United States Army Basic Training (also known as Initial Entry Training) is a rigorous program of physical and mental training required in order for an individual to become a soldier in the
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the branch of the United States Military responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military and is one of seven uniformed services...
,
United States Army ReserveThe United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
, or
Army National GuardEstablished under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states and territories operating under their respective governors...
. It is carried out at several different Army posts around the United States. Basic Training can last anywhere from 15 weeks to over one year, depending on the career path an individual chooses upon enlistment.
Basic Training is designed to be highly intense and challenging. The challenge comes as much from the difficulty of physical training as it does from the required quick psychological adjustment to an unfamiliar way of life.
Basic Training is divided into two parts:
Basic Combat Training and
Advanced Individual Training.
Basic Combat Training, or BCT, consists of the first nine weeks of the total Basic Training period. It is identical for all Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard recruits. This is where individuals learn about the fundamentals of being a soldier, from combat techniques to the proper way to address a superior. BCT is also where individuals undergo rigorous physical training, to prepare their bodies for the eventual physical strain of combat. One of the hardest and most essential lessons learned in BCT, however, is self-discipline: BCT introduces prospective soldiers to a strict daily schedule, entailing many duties and extremely high expectations for which most civilians are not immediately ready.
Advanced Individual Training, or AIT, consists of the remainder of the total Basic Training period. It is where recruits train to eventually become experts in their chosen field, and it is therefore different for each available Army career path. For example, if an individual chose to enlist as a Human Intelligence Collector, they would be sent, following completion of BCT, to the Intelligence School at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. If an individual instead chose to enlist as an Army medic, they would be sent, after BCT, to the Army Medical Department School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Although many AIT schools don't center around combat the way BCT does, individuals are still subject to the same duties, strict daily schedule, and disciplinary rules as in BCT. AIT trainees are also continually tested for physical fitness and weapons proficiency.
Drill sergeants
Drill Sergeants are the instructors that are responsible for most of the training that takes place in Basic Training. They accompany recruits throughout the training process, instructing and correcting them in everything from correct procedures for firing a weapon to the correct way to speak to a superior.
Drill Sergeants, while prohibited from harming recruits via physical contact, commonly use a form of discipline informally referred to as "smoking." If a recruit does something wrong, a drill sergeant may order that recruit (or group) to engage in a series of
calisthenicCalisthenics are a form of organized exercise consisting of a variety of simple movements––performed without weights or equipment––that are intended to increase body strength and flexibility using the weight of one's own body for resistance...
exercises, such as push-ups. Officially this is known as CAPE (Corrective Action: Physical Exercise).
Most AIT courses have begun using Platoon Sergeants in an attempt to implement the chain-of-command by having the trainees respect rank rather than merely recognizing a Drill Sergeant's hat.
Daily schedule
A typical day in Basic Training generally follows this schedule. Times can change depending on location, commanding officers, or when drill sergeants see a need for variation.
| Time |
Activity |
Description |
| 0500 |
Wake-up |
Wake up and perform personal morning tasks. For males, shaving is mandatory every morning. |
| 0530 |
Physical Training (PT) |
Line up in company area, perform morning physical training (calisthenicsCalisthenics are a form of organized exercise consisting of a variety of simple movements––performed without weights or equipment––that are intended to increase body strength and flexibility using the weight of one's own body for resistance...
and running). |
| 0630 |
Breakfast |
|
| 0830 |
Training |
Begin the day's scheduled training exercises. |
| 1200 |
Lunch |
|
| 1300 |
Training |
Continue the day's scheduled training exercises. |
| 1700 |
Dinner |
|
| 1800 |
Drill sergeant time |
Time for drill sergeants to talk to the recruits about any subject they may think requires attention.
Mail call is also performed during this time. |
| 2030 |
Personal time |
Time for recruits to engage in personal activities, such as writing letters, doing laundry, showering, or simply relaxing.
Recruits may also catch up on platoon duties during this time, such as barracks cleaning or wall locker organization. |
| 2130 |
Lights-out |
|
Meals
Meals (also called "chow") are generally given in the Dining Facility, sometimes referred to in its abbreviated form, DFAC (pronounced "DEE-fak"). When a meal occurs during a training session at a remote location, meals are sometimes given in the form of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) or as 'hot chow' served as a mobile field DFAC.
Sundays
In any given week of Basic Training, Sundays are generally scheduled as "personal time", although drill sergeants may make use of the time as they see fit. Chapel (religious) services are also held on Sundays, and are available on-base for most major religions.
Fire guard and CQ
Every night, at least two recruits from the platoon must be awake at any given time, patrolling their barracks area, watching for fires, cleaning the barracks, and watching for recruits attempting to leave the barracks area. They wake the next pair of recruits at the end of their hour-long shift. This duty is called fire guard.
Fire guard stems back to the days of wooden barracks and wood-burning stoves. The fire guard would watch the stoves to make sure that the barracks would not catch fire. Since open flames are not generally used to heat sleeping areas anymore, present-day fire guard during Basic Training is more an exercise in discipline than a practical necessity. Although if the weather gets cold enough, some groups conducting overnight outdoor training will still use a
keroseneKerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
"pot bellied" stove, which must be watched to prevent accidental fires.
CQ (
Charge of
Quarters) functions in a somewhat similar manner. CQ shifts rotate throughout the entire company, with just two recruits from the company staying awake per shift. The actual Charge of Quarters is the drill sergeant, and the pair of recruits staying awake are the "runners", meaning that they perform tasks for the CQ. They perform some of the same duties as the fire guard shift. Only the CQ on duty may open the barracks doors, and the runners must alert the CQ if someone else attempts to enter or leave the barracks.
Hands-on training
For many hands-on instructional sessions, recruits are transported to other locations on-base that specialize in the given subject. For instance, a class on the use of the
claymoreThe M18A1 Claymore is a directional anti-personnel mine used by the U.S. military. It was named after the large Scottish sword by its inventor, Norman A. MacLeod. The Claymore fires shrapnel, in the form of steel balls, out to about 100 meters across a 60° arc in front of the device. It is used...
anti-personnel land mine is given at a location where a field is already set up with the appropriate props for the simulation, including fake claymores that recruits can practice on. Classes are also given in the use of the
AT4The AT4 is a portable one-shot anti-tank weapon built in...
shoulder-fired anti-tank missile launcher. For this class, recruits are brought to a mock battlefield riddled with decommissioned tanks and other vehicles. Each recruit fires a trainer AT4 weapon, loaded with
tracer ammunitionTracer ammunition are special bullets that are modified to accept a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited upon firing, the composition burns very brightly, making the projectile visible to the naked eye...
, at various targets on the battlefield. For weaponry training that involves only the use of fake weapons, one real demonstration of the actual weapon is usually performed. For example, at claymore training, one real claymore may be rigged and remotely detonated; and at AT4 training, one recruit (usually the one with the highest rifle qualification score) is chosen to fire a live AT4.
Christmas Exodus
The Army suspends basic training during the winter holidays, causing a break in training. Therefore those recruits who are in Basic Training at that time are usually given the option to return home for the holidays. Since most trainees choose to return home, the volume of people leaving Army posts during this time led to the title "Christmas Exodus".
Split-Training Option
Those who enlist in the National Guard or Army Reserves can select split-option training (called Split-Op for short) if they are in school (or in certain circumstances work). This option allows for soldiers to attend the Basic Combat Training (BCT) portion of IET one summer and AIT the following summer. This is used by a lot of rising seniors in high school, where they attend BCT before their senior year and AIT after they graduate. Some college students interested in ROTC use this as a route into SMP.
Locations
The location where a recruit is sent for Basic Training depends on his or her chosen
Military Occupational Specialty, or MOS, which is selected upon enlistment.
One Station Unit Training
With some MOSs, both the BCT and AIT phases of training are accomplished back-to-back at the same location, with the same instructors, as well as with the same fellow recruits. This is called One Station Unit Training, or OSUT. For example, the
InfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of the Combat Arms they are the backbone of armies...
MOS consists of the usual nine weeks of BCT followed by five weeks of AIT, all within the same location. A similar program is followed for cavalry scouts, tank crewmen, field artillery cannon crewmen, military police, combat engineers, and chemical operations (defensive) specialists.
Basic Combat Training
The U.S. Army has five sites for BCT:
- Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
; also provides infantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of the Combat Arms they are the backbone of armies...
OSUT
- Fort Jackson, South Carolina
South Carolina is a U.S. state that borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown during the American Revolution. The colony was...
; largest of all BCT locations. Currently trains about 80% of female recruits.
- Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Missouri is a state in the Midwest region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Missouri is the 18th most populous state with a 2008 estimated population of 5,911,605. It comprises 114 counties and one independent city....
; also provides engineeringCombat engineering is a combat arms role of using the knowledge, tools and techniques of engineering by troops in peace and war, but specifically in combat...
, chemical warfareChemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons to kill, injure, or incapacitate an enemy....
and military policeMilitary police are normally the police of a military organization.Military police may refer to:* a section of the military solely responsible for policing the armed forces...
OSUT
- Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, OklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,617,316 residents in 2007 and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
; also provides artilleryArtillery is a military combat Arm that employs weapons capable of discharging large projectiles in combat. They are generally capable of adding considerable fire power to the military capability of an armed force...
OSUT
- Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties, with Hardin county receiving the largest benefit, economically. It currently holds the U.S. Army Armor Center, the U.S...
, KentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Kentucky is a Southern state situated in the Upland South, although the state is infrequently placed, geographically and culturally, in the Midwest. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a...
; also provides armor OSUT (after 2009, armor OSUT moves to Fort Benning)
Female Army recruits are sent to Fort Leonard Wood,
Fort SillFort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, or Fort Jackson, which have gender-integrated training.
Advanced Individual Training
AIT is held at the corresponding school for the recruit's MOS.
For more information on the different AIT schools, see Advanced Individual Training below.
Reception Battalion
Reception Battalion (RECBN) is the period that begins when the recruit arrives at the Army post where he or she is to undergo Basic Training. It typically last 4 to 10 days, and is where initial preparations for training are performed, including:
- Haircut (head shave for men; women must either cut hair short or wear pinned up)
- Physical examination (including blood and urine tests)
- Inoculation
Inoculation is the placement of something to where it will grow or reproduce, and is most commonly used in respect of the introduction of a serum, vaccine, or antigenic substance into the body of a human or animal, especially to produce or boost immunity to a specific disease; but also can be used...
s
- Distribution of uniforms and personal gear, such as duffel bag and mouth guard.
- Instruction in basic marching and standing, as well as upkeep of barracks.
- Initial physical assessment test:
- 17 sit-ups within one minute.
- 13 push-ups within one minute.
- Men: one-mile run in 8½ minutes.
- Women: one-mile run in 10½ minutes.
Fitness Training Company
Those recruits that fail the physical assessment test can be held back at Reception Battalion, where they are placed in Fitness Training Company (FTC), sometimes referred to in slang form as "Fat Camp." FTC involves daily, rigorous physical training and diet monitoring by Master Fitness Trainers (MFTs). Recruits in FTC are given 2 chances each week to complete the physical assessment test, and upon passing are allowed to move on to the next phase of Basic Training. Recruits that spend 4 weeks in FTC without passing the physical assessment test (failing the test 8 times) may be discharged from the Army via an Entry Level Separation
(see Discharge from Basic Training below).
Recruits that sustain injuries during Basic Training, such as a broken arm, may also be assigned to a FTC for rehabilitation.
Basic Combat Training
Basic Combat Training, or BCT, is a nine-week training period that teaches identical skills for all MOSs (
Military Occupational Specialties). This is because the Army believes that no matter the soldier's specialty, they should all be taught the basic skills of combat so they will be ready to properly defend themselves (as well as their fellow soldiers) when and if necessary.
BCT is divided into three phases, each phase lasting three weeks. The three phases are each represented by a color (red, white, and blue). BCT trainees are progressively allowed more responsibility, privileges, and independence each time they achieve a new phase of training. Whereas trainees in Phase I are constantly monitored and led around by their drill sergeants, Phase III trainees are largely responsible for making sure tasks are completed correctly and on-time, and keeping themselves on-schedule.
At some Basic Training stations, the current phase is denoted by the color of guidon carried by the platoon. Following the recruits' successful completion of the Field Training Exercise (a final exercise just before graduation), the Phase III blue guidon is sometimes traded for a tri-color red, white, and blue guidon that symbolizes successful completion of all three BCT phases.
Phase I
During Phase I or "Red Phase", also called the "Patriot phase" recruits are subject to "Total Control", meaning their every action is monitored and constantly corrected by drill sergeants. As may be expected, recruits are often subjected to group "corrective action" for even minor infractions. The purpose being to develop an acute attention to detail as well as foster a sense of common responsibility among the unit.
Week 1
Week 1 begins with the recruits meeting the drill sergeants who will be responsible for their training throughout BCT. The drill sergeants pick up their recruits from Reception Battalion and either transport or march them to their
companyA company is a military unit, typically consisting of 75-200 soldiers. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
area. The company area is the common area for the entire company, and is surrounded by four
barracksBarracks are living quarters for personnel on a military post. They are typically very plain and all of the buildings in the housing unit are often uniform structures.-History:...
— one for each
platoonA platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing about 30 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organised into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer...
in the company.
Upon arrival at the company area, recruits are subjected to exercises such as the "bag drill". This is a training exercise in which all the recruits' duffel bags are dumped into one large pile, and the recruits are told to find their personal duffel bags simultaneously, and within a set time limit. The exercise is designed so that the soldiers fail in their task and must keep trying again, until they realize that they must work together in order to complete the task within the time limit. Following the bag drill, the recruits are divided into platoons.
Drill & Ceremony training begins during week 1. This refers to correct procedures for marching, and body movements such as standing at attention, "facing" (right-face/left-face), "at ease," etc. For this and many other exercises, soldiers are sometimes issued fake rifles known as "
rubber duckIn the United States military, a rubber duck or "rubber ducky" refers to a fake weapon, usually an M-16 rifle, used in basic training. Trainees are issued rubber ducks before they have been properly trained to use actual rifles, in order to become familiar with the care, responsible handling, and...
s", so that they can become familiar with the proper handling of their weapon before they have actually been trained to use it. More recently recruits have begun to be issued fully functional M16A2/A4s during the first week of BCT to allow for early familiarization with the weapon.
Classroom instructions are given in each of the seven "Army Core Values," which include loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Note that the initials spell out the mnemonic LDRSHIP (leadership). There are also classes held on subjects that involve day-to-day personal life in the Army, such as sexual harassment and race relations.
Week 2
During week 2, recruits begin unarmed combat training, also known as hand-to-hand combat, Combatives, or Ground Fighting Technique (GFT). The training often culminates in a competition where each platoon chooses one recruit to compete. At gender-integrated training stations, the platoons each choose one male and one female recruit.
Recruits are also instructed in map reading, land navigation, and compass use. These skills are put to the test at the Compass Course, where recruits are divided into groups and must navigate their way to a series of points throughout a wooded area.
Recruits will also tackle other physical challenges including Victory Tower and the Teamwork Development Course. Victory Tower is an exercise where recruits must navigate through several obstacles at extreme heights, including climbing and traversing rope ladders and bridges. They must then rappel down a 50-foot wall (back-first, with rope harness). In the Teamwork Development Course, squads must negotiate a series of obstacles, with emphasis on working as a team rather than as individuals.
First aid training is also given during this period. Recruits are trained in evaluating and properly treating casualties, ranging from the simple dressing of a wound to application of a tourniquet. Recruits are also trained in how to evaluate and treat heat casualties such as dehydration. Proper procedures for setting up and removing an
IVIntravenous therapy or IV therapy is the giving of liquid substances directly into a vein. It can be intermittent or continuous; continuous administration is called an intravenous drip. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein", but is most commonly used to refer to IV therapy...
are now being introduced, including closely supervised live practice on each other.
Week 3
Recruits begin training for
bayonetA bayonet is a knife-, dagger-, sword-, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear. It is a close quarter battle combat or last-resort weapon.-History: The origins of the bayonet are...
use using
pugil stickDr. Armond Seilder of the University of New Mexico was the inventor of the Pugil Stick training method during World War II. This training was initially adopted by the Marine Corps. He was given an award by the Marine Corps for his invention....
s and then move on to the Bayonet Assault Course. Other hands-on instruction sessions include person-carrying methods and physical problem-solving.
Recruits are also commonly sent to the "gas chamber" during this week, which is a large, sealed chamber where soldiers are subjected to
CS gasCS gas is the common name for 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile , a "tear gas" that is used as a riot control agent. It is generally accepted as being non-lethal...
while wearing their protective masks. The gas chamber is the culmination of a series of instructions on gas mask use. Recruits are forced to unmask just before exiting the chamber, so that they can briefly experience the effects of the gas. Drill sergeants will usually ask each recruit to recite information while they are unmasked, such as name, rank, social security number, the
Pledge of AllegianceThe Pledge of Allegiance to the United States is an oath of loyalty to the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with the most recent change adding the words "under God" in 1954...
, the Soldiers' Creed, or the three Army general orders, so that the recruit is forced to open their mouth/eyes and/or take a breath. Recruits that answer incorrectly are sometimes sent for another trip through the gas chamber.
Week 3 is also when the recruits are introduced to their standard-issue weapon, the
M16A2 assault rifleThe M16 is the U.S. military designation for the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle....
or the
M4 carbineThe M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2 assault rifle, achieving 80% parts commonality with the M16A2...
. This does not yet involve the actual firing of the rifle. It does include Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) fundamentals training (instruction in marksmanship techniques without firing the rifle), as well as maintenance tasks, including "field stripping" (quickly disassembling) the rifle, cleaning it, and reassembling it correctly. With the focus toward Weapon Familiarization, many of these tasks (such as maintenance, and disassembly and reassembly) are now done during Week 1 as a part of the initial round of classroom instruction.
Phase II
Phase II, called the "White Phase" or "Gunfighter Phase", is where soldiers begin actually firing weapons. With the assault rifle (M16 A2), they will fire at various targets, which are progressively further-and-further downrange, resulting in more-and-more difficult shooting. Additionally, there are pop-up targets at long range. Other weapons the soldier becomes familiarized with include various
grenadesA hand grenade is an anti-personnel weapon that explodes a short time after release. The French military term grenade probably comes from the shape of the pomegranate fruit, which is also called grenade in French....
(such as the
M67 fragmentation grenadeThe M67 grenade is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the United States Military and Canadian Forces, where it is referred to as the C13. The M67 is a replacement for the M61 grenade used during Vietnam and the older Mk 2 "pineapple" grenade used since World War II.-Description:The M67 can be...
) and
grenade launcherA grenade launcher is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
s (such as the
M203 grenade launcherThe M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher that attaches to many rifles, but was originally designed for the U.S. M16 and its variant, the M4 Carbine. In the U.S. military, when a rifle or carbine is equipped with the launcher, both weapons are collectively referred to as an M203...
).
The second week of Phase II involves familiarization with the bayonet, anti-tank/armor weaponry and other heavy weapons. There is also an obstacle course which the soldiers are expected to negotiate in a certain amount of time. This is also known as the
confidence course since the main objective of running the course is to build self-confidence. There is also the expectation of working as a team with the assigned Battle Buddy.
Additionally, there is continual, intense physical training (PT), as well as drill and ceremony training. At the conclusion of Phase II, soldiers are expected to demonstrate proficiency with the various weaponry in which they trained, using numerous "
go or no-go" (pass/fail) exercises, prior to being allowed to move on to Phase III.
Phase III
Phase III, the "Blue Phase" or "Warrior Phase" is the culmination and the most challenging of all the training phases. During this phase, there is a PT final. At some locations, soldiers that fail are not allowed to go into the field with the rest of the platoon. The Final PT Test consists of the Standard Army Annual PT Examination. A minimum of 150 points is required to pass US Army Basic Training. Those that pass will move on to "Bivouac" (camping) and FTX (
Field Training ExerciseA Field training exercise, generally shortened to the acronym "FTX", describes a highly coordinated and well planned exercise conducted by military units for training purposes.-FTX's in Active Duty:...
s), such as nighttime combat operations and
MOUTUrban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities.Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
training. There is no access to the dining facility during these exercises, so meals are given in the form of either MREs (Meal Ready to Eat) or "hot alphas". Drill sergeants will make much of this an adversarial process, working against the recruits in many of the night operations, trying to foil plans, etc. Other BCT companies also in their FTX weeks may join in simulated combat scenarios, generally at night, with intense competition to prove their particular company the better trained.
Week 2 of Phase III (the 8th week of Basic Training) culminates in a special tactical FTX (
Field Training ExerciseA Field training exercise, generally shortened to the acronym "FTX", describes a highly coordinated and well planned exercise conducted by military units for training purposes.-FTX's in Active Duty:...
), during which the drill sergeants will advise, but allow recruit platoon leaders and squad leaders to exercise primary decision-making. They attempt to make virtually every one of these exercises different. Due to the fact that being a soldier is potentially an extremely hazardous job, recruits must demonstrate extreme aggression and fearlessness, tempered by intelligence and common sense. Only those that demonstrate these vital attributes will be permitted to move on to AIT.
Following their FTX, recruits then move into the final week of training, often called "recovery week". At this time, soldiers must service and/or repair any items they are not taking on to AIT including weapons, bedding, issued equipment (helmet, canteen, gas mask, etc.) as well as ensuring the platoon barracks is in good order to receive the next platoon of trainees. This week also includes a final fitting of the recruit's dress uniform as well as practice for the graduation ceremony which takes place at the end of the week.
Advanced Individual Training
Advanced Individual Training, or AIT, is where new soldiers receive specific training in their chosen MOS. The length of AIT training varies depending on the MOS and can last anywhere from three weeks to nearly two years. The current longest AIT training lasts 84 weeks (1 year and 8 months).
Just like BCT, AIT progressively allows trainees more and more privileges. At the start of AIT, trainees are in Phase IV. After a varying length of time and satisfactory performance, the trainees are awarded Phase V. Phase V often includes the privilege of applying for off-post passes or use of a cell phone. Phase V+ is awarded after a similar length of time and continued good conduct. Phase V+ trainees may walk about the base without having a battle buddy present, be able to drink alcohol on weekends (provided one is of legal drinking age), and even stay off-post overnight on weekends. These privileges vary, however.
AIT schools
Army AIT schools include
(not a complete list):
- Adjutant General School, located at Fort Jackson, SC.
- Air Defense Artillery School, located at Fort Bliss, TX.
- Armor School
The United States Army Armor School is a training school located at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Its primary focus is the training of United States Army soldiers, NCOs, and commissioned officers in the operation, tactics, and maintenance of Armor forces and equipment, including the M1 Abrams main battle...
, located at Fort Knox, KY.
- Army Aviation Center, located at Fort Rucker, AL.
- Aviation Logistics School, located at Fort Eustis, VA.
- Chaplain Center and School, located at Fort Jackson, SC.
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School, located at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
- Engineer School
Engineer School may refer to:* Engineer Officer Basic Course, a US Army education programme* Marine Corps Engineer School* Royal Engineers - Construction Engineer School* Grandes écoles, a form of University in France...
, located at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
- Field Artillery Center
The United States Army Field Artillery School trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander...
, located at Fort Sill, OK.
- Finance Corps School, located at Fort Jackson, SC.
- Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade *197th Infantry Brigade...
, located at Fort Benning, GA. |
Intelligence CenterThe United States Army Intelligence Center is the United States Army's school for professional training of military intelligence personnel...
, located at Fort Huachuca, AZ.
Medical Department Center and Schools, located at Fort Sam Houston, TX.
Military Police School, located at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School, located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Ordnance Munitions and Electronics Maintenance School, located at Redstone Arsenal, AL.
Quartermaster SchoolThe Quartermaster Center and School is a subordinate command of the United States Army's Combined Arms Support Command and is located at Fort Lee, Virginia.-Description:...
, located at Fort Lee, VA.
Signal School, located at Fort Gordon, GA.
United States Army Signals Intelligence Analysts School, located at Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX.
Transportation School, located at Fort Eustis, VA. |
Punishable activities
Activities that are prohibited during Basic Training include (but are not limited to):
- Insubordination
Insubordination is the act of a subordinate deliberately disobeying a lawful order from someone in charge of them. Refusing to perform an action which is unethical or illegal is not insubordination; neither is refusing to perform an action which is not within the scope of authority of the person...
- Use of any tobacco product.
- Possession/consumption of food, except during designated meal hours (or "chow time") and in designated areas
- Possession of any contraband
The English word contraband, reported in English since 1529, from Medieval French contrebande "a smuggling," derived via Italian contrabbando from Latin contra "against" + Middle Latin bannum , denotes any item which, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed,...
- Failure to perform duty (such as neglecting fire watch or CQ watch duties)
- Being absent without leave (AWOL)
- Fraternization
Article 15
When a recruit engages in a prohibited activity, their drill sergeant may recommend the Commander impose non-judicial punishment (UCMJ Article 15). An Article 15 is a type of disciplinary action, also known as
nonjudicial punishmentNonjudicial punishment in the United States military, is a form of military discipline authorized by Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Nonjudicial punishment permits commanders to administratively discipline troops without a court-martial. The receipt of nonjudicial punishment...
, and can entail any or all of the following:
- Restriction to specific limits (normally work, barracks, place of worship, mess hall, and medical facilities) for up to 45 days
- Extra duty for up to 45 days, usually meaning that the recruit's personal time is replaced with work detail
- Forfeiture of up to one month's pay over a period of two months
- Reduction by one grade of rank (demotion), which also means a permanent pay reduction until the recruit is promoted again
- Verbal or written reprimand
If a drill sergeant sees fit to recommend an Article 15, the recruit is brought before the company commander and given the choice to have a public or private hearing. In either case, the drill sergeant recommending the Article 15 presents their reasons for the recommendation, as well as a recommendation for an appropriate punishment. The recruit is then given the opportunity to defend their actions. If the company commander then agrees with the recommendation, the Article 15 is imposed. The recruit is then given the choice of either accepting the punishment or appealing the decision. If the recruit chooses to appeal, he or she is brought before the battalion commander, who makes the final decision following a similar hearing.
There are various grades of Article 15.
- A Summarized Article 15 can put the recruit on corrective training or extra duty for up to 14 days, and restrict the recruit to certain designated areas. This restriction bears the most weight during AIT, when "pass" privileges are revoked, meaning the recruit is confined to barracks while others are allowed the use of certain recreational facilities on base.
- A Company Grade Article 15 extends the severity and length of these disciplinary actions, and can also impose a deduction taken from the recruit's pay and one reduction of rank.
- A Field Grade Article 15 can impose some or all of the most severe actions, and can include two reductions in rank. This goes on the permanent file, and is not erased after graduation.
Some combinations of actions can also consist of being "held over" to start training from a phase already passed.
Discharge from Basic Training
A recruit can be discharged from the Army before the conclusion of Basic Training. Discharges that occur before the completion of 180 days (approximately 6 months) of training are considered uncharacterized, which are neither honorable nor less than honorable.
- An Entry Level Separation (ELS) can occur when a recruit demonstrates unsatisfactory performance and/or misconduct. A recruit can only be ELS'd after at least 4 weeks of training and 2 counseling sessions, except under extreme circumstances, such as the recruit being deemed suicidal.
- If it is found that a recruit is unable to train due to a chronic medical condition, he or she may obtain a medical discharge by the recommendation of an Army medical doctor.
- A discharge due to any condition Existing Prior To Service (EPTS) may occur when a recruit is found to have a prior medical condition existing before enlistment.
See also
- Recruit training
Recruit training is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel. It may be common to all recruits, officers being selected on the basis of competency shown during recruit training, or for the enlisted ranks only...
- United States Marine Corps Recruit Training
United States Marine Corps Recruit Training, commonly known as "Boot Camp" is a program of initial training that each recruit must successfully complete in order to join the United States Marine Corps...
- Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois
- United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May is the home of the Coast Guard enlisted corps and is the Coast Guard's only enlisted accession point and recruit training center. It is located on 1 Munro Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey....