BUDS, RIP, "Q" Course, Delta Selection..are all very similar. As for testing, it's rec drugs only, the test for steroids is very expensive and hasn't happened unless you give them reason to suspect, but, honestly....you have no time to cycle, nor would you even think about hitting a gym for that matter...your entire world consists of run, push ups, eat a scrap, sleep a few minutes, then repeat for what it seems like....FOREVER!!!
Getting through these courses requires mental endurance....PERIOD!!!
The thing that really plays on your mind is the weaker people....their constant complaining, and lack of desire begins to effect more people, and it begins to spread like a disease. Most have become friends in basic, so they listen to each other, and form little whiner clique's....distance yourself from these people, stay within your own mind....sounds easy, but it's hard to do when you see people walking by eating a Whopper, or sitting in front of the barracks sucking down a brew or two....that hurts and plays on your mind when your at ease....again, put it in back of your mind....my best advice, though it may seem shallow is to feed off the others weakness.....when a guy quits, or rings the bell, get it in your mind you're that much tougher and one step closer, feed off that mental energy, tell yourself he is a fucking pussy.......
As for guys running with a 400 pound ruck....not to be a dick my friend, but I call bullshit on that....I carried the extra large alice pack and there is no way you could get anything that weighs 400 pounds in it.....what on earth could you put in a ruck that would weigh 400 pounds...and run once you do??? Nope, and generally speaking, the average ruck will weigh between 60 to 130lbs. depending on if you have commo, or an ammo bearer of a 60 gun.
As for training American troops to become airborne qualified....Nope. We may have cross trained with other countries...I myself recieved German jump wings, as well as Italian, but all American troops are airborne qualified at Ft. Benning Ga. Including SEALS, Ranger's, SF, Recon...etc. What airbone training you recieve afterwards is unit specific, suck as HALO, or HAHO, and generally that is done at Ft. Bragg N.C.
The PT test sounds easy, and yes it is....But remember, it's the person that does the grading that either passes you or fails you...I failed my first PT Test as did alot of people....they ran us most of the day, then gave us the test, they wouldn't count alot of reps on push ups, situps, etc. They do this to see if you'll hang and do it again....being re-cycled happens alot, again they see if you wanna be there, and the mental idea of having 2 more weeks instead of one plays heavily on the mind when you're at ease........
Any extra carbs you can consume, do so....that helps alot, gives energy, and adds to body warmth.....
In closing, you can watch it on TV, read about it, listen to others talk about it.....But, until you have had the pleasure of going through it, you cannot fathom how your mind can play tricks on you....the mind is a very powerful thing, and yes, you can control it to a certain point, and that's what you have to do to survive and get through it....there is no other way....
I wish him the best of luck......
Ranger
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