Another Army Question

[1069]

Soldiers are able to leave base and drink in bars on the weekends during AIT: true or false?
This is the information I just received, and I'm seriously hoping it's not true.

 

[WI Crippler]

What is AIT anyway? I've always heard Army people talk about AIT, but never really hear what they do there.

In the Marines, we have either SOI(Infantry) or MCT(for non-infantry) right after boot camp. I cannot speak for SOI, but at MCT there was no weekend liberty when I went through, thus no drinking. However when I got to my MOS school, we had weekend liberty(after a couple weeks of on base indoc, lockdown) and if you were of age(or wanted to risk it as an underage person) you could go out and drink. But my MOS schools were nearly a year long.

 

[1069]

What is AIT anyway? I've always heard Army people talk about AIT, but never really hear what they do there.

In the Marines, we have either SOI(Infantry) or MCT(for non-infantry) right after boot camp. I cannot speak for SOI, but at MCT there was no weekend liberty when I went through, thus no drinking. However when I got to my MOS school, we had weekend liberty(after a couple weeks of on base indoc, lockdown) and if you were of age(or wanted to risk it as an underage person) you could go out and drink. But my MOS schools were nearly a year long.

AIT is advanced individual training.
It's where soldiers go to learn their MOS.
Like, if you're going to be a medic, you go to some base and they teach you medic stuff.
If you're going to be a mechanic, you go learn to fix humvees at a different base. And so on.

If you're infantry, you usually just stay at the same base you had Basic Training at, and have more specialized combat training. It's called one-base training, I think.
But for any other MOS, you usually go to a different base for AIT.
The length of AIT varies, but it's usually around 10-12 weeks (less than that for Infantry, I think).

But I hear the rules are much less strict in AIT; I know the soldiers can have cell phones and CD players, and they have some privileges.
But now my son is telling me they can leave base and go out and party and drink in bars on the weekends. That's what he's heard.
I'm just wondering if anyone who was in the army can tell me if that's true, or what their experience was with AIT. That worries me; I'd obviously prefer he focus on his training instead of partying while he's there, and I was hoping the rules were still pretty strict, if not as strict as in BCT.
I can tell you the specific base he's going to be at if you PM me, but I'd rather not post it publicly. Maybe one of you had AIT there and can tell me something about what it's like.
I'm just curious. I want to know as much as I can about where he'll be and what he'll be doing, and what the rules are.

 

[Ethereal]

Soldiers are able to leave base and drink in bars on the weekends during AIT: true or false?
This is the information I just received, and I'm seriously hoping it's not true.

Once your son is out of basic training he will be able to go out on liberty, and yes, he will be allowed to drink, unless he's underage.

 

[gunner]

AIT is advanced individual training.
It's where soldiers go to learn their MOS.
Like, if you're going to be a medic, you go to some base and they teach you medic stuff.
If you're going to be a mechanic, you go learn to fix humvees at a different base. And so on.

If you're infantry, you usually just stay at the same base you had Basic Training at, and have more specialized combat training. It's called one-base training, I think.
But for any other MOS, you usually go to a different base for AIT.
The length of AIT varies, but it's usually around 10-12 weeks (less than that for Infantry, I think).

But I hear the rules are much less strict in AIT; I know the soldiers can have cell phones and CD players, and they have some privileges.
But now my son is telling me they can leave base and go out and party and drink in bars on the weekends. That's what he's heard.
I'm just wondering if anyone who was in the army can tell me if that's true, or what their experience was with AIT. That worries me; I'd obviously prefer he focus on his training instead of partying while he's there, and I was hoping the rules were still pretty strict, if not as strict as in BCT.
I can tell you the specific base he's going to be at if you PM me, but I'd rather not post it publicly. Maybe one of you had AIT there and can tell me something about what it's like.
I'm just curious. I want to know as much as I can about where he'll be and what he'll be doing, and what the rules are.

Your son will probably change immensely. My mum said i left a boy and came back a man. So i wouldn't be overly concerned with him getting a little play time, irrespective of how hes been in the past.

Paul

 

[1069]

Once your son is out of basic training he will be able to go out on liberty, and yes, he will be allowed to drink, unless he's underage.

He seems to be under the impression that he can buy alcohol with his military ID, regardless of his age.

 

[Captain America]

If AIT is anything like "A" School, (where sailors often go after boot camp,) it will be like a 5:00 am to 4:00 pm day gig allowing the soldier to do what he likes on his off time (as long as it's legal.) Every 4th day, (or "duty" day,) he will have to pull 24 hours on the job and cannot party. But they can raise as much hell as they want to (within' the reg's,) after hours, on 3 out of 4 days.

However, the first 4-6 weeks after boot camp they are somewhat restricted.

 

[Agnapostate]

He seems to be under the impression that he can buy alcohol with his military ID, regardless of his age.

There are exemptions for military personnel, but I'd thought that they only applied on base.

 

[1069]

There are exemptions for military personnel, but I'd thought that they only applied on base.

That's what I'm trying to figure out.
I guess I'll know when I know.
I just wish there was some way to minimize the chances of some problem occurring.
Maybe he'll surprise me, who knows.

 

[Captain America]

When I was in and the drinking age went back up to 21, we could drink on base at 19. But off base, it was another story altogether. But there is no shortage of ways to get drunk no matter how old they are.

 

[Captain America]

That's what I'm trying to figure out.
I guess I'll know when I know.
I just wish there was some way to minimize the chances of some problem occurring.
Maybe he'll surprise me, who knows.

10, you're a great mom. But your little boy is now a man. He must learn by his own mistakes. The best we can do is hope and pray the lessons aren't too costly.

Your son could be 40 and you will probably still worry about him. That's what a good mom does.

Empty nest syndrome is very depressing. I know. I'm still going through it.

 

[1069]

I just want him to succeed, and be happy.
I know I can't do this for him.

 

[Captain America]

I just want him to succeed, and be happy.
I know I can't do this for him.

Well, for what it's worth, when I was at where he is now, I was doing both. I was succeeding and I was happy.

There is no better environment for a young man to be in to keep him on the right side of good. Sure, we lose some of 'em, but we lose more in the streets. Everyday is new and exciting for him. The demands he must meet are a challenge that develops character and maturity. They exercize the brain, the body and the spirit. he will learn the up's and down's and learn how to improvise and adapt. He is realizing a self-worth that is both motivating and inspirational.

The happiest times of my life was serving in the USN. (Even though, these days ain't so bad either. )

 

[Ethereal]

He seems to be under the impression that he can buy alcohol with his military ID, regardless of his age.

Perhaps on base. State-law still applies off base, though. Either way, he's going to get his hands on alcohol. That's part of military life, I suppose.

By the way, do you know what his MOS is? I'm curious, but I won't mind if you don't want to share.

 

[1069]

Perhaps on base. State-law still applies off base, though. Either way, he's going to get his hands on alcohol. That's part of military life, I suppose.

By the way, do you know what his MOS is? I'm curious, but I won't mind if you don't want to share.

I'll PM you.

 

[WI Crippler]

He seems to be under the impression that he can buy alcohol with his military ID, regardless of his age.

Every base I went to didn't sell alchohol to underage servicemembers. But somebody who was of age, would usually go grab something and bring it back to the barracks and we'd get ****faced there. As far as being out in town, his military ID won't do him any good for buying. At least not around a military base. Sometimes when I went home on liberty, I'd get some "sympathy" beer from a local bartender who thought it was BS I could serve, but not drink.

 

[bhkad]

There was a 'special' beer available in the (Army) rec room of our AIT barracks called 3.2 beer. It had half the alcoholic content of regular beer. Anyone could buy it.

And the drinking age of the state determines whether your son can drink legally or not off post.

 

[RightOfCenter]

He seems to be under the impression that he can buy alcohol with his military ID, regardless of his age.

Oh, if only that were so. It never worked for me when I was underage, no matter how often I tried.

 

[apdst]

Soldiers are able to leave base and drink in bars on the weekends during AIT: true or false?
This is the information I just received, and I'm seriously hoping it's not true.

It depnds on their MOS, rank, etc. Mainly, it depnds on if they get an off post pass. If not, they're confined to the post, battalion, or company area. It's dependent on several factors as to how far a pass allows them to go.

When I went to infantry school, we didn't receive an off post pass until the latter part of the cycle. I went to the small arms school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, for a secondary MOSQ. I was allowed to come and go as I pleased, but I was an E-5 and I wasn't there for an AIT course. AIT soldiers were restricted to the company area during the week and restricted to post on weekends, for the first two weeks. After that it hinged on whether, or not, you passed your weekely PT test, kept your nose clean, got in line early enough to get a pass before they ran out, etc.

 

[UtahBill]

Just keep in touch with him, encourage him to take advantage of the opportunities presented to him, let him know you want and EXPECT his best effort, and that the world will always appreciate those who make an effort to do the right things.
For those who won't make the effort, pity is in short supply.

The highest calling in life is that of a parent. But it is a balancing act, he needs to know that he can depend on you to help, but not so much that he becomes dependent on you.

 

[jamesrage]

Soldiers are able to leave base and drink in bars on the weekends during AIT: true or false?
This is the information I just received, and I'm seriously hoping it's not true.

Back into 2000 when I was in 11m AIT they allowed us to leave post on week ends, but technically we were not allowed to drink or smoke. So if you did smoke(cigarettes) or drink you had to do it off post and make sure you were sober and did not smell like tobacco when you came back. A few of the places outside of post ran or owned by vets allowed underage drinking(mostly likely they simply did not ask) this however may have change. Mostly what some would do to stay on the safe side is a rent a hotel room to party in and have a battle buddy who is old enough to buy booze go buy the booze,maybe even get a few hookers.

So your son is correct,but its more like a don't ask don't tell policy,technically he is not allowed to do it, he can do it anyways but if he gets caught then he is could face an article 15. This may have changed since 2000 and it is possible that this could be at the discretion of the post commanders all the way down to the NCOs in charge(in other words the post commander can say its okay but if the NCOs in charge say no then it is no)

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

Soldiers are able to leave base and drink in bars on the weekends during AIT: true or false?
This is the information I just received, and I'm seriously hoping it's not true.

depends on length of training. But probably if its more than 30 days.

 

[braindrain]

When i went through basic it was OUST which is what they call it for basic and AIT for the infantry. It stands for one unit station training. There was no difference between basic and AIT just same old rules and everything. I have seen plenty of young dudes get busted for underage drinking so it is for sure not allowed but lots of guys still get away with it. Same as everywhere I guess.

 

[Oozlefinch]

What is AIT anyway? I've always heard Army people talk about AIT, but never really hear what they do there.

In the Marines, we have either SOI(Infantry) or MCT(for non-infantry) right after boot camp. I cannot speak for SOI, but at MCT there was no weekend liberty when I went through, thus no drinking. However when I got to my MOS school, we had weekend liberty(after a couple weeks of on base indoc, lockdown) and if you were of age(or wanted to risk it as an underage person) you could go out and drink. But my MOS schools were nearly a year long.

It is just like MOS training for the Marines. Except way back when I went through, it was known as ITS, Infantry Training School. The "School Of Infantry" came around 1985 if I remember correctly.

As for drinking, that is up to the post commander where they are attending school. At Fort Bliss, it used to be 18 for 3.2% beer. But last year the new CG increased this to 21.

And when I was in ITS (1983), we had weekend liberty also. And you could drink at the E-club across the street at 18. But since nobody wanted to spend their time in the barracks, most spent their weekends at places like Disneyland, Hollywood, and San Diego. And in most of those places, it was not hard to find somebody who would notice the ID was military, and not check the age.

Of course, I was from LA myself. So I just went home on most weekends, and dran there. :mrgreen:

 

[bps916]

It was years ago when I did Basic/AIT in Ft Benning.We got one pass after Basic and that was it.You get a little more free time and privelages after Basic,but we didn't get to go out and drink-especially on base.You could go to a movie or the PX or whatever.Things may be different now,and I really don't know how other bases operate...We couldn't even have caffeine until after we passed our PT Test