Military boot camp is required for all branches of the US Armed Forces and focuses on discipline, physical training, and classroom instruction. It does not prepare individuals for their specific job, but rather teaches them to think like soldiers and follow orders. Each branch has its own facilities and training programs, with varying levels of physical expectations.
When a person enlists in any of the United States (US) Armed Forces, they must go to military boot camp before becoming active duty or a member of the Reserve. Military boot camp is a multi-week training session that helps prepare a person mentally and physically to serve her country. Each branch of the military requires such training, but their programs are not identical.
After enlisting with the recruiter, the next big step a person takes to become a member of the military is to go to military boot camp. Many people are surprised to learn that this training does not prepare a person for their specific job. Military boot camp is commonly referred to as basic training because a person learns only a fraction of what he or she needs to know. A person will learn to perform his or her specific job duties in a training school that follows boot camp.
Much of basic training is learning to take orders and developing a certain standard of discipline. This starts before people even get to the premises. Before leaving home, the military begins to exercise control by limiting the possessions people can bring. During military boot camp, individuals will be subject to property searches and observations of cleanliness and orderliness.
Each branch of the military, such as the Coast Guard and the Marines, has its own military boot camp facilities. Members of different branches are not mixed together to receive training. One reason is that the training they receive is not identical.
Physical training is required in every military boot camp. How such training is performed and the skills expected to be achieved, however, can vary widely. There are some branches of the military that are considered softer than others. This stems, in part, from the fact that physical expectations are less stringent.
Regardless of which branch of the military a person enlists in, there are certain activities he can expect to encounter. Marching and standing are always important, and while these things may seem basic, they are thoroughly taught and practiced in basic training. Running and push-ups are traditional exercises that members of the military use for fitness and discipline. Other common physical activities include swimming, rock climbing and obstacle courses.
Military boot camp also includes a great deal of classroom training, which is where people are taught to think like soldiers. There is a set of principles known as the Core Values that will be taught. People will be taught about the structure of the military and the importance of any given branch. They will also learn rank and chain of command.
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