Could You Get Through Boot Camp in WWII?

By: Justin Cupler
Estimated Completion Time
11 min
Could You Get Through Boot Camp in WWII?
Image: narvikk/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

World War II began in 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland and eventually overran Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and France. For three years, the United Kingdom was the only country left to battle Germany until Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The following day, then-president Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and Japan's allies, Italy and Germany, in turn, declared war on the U.S.

The U.S. sent 16,112,566 soldiers into battle, but before they could head in to fend off the enemy, they had to go through basic training to gain the physical and mental toughness needed to complete their mission of defeating the Axis Powers and liberating Europe from the clutches of evil. Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, basic military training lasted 12 to 13 weeks, but the demand for soldiers forced the Army to condense this to just an eight-week program following Japan's attack on the Hawaiian base. 

In basic training, soldiers trained every day except Sundays and put in 44 to 48 hours of intense work to prepare themselves for a grueling battle. Regardless of the conditions - boiling heat, frigid cold or soaking rain - U.S. soldiers would spend their days learning how to best take down their enemies on the battlefield and in psychological warfare.

Do you have what it would take to handle basic training in the WWII era? This test will let you know if you're cut out for the rigors of this program or if the military would have shipped you home.



Your 6:00 a.m. alarm is buzzing, what do you do?
Lob my clock across the room like a hand grenade screaming, "Not today!"
Slap the "snooze" button a few times before dragging myself out with just minutes to spare
Lay around for 10 to 15 minutes debating calling in sick
Leap out of bed and hop in the shower with not a shred of doubt I'm ready to start the day

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How do you approach quotas at work?
Meh, sometimes I hit them, but I am happy if I get close.
I strive to hit them but don't lose much sleep over it.
I always hit my quota, but I tend to back off once I hit that number.
A quota is a starting point for me. I want to see how far above it I can get.

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What best describes your eating habits?
I eat only gluten-free whole foods with minimal processing and no preservatives. My body is a temple.
I'm a pretty picky eater, but I will chow down on just about anything when I'm starving.
I will generally eat whatever is on the plate in front of me, but I may push the lima beans off to the side.
Food goes in my mouth, then I chew, swallow and repeat. It's fuel, nothing more.

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How do you react to sudden procedural changes at work?
Run off to my group of work buddies and commiserate for hours and put off applying the change until forced to.
Quickly pull my boss aside and argue why this change is unnecessary and how it will do nothing but slow me down.
I put off the changes until the last minute, but I ultimately give in to the new process.
I already saw that procedural change coming and have a plan in place to transition into it immediately.

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Making your bed is...
Utterly useless because I am just going to mess it up tonight
A chore that I sometimes do when company is coming over
Something I do when I have time in the morning
A part of my daily routine. I tuck in all corners and ensure the sheets are perfectly flat before leaving the house.

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When do you expect a raise or promotion at work?
I should get a promotion or raise when I ask for it; then I will show my boss I can handle the new job.
I live off yearly merit raises only. I have no desire to push harder for a promotion.
I'll put in the extra hard work for a certain period, but I get discouraged and back off if the promotion or raise doesn't come soon.
I never expect a raise or promotion. I give everything I have every day and if they come, great.

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Your shift ends in five minutes, what do you do?
Stand by the time clock with my time card in the slot and ready to go.
I stay in my station, but I avoid getting into any new work that may make me stay later.
I'll try to get out on time, but I won't actively avoid my boss to get out on time.
I actively look for work to fill every minute of my day and will ask my boss if he or she needs anything else before I head out.

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You drive past a local gym and see all the in-shape people working out. What are your thoughts?
Suckers! My idea of fitness is lifting my grande caramel cappuccino with double cream and sugar from my cup holder to my mouth.
I dream of being in shape, but I also know fitness is not in my genes, so no need to bother trying.
I quickly remember I am paying $50 a month for the right to hold a pass to that gym but never set foot in it. I will go next week!
Driving past? I am the in-shape person in the gym everyone's looking at.

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It's raining, and you had plans to meet friends at the mall. What do you do?
Ew, rain? I will just stay at home and cuddle up in my favorite blanket.
I'll do all I can to avoid going out in the rain, but I guess if my friends are going, I will go too.
Umbrella? Check. Poncho? Check. Rubber boots? Check. OK, let's go.
It's just a little water. What's the big deal?

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My morning coffee is...
My lifeblood. Do not even look at me before I've had at least two cups.
Part of my morning routine, but I can function if I run out.
Not overly important, but I do enjoy a cup or two throughout the day.
Life is my coffee. Who needs caffeine when the day is filled with natural stimulants?

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How do you execute a perfect pullup?
When my belly barely touches the edge of the bar, but my arms can still reach my drink.
Palms facing me and my biceps screaming at me the whole way up
Palms facing away from me and a little swinging motion to get my momentum going
Palms facing away from me, arms perfectly straight while hanging and pulling up until my chin has cleared the bar

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How to do you react in a haunted house?
Nope, I don't even bother walking in.
I clench my partner and always stay behind, so the actors will kill him or her instead of me.
I always muster up enough courage to head in, but I am trembling on the inside.
I am always the first one in. I tend to ruin it by pointing out all the actors hiding in the corners and laughing as they attempt to scare me.

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This 10-pound book will make your workday easier, but you have to carry it all day. What's your reaction?
Does it come with wheels?
If I really have to, I could handle it with a few breaks here and there.
I'm not happy about it, but if it makes things easier, fine!
Awesome! Something that will make my day easier, and it only weighs 10 pounds? Bring it on.

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You see a parking space right by the entrance that may be too tight for your car. What's your plan?
I'll force my car into the space and crawl out of the sunroof if needed.
Try to get it in, but ultimately give up and park in the wide-open space a few feet away.
I'll find a space with more room where I'll be less likely to get dings in my car.
I didn't even see that space. I park on the other side of the lot to get my steps in for the day.

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After eating, what do you do with the dishes?
Stack them up in the sink and hope the dish fairy magically appears and washes them.
I usually leave them in the sink for a few days, but I get to them before the cockroaches do.
I wash all my dishes once a day, but sometimes get lazy and let them sit.
I immediately wash, rinse and dry the dishes. I then neatly stack them according to size and color.

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At what point should you go to the doctor?
Uh oh... I sneezed. Better set an appointment.
Phew, I'm burning up today. Better go see the doc.
OK, three days of this killer fever is enough.
Is everything still attached? Nah, I don't need a doctor.

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How much social interaction do you need?
I'm a social butterfly who will die without constant human interaction.
I like people, and chatting it up is something I like to do.
I enjoy a good chat, but it's by no means a necessity for me.
People are just distractions from my mission - the less interaction, the better.

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How do you feel about up close and personal with other people?
People are disgusting germ vessels. I keep them as far away as possible.
I'm not comfortable, but I guess I can deal with it for the time being.
As long as everyone's showered, I'm good.
Human body heat is one of the best natural heating systems in the world. Bring on the humans.

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You drop the last piece of your favorite snack on the floor. What do you do?
Fall on my knees in tears as I mourn that last piece.
Sigh, then I pick it up and toss it in the trash.
Yell, "five-second rule," then I pick it up, rinse it off and chow down.
Forget that candy ever existed. It's a casualty, and no one casualty is bigger than the mission.

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How many situps can you do?
Situps? I can roll over and push myself up.
Turn that plural into a singular, and I am good.
I can do a few, but it's not my strongest talent.
Situps are a part of my normal workout routine. Doing 20 to 30 in one sitting is no issue.

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Someone calls in sick, and your boss needs you to handle extra duties you normally don't do. What do you do?
Whip out my employment contract and show how that is not my job.
Roll my eyes but ultimately take on the extra work.
Quietly take on the additional work and do what I need to get it done.
You already noticed your coworker was out sick, so you took the liberty of putting his work into your schedule already.

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Your boss pulls you aside to tell you what needs improved in the project you spent weeks perfecting. How do you react?
My boss always hates my work. I think he has it out for me.
I'm a bit dejected, but I will ultimately do what my boss wants.
I can see my boss is trying to help, but he sure could be nicer about it.
I take criticisms like this in stride and can see the benefit in this type of feedback.

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What is learning a new skill to you?
A burden. Why learn a new skill when I can pay someone who already knows how to do it?
Extremely difficult because I lack the motivation to follow through on learning it.
A bit of a struggle, but I am dedicated to learning any new skill that will help me.
Essential to life. My brain is like a sponge that's thirsty for knowledge. Feed it, please!

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When was the last time you ran a mile?
Wasn't that a requirement to pass high school physical education? I'm sure I did it then.
It's been a few years, but I've done it in my adult years.
A ran a few miles a couple days ago, but I still don't so it as much as I should.
Running is a part of my regular workout routine.

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Would you rather carry a day's worth of school books all day in a backpack or stop at your locker before every class?
Why weigh myself down? I'll stop by my locker. My teacher won't care is a stumble in after the tardy bell.
If my schedules too tight that day, I will think about carrying all my books in my bag.
I'd rather carry them around, but my back aches after a full day.
I feel naked without my loaded-down backpack slung across my shoulders.

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How do you respond to failure?
It's a sign this is not right for me, so I should just give up.
If I failed miserably, I will give up. If I was close to passing, I may try again.
Failure can be a motivator, especially if I am close to passing.
Failure is one of my leading motivators. If I fail at something, I will not stop improving until I am one of the best at it.

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You just scored a game-winning touchdown, how do you react?
Stand in the end zone and do the TD dance I've been working on for a few weeks.
Spike the ball and run off to the sidelines.
Celebrate in the end zone with my teammates because it was a team effort.
Toss the ball to the ref and get off the field. This is my job - no need to celebrate doing what I'm supposed to do.

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Which of these is the biggest motivator in your life?
Fame
Money
Success
Self-growth

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What is your idea of a fun weekend getaway?
A weekend on the town, hitting the clubs and casinos
A trip to the beach sipping margaritas and soaking up the sunshine
A weekend glamping trip in my family RV
Setting up a tent in a remote state park and living with Mother Nature for the weekend

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A huge snow storm came through last night and snow blocks you and your neighbor's cars. What do you do?
Shovel the snow from behind my car and dump it behind my neighbor's car
Call my neighbor out to help and work as a team to shovel out both cars
Shovel out my car but walk the shoveled snow to a vacant spot where it will block no one
I'm already shoveling my car out. Might as well make a path wide enough for both cars.

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