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How much training do you have to do in the military? How many days does it take to train in the military? Is it hard?
Hello! I'm Ms. Tingle at the International Community School. My 5th graders have a few questions and I'd like to share your advice with them. Thanks so much!
#military
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8 answers
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Neal’s Answer
This is a wonderful question because serving in the military is one of the most honorable things a person can do to serve their country and support their community. My father served in the military as well as 60% of my high school friends. In high school I was in Jr ROTC and served as battalion commander and it was wonderful.
Training in the military will depend on the branch of service you want to join, Army, Navy, Airforce, or Marines. You must first complete basic training which can take 8 to 12 weeks. From there you start specialty training for the specific job you will do while in the military. That specialty training is on the job training with some classroom training all designed to make sure you are ready to perform the work in any condition peace or war time. Military training is some of the best training you can ever get and one skill the military will teach you is leadership. This is something you can take even if you choose to leave the military.
Basic training is physical and helps you become strong physically and mentally which will help you when you start on the specialty training.
Go online and look at each branch and see which feels right for you.
Training in the military will depend on the branch of service you want to join, Army, Navy, Airforce, or Marines. You must first complete basic training which can take 8 to 12 weeks. From there you start specialty training for the specific job you will do while in the military. That specialty training is on the job training with some classroom training all designed to make sure you are ready to perform the work in any condition peace or war time. Military training is some of the best training you can ever get and one skill the military will teach you is leadership. This is something you can take even if you choose to leave the military.
Basic training is physical and helps you become strong physically and mentally which will help you when you start on the specialty training.
Neal recommends the following next steps:
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Maria’s Answer
Well, there are a few tests you will have to pass, the basics are to run a mile and a half, do about 50 pushups, 100 sit ups. If you are able to do these you are already in shape for the military. Depending on the branch you will have other requirements to learn and perform in basic training. Good luck
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Robert’s Answer
The military is hard but it is designed to bring the best out of people. If you know you want to be in the military and you are in decent shape when you join, you will do fine.
If you are not in shape or are not sure its for you reach out to a local recruiter and ask about opportunities to work out with the recruiters.
If you are not in shape or are not sure its for you reach out to a local recruiter and ask about opportunities to work out with the recruiters.
Good advice but can you speak more on how long the actual training takes?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Updated
Ari’s Answer
What a great question! There are many ways to join the military:
1. Enlist on what's called "active duty" when you are 18 years old or older
2. Enlist in what's called "reserves/National Guard" when you are 18 years old or older
3. Become an officer through Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) through college OR by going to a service academy like the Naval Academy in Annapolis
4. Become an officer through programs for junior enlisted people.
The difference between officers and enlisted? Generally, the officers are the people who are entrusted with providing direction and orders, and the enlisted people are the those who carry out the orders (although officers do carry out orders AND some enlisted people do give orders).
For training, general basic training for enlisted people is up to 16 weeks. For officers, you could be training for up to 4 years (going through college) before you become an officer.
I STRONGLY suggest you speak with someone who is/was in the military to discuss their experiences. Keep in mind, the military has literally thousands of different jobs (just like there are in society), so it's not just about firing a weapon or going in harms way all the time.
I also STRONGLY suggest you read up the military, either through sponsored websites OR books.
1. Enlist on what's called "active duty" when you are 18 years old or older
2. Enlist in what's called "reserves/National Guard" when you are 18 years old or older
3. Become an officer through Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) through college OR by going to a service academy like the Naval Academy in Annapolis
4. Become an officer through programs for junior enlisted people.
The difference between officers and enlisted? Generally, the officers are the people who are entrusted with providing direction and orders, and the enlisted people are the those who carry out the orders (although officers do carry out orders AND some enlisted people do give orders).
For training, general basic training for enlisted people is up to 16 weeks. For officers, you could be training for up to 4 years (going through college) before you become an officer.
Ari recommends the following next steps:
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James’s Answer
My friend. It depends on the branch of the military, and it depends on your job. You'll always be training on something. Whether it be a new skill, or sustaining one you already have, you will be busy. I will describe the training that I went through in the Marine Corps.
- 13 weeks of Basic Training (weapons, martial arts, drill, uniforms, tactics, knowledge, military history, ceremonies, conditioning, etc.)
- 4 weeks of Combat Training (advanced weapons training, defensive tactics, explosives, conditioning)
- 4 weeks of Naval Corrections Academy (basics of corrections, ethics, verbal judo, use of force, chemical munitions, etc.)
This is just the training I did before performing my normal duties in the Fleet Marine Force. I continued to train in the fleet, and attended follow on courses later on in my career.
- 13 weeks of Basic Training (weapons, martial arts, drill, uniforms, tactics, knowledge, military history, ceremonies, conditioning, etc.)
- 4 weeks of Combat Training (advanced weapons training, defensive tactics, explosives, conditioning)
- 4 weeks of Naval Corrections Academy (basics of corrections, ethics, verbal judo, use of force, chemical munitions, etc.)
This is just the training I did before performing my normal duties in the Fleet Marine Force. I continued to train in the fleet, and attended follow on courses later on in my career.
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Jackson’s Answer
Hello Ms. Tingle, the military does require you to attend a boot camp for your respective branch, some are 8 weeks and the Marine Corps is 13. In The Marine Corps, you are sent to follow-on training where you'll learn the basics of warfighting and combat for roughly a month, after which you will be sent to actually learn your job. My job's schoolhouse was only a month, but some jobs require you to go to school for over a year. After all of the training and school are done, you reach your unit. Even though you've made it, you still have to train physically most days to keep yourself in fighting shape. Every year the Marine Corps makes every Marine run two separate fitness tests, the CFT and PFT. These tests ensure you are physically fit enough to be a Marine.
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Brooklyn’s Answer
Hello! It really depends on what job you have. I am in the navy, as a xray tech. That means whenever someone gets hurt, I’m the one using xrays to take picture of their body. I did 2 months in boot camp. Then I did 4 months training to be a Corpsman, which is basically a medic for the Navy. Then, I did 13 months of school to do X-rays! It can be hard sometimes when you have to exercise all the time, but being in the military means you have to stay in shape. Otherwise, as long as you behave, the military is just another job. Hope you all have a great day!
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Connor’s Answer
Good Afternoon Ms. Tingle,
I will give my perspective currently being enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Boot Camp was my initial training which took 13 weeks. This training is meant to be tough and demanding, with little to no contact with the outside world. (No Internet!) Next Marines go to a school house where they learn their job. The school lengths vary from just a few weeks to over a year. I currently train almost every day with my Marines with a lot of running and physically demanding exercises. This training is meant to keep us ready to go, to fight for our country at a moments notice as we joined to do.
I will give my perspective currently being enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Boot Camp was my initial training which took 13 weeks. This training is meant to be tough and demanding, with little to no contact with the outside world. (No Internet!) Next Marines go to a school house where they learn their job. The school lengths vary from just a few weeks to over a year. I currently train almost every day with my Marines with a lot of running and physically demanding exercises. This training is meant to keep us ready to go, to fight for our country at a moments notice as we joined to do.