Does anyone else have a soldier doing AIT @ Ft. Gordon? If so I would sure like to hear from you. I have yet to find anyone else who has a soldier there - I am beginning to think my son is the only soldier on the entire base!

My husband went to AIT at Fort Gordon, I assure you that there are lots of soldiers there (Fort Gordon is the home of the Signal Corps, all Signal AIT classes are there).

Proudmother, Gordon really isn't that bad. You can't blame disrespectful young soldiers on the leadership. Basic training is much different than AIT because of all the liberties involved in AIT, and since Signal schools are longer, there's more privileges involved. Some soldiers simply don't know what to do with themselves but get an attitude and get into trouble when they get there (especially since there's not a whole lot of good to be had outside of Ft Gordon).

But generally speaking, yes, it gets better. When they're out of training, the micromanaging goes out the window, and they have a job just like regular people (not including periodic training and deployments of course), although if he's single he will still live in barracks. The condition of barracks will really just vary place to place, depends on how old they are and whether the funds are there to renovate.

The overcrowding is because the Signal MOSs are some of the most popular, and it seems they're almost always over-recruited. It makes sense - it's a good choice because it translates so well to the civilian world (with good pay) after a military career.

I've witnessed the same thing you're talking about, and it is horrible. They get out of Basic and just don't know what to to with themselves. But even the rowdiest of soldiers would "yes ma'am" me and not swear in front of our baby (who was just a newborn at the time, so I always found that cute). Starting school will definitely help, and then when he gets to his first duty station it's a little easier to handpick who you're surrounded by and the company you keep. Best of luck to your son!

My son starts BCT in January and then to Fort Gordon after that. He's 18 and my first one leaving the nest, so I'm already having a bad case of nerves. To think that he will be going into a situation where there are issues sure doesn't help. I'm in NC and the recent issues at Fort Bragg and the living conditions just make you sick that even a stray dog would be allowed to live in those conditions. Makes me sick to think my son (aka my heart)is going into a situation even remotely similar.