More of this Feature • Boot Camp Challenge Menu

Join the Discussion Boot Camp Challenge

Related Resources • Surviving Boot Camp • What the Recruiter Never Told You • ABCs of the ASVAB • Top Books for Joining the Military • Resources for Joining Up

Elsewhere on the Web • Joining the Air Force • Joining the Army • Joining the Navy • Joining the Marines

Welcome to the Boot Camp Challenge, an interactive story designed to take you through some of the thrills and spills of military basic training.

To refresh your memory, or if this is your first time with Joe, you may wish to work your way through the previous episodes (it's not a good idea to be thrown into boot camp on the second day of training. Almost guaranteed to get you noticed).

For the sake of simplicity, our adventure takes place in a hypothetical near-future, where members of all the services (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard) attend the same military boot camp. While this is a work of fiction, actual situations, scenarios, and experiences have been used from all of the current U.S. Military basic training courses. Your task, in this and future episodes, will be to successful navigate your way to completion.

The Ride

A different bus has shown up. The Greyhound Deluxe Motor Coach which transported you from the airport is gone. In its place is a 1956, diesel-powered piece of junk. Even from 10 paces away, you can feel the ground vibrate from the noisy engine. The conveyance is painted an ugly faded green that no auto-manufacturer would ever choose on purpose. The shade reminds you of pea soup, after someone had regurgitated it.

The vibration alone makes it hard to make your way down the aisle, and the bus isn't even moving yet! It looks like everyone has learned something, as there is no talking as the group boards the bus. Or, possibly, everyone realizes that in order to be heard, even by the person right next to you, you would have to shout at the top of your lungs -- and that's a good way to get some unwelcome notice.

You sit and immediately jump up again. The seat has bitten you! You look down and see that there are several holes worn into the vinyl covers on the seat, and jagged edges of vinyl are poking you. You carefully lay your jacket down to protect your tender posterior.

After everyone is seated, Sergeant Regret pokes his head in and bellows, "Have fun, kiddies! In 20 minutes you'll be wishing you was back with me, and my kind, fatherly ways."

Continue