Recent RTC Graduate

navy123456 · 06-11-2013, 12:18 PM

Graduated from RTC this month! This forum was very helpful for me! Open to questions from deppers and parents of deppers as my mom had a myriad of questions leading up to my departure. Will do my best to answer.

some quick updates I can give
-strep throat is going around like crazy (thus resulting in a second peanut butter shot on 5-2 day) This is completely dependent on what sicknesses are going around at rtc. It is not normally given during summer months. Therefore I cannot predict if you will be getting a second dose, sorry!

-females, pap smears can be avoided if you have a pap done and results can be faxed from the last year. All you need to write down is where you had it, their phone #. Make sure it happened in the last year! OR else you will get one if you are over the age of 21. The staff is great, nothing to fear.

-I made 2nd class swimmer at my swim qual in boot camp and you will have a chance (just one chance) to try and qualify for that. At my swim test they also offered anyone a chance to try and qualify for a shot at a spec ops contract. This involved doing 15 correct form (i dont know what the form is because i didnt volunteer) pull ups on a bar. Not sure what the process was like after that but no one in my division passed the initial pull up screening.

-females, they had us fill out an anemic questionnaire in pdays. It does not say anemia questionnaire on the form but it asks about fatigue, diet questions, etc...it does involve a blood test if you are told you need it, but you are already having blood drawn that day for your medical portion of Pdays so its nothing to fear!

any questions feel free to post!

FSLeeABE · 06-11-2013, 12:38 PM

First of all congrats on finishing rtc!

I ship for rtc on the 25 of this month so a few questions:

1. When is the first PFA?

2. What is everyday PT like?

3. In the summer time are we running on indoor or outdoor track

camfurr · 06-11-2013, 02:37 PM

I was in bootcamp during the winter, but I'm pretty sure you will run your first PFA in freedom hall, since it is electrically timed. However, you better hope to God that you do PT outside, because running in freedom hall sucks, at least from my experience. And as far as spec ops go, they will not take a whole lot a of people, mostly because the the scruffs are assholes and don't like to let anybody in haha

wdpballer · 06-11-2013, 04:17 PM

is it true for the people that go in undesignated that they let us fill in their a-school spots for the people that reveal something during the moment of truth?

FutureND · 06-11-2013, 05:14 PM

Everyone gets a second peanut butter shot on 5-2 day, all the time. You get a whole second round of vaccinations that day. Its not too bad, it hurts and is sore but you'll live.

Haasino · 06-11-2013, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdpballer

is it true for the people that go in undesignated that they let us fill in their a-school spots for the people that reveal something during the moment of truth?

That is not true. If you go to RTC undesignated, then you will leave RTC undesignated... except maybe if you try out for, and get accepted into, a SpecWar rate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureND

Everyone gets a second peanut butter shot on 5-2 day, all the time. You get a whole second round of vaccinations that day. Its not too bad, it hurts and is sore but you'll live.

Not always... I went through boot Sep-Nov and I only got one during P-Days. I hear it depends on the season.

navy123456 · 06-12-2013, 03:45 PM

Okay so good questions and I think Haasino responded along the same lines as I would. My first PFA was midweek of my first week after pdays. It is indoors in freedom hall. The staff that runs the PFA is different from your RDCs. The first PFA is merely a baseline, have no fear but try your very best. Running indoors is quite different so it doesnt hurt to find an indoor track or run on a treadmill a few times. Different air.

PT is regulated according to a boot they have. It starts very basic and works its way up gradually throughout bootcamp. It may seem easy or hard in the beginning depending on how good of shape you arrive in. Either way my PT was a mix between some days running and some days doing "inhouse" pt. Which consisted of all of my division together doing push ups, sit ups, planks, flutter kicks etc...Its hot and a quick intense workout. The running was either a sustained run or interval running (sprint half a lap, jog half, spring 3/4 lap, jog 1/4). Ours was split into running groups according to speed. Personal accountability is huge for these workouts, you will only get better the harder YOU push yourself. Just something to keep in mind! I enjoyed PT.

We ran outside only a few times, mostly for the sustained runs. Which are just running at a consistent speed for 10,20 minutes. They build you up for these though.

We had a large number of undesignated sailors in my divison and they were not able to pick a rate while in bootcamp. They were able to use a list provided at classifications and request a region of the world (overseas v. not) or types of duty. Not sure how much they actually take that into consideration but at least its asked.

Peanutbutter round 2 is completely seasonal/RTC sickness based. I promise. You wont know until 5-2 day. You will get other shots on that day, this is true.

VINO · 06-14-2013, 09:03 AM

What should should I study that is not in my s.t.a.r.t guide that you encountered at rtc?

honeybadger · 06-14-2013, 10:06 AM

Thank you for this post! Ok, so what happens on weekends?? Do you still have PT sat/sun?? And what was the oldest person in your division?? I am so self-conscious about my 'older' age! I don't want the younger people to be annoyed by my presence!!

navy123456 · 06-14-2013, 03:57 PM

Your start guide really is an amazing source of information. Chain of command was a big thing for people to learn. It doesnt hurt to learn the first 5-6. They will teach it to you when you arrive at RTC but I found it was nice to have one less thing to worry about. It is true the Chain of Command is always changing, so make sure your information is up to date!

Another great way to make sure you know the information down cold is to say it out loud. Have someone question you about rank and recognition. I would get caught off guard sometimes and stumble a bit. Being able to recognize senior chiefs from masters chiefs on the street is important for your own good. So keep studying even if you think you know it.

PT schedules vary but it will be posted every morning on your plan of the day. Hard to explain but I promise you will know what PT you are doing each morning. My division did not PT on sundays. Sunday has holiday routine which includes going to church if elect to and studying until 1300. Then its back to training!

In terms of the oldest, we had a mix of young and older. I believe one male was 32. There were at least 5 people that I knew of that were above 28 y/o. So I promise you are not alone. And in the end, age wont matter.

FutureSailor24 · 06-27-2013, 08:17 AM

Before I went through MEPS and since then I have had problems with getting my recruiter and the docs at MEPS seemed to have a hard time with taping me accurately. Is the way that they tape you and measure your BMI more accurate? I've heard that your BMI ends up being alot lower once they actually measure you at boot camp during p days.

Haasino · 06-27-2013, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureSailor24

Before I went through MEPS and since then I have had problems with getting my recruiter and the docs at MEPS seemed to have a hard time with taping me accurately. Is the way that they tape you and measure your BMI more accurate? I've heard that your BMI ends up being alot lower once they actually measure you at boot camp during p days.

The biggest issue with BMI is that it's largely interpretive based on who tapes you... if they want you to pass, they can stay loose on your neck measurement and cinch it up on your waist. You don't want to be close to max BMI for this reason. The reason MEPS is usually harder and RTC is generally more lenient is because MEPS just sends you home and tells you to come back... RTC has to put you in a special division and continue to pay/feed you while you lose the weight... they'd rather just push you through if you're close.

FutureSailor24 · 06-27-2013, 10:58 AM

That's good to know. Also I have about 5 months to get my BMI down, but I'm hoping that I lose the weight soon and then try to move my ship date up.

06-11-2013, 12:18 PM	#1
navy123456 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Recent RTC Graduate Graduated from RTC this month! This forum was very helpful for me! Open to questions from deppers and parents of deppers as my mom had a myriad of questions leading up to my departure. Will do my best to answer. some quick updates I can give -strep throat is going around like crazy (thus resulting in a second peanut butter shot on 5-2 day) This is completely dependent on what sicknesses are going around at rtc. It is not normally given during summer months. Therefore I cannot predict if you will be getting a second dose, sorry! -females, pap smears can be avoided if you have a pap done and results can be faxed from the last year. All you need to write down is where you had it, their phone #. Make sure it happened in the last year! OR else you will get one if you are over the age of 21. The staff is great, nothing to fear. -I made 2nd class swimmer at my swim qual in boot camp and you will have a chance (just one chance) to try and qualify for that. At my swim test they also offered anyone a chance to try and qualify for a shot at a spec ops contract. This involved doing 15 correct form (i dont know what the form is because i didnt volunteer) pull ups on a bar. Not sure what the process was like after that but no one in my division passed the initial pull up screening. -females, they had us fill out an anemic questionnaire in pdays. It does not say anemia questionnaire on the form but it asks about fatigue, diet questions, etc...it does involve a blood test if you are told you need it, but you are already having blood drawn that day for your medical portion of Pdays so its nothing to fear! any questions feel free to post!

06-11-2013, 12:38 PM	#2
FSLeeABE Newbie Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 20 Rep Power: 9	First of all congrats on finishing rtc! I ship for rtc on the 25 of this month so a few questions: 1. When is the first PFA? 2. What is everyday PT like? 3. In the summer time are we running on indoor or outdoor track

06-11-2013, 02:37 PM	#3
camfurr Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 134 Rep Power: 20	I was in bootcamp during the winter, but I'm pretty sure you will run your first PFA in freedom hall, since it is electrically timed. However, you better hope to God that you do PT outside, because running in freedom hall sucks, at least from my experience. And as far as spec ops go, they will not take a whole lot a of people, mostly because the the scruffs are assholes and don't like to let anybody in haha

06-11-2013, 04:17 PM	#4
wdpballer Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 25 Rep Power: 9	is it true for the people that go in undesignated that they let us fill in their a-school spots for the people that reveal something during the moment of truth?

06-11-2013, 05:14 PM	#5
FutureND Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: California Posts: 756 Rep Power: 140	Everyone gets a second peanut butter shot on 5-2 day, all the time. You get a whole second round of vaccinations that day. Its not too bad, it hurts and is sore but you'll live.

06-12-2013, 03:45 PM	#7
navy123456 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Okay so good questions and I think Haasino responded along the same lines as I would. My first PFA was midweek of my first week after pdays. It is indoors in freedom hall. The staff that runs the PFA is different from your RDCs. The first PFA is merely a baseline, have no fear but try your very best. Running indoors is quite different so it doesnt hurt to find an indoor track or run on a treadmill a few times. Different air. PT is regulated according to a boot they have. It starts very basic and works its way up gradually throughout bootcamp. It may seem easy or hard in the beginning depending on how good of shape you arrive in. Either way my PT was a mix between some days running and some days doing "inhouse" pt. Which consisted of all of my division together doing push ups, sit ups, planks, flutter kicks etc...Its hot and a quick intense workout. The running was either a sustained run or interval running (sprint half a lap, jog half, spring 3/4 lap, jog 1/4). Ours was split into running groups according to speed. Personal accountability is huge for these workouts, you will only get better the harder YOU push yourself. Just something to keep in mind! I enjoyed PT. We ran outside only a few times, mostly for the sustained runs. Which are just running at a consistent speed for 10,20 minutes. They build you up for these though. We had a large number of undesignated sailors in my divison and they were not able to pick a rate while in bootcamp. They were able to use a list provided at classifications and request a region of the world (overseas v. not) or types of duty. Not sure how much they actually take that into consideration but at least its asked. Peanutbutter round 2 is completely seasonal/RTC sickness based. I promise. You wont know until 5-2 day. You will get other shots on that day, this is true.

06-14-2013, 09:03 AM	#8
VINO Newbie Join Date: May 2013 Location: SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA Posts: 17 Rep Power: 7	What should should I study that is not in my s.t.a.r.t guide that you encountered at rtc?

06-14-2013, 10:06 AM	#9
honeybadger Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Thank you for this post! Ok, so what happens on weekends?? Do you still have PT sat/sun?? And what was the oldest person in your division?? I am so self-conscious about my 'older' age! I don't want the younger people to be annoyed by my presence!!

06-14-2013, 03:57 PM	#10
navy123456 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	Your start guide really is an amazing source of information. Chain of command was a big thing for people to learn. It doesnt hurt to learn the first 5-6. They will teach it to you when you arrive at RTC but I found it was nice to have one less thing to worry about. It is true the Chain of Command is always changing, so make sure your information is up to date! Another great way to make sure you know the information down cold is to say it out loud. Have someone question you about rank and recognition. I would get caught off guard sometimes and stumble a bit. Being able to recognize senior chiefs from masters chiefs on the street is important for your own good. So keep studying even if you think you know it. PT schedules vary but it will be posted every morning on your plan of the day. Hard to explain but I promise you will know what PT you are doing each morning. My division did not PT on sundays. Sunday has holiday routine which includes going to church if elect to and studying until 1300. Then its back to training! In terms of the oldest, we had a mix of young and older. I believe one male was 32. There were at least 5 people that I knew of that were above 28 y/o. So I promise you are not alone. And in the end, age wont matter.

06-27-2013, 08:17 AM	#11
FutureSailor24 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 204 Rep Power: 26	Before I went through MEPS and since then I have had problems with getting my recruiter and the docs at MEPS seemed to have a hard time with taping me accurately. Is the way that they tape you and measure your BMI more accurate? I've heard that your BMI ends up being alot lower once they actually measure you at boot camp during p days.

06-27-2013, 10:58 AM	#13
FutureSailor24 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 204 Rep Power: 26	That's good to know. Also I have about 5 months to get my BMI down, but I'm hoping that I lose the weight soon and then try to move my ship date up.