Hello to everyone,

My fiance left several days ago to Ft. Benning's Infantry School It happened so quick that I got left out with so many questions unanswered...

Someone told me that his training should last for 6 weeks or so, however, he told me that it would take 14-18 weeks? What does this mean, why so long? He called me soon after his arrival and told me that there is an 80% chance that in 3-4 months he will be going to Iraq...I am just so concerned...this seems too soon for such a mission...in my opinion.

Also, does anyone know how long after his entry he will be allowed to make phone calls? I just miss him so much...

And lastly, will anyone be able to give me more infantry's boot camp information? How tough is it? How can I help him from here? Thank you so much for your time.

global,

if your fiance is Infantry, he is probably going to OSUT, which combines Basic and AIT ... and it's usually 14-18 weeks.

If you check out some of the other threads in this forum, you'll see that a lot of your questions have been answered already, and should help assure you that you're not alone in your worries.

Bradmeister,

Thank you. I did find many answers in the other postings. I am so glad I found this web site


Be safe,

Jenny

well, i can tell u something.. i have a cousin and he's currently in fort benning right now.. man it was tough when he left, we miss him so much!he's taking OSUT and it last 14 weeks.. so that's what your fiance is taking probably too. yup, it's a long time.. well, he can make phone calls whenever he can, i guess.. i bet you really miss him.. well there's a site for fort benning, it includes the maps and graduation dates and all the informations that you need, it's http://www.benning.army.mil
i hope that'll help u with your questions..

i think he'll get stationed first before he get sent to Iraq.. is that right? well, when he get stationed, i think u can live with him there since you're his fiance.. i hope that answers some of your questions... :wink:

The first site I visited after he left was the one of Ft. Benning. Based on the graduation dates, he should graduate end of May. I am so confused with the whole Army situation. I didn't even know what AIT meant and had to look it up All I know is that after his training is over, he should have 2 wks vacation, and then be stationed somewhere. However, I am not sure if he is going to get a vacation, since he plans on going to an Airborne School, and I just read in some post that some soldiers went from graduation back to Airborne training? I don't know. As I said, it happend pretty fast, and I am still absorbing the news and trying to learn as much as I can. I hope he calls me soon and so I can get more information

I read your post regarding your cousin. It is tough to let go of someone you care about and love isn't it? I know that it is not going to be easy, it is not suppose to be. He should be prepared for the worst. So, in some way, I am not so worried about the boot camp. I am very concerned about the possibility of him going to war...

well, it's up to him if he's going to airborne school.. but my cousin isn't.. right after his graduation, he'll probably have a vacation to visit us here then he'll get station then probably get deployed in Iraq.. yea, the training wouldn't be a problem but once they get sent to Iraq.. that's when everyone will worry the most and it'll be hard for everyone of us.. coz yes, some soldier do get killed there.. and that's soooo sad! i just pray for him.. do u know anything about the election in the Iraq because that's where their deployment depends on... but yea, i hope things will be ok for u.. it's hard but once he get settled there, he'll start calling u and write u letters..

Yes, it is tough to be in Iraq from what we know from people, news, etc...my boss is a retired Colonel from the Marines (23 years), and he's been all over that area...he has told me that it is bad...

I wish this war ends asap because it has taken too many lifes already. It is something like War of the Worlds...we are so different that it seems impossible to reach a consensus...anyways...regarding the elections, this site may be helpful to you...I came across it recently:
[url]http://iraqelectionwire.blogspot.com/[/url]

Have you talked to your cousin recently?

thanks for the site.. yea, i've talked to him, yesterday he called just to say hi.. they're gonna have a formation and he was next to a payphone so he gave a real fast call.. have u talked to your fiance? well, if not, i'm sure he can't wait to call u.. just be patient and he'll call u soon..

I talked to him on Sun for first and last time. He told me that after their arrival at Ft. Benning, they had to fill out some paperwork etc. and when they finally made it to bed, it was 4 am and at 4:30 am it was time for everyone to get up, so he was at a 48 hrs "no sleep" mark...but overall he sounded OK. He is used to calling me several times per day, so it is a little strange not to hear from him at all now

On Ft. Benning's web site I read that at first soldiers get only an hour of free time per day...

yup, they get an hour of free time everyday and a day a week but they have to go to church, i think.. well, my cousin said that his platoon is the worst one so he doesnt get that much sleep at all! they have to clean their barracks in the middle of the night, some can't follow directions so they get punished a lot! i feel bad for him.. he got in 2 fights already... but yea, the first week that they got there, is the worst days because they have to do the processing... it sucked they said! well, now things are getting a lil ok there,he sounded really good.. he said they get to do rifle markmanship, they have good foods there too he said, but they get to eat in 3 mins and shower for 30 seconds.. he said that the foods are probably better if they have more time to eat.. so yea, usually he writes me when the lights out.. so it's all sloppy but i can still read it.. i get excited whenever i get a letter from him.. one of his letters, he left then come back to continue writing.. the sergeant came in their barracks i think then smoked bombed them so they had to wear their gas masked on while he was writing.. it was funny.. anyways, do u know what infantry your fiance is? and what's his company and platoon?

it's hard, i hang out with my cousin all the time and he picks me up from school everyday.. now he's not here anymore, so it's sad and it was hard that he's gone ...

I don't know...he told me some numbers last time, but it was in between something else, so the answer is "no", I don't know anything...that is sad isn't it hehe. I am waiting for his letter, that he said he was going to write. From there, I can get that information I hope, so I can write back. I have been e-mailing him (to his military e-mail) but I don't think that he has time for e-mail and internet

Well, it was really great talking to you. I will visit this site quite often now for sure. It was a nice discovery on my part today I think that I am going to get some sleep now because work and classes are not going to forgive me tomorrow Take care and good night.

Jenny

P.S. May be when I find out the information, I will let you know. He may know your cousin or the opposite.

cool.. well, have a good night! i'll talk to u soon... it was nice knowing someone who feels the same way that i did... but yea, military email? never heard of that.. well, i hope my cousin has one of those so it'll be easier to send mails to each other.. well, it would be funny if your fiance knows my cousin.. it is such a small world! :lol:

Thought I might jump in with some info:

Fiances are not normally considered dependants, so the Army would not provide for a soldier to be quartered with one. A soldier's spouse however is a dependant and therefore entitled to medical and other benefits, and the soldier is provided with family housing (or a housing allowance) and transportation of his family when the Army moves him.

All soldiers have a web based E-mail account through Army Knowledge Online (AKO, https://www.us.army.mil). I do not think that many soldiers in Initial Entry Training (basic, AIT) will have much access to the internet. Regular mail is the best way to communicate with your soldier. It may take some time but the mail will get through.

I did not think that finaces were considered dependants either, but again, I am a military handicap (not for long though :wink: ). In any instance, I would not be able to move with him anywhere, since I have a job and I am a junior in college...

Overall, I think that the Army has many great things to offer, and I would not be as concerned as I am if we were not engaged into a war. Plus, I miss him so much and the fact that I cannot communicate with him makes time go even slower. How is it for the soldiers in there? I know that they are busy and tired most of the time, but I am sure that they miss their families as much as we miss them.

Daddy Warcrimes is correct. If they are not married then they (girlfriends, boyfriends, fiances...) don't exist to the Army.