Basic Training: Overcoming Personal Fear
Basic Training
ENG 121 English Composition 1 April 23, 2014
The ability to overcome personal fear is very difficult to accomplish. Anxiety gripped me and sweat began to bead on my forehead, all I wanted to do was to cry, as I am terribly afraid of heights, but I knew I had to do this, and be brave, to be an Army Soldier. Imagine being 70 feet up in the air on an old rickety, wooden tower and an angry Drill Sergeant below is yelling, “Jump, just jump into the mat, you won’t get hurt”, or having to repel down the side of a building with nothing but a thin rope around your waist. When I joined the Army, I never imagined how much it would affect my life. Years later, I can easily see how Basic Combat Training (BCT) helped to shape my values and character and helped make me the person I am today.
One of the significant ways that BCT has helped me is by showing me how to overcome personal fears. Being afraid of heights is normal to some people, affecting about five percent of the population, but when presented with a “do or die” situation, you just have to go for it and push aside all of your worries. It is hard to do or try things that you know will make you nervous; sometimes we just need a …show more content…
From day one, Soldiers are taught to stand at “parade rest”, which is a form of respect for a Noncommissioned officer. For a Commissioned officer, however, the Soldier would stand at “attention”, while being addressed. Every time you address an Officer, or Soldier that is above you in rank, you must show respect. In the Army, there are seven core values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Respect stands out the most to me, because I believe you should treat people as they should be treated. Self-respect is important to me because it will help show that you have put forth your best
ENG 121 English Composition 1 April 23, 2014
The ability to overcome personal fear is very difficult to accomplish. Anxiety gripped me and sweat began to bead on my forehead, all I wanted to do was to cry, as I am terribly afraid of heights, but I knew I had to do this, and be brave, to be an Army Soldier. Imagine being 70 feet up in the air on an old rickety, wooden tower and an angry Drill Sergeant below is yelling, “Jump, just jump into the mat, you won’t get hurt”, or having to repel down the side of a building with nothing but a thin rope around your waist. When I joined the Army, I never imagined how much it would affect my life. Years later, I can easily see how Basic Combat Training (BCT) helped to shape my values and character and helped make me the person I am today.
One of the significant ways that BCT has helped me is by showing me how to overcome personal fears. Being afraid of heights is normal to some people, affecting about five percent of the population, but when presented with a “do or die” situation, you just have to go for it and push aside all of your worries. It is hard to do or try things that you know will make you nervous; sometimes we just need a …show more content…
From day one, Soldiers are taught to stand at “parade rest”, which is a form of respect for a Noncommissioned officer. For a Commissioned officer, however, the Soldier would stand at “attention”, while being addressed. Every time you address an Officer, or Soldier that is above you in rank, you must show respect. In the Army, there are seven core values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Respect stands out the most to me, because I believe you should treat people as they should be treated. Self-respect is important to me because it will help show that you have put forth your best