Basic Training

Duration:

10 weeks

Locations:

Fort Jackson (SC), Fort Sill (OK), Fort Leonard Wood (MO)

Training Phases

• Red Phase (Weeks 1–3): Reception, in-processing, Army values, basic drill and ceremony, physical training begins, first aid, land navigation basics
• White Phase (Weeks 4–6): M4 rifle marksmanship, advanced first aid, tactical training, obstacle courses, bayonet training, team-building exercises
• Blue Phase (Weeks 7–9): Field training exercises (FTX), tactical road marches, night operations, final PT test, the Forge (multi-day field exercise)
• Week 10: Graduation preparation, family day, graduation ceremony

Army Fitness Test (AFT — 2025)

The AFT (formerly ACFT) replaced the old 3-event APFT. It has 5 events:

1. 3-Repetition Maximum Deadlift — heavy deadlift for max weight
2. Hand-Release Push-Ups — push-ups with full chest-to-ground release between reps
3. Sprint-Drag-Carry — 5×50-meter shuttle (sprint, sled drag, lateral shuffle, carry, sprint)
4. Plank — timed forearm plank hold
5. 2-Mile Run

• 0–100 points per event, 500 max total
• Minimum passing: 60 points per event, 300 total (general standard)
• Combat arms soldiers (21 MOSs): 350 total with sex-neutral, age-normed scoring

Duration:

10 weeks

Location:

Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL (only Navy boot camp)

Key Training Elements

• Academic classes on Navy history, customs, and core values
• Physical fitness training
• Firefighting and damage control (unique to Navy — fighting fires aboard ships)
• Water survival training (confidence course, swimming)
• Weapons qualifications
• Battle Stations: A 12-hour simulated shipboard emergency exercise as the final test

Physical Readiness Test (PRT)

• Push-ups (2 minutes)
• Forearm plank (timed hold — replaced sit-ups)
• 1.5-mile run (or alternatives: 2,000-meter row, 500-meter swim, stationary bike, or PACER)
• Swim qualification required for certain programs

Duration:

13 weeks — the longest of any branch

Locations:

MCRD San Diego, CA (west of Mississippi) & MCRD Parris Island, SC (east)

Training Phases

• Phase 1 (Weeks 1–4): Core values, close-order drill, martial arts, initial physical conditioning, swim qualification, academic instruction
• Phase 2 (Weeks 5–8): M16/M4 rifle qualification, field training, tactical movement, combat water survival
• Phase 3 (Weeks 9–12): Advanced field skills, the Crucible, final drill, final inspections
• Week 13: Marine Week — transition activities, graduation

Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

• Pull-ups (max 100 pts) OR push-ups (max 70 pts — choosing push-ups caps your max PFT score at 270)
• Plank hold (crunches eliminated as of 2023 — plank is the only core option)
• 3-mile run (max time: 28 min males, 31 min females)
• Max 300 points. Minimum: 40 per event, 150 total to pass.

Combat Fitness Test (CFT) — a separate test with 3 events:

• 880-yard run (Movement to Contact)
• 30-lb ammo can lifts (max reps in 2 min)
• 300-yard shuttle course (sprints, crawls, body drag, fireman carry, ammo can carry, grenade throw)
• As of January 2026, combat arms Marines must meet sex-neutral PFT standards (score 210+ using male age-normed tables)

Duration:

7.5 weeks

Location:

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, TX (only location)

Key Training Elements

• Physical conditioning
• Classroom instruction on Air Force core values, customs, and history
• Weapons familiarization (M4 rifle)
• BEAST Week — Basic Expeditionary Airmen Skills Training (tactical field exercise)
• Drill and ceremony
• Community service project

Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA — 2026)

The Air Force overhauled its fitness test for 2026. Airmen choose from options in each category:

• Cardio (50% of score): 2-mile run OR 20-meter HAMR shuttle run
• Upper body (15%): Push-ups (1 min) OR hand-release push-ups (2 min)
• Core (15%): Sit-ups (1 min) OR cross-leg reverse crunches (2 min) OR forearm plank
• Body composition (20%): Waist-to-height ratio (scored)
• Minimum passing: 75 points total. Scored by age and sex.

Duration:

7.5 weeks

Location:

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, TX (same as Air Force)

Space Force Guardians currently attend the same BMT as Air Force recruits. The training content is largely identical, though some Space Force-specific instruction may be incorporated. After BMT, Guardians attend technical training specific to their Space Force specialty.

Human Performance Assessment (2026)

Similar to the Air Force PFA but with key differences:

• Cardio: 2-mile run OR 20-meter HAMR shuttle — but at least one test per year must be the 2-mile run
• Upper body: Push-ups (1 min) OR hand-release push-ups (2 min)
• Core: Sit-ups (1 min) OR cross-leg reverse crunches (2 min) OR forearm plank
• Body composition: Waist-to-height ratio is assessed but not scored (unlike Air Force)

Duration:

8 weeks

Location:

Training Center Cape May, NJ (only Coast Guard boot camp)

Key Training Elements

• Physical fitness training
• Seamanship and marlinspike (knots, line handling)
• Firefighting
• Water survival and swimming (jump off a platform, swim 100 meters)
• First aid and CPR
• Weapons qualifications (pistol and rifle)
• Drill and ceremony
• Coast Guard history and customs

Physical Fitness Test (PFT — 2026)

The Coast Guard launched its first service-wide mandatory fitness test in 2026:

• Push-ups
• Forearm plank (replaced sit-ups)
• 1.5-mile run (or alternatives: 2,000-meter row or 12-minute swim)
• Swim test: jump off a platform into a pool, swim 100 meters

As of late 2025, the U.S. military moved away from traditional height-and-weight tables to a waist-to-height ratio as the primary body composition standard:

• Marine Corps: Waist-to-height ratio below 0.52 (strictest standard)
• Other branches: Generally use 0.55 as the threshold
• This change replaced the old "tape test" method used for decades

1. Start training at least 2–3 months before your ship date. Don't wait.
2. Run regularly. Every branch tests running endurance. Build up to at least 3 miles comfortably.
3. Do push-ups and planks daily. Most branches have replaced sit-ups with the forearm plank.
4. Practice swimming if joining the Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard.
5. Ruck march — practice walking with a weighted backpack (Army and Marines especially).
6. Don't just focus on strengths. A common mistake is only training what you're already good at. Work on weak areas.
7. Get your weight within standards before shipping. Arriving overweight creates immediate problems.
8. Don't overtrain and get injured. Stress fractures from overtraining within 12 months of enlistment are disqualifying.

The First Day

• Expect yelling. Drill instructors will immediately establish authority.
• Personal items stripped, haircut (males: shaved; females: bun standards), uniforms issued
• Expect sleep deprivation in the early days
• Administrative processing — paperwork, ID cards, initial medical/dental

Daily Life

• Wake up early — typically 4:30–5:00 AM
• Physical training (PT) most mornings
• Classroom instruction, practical exercises, and drill throughout the day
• Meals in a dining facility (DFAC) — you eat fast
• Lights out typically 9:00–10:00 PM
• Very limited personal time
• Limited phone calls — usually one or two in the first week, then periodic privileges
• You can receive mail (letters are huge morale boosters)

What You'll Learn

• Military customs, courtesies, and traditions
• Physical fitness and conditioning
• Basic weapons handling and marksmanship
• First aid and tactical combat casualty care
• Land navigation and map reading
• CBRN defense — nuclear, biological, and chemical (includes the gas chamber exercise)
• Team-building and leadership under stress
• Drill and ceremony
• Branch-specific skills (firefighting for Navy, water survival for Marines, etc.)

Graduation Requirements

• Pass the final physical fitness test
• Pass weapons qualification
• Complete all required training events (Crucible, Battle Stations, Forge, or BEAST Week)
• Meet body composition standards
• Pass academic requirements

After graduating boot camp, you proceed to your job-specific training school:

• Army: AIT (Advanced Individual Training) — 4 weeks to over a year depending on MOS
• Navy: "A" School — technical training for your rating
• Marine Corps: MOS school at various locations (e.g., Camp Geiger for infantry, Pensacola for aviation)
• Air Force: Technical Training — varies by AFSC
• Space Force: Technical Training — varies by specialty
• Coast Guard: "A" School — if your rating requires it

Pro Tips

• Don't bring anything you'd be upset to lose. Items can get lost, damaged, or confiscated.
• Pre-label underwear and socks with your last name before arrival.
• Memorize your Social Security number and your recruiter's contact information.
• Set up auto-pay on all bills before you leave — you won't have time to manage finances during training.
• Give a trusted family member power of attorney to handle any emergencies while you're in training.