Let’s face it, basic training is tough. For the first time you will have to wait for permission to eat or even go to the bathroom. Wouldn’t it make life easier if you knew some tips on avoiding special attention from those mean Drill Sergeants?

In my best-selling book, The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook I teach recruits how to make basic training as stress free as possible.  It’s important to understand that nothing will make you “yell-proof”, however, there are preparations you can make to reduce the amount of times you might get singled out by a drill sergeant. Use the 5 tips below to help you avoid getting yelled at by drill sergeants.

5) Don’t Volunteer- Many recruits think that if they volunteer for tasks then they will become the drill sergeant’s favorite. This might be the case in school, but not the case at basic training. Volunteering for tasks at basic training is like jumping in shark infested waters with chopped fish tied to your ankles. Your goal at basic training is to graduate, not become someone’s favorite recruit.

4) Label Everything- A common reason why recruits get yelled at is because they lose an item of clothing or gear, or they get theirs mixed up with another recruit. Drill sergeants will often do an inspection of your sleeping quarters. During these inspections, items are tossed all over the place often mixing up gear and clothing. Take a black marker with you to basic training and write your initials on everything you own.

3) Don’t be a Know It All- Drill sergeants aren’t impressed with what you know, or think you know. Many recruits come to basic training hearing stories and learning lessons of when their friends and family attended. Don’t listen to those recruits as stories are often exaggerated or interpreted incorrectly. Even if you know the answer to something, don’t shout it out unless you are specifically called upon.

2) Speak with Confidence- Drill sergeants love to pick on recruits who answer or talk in a quiet or timid voice. Their job is to make you a lean mean fighting machine; they don’t want you sounding like Richard Simmons. When asked a question, only respond with a confident voice, even if you don’t know the correct answer. A wrong answer spoken confidently sounds better than a right answer spoken timidly.

1) Don’t be Late- When a drill sergeant asks you to be somewhere in 45 seconds, you better be there in 15. Arriving on time is not going to cut it in basic training.

SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook: Tips, Tricks and Tactics for Surviving Boot Camp