Last Updated on December 20, 2022
Beginning July 1, 2010, soldiers in Army basic training will undergo a different kind of basic training. Check out these changes.
1. Basic training is now ten weeks instead of nine.
2. The rifle marksmanship portion of basic is extended with more time on the range and more bullets fired.
3. Soldiers now undergo 22 hours of combative training and learn to fight from their feet instead of the more traditional wrestling type of fighting on the ground.
4. More up-to-date medical training is taught, and learning the IV stick has now been eliminated.
5. Physical training is being changed with less emphasis on push-ups, sit-ups and long-distance running. Focus is placed on conditioning muscles that would carry heavy equipment in a combat situation or pull a buddy out of harm’s way.
6. The bayonet assault course is a thing of the past and is being replaced with more pugil and combative training.
7. More focus on Army standards and values.
8. Physical therapists and athletic trainers will participate in initial training to help soldiers achieve higher fitness levels while avoiding injury. More focus will also be put on nutritional requirements.
What do you think about all of these changes?
We’d love to hear from Army soldiers or Army spouses who have undergone the new changes at basic training.
From our point of view, it sounds like a good thing (minus the extra week away!). There seems to be more specific training, and it seems to be changing with the needs of the environment we’re being presented with in deployment situations overseas.
We’d love to hear your thoughts – leave us a comment!
im a 19 yr old engaged to someone leaving for basic shortly. he thinks im not strong enough to not fall apart when he leaves unless a fall apart now. kinda confusing. i kno but anyone got tips for making him less focused on my well being and more focused on whats next?
The best thing you can do is to prove to him that you can take care of yourself. Set an example and prove it through your actions, not just your words!
Im 18 and im engaged to an airbase man. He was scared when he had to leave for basic trianing but after a while and we talked about it. He knew I would be ok. Wht I did was everyday I would wirte in a journal just jotting a few things down, How i fetl what I was going to do for the day. Wht I want to happend in the futiure. THis helped me because when my fiancia comes hom december 17th after his tech scool were going to go over wht i worte and work on some of my feelings. Prove to him that you can do it and that your strong enough to handle it. Even haing your parents help you out or his will be a life saver. I know with out my parents and my financa parents I wouldnt be where I am today.
Hi. My name is Kassie and my husband just joined to the army about a month ago. He went under E.O.D. (for his job) and i have been hearing different kinds of stories about E.O.D. Should i really be worried about his choice of job ? And also how can i plan ahead as far as moving goes?Who do i talk to? im sooo lost ?
Talk to his Seargant that recruited him. They are there to help you with anything you need as well.
Hi. My name is Laraine. My fiance is currnetly getting ready to enlist in the army. I am excited for him because I think he would be an excellent soldier. Im pretty nervous however. I have heard some pretty rough things about the army, and Im not sure if he would handle it. I am doing my very best to help him along the way. Hoever, I know it is simply up to him? I dont really know how to go about getting started? Any advice?
There is a lot of information throughout the site that can help you make the transition. In addition, I have written an ebook that details all there is to know about basic training and what to expect out of Army life. It can be found here: https://marriedtothearmy.com/army-store/army-books/
You can also join us at http://www.armywifechat.com. We have many fiancees there too!
Hey Laraine my fiancia is in the airfoce and he enlisted last year. How i helped him was telling him the postive things. I told him he would do great and that he would be exclent and protect our county. I have heard some rough things about the airbase and the military myself. However, the best person that you should ask is your fiance recrutiter. Thats what I did and i got my asnwers and when they explained it to me better I felt alot better. Just a suggestion. Hope this helps.
im leaving for basic dec. 7th and i know they made changes but wasnt sure what they were. i was wondering if you know about the christmas exodus becae i havea 2 year old and woul love to spend christmas with her butwas wonder the consequencs for that and hats the hole?
It is generally one week before Christmas and one week after. They may have the exact dates posted on the basic training websites now.
Hey, My husband just left for basic training, our daughter will be 4 in sept and our son will be 4 months july 10th. I am new to this wife thing much less an army wife! I need advice and encouragement! I am clueless at how these things go. When will he be able to communicate with me? When and how do i get my ID and health insurance???? Please help!
Hey rebeccca, Im in the same boat your in. I dont have kids however but Im encaged to be married. My finacia just finished 8 hard and long weeks of boot camp and now is in tech school for 34 more days until december 17th when he can come home for christmas break. From what I have gotten is that once your husband or in my case my fiancia it takes about 8 weeks for him to be able to call or even email. I know thats tough. I had a hard time dealing with it. THen if he is going inot the airforce he should be able to get his phone back and be able to call or text you. Thats what happen to my fiancia. He did the boot camp for 8 weeks no communation at all then he went to his tech school for the airforce and he got his phone back so we have been staing in touch that way. I hope this helps. Any other questions I will gladly try my very best and help you out. Have a good evening. Dont worry he will be fine. 🙂
My new husband is in the army reserves right now and has a month to go, will the spouse benefits still carry on once he is finished? He just started his gi bill and gets the extra living expense covered and a little extra now that we are married.
Although, the unarmed physical combat training is a major plus, it troubles me greatly that bayonet training is being dropped. The bayonet has always been a contributing component in terms of instilling adrenalin and mind adaptation to train for ‘killing.’ May sound strange to some readers, but army and marine training are supposed to be designed to prepare soldiers to achieve victory which dictates that soldier’s must know how to kill. Hope this isn’t the result of women who haven’t the upper body or mind traits….
Darn! I spent six years in the army and look back at the bayonet as one of the high points in my training and preparedness for combat. Add another week if needed; and separate those who lack the physical or mind control necessary to win… This isn’t supposed to be a boy or girl scout outing.
My boyfriend is off at BCT
He told me his graduation date but Im not so sure that he was positive on the date he gave me
He is going to graduate from Fort Jackson , SC and i NEEED to purchase plane tickets before they run out
any advice on where to purchase the cheapest tickets would be great since im traveling from California, also any tips/advice on where to get my hotel would be great
I was in the Army during the 80’s & reading this make me wanna wish I was in NOW. OOORAAAAH!
Hi my name is lindsey my husband has been at basic training almost two weeks now 🙂 and I’m happy but also I miss him very much!!! I thought I would hear from him more and his first letter had no return address. And when he called he only told me charlie 310 but thats it and I can’t figure out how to send my letters 🙁 He sounded happy which is good but Its me who is having a hard time being happy when I can’t even send my letters.