Easiest Boot Camp / Basic Training
What is this? Though boot camp / basic training is considered challenging, yet mandatory, for every branch of the military, the easiest among them would most likely be the Air Force.
Marine boot camp is extremely challenging -- both physically and mentally -- and considered to be tougher than the basic training programs of any of the other military services.
Fort Benning, GA conducts Advanced Individual Training for the Army Infantry, which makes many think it also has the toughest Basic Training program.
Some argue that because the Navy requires trainees to swim, that the Navy's boot camp is harder while others argue that since the Air Force's basic training is longer, that it can be considered harder. It's a toss-up. It's really up to the individual to decide what training, Navy vs Air Force, is hardest.
If you're considering a military career, you might wonder which military service – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or Space Force – has the best pay and benefits. At a basic pay level, the answer is simple. The military pays the same regardless of branch, according to your pay grade and years of service.
SEAL Team 6, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the U.S. military.
Among active-duty service members and veterans, it is agreed that the easiest military branch to get into, in terms of basic training, is the Air Force because programs are more spread out.
The US special-operations community boasts some of the toughest special-operations courses. From time to time, US commandos head overseas to test their mettle at foreign special-operations schools. These are two of those foreign special-operations courses known for their difficulty and realism.
So the safest military branch in terms of man-to-man combat and machine-to-machine accidents is the Space Force.
Until recently, Air Force basic training was only six weeks, the shortest basic training of any military branch However, the Air Force recently redesigned its basic training program, tacking on two extra weeks in the process.
U.S. Navy SEALs are an elite unit, more exclusive and harder to be admitted to than the U.S. Marines. The United States Marine Corps (also known as USMC or Marines) is one of the 5 branches of the U.S. military under the Department of Defense. It was created in 1775 as a special service.
Although the Marines are highly respected and considered one of the most elite fighting forces, the Navy SEALs training is far more rigorous and demanding than that of the Marines.
Also, the Marines require an ASVAB test score of 32, which is one of the lower acceptable scores for all military branches. What is this? Furthermore, the Marine Corps is the toughest when it comes to age; you cannot be older than 28 to become a recruit.
Yes, it is possible to fail basic training. You could go through the trouble of leaving your home, job, family and friends and come back a failure. In fact, this happens to about 15% of recruits who join the military every year. Too many recruits I speak to think that it is impossible to fail basic training.
While the route to SEALs training is more direct than for the Rangers, each training is more intensive. To be considered for SEALs training, candidates must meet a series of strict physical criteria and pass several tests.
So, when you factor in all these different types of pay and benefits, the most profitable military branch is… The air force! When you factor in all the different types of pay and benefits that each branch offers, the air force comes out on top.
At the very beginning of basic training, the chief drill instructor will spend the night with you in the barracks. As you progress in training, the drill instructor likely will go home each night. However, the basic training staff is constantly monitoring the barracks using closed circuit cameras.
The Short Answer: Two Years With a Catch
Two years is the shortest amount of time a new enlistee can sign up for active duty, however, there is a catch. You actually have an eight-year commitment but you can perform this commitment as an active duty member, a Reservist, or Individual Ready Reservist (IRR).
In 2022, China had the largest armed forces in the world by active duty military personnel, with about 2 million active soldiers. India, the United States, North Korea, and Russia rounded out the top five largest armies respectively, each with over one million active military personnel.
SEAL Team 6, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the US military.