Military recruit training
Recruit training is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, typically in the enlisted ranks.
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 recruits may have their heads shaved in order to make their appearance as uniform as possible. The haircut is one method intended to increase cohesion. Recruits are generally given a service number.
Training topics
Recruits are instructed in "drill": to stand, march, and respond to orders in an unquestioning manner. Historically, drill 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, drill performs a psychological function which is to inculcate the response to commands but also to train the recruit to act unhesitatingly in the face of real combat situations. This includes not only commands to engage in combat in which the soldier is putting his life in danger, but also commands to disengage when military necessity demands. Most military commentators say that this condititioning is essential for military function because without it, a military unit would likely disintegrate under the stress of combat, becoming merely an armed mob.
Recruits are usually subjected to rigorous physical training, both to prepare for the demands of combat and to weed out the less able or 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 regularly assigned weapons, field maintenance of weapons, hand-to-hand combat, first aid, protective equipment usage, and basic survival techiques. Navy training focuses on basic seamanship, and skills such as firefighting, basic engineering, and signals. Air Force training might cover subjects such as aircraft recognition.
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, and the United States Air Force presents the Air Force Training Ribbon. The Marines do not follow this practice.
U.S. Marine boot camps are at Marine Corp Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and Marine Corp Recruit Depot San Diego, California. All female enlisted Marines go to Parris Island. Men go to either, depending on whether they leave from the eastern or western part of the country.
Army
The U.S. Army has five sites for basic training:
- Fort Benning, Georgia; (Infantry Advanced Individal Training)
- Fort Jackson, South Carolina
- Fort Knox, (Kentucky; (Armor, Cavalry Scout Advanced Individal Training)
- Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; (Engineering, Chemical Warfare and Military Police Advanced Individal Training)
- Fort Sill, Oklahoma; (Artillery Advanced Individal Training)
In the Army, the location recruits are sent to depends on their job classification, or Military Occupational Skill, which they select when they enlist. Female Army recruits go to Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Jackson or Fort Sill, which have gender-integrated training. The follow-up training, called “AIT,” for “Avanced Individal Training,” is usually in another portion of the base.
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.
Legend
According to legend, trainees are secretly fed saltpetre to suppress their sexual urges. One explanation of the origin of this legend states that the soldiers were employing a folk etymology and substituting the word "soft" for "salt" in "saltpeter." A reduction in sexual urges does actually occur, but it is caused by fatigue related to training.
References
- USAREC (2003). US Army DEP Guide: Army Terminology. United States Army Recruiting Command. Fort Knox, KY (USA).