Information on Army Basic Training

Army basic training transforms civilians into soldiers.

Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) is where civilians are transformed into soldiers. From the day they arrive at boot camp, recruits are submerged in a military environment. But BCT is more than physical training and marksmanship. Boot camp trains officers and enlisted soldiers alike how to follow, how to lead and how to survive.

Preparation

Cardiovascular exercise and weight-training programs should be implemented months before Army BCT. If a recruit fails her initial physical fitness assessment, she will be sent to the Fitness Training Company and will not continue with BCT.

Locations

Fort Benning, Fort Jackson, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Sill and Fort Knox all serve as BCT sites. Where a recruit is sent depends on her Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), although Fort Benning and Fort Knox do not train female recruits.

Time Frame

The nine weeks of Army BCT are divided into three phases. Red Phase includes general orientation, basic tactical training and the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). White Phase introduces combat training, including Basic Rifle Marksmanship. Blue Phase is characterized by the Night Infiltration Course, the final test of BCT.

Skills

Army BCT instills physical and mental skills alike. Recruits train with rifles, grenades and bayonets, but they also learn from the Seven Army Core Values.

Graduation

To graduate from BCT, certain tests must be passed within strict parameters, including the APFT, Basic Rifle Marksmanship and the Gas Chamber.

References

• United States Army: Basic Combat Training
• Army.com: Basic Training