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The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Surviving Boot Camp
As anyone who has undergone the transition from civilian to soldier will tell you, basic training is a lot tougher and more challenging than any recruit can imagine. Michael Volkin discovered that fact soon after 9-11, when his personal vow to serve my country convinced him to enlist in the U.S. Army.
As Volkin quickly discovered, he was utterly unprepared for the new world of the military, “a completely different environment full of unknown exercises and acronyms, where can’t eat or talk without permission. Volkin began taking notes on everything and anything with the hope that no one else would have to go through basic training like I did completely unarmed with knowledge that would have eased my transition into the military and allowed me to be more successful.
During Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom, Volkin organized his notes, interviewed hundreds of other soldiers, and began to write. The result is The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook, a unique and utterly indispensable guide to successfully coping with and thriving in today’s military.
The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook is a comprehensive, practical, and easy-to-follow survival guide written specifically for every new or prospective recruit about to enter any branch of the armed forces. Volkin’s book offers step-by-step instructions and solutions, including helpful charts and graphics, for how to prepare both physically and mentally for boot camp. It includes a special eight-week fitness program specifically designed to improve your fitness test scores, specific study guides, an instructional How to”chapter, a list of what to bring (and not to bring) to basic training, tips for success, and much more.
The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook was written by a soldier for men and women who want to become soldiers. No one should enter boot camp without having read this book.
As Volkin quickly discovered, he was utterly unprepared for the new world of the military, “a completely different environment full of unknown exercises and acronyms, where can’t eat or talk without permission. Volkin began taking notes on everything and anything with the hope that no one else would have to go through basic training like I did completely unarmed with knowledge that would have eased my transition into the military and allowed me to be more successful.
During Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom, Volkin organized his notes, interviewed hundreds of other soldiers, and began to write. The result is The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook, a unique and utterly indispensable guide to successfully coping with and thriving in today’s military.
The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook is a comprehensive, practical, and easy-to-follow survival guide written specifically for every new or prospective recruit about to enter any branch of the armed forces. Volkin’s book offers step-by-step instructions and solutions, including helpful charts and graphics, for how to prepare both physically and mentally for boot camp. It includes a special eight-week fitness program specifically designed to improve your fitness test scores, specific study guides, an instructional How to”chapter, a list of what to bring (and not to bring) to basic training, tips for success, and much more.
The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook was written by a soldier for men and women who want to become soldiers. No one should enter boot camp without having read this book.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
23 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 28, 2025
i’m very happy i read this! i got a lot of good advice! :)
and the writing was very good and clear!
Although i did find a lot of this to be outdated..
but I will most definitely reread this when it's time for me to actually join the army!
(4/5)⭐️🪖
and the writing was very good and clear!
Although i did find a lot of this to be outdated..
but I will most definitely reread this when it's time for me to actually join the army!
(4/5)⭐️🪖
January 24, 2008
My eldest son leaves for Basic Training in 6 days. I bought this book for him, but read it through before giving it to him so I could better understand what he'll be facing. It was easy to read and I finished it in less than two hours.
The author has included a lot of information that will, I hope, be helpful to any new recruit, such as what NEVER to say to your drill sergeant, how to eat like an animal so you won't go to bed hungry (my son has been practicing this for years!), vital things to bring with you, and more. It contains a section on rank and insignia and the proper terms of address for various ranks.
The author has included a lot of information that will, I hope, be helpful to any new recruit, such as what NEVER to say to your drill sergeant, how to eat like an animal so you won't go to bed hungry (my son has been practicing this for years!), vital things to bring with you, and more. It contains a section on rank and insignia and the proper terms of address for various ranks.
October 2, 2018
Helpful Tips
I will update review after I go to basic. The information he gives is really good, I've heard some of it, but most is completely new for me. He zones in on areas that you can prepare for mentally and physically. For example he covers how to salute, ranks, how to talk/act, etc. He also extensively goes into a fitness training plan. In addition, he walks through the weeks one by one and what to expect in each.
Lots of the first part of the book was about fitness, it is probably good but my recruiters had already given me a bunch of help on a plan. Also there is an official military app with the actual drills that I think is probably more helpful then this book.
He also goes through what to expect with actual stories from different people. This I think is going to be very useful for mentally preparing.
As it seems like it is one of the only books with this much depth, I would highly recommend for someone who likes too be prepared.
I will update review after I go to basic. The information he gives is really good, I've heard some of it, but most is completely new for me. He zones in on areas that you can prepare for mentally and physically. For example he covers how to salute, ranks, how to talk/act, etc. He also extensively goes into a fitness training plan. In addition, he walks through the weeks one by one and what to expect in each.
Lots of the first part of the book was about fitness, it is probably good but my recruiters had already given me a bunch of help on a plan. Also there is an official military app with the actual drills that I think is probably more helpful then this book.
He also goes through what to expect with actual stories from different people. This I think is going to be very useful for mentally preparing.
As it seems like it is one of the only books with this much depth, I would highly recommend for someone who likes too be prepared.
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July 17, 2022Reading in 2022, I found several things outdated, nolonger accurate.
Specific information is mainly for Army's branch of service.
Still, there's value to be found at the core of this - which is the emphasis on physical and mental preparedness.
Multiple typos.
Specific information is mainly for Army's branch of service.
Still, there's value to be found at the core of this - which is the emphasis on physical and mental preparedness.
Multiple typos.
November 26, 2023
Very Helpful
This book helped a lot in my preparation for basic training, although there is nothing that can completely prepare you for the experience.
This book helped a lot in my preparation for basic training, although there is nothing that can completely prepare you for the experience.
March 17, 2013
This book was alright. It had some useful tips but felt like the author didn't have a lot to say and so filled it with pictures and charts that are easily found on the internet. The chapters jump around from topic to topic and lack a more coherent flow. Good but not great.
I would recommend "63 Days and a Wake Up" over this one. It has much better tips and descriptions.
I would recommend "63 Days and a Wake Up" over this one. It has much better tips and descriptions.
November 7, 2021
Great field guide. Found it interesting to study what new recruits go through at Basic. I'm not joining the military, but I'm very interested in learning military-related concepts and I have so much respect for the defenders of our incredible country, the United States of America, and even more respect after reading this book.
June 27, 2015
Very helpful but it needs an update after seven years.
December 3, 2016
It is difficult to say just how helpful this book is yet, though I definitely will be taking some of its tips with me when I ship out next summer.
January 10, 2015
I haven't read it cause I don't know how will someone tell me how I can read it thank you
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews