What were they forced to do in training camp?

Their ten-week training prepared them for subservience to military authority. Their class was sent out among various platoons; Paul, Kropp, Müller, and Kemmerich joined No. 9 platoon under the disciplinarian Corporal Himmelstoss. The Corporal immediately disliked Paul and some of his friends, recognizing some defiance in them, and punished them with arduous tasks. Theyey were used to,

Still, the training prepared them well; had they not had it so rough, Paul believes they would have gone mad in the trenches.