Editor's Note: We're tracking three recruits from their final days as civilians through to deployment. It's an unprecedented look inside the life of a soldier. This is part three of the American Morning original series "A Soldier's Story," and don't miss part one and two here.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/15/mclain.rifle.art.jpg caption="Army recruit Will McLain is in week three of basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri."]
By Adam Reiss, CNN
It's week three of basic training for Will McLain. He and 193 other new recruits are busy getting through the red stage, physical training also known as PT.
The booming voice of Drill Sergeant Joseph Rix is ever present, "just trying to get them ready to deploy so they have a little bit of a head start more than what we did when we went through basic training," says Rix.
After a quarter of a mile run, Will has time for a drink, while outside a private, who just cannot make it, passes out on the ground. "You've done a total of twenty five push-ups and one lap. Now get up! You did not pass out," says a drill sergeant standing over him. Eventually the other soldiers are ordered to bring him into the barracks and leave him on a bunk to recover.
Later, several soldiers would stumble through the rigorous exercise that has them carrying two forty-pound duffel bags at the same time. It's not easy and Will has trouble lifting them both at the same time. Another angry drill sergeant whispers “encouraging words” in his ear.
Soon they would face a crucial test to see if their training has actually paid off. They must enter a gas chamber filled with tear gas and take off their masks for a period of at least 30 seconds. One soldier can't handle it and rushes out the door. He will be back as they must complete the test before moving on.
McLain and the others tough it out, but the hacking cough and runny nose is overwhelming. "It felt like we were in there for five minutes and you are standing there begging them to open the door, open the door, open the door," says McLain.
It's a boost of confidence for McLain, who has met another goal as well. He has lost ten pounds in just three weeks. McLain also finds out that he excels in hand-to-hand combat, winning two matches.
He is also assigned a battle buddy during this period. Demetrius Daniels from Detroit will be at Will's side every moment of the day. The idea of the battle buddy system is to provide mutual support and assistance, teach teamwork, and develop a sense of responsibility and accountability for fellow soldiers. It also reduces the likelihood and opportunity for sexual harassment, misconduct, and suicide gestures or attempts.
How do they balance each other out? Will says Demetrius is fast and helps him with the physical training aspects of basic training. Demetrius says Will is smart and helps him when he is overwhelmed.
When a fellow soldier is found sleeping in the bunk everyone must pay the price. Drill sergeants call the agonizing exercises that follow “corrective training,” and by the end of it Will is dripping with sweat.
At the end of the first stage Will says, "I try to be independent. I do a lot on my own, but going to boot camp you cannot be like that because it teaches you to use teamwork and look deep inside yourself and realize this is what you really want to do."