After taking the required test and medical exams, basic training is the first step of many. The length of Basic Training may vary depending on which branch of service is chosen but is approximately 10 weeks. In the beginning, the new service member is so busy that they do not have time to think about anything other than not getting yelled at by the instructors. As time goes by though, adjusting to the routine becomes easier. That is when some service members start to miss their family and friends. During basic training, communication with the outside world, such as family and friends, is limited to hand written letters and on rare occasions maybe a phone call. Some training bases only allow phone calls at the end of training. At the end of Basic Training, families and friends are invited to attend the graduation ceremony and this event can be very emotional for everyone involved. Family and friends will get to see their loved ones for the first time since they left and the changes that their service member has endured, mentally and …show more content…
Service members have many mandatory things to be taken care of as soon as they arrive. Unit mandatory training, family care plans for the single service members with children or the dual military couples with children, in-processing, taking care of all the things at home like household goods, enrolling the children in school, day care and many other important things are just the beginning. For couples, helping one another whenever possible and communication are the best ways to build a stronger relationship that is needed for living in the military. There are a lot of misconceptions about military life and these misconceptions can lead to multiple problems on the home front and sometimes at work. It can lead to an increase in drinking, drug use, fighting, money problems, divorce, and even suicide. Some of these misconceptions are: The military get paid well, military work normal hours, everything is free to the military, military spouses cheat, military spouses are lazy and military families are miserable (BUSHATZ,