Synopses & Reviews
There is absolutely nothing in the American experience comparable to basic training or boot camp. If you havent been through it, you cant understand it.
But if youve been through it, you never forget it.
No matter where they live, all American fighting men and women have one thing in common: They have survived basic military training. Theyve crawled through the swamps on Parris Island, stood in the frigid cold guarding a Dumpster at Great Lakes, struggled to complete fifteen bars on the horizontal ladder to get to the chow hall at Ft. Jackson, fought desperately to stay awake after long days without sleep at Lackland. They were shaved and screamed at, they barely ate, they marched a hundred miles, and they accomplished things they never would have dreamed were possible. They made the epic journey from civilian to soldier in eight weeks… and gained a lifetime of memories in the process.
If youve done it, you will recognize the Drill Instructors, the marching chants, the movie segments, the proper way to make a hospital corner, the jokes, the camaraderie and the shared feeling of triumph. And those who havent done it—yet—will understand and appreciate this life-changing experience.
Basic is the story of that training. Col. Jack Jacobs and David Fisher tell the funny, sad, dramatic, poignant and sometimes crazy history of how America has trained its military, told through the indelible memories of those who remember the experiences as if they happened yesterday.
Review
"Bootcamp was the toughest and most rewarding experience of my life. This book captures those moments. It is authentic, entertaining, and often funny as hell."
—Corporal Brian Dennehy (Ret.), Parris Island, 1959
“The unique transition from civilian to soldier has always generated tall tales...about the environment, the changes, and of course the ever-present drill sergeant who changes your life. While the portrayed events usually grow with exaggeration and some added humor as Soldiers grow older, Jack Jacobs and Dave Fisher have captured the ‘war stories of basic training in a uniquely hilarious and moving way. Well done, gentlemen and patriots!”
—Mark Hertling, Former Deputy Commander for Initial Military Training, U.S. Army
"Movies and television shows have taught us to think of boot camp as a grueling physical
challenge—and it is that—but what we take away here is a deeper understanding of the punishing
psychological component as recruits learn to box up their individuality in favor of conformity and the
unfaltering following of orders."
—Booklist
"Provides a clear and sometimes mordantly amusing overview of the training experience, punctuating it with personal accounts from soldiers."
—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for If Not Now, When?:
“Its a privilege to call [Col. Jack Jacobs] a friend and an honor to recommend this remarkable life story.”—Tom Brokow
“One warning: The book you are about to read, at its core, is a story about selflessness, sacrifice, and service. I will never view my friend Jack in the same way again. I just didnt think it was possible to admire him any more than I already did.”—Brian Williams
Review
"Bootcamp was the toughest and most rewarding experience of my life. This book captures those moments. It is authentic, entertaining and often funny as hell."
—Corporal Brian Dennehy (Ret.), Parris Island 1959
“The unique transition from civilian to Soldier has always generated tall tales... about the environment, the changes, and of course the ever-present Drill Sergeant who changes your life. While the portrayed events usually grow with exaggeration and some added humor as Soldiers grow older, Jack Jacobs and Dave Fisher have captured the ‘war stories of basic training in a uniquely hilarious and moving way. Well done, gentlemen and patriots!”
—Mark Hertling, Former Deputy Commander for Initial Military Training, US Army
"Movies and television shows have taught us to think of boot camp as a grueling physical
challenge—and it is that—but what we take away here is a deeper understanding of the punishing
psychological component as recruits learn to box up their individuality in favor of conformity and the
unfaltering following of orders."
—Booklist
"Provides a clear and sometimes mordantly amusing overview of the training experience, punctuating it with personal accounts from soldiers."
—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for If Not Now, When?:
“Its a privilege to call [Col. Jack Jacobs] a friend and an honor to recommend this remarkable life story.”—Tom Brokow
“One warning: The book you are about to read, at its core, is a story about selflessness, sacrifice, and service. I will never view my friend Jack in the same way again. I just didnt think it was possible to admire him any more than I already did.”—Brian Williams
Synopsis
Every American fighting man and woman share one thing in common: they have all survived basic military training. Basic tells the story of that training. Medal of Honor recipient Col. Jack Jacobs and David Fisher recount the funny, sad, dramatic, poignant, and sometimes crazy history of how America has trained its military, told through the personal accounts of those who remember the experiences as if they happened yesterday.
If youve been through basic or boot camp, these memories of drill instructors, marching chants, combat training (and the “gas chamber”), hospital corners, and the shared feeling of triumph are guaranteed to make you smile. And those who havent done it will understand and appreciate this life-changing experience that turns a civilian into a soldier—and in just eight weeks.
About the Author
In addition to his Medal of Honor, Col. Jack Jacobs (Ret.) received three Bronze Stars and two Silver Stars. He is the Vice Chairman of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, holds the McDermott Chair of Humanities and Public Affairs at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and is an on-air analyst for NBC News. He is author of the Colby Award-winning memoir, If Not Now, When? He lives in New Jersey.
David Fisher is the author of more than fifty books, including sixteen New York Times bestsellers. He lives in New York.