Should basic training be the same across all Branches of service?

Each service is unique and should stay that way

Smaller countries have tried this approach with conscripts. The initial phase is where people are assigned the branch they will be in. As an foreigner and a trainer, my experiance with the conscripts was that it was a flawed system as the guys did not get to choose their branch and had little incentive to do their best. Rather than arriving for the branch specific training with a motivated attitude, they were beat down and difficult to motivate. It could be that conscription had a lot to do with the issues I saw though.

I went to boot camp the day after I graduated HS, following a year of football and wrestling, and I laughed at the physical stuff. Leaving out the whole SEALS question, however, it was more than enough to prepare a person to work on ships. I'm not sure sailors would need Marine-level boot camp.

And I'm pretty sure everyone laughs at AF boot...probably even AF types. *Ducks and runs*.

Plus, Boot teaches the traditions of each service. And I know how important Naval tradition is to me, so I imagine it's the same for each other service's members. I wouldn't want to give that up.

No, they have different missions and ultimately different needs.

No, Why? Because each branch of service is unique and have different missions and capabilities that each new recruit will have to learn from their Drill Instructors and their branches history and how they can adapt and over come their own fears. JK

After my experience in USAF basic military training (1988)- I think they should. There was not near enough physical training, and I suffered for it later in my AF service. I know they have changed it up now, but I think it needed it be a little more warrior-based, and a little less 341 based.

Nope. What does the Army, Air Force or Marine Corps know about the Navy? Basic Training has to be service specific. They don't know how to stop flooding or put out a fire at sea. I wouldn't trust another branch of service's training. Not when my life is on the line.

No. We all have different missions

Training should be based on the predominate needs of the service. We don't all do the same job so we shouldn't all train to the same standards, however that doesn't mean that we don't all need to be physically fit.

Every branch should make sure the recruits are marksmen and well versed in handling weapons. You never know where your next assignment, TDY, or deployment my take you and what is waiting. This might save your life and others. Yes, even Air Force.....smh. As the father-in-law of a Marine SDI, been there seen that. They run to much.

There seems to be an overwhelminly negative response to the question and each make a valid response in that each service has mission specific training they must complete. Perhaps we could ask if there should be SOME commonality between the services in those skills we all need to posess, i.e: small arms, close order drill, CQB both armed and unarmed, military customs/courtesies. I remember going to an Air Force base right after boot and not knowing who to salute because everybody was wearing flight suits with so much crap on them I couldn't spot a rank insignia. Then had a Lt Colonel jump my shit for not saluting. I had to explain that "we don't salute indoors". Maybe we could all benefit.

CW4 (Join to see) Not as far as I am concerned, unless we only have one military... vs. the current military departments. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines are all different, and there basic training, boot camps, etc. are geared toward their branches. I was not happy we did away with the Center Drill Sergeant Schools, and consolidated at Fort Jackson. I, and I think most, would prefer the major centers have their own Drill Sergeant Schools, so they can give them the right focus for their center. So, no. Unless we combine all for departments...

I'm going to go against the grain here. There are some similar aspects of being a service member that are consistent across the services. Learning some of those things in a common setting could work and then break out from there to service specific training. Some of those things are MOSTLY classroom setting lecture type training. Fundamentals of discipline, small arms familiarization (not marksmanship), and teamwork problem solving.

As we are expecting and demanding more and more from each individual in both service specific and joint environments, we need to learn how to work with our brothers and sisters in arms no matter the color of uniform.

I think that having one basic training across all services would not only fall short of making any of the services more than they are, but would more likely make ALL of the services less than they are.

No each basic,boot is designed specifically for that branch and it serves it's own purposes

NO,, I agree with MSgt James Mullis, they have different missions and different training needs.

That's an interesting question to ponder, but it just wouldn't work, since each branch has different rank structure and core values each trainee has to learn.

In some ways I think it there should be a common core of things that they need to learn, PT , discipline, rifle marksmanship, for the first 6-8 weeks. Then separate out after that.

No- different missions, traditions and I still don't get the rank structure of the Navy. LOL

Mental toughness, physical toughness, team success. All branches have same needs. A soldier needs to be able to fight on the land, sea or in the air.