The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Surviving Boot Camp

How to prepare—mentally and physically—for life in the armed forces.

Making the transition from civilian to soldier can be tough. Knowing what to expect can help. In this guide, Michael Volkin, who enlisted in the US Army after 9/11—and found himself unprepared for the new world of the military with its unknown acronyms, demanding exercises, and other challenges—provides valuable information about the process. During his own basic training, he began taking extensive notes, and while servi...