ALERT Basic Training Tips

Every man should go through ALERT Basic Training. It’s like a rite of passage that turns boys into men. It is a crucible that burns up flaws and weakness–if you let God work, you will emerge a better man. I know I did.

• Socks – I took about 10 pairs of hiking grade SmartWool socks. Whatever socks you go with, make sure they’re comfortable and fit well. I’ve heard that Redhead makes good socks too (they have an awesome warranty on their socks). I recommend that you clearly label you socks by stitching some colored thread into each of them (permanent marker tends to wash out over time). Your socks with be in the laundry with everyone else’s, and if they are not clearly marked you will lose them.

• Shoes – Your shoes are the single most important piece of gear. Most recruits walk over 500 miles during the course of Basic. You can skimp on other stuff, but don’t skimp on your shoes. Get at least one good pair of hikers and one good pair of running shoes—between these two, your hikers are the most important. Take a couple extra pairs of old tennis shoes and hikers if you have them. As far as brands go—speaking from personal experience, I highly recommend North Face, Merrell, and Nike. However, there are many other good brand choices out there as well. Make sure you get a good pair that fits your feet. I do not recommend taking big ankle-high hiking boots. I took a pair of North Face trail runners to Basic and wore them for everything, including all the hikes. Trail runners are running shoes that have a little more support for the arch of the foot and your ankle. They worked fabulously for me. One advantage of trail runners is that you can use them as extra running shoes if necessary.

• Packs – I took a Gregory Forrester for my multi-day. This is probably the most popular multi-day in Basic. Although it does not have the external pockets I would like, its suspension system is incredible—on a multi-day pack, suspension is everything. I recommend internal-frame packs because they keep the weight of the pack close to your center of gravity–they’re easy to manuver with. External frame packs are not as well balanced nor as comfortable. Before you buy, educate yourself so you know exactly what you’re looking for. Make sure it fits perfect. Take it home, load it up with 40 pounds, and go for a hike. If after a couple miles it begins to rub in weird places, the waist strap isn’t gripping you, or it just doesn’t feel right, then take it back! Remember, you’re going to be walking well over one hundred miles with it on your back. Day packs are not quite as important as multi-days. Just make sure you get a pack that is a good size—not too large or too small, and that fits well.

• Scripture Memory – If there is only one thing you can do to make life easier for you in Basic, it’s memorizing I Peter ahead of time. Memorizing I Peter is a requirement for graduation—if you don’t have it down at the end of Basic, you will not graduate. Why not memorize it before you go? I did and it helped me earn the personal excellence award. I worked very diligently on it (while I lifted weights, ran, drove, hiked and before I went to sleep) and memorized it all in less than two months. You can too—just create a memorization schedule and stick to it.

• Preparation – Some guys go to Basic without preparing physically. They regret it. Don’t make their mistake. At the very least, you should meet the preparation guidelines recommended by the ALERT Academy. I routinely ran for 30-40 minutes every other day (except Sundays), took several hikes with a fully loaded pack (worked up to 13 miles), could do over 70 pushups in 2’, 87 sit-ups in 2’, and run 2 miles in 13:35. That was enough preparation for me to work up to PT Excellence during Basic. You don’t have to prepare to that level, but if you want a shot at the PT excellence award, I recommend it. If you can do more, even better. Lifting weights may be helpful as well. If you are a Cadet, get Cadet PTX before you go. You cannot do too much preparation.
• Extra water bottles – I believe you are now issued one nalgene water bottle. If you have more, bring them. I was issued two and brought two making a total of four. This was great because I was able to have two in my multi-day and two in my day pack. This is a big advantage because when that multi-day alarm goes off, those water bottles are one less thing you have to transfer from your day pack and they’re already full.

• Stuff sacks – take 4-7 stuff sacks of varying sizes and colors. They make life infinitely easier when the multi-day alarm is going off. You know where everything is all the time—they truly are lifesavers. Different colored bags help you keep track of where your gear is at all times. This is very important because in Basic, you can never get things done fast enough or be too organized. Bring some extra 2 gallon Ziplock bags too. They are great for putting your required extra hiking clothing in. Also, take a couple small/medium size clear “makeup bags” (borrow some from a sister). This is extremely handy for putting all your smaller required items in (compass, batteries, grid square, whistle, lighter, etc…), and since it’s clear, you can see everything in it!

• Under armor – If you get nothing else from all these tips, get this—take compressions gear. I took two pair of compression shorts as well as a couple compression shirts. When you hike, your BDUs will start chafing your legs and your pack strap will chafe your shoulders and chest. Life will be miserable if you do not do something. Compression gear is the best way to combat this. Other options are Body Glide (looks like a deodorant stick and you apply it over areas that tend to chafe) and chaffing powder.

• Personal iron and ironing board – I took both. While irons are supplied by the ALERT Academy, they are not always in the best shape or clean. It’s nice to have your own iron—sometimes things get really crazy in the ironing room, and it’s nice to have rights to a good iron.
• Flip-flops for hiking – While you want your pack to be as light as possible, it is worth it to take a pair of flip-flops. At the end of a long hike, the last thing you want to do at the campsite is put your shoes back on. Your flip-flops weigh next to nothing, and will enormously improve your campsite comfort.

• Which squad gear items to carry – Every squad has shared gear (e-tool, cooking gear, squad pot, etc.). Each squad member will carry part of the gear. The squad pot is difficult to pack and, because you cook with it, it will be sooty and gets your gear black. If you have a choice, think through which item of squad gear you want to carry—I carried the e-tool.
• Snack food (P.O.G.I.E. – Personally Owned Gear I Eat) – There are only three things in Basic to console you when times are hard: God, letters from home, and pogie. I made bags of pogie and packed it in boxes before I went for my parents to periodically mail me so that I had a constant supply. Protein bars and trail mixes are great!
• Toiletry items – Get a small clear “make-up” bag (you can get them at Drug Emporium) to hold all your multi-day toiletry items. Try to get all the multi-day toiletry items in travel-size (disposable razor, small soap bar, tiny deodorant stick, etc.).

• Spring versus Fall – Honestly, I don’t think it makes that much difference. There are typically more guys in a fall Basic. This has some pros and cons, but really you should base your decision on more important things (i.e. “this is the best time for me to go”).
• How to pack light – The key to packing light is getting rid of anything that you will not need. This may sound easy, but sometimes guys have a hard time with the concept. I have seen guys go on hikes with monster tubes of burn-cream, jars of chaffing powder (with an applicator), two 5 pound pocket knives (each with can openers, 2 blades, a saw, fish scaler, ice-pick,  and screwdrivers—“it’s so I’m prepared!”), 1000 feet of paratrooper cord, tanning lotion (ummm…), the New, Extended, Amplified Study Bible complete with Matthew Henry’s Commentary and Lexicon/Concordance, bottles of medicinal rinse, full-size tubes of toothpaste, an electric razor (with the plug—picture this, in the middle of nowhere, “ummm…where do I plug this in?”), and the Official Guide to Amputating Appendages (“Dude! What if I needed to know this stuff!”). You think I’m exaggerating. I helped a squad-mate rid his pack of at least 25 pounds (I kid you not) after our preparatory hike. Just because your pack can expand to exorbitant dimensions does not mean that you should pack it that full. If your pack sticks up above your head when you hike (I’ve seen this), then you’re overloaded. If your pack weighs over 40 pounds, you’re overloaded. My pack weighed closer to 30 pounds. Before you go to Basic, buy travel size containers for everything. Don’t take what you don’t need on the hikes—it’s that simple. Also, when you’re buying your gear, buy light. One big weight contributor can be your sleeping bag. Make sure you get a light one. Don’t buy an enormous tent.

• Mental preparation – Before you go, prepare yourself mentally. Basic is hard. Very hard. Commit before you go that you will do what it takes to finish and to do everything during those two months with excellence. Basic is allegorically similar to our life—life is difficult at best, but the diligence and commitment with which we “run the race” determine our “weight of glory” in the afterlife. How you prepare for and go through Basic will determine your reward on graduation day—and trust me, graduation day is like no other.
  • Pain – There will be pain in Basic. Pain makes you hard and strong. Don’t be afraid of it.
  • Authority – You will be under a lot of authority. Everything you do will be regulated. Prepare yourself to submit to that authority.
  • Just do it – Remember, the cadre are all human beings just like you and me, and sometimes they make mistakes. You will probably be accidentally punished for things you didn’t have anything to do with. Just do it. It’s only pushups. Don’t be like some guys and argue about it. Just do it.
  • Commit ahead to respond to God – Basic is going to stretch you in ways you’ve never experienced before. It will refine you like fire refines silver—dross will rise to the surface. Commit to deal with the issues that rise to the surface in your life during Basic. Respond to God’s leading and conviction. Don’t be content with the way you are. You will be a different man when you stand in your dress-white on that graduation platform.

  

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Posted May 2009

Feel free to contact me or leave a comment if you have any questions.

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