Drill instructors say some of the funniest shit. Where do you think they come up with it?[/QUOTE]
I have no idea, but it's fucking hilarious. A lot of the funny stuff they say is when we are in the chow line.
While waiting in the chow line, we must stand at the position of parade rest, (fingers and thumbs extended and joined, palms facing out, right hand over the other, thumbs interlocked in the small of the back, while head and eyes are facing forward.) The only two things you are allowed to do in this position is blink and breath.
Laughing is prohibited, yet they always say things to get us to laugh. Towards the end of the cycle, they were OK with us laughing, but closer to the beginning, you'd be sent to the back of the line, made to do pushups, etc.
This really makes me want to join the army.
What was the best part?
[QUOTE=Master Kief-117;33805627]I have no idea, but it's fucking hilarious. A lot of the funny stuff they say is when we are in the chow line.
While waiting in the chow line, we must stand at the position of parade rest, (fingers and thumbs extended and joined, palms facing out, right hand over the other, thumbs interlocked in the small of the back, while head and eyes are facing forward.) The only two things you are allowed to do in this position is blink and breath.
Laughing is prohibited, yet they always say things to get us to laugh. Towards the end of the cycle, they were OK with us laughing, but closer to the beginning, you'd be sent to the back of the line, made to do pushups, etc.[/QUOTE]
Here's my favorite that I remember clear as day.
[quote]
"I don't care if a pterodactyl lands on the idiot in front of you and starts spraying you with the acid like shits after a night of taco bell and tequila shots. You DO NOT move while in the position of attention!"
[/quote]
Our flight lost it. We pushed forever after that.
I'm in DEP for the Air Force. I don't have a ship date yet, but its supposed to be about 2 or 3 months. Obviously the training is different, but the concept is the same. Is there anything you wish you'd known before you shipped out?
[QUOTE=capgun;33807397]I'm in DEP for the Air Force. I don't have a ship date yet, but its supposed to be about 2 or 3 months. Obviously the training is different, but the concept is the same. Is there anything you wish you'd known before you shipped out?[/QUOTE] I wish I knew how to pack better, but the Army will teach you how to pack really well. In my duffel I fit 4 sets of ACU's, 3 tan shirts, 3 draws, another set of boots, full winter PT uniform (LS shirt, jacket, shoes, pants, spandex, shorts), bedroll, IBA, SAPI plates, personal hygiene bag, and towels. In my A-Pack coming home for leave, I fit about 6 shirts, my A-1 jacket, my goretex jacket, silkweights, two pairs of socks, full winter pt's, eyepro and earpro.
Do they give you a shot on any crew served or support weapons? I heard something about in the Australian Army, if you're not in a combat role they just give you a familiarisation shoot on the Minimi (m249) rather than run you through the full course as you should never need to use it
[QUOTE=download;33808836]Do they give you a shot on any crew served or support weapons? I heard something about in the Australian Army, if you're not in a combat role they just give you a familiarisation shoot on the Minimi (m249) rather than run you through the full course as you should never need to use it[/QUOTE]
I was issued an M240B and got to fire it at Bastogne and victory forge. They teach you all about firing it and clearing it, but it is up to you to learn how to fire them effectively. You only really need to worry about it if you are infantry though.
[QUOTE=SKEEA;33809434]I was issued an M240B and got to fire it at Bastogne and victory forge. They teach you all about firing it and clearing it, but it is up to you to learn how to fire them effectively. You only really need to worry about it if you are infantry though.[/QUOTE]
it's inaccurate as hell, trust me i've played BF3
[QUOTE=Uncle Bourbon;33811151]it's inaccurate as hell, trust me i've played BF3[/QUOTE]
He probably used the bipod
My dad's a gun freak, so If I want to on a weekend, I could ask him if we could go down to the range and shoot his semi automatic stuff.
It's cool, and gives me a reason to not go through hell, because I like shooting targets.
[QUOTE=Master Kief-117;33745338]
There were two people in my platoon that did not make it, however both were for medical reasons. One's knee was pretty much destroyed. He has no cartilage left. It was pretty much bone on bone.
The other was a female who was roughly 4'11 and her hips just could not take the physical load of all the gear.[/QUOTE]
Jesus, 4'11? I can't think why she'd want to join up, but either way, it's props to her for trying. How old was she?
I have another question.
During training, did you do physical activities such as rock climbing, rappelling, all that fun vertigo-inducing stuff?
[QUOTE=RubberFruit;33814636]Jesus, 4'11? I can't think why she'd want to join up, but either way, it's props to her for trying. How old was she?
I have another question.
During training, did you do physical activities such as rock climbing, rappelling, all that fun vertigo-inducing stuff?[/QUOTE]
I can answer that. Only two days did we do vertigo inducing fun stuff. Victory tower, where there was a 100 foot rappel and rope swings, and the confidence course. Ziplines and climbing, stuff like that. No rock climbing at all.
[QUOTE=SKEEA;33814756]I can answer that. Only two days did we do vertigo inducing fun stuff. Victory tower, where there was a 100 foot rappel and rope swings, and the confidence course. Ziplines and climbing, stuff like that.[/QUOTE]
A hundred foot? Fuck me!
[QUOTE=RubberFruit;33814770]A hundred foot? Fuck me![/QUOTE]
It's not that bad, trust me. I am afraid of heights, and I did just fine. Just execute what the cadre tell you and you will do great.
[QUOTE=SKEEA;33814756]I can answer that. Only two days did we do vertigo inducing fun stuff. Victory tower, where there was a 100 foot rappel and rope swings, and the confidence course. Ziplines and climbing, stuff like that. No rock climbing at all.[/QUOTE]
Dude, vic tower was fucking awesome. Besides how cold, windy, and rainy it was that day. I couldn't figure out how to rappell the first like 20 feet, so I was basically walking down thinking it was broken, then I let the rope out and I dropped real far real fast, and yelled out, "HOOAH!" right after. It was awesome.
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