Military recruit training

U.S. Army recruits learn about bayonet fighting skills in an infantry Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Recruit training is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, typically in the enlisted ranks. Officer trainees undergo a much longer program, either in an officer training academy, in ROTC (in the United States) at college level, or at Officer Candidate School after college graduation, since warfare has become much more complex and technological than in the past.

A camp specifically devoted to this purpose is known as boot camp, after the heavy, often pinching (and soon blistering) footwear that is part of the new combat uniform issued to recruits there; also, in past parlance, new recruits were called "boots" by their instructors. The term is also used for the general training period they spend there before they get to their own combat or other units, where besides refresher courses they may also be given more job-specific training.

Overview

The process has been described by Canadian military historian Gwynne Dyer as a form of conditioning in which inductees are encouraged to partially submerge their individuality for the good of their unit. Dyer argues that this conditioning is essential for military function because combat requires people to endure stress and perform actions which are simply not present in normal life.

The nature and extent of this conditioning varies from one military service to another. Some systems of training seek to totally break down the individual and remold that person to the desired behaviour. Other systems attempt to change the individual to suit the organization, whilst retaining key elements of the recruit's personality. The differences between the two approaches are often subtle.

Standard uniforms are issued and male recruits may have their heads shaved in order to make their appearance as uniform as possible. Females are not permitted to have shaved heads ^{[citation needed]}, but are required to keep their hair off their shoulders or collar. The haircut is one method intended to increase cohesion. Recruits are generally given a service number. Even some military personnel have said training is a mildly traumatic experience intended to produce a bond by shared experience. (See capture-bonding.) It has been said that a significant part of boot camp is psychological. The reasoning seems to be that if a recruit cannot be relied upon to obey orders and follow instructions in routine matters--be they folding one's clothing, standing at attention, paying proper attention to hygiene--it is unlikely that he or she will be reliable in a combat situation, where there may be a strong urge to disobey orders or flee. The recruit who cannot work as part of a team (the unit) and comply with the routine tasks of boot camp, therefore, is more likely to place oneself, one's comrades, and the mission in jeopardy. The training regularly includes physical fitness, and instruction in military courtesy, tradition, history, and uniform care and wear.

Training topics

Recruits are instructed in "drill": to stand, march, and respond to orders in an unquestioning manner. Historically, drills are derived from 18th-century military tactics in which soldiers in a fire line performed precise and coordinated movements to load and fire weapons. Although these tactics are now obsolete, drilling performs a psychological function, by inculcating the response to commands and training the recruit to act unhesitatingly in the face of real combat situations. It can also serve a role in leadership training. Combat situations include not only commands to engage and put one's life in danger, but also commands to disengage when military necessity so demands. Most military commentators say that this conditioning is essential for military function, because without it, a military unit would likely disintegrate under the stress of combat and degenerate into a mere armed mob. According to Finnish Army regulations, the close-order drill serves four functions:

is essential for the esprit de corps and cohesion for battlefield
gets the recruits used to instinctive obedience and following the orders
enables large units to be marched and moved in an orderly manner
creates the basis on action in the battlefield

Critique to drill is that it is a fairly inefficient method of training, based on behavioristic method, which does not enable the subjects to learn anything by heuristics, and can be used only to instill very simple and trivial things, like series of movements, therefore consuming resources from combat and weapons training.

Recruits are usually subjected to rigorous physical training, both to prepare for the demands of combat and to weed out the less able or insufficiently motivated. This also builds morale for the remaining recruits who have met the physical requirements.

Army and Marine recruits are trained in basic marksmanship with individually-assigned weapons, field maintenance of weapons, hand-to-hand combat, physical fitness training, first aid, protective equipment usage, and basic survival techniques. Navy and Coast Guard training focuses on water survival training, physical fitness, basic seamanship, and skills such as shipboard firefighting, basic engineering, and signals. Air force training includes physical fitness training, military and classroom instructions, as well as field training in basic marksmanship, firefighting, first aid, and protective equipment usage.

Canada

The Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force were unified into one service, the Canadian Armed Forces (or simply "Canadian Forces") in 1968. A unified training system was devised that remains in place today. Most non-commissioned CF recruits in the Regular Force (full time) are trained at Canadian Forces Base St-Jean, Quebec. After basic training, personnel are trained in the specialty of their "environment". Members of the Maritime Branch undergo a five week sea environment training course and members of the Land Forces Command undergo a 10 week field training course.

Reservists, particularly the Army Reserve, may conduct basic and trades training part-time, generally alternating weekends. Due to increased integration of the Regular and Reserve Force, many reservists attend courses hosted by the Regular Force. Members of the Army Reserve complete an 8 week BMQ/SQ course (Basic Military Qualification and Soldier Qualification) during the summer if their employer or school permits. The Naval and Air Reserve jointly conduct BMQ for its recruits at the Naval Reserve Training Division Borden, at Canadian Forces Base Borden. The Navy trains its personnel in seamanship, firefighting, damage control and other skills after BMQ, in the Naval Environmental Training Program (NETP) in either Esquimalt or Halifax.

Israel

Main article: Tironut

The recruit training of the Israel Defense Forces (called tironut in Hebrew) varies depending on the unit, where virtually each unique unit completes a different training course. Recruits are certified as riflemen after the completion of the training, where Rifleman 02 is the easiest and least demanding level (for non-combat units), whereas Rifleman 07 (for infantry) is much more difficult. Every combat corps and some combat support and non-combat ones have their own training base for the recruit training, while most non-combat units train in all-army bases for the certification of Rifleman 02.

Individuals desiring to become officers must apply to be trained at a facility in the Negev desert called "Bechad One" - The 'West Point' of Israel. They must abide by a Code of Conduct and can be dismissed at anytime for failing to abide by that Code, which includes failure to pick up a piece of paper on the ground or failing to offer a seat on a bus to an elderly individual. Although less than 20% of those entering Bechad One come from an Orthodox background, approximately two-thirds of career officers in the IDF come from Orthodox backgrounds.

Pakistan

Main article: Pakistan Military Academy

Pakistan Military Academy (or PMA) is a Military Academy of Pakistan Army. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in NWFP, Pakistan. The Pakistan Military Academy is equivalent to Sandhurst or West Point or Tironut and provides training to the officers of Pakistan Army. The academy has three training battallions and twelve companies.

Singapore

In Singapore, national service is compulsary. Recruits enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces have to go through Basic Military training (BMT). Based on their medical Pulheems (PES) grading, recruits may undergo standard, enhanced, modified, or obese BMT at an offshore island known as Pulau Tekong. During the course of their BMT, they are expected to learn command drills, go through obstacle courses, survive a gruelling field camp, undergo fitness tests, throw a live grenade, learn how to operate a rifle and master the basics of being a soldier. They are also expected to mingle with other recruits from their platoon despite being from different walks of life. At the end of BMT, they will have a passing-out parade (POP) to signify the transition from civilian to soldier. After BMT, the recruit will then be posted to a military unit which is determined by their life skills and suitability for deployment. Many men who have served National Service will agree that Basic Military Training was a memorable time in their life.

United States

Some services present a badge or other award to denote completion of recruit training. The United States Army typically issues the Army Service Ribbon (issued after completion of Advanced Individual Training), and the United States Air Force presents the Air Force Training Ribbon and the Airman's Coin. The United States Marine Corps issue the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor once initial training is complete to signify that the recruits are now Marines. The United States Navy replaces the "RECRUIT" ball cap the recruits have worn throughout training with the "NAVY" ball cap upon successful completion of "Battle Stations". The ceremony at which this takes place, signifying the transition from recruit to sailor, is often a very emotional one as the recruits are both physically and psychologically drained after the grueling ordeal of the final stage of recruit training.

For honor graduates of basic training, both the Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force present a Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon. The Navy and Marine Corps often meritoriously advances the top graduates of each division one pay-grade (up to a maximum of E-3).

Coast Guard

Recruit training for United States Coast Guard is held at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, NJ.

Air Force

The U.S. Air Force’s Basic Military Training (BMT) is 6 1/2 weeks long and is conducted at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. During BMT, personnel are referred to as trainees until they have completed their fifth week of training, after which they are referred to as Airmen. Trainees receive military instruction (including the Air Force core values, flight and individual drill, and living area inspections), academic classes (covering topics such as Air Force history, dress and appearance, military customs and courtesies, ethics, security, and alcohol/drug abuse prevention and treatment), and field training (including protection against biological and chemical attack, basic marksmanship on the M-16 rifle, and first aid). Following BMT, airmen go to a technical school (or “tech school”) where they learn the specifics of their Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC, which is similar to the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) in the Army and Marines) or the Navy's NEC (Naval Enlisted Classification) code.

Army

The U.S. Army has five sites for basic training:

Fort Benning, Georgia; (Infantry Advanced Individual Training)
Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Fort Knox, Kentucky; (Armor, Cavalry Scout Advanced Individual Training)
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; (Engineering, Chemical Warfare and Military Police Advanced Individual Training)
Fort Sill, Oklahoma; (Artillery Advanced Individual Training)

In the Army, the location recruits are sent to depends on their MOS which they select when they enlist. Female Army recruits go to Fort Leonard Wood, or Fort Jackson, which have gender-integrated training. The follow-up training, called “AIT,” for “Advanced Individual Training,” is usually in another portion of the post.

With some MOSes, the Army has a group of recruits with the same MOS go through the two training phases together as a unit with the same cadre of instructors. This is called “OSUT,” for “One Station Unit Training.” For example, the infantry MOS entails nine weeks of basic training, followed by four weeks of infantry training. A similar program is followed for cavalry scouts and field artillery.

Marine Corps

File:MCRD Lights Out.jpg

A Marine Drill Instructor inspects his platoon shortly before Lights Out.

U.S. Marine boot camps are at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. All female enlisted Marines go to Parris Island. Men go to either, depending on whether they were recruited east or west of the Mississippi River.

Basic training for Marines is a 13-week long program, which is followed by infantry training which is mandatory for Marines of all military occupational specialties (MOS). The Marine Corps' 13-week long recruit training is the longest in United States Armed Services. All Marines receive follow-on schooling conducted at the Schools Of Infantry located at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (for Parris Island graduates) and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California (for San Diego graduates). Marines with an Infantry MOS (03XX) are assigned to Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) companies A-D. Marines with non-infantry MOS designations go to Marine Combat Training Battalion (MCT) companies E-H. ITB and MCT are both run by the School Of Infantry, but MCT is a more generalized form of training whereas ITB is MOS specific. After graduation from the School of Infantry, Marines who have a non-infantry MOS will continue on to yet another school for training in their specific job field.

Navy

The U.S. Navy currently operates boot camp at Recruit Training Center Great Lakes, located at Naval Station Great Lakes, near North Chicago, Illinois. Training lasts approximately eight weeks (although some recruits will spend as many as nine weeks in training due to the somewhat complicated inprocessing cycle). After completion of boot camp, freshly minted "Sailors" are sent either to various "A" Schools located across the United States, where they begin training to recieve their ratings (jobs) or to apprenticeship training, where they then enter the fleet undesignated.

The Navy formerly operated Recruit Training Centers in San Diego, California and Orlando, Florida. As of 2006, only RTC Great Lakes is currently in operation with no plans to open new training centers or reopen past training centers.

References

USAREC (2003). US Army DEP Guide: Army Terminology. United States Army Recruiting Command. Fort Knox, KY (USA).