Worship in Basic Training? Mandatory?

In the Army, at least many moons ago, it wasn't mandatory, but an hour of peace at Fort Benning was AWESOME.

No, in fact it wasn't untill the 3rd week after reception that i found out we could even go.....which was about the time i found out that those who didn't go could skip PT and sleep in till 9 am cuz all the drill's went to church..... except one named Hightower....and that dude NEEDED religion !as for me, i think i went to an Easter mass, and one during our final phase, the rest.... well, i did what any young enterprising boot whould do... i slept in!

@ SSG Hasbun (true), @ SSgt Olson: So there we were in Boot Camp. First Sunday (about 3 weeks into training) rolled around and you had two choices-Catholic or Protestant worship. 4 of us decided to stay back instead of going. What we did not realize was that those few hours were they only free time that our Drill Instructors had. To say that we paid for it is an understatement that is an insult to all understatements. Then the Platoon came back talking about "we got to eat a cookie". It took us about an hour to stop sweating from the A$$kicking that we got from the "Heavy" who by God wanted his Sunday morning.

The following Sunday, the entire Platoon was at Catholic Mass-for the rest of Boot Camp.

I guess I too had some of the same experiences, go to church or do bay maintenance. 

Marine Corps basic, yes it was required.  I had it good, though.  Being Jewish, I got wine and bread every Friday while in boot camp.

It was either clean or go to church, so most soldiers chose church.

It was strongly encouraged.  You had a choice of Jewish, Catholic, & Protestant services.  There was nothing else offered back then in 1979.  Nearly everyone went to one of the services since if you stayed back at the barracks you had to clean or do something.  It was not break time.  You never knew who was from another religion since people came with you to whatever service you attended.  What was printed on your dog tags wasn't mandated.  Mine said Roman Catholic but I grew up in a combo family so I also went to Protestant services too.  I knew Jews & Mormons that came to Catholic services as well.  A soldier's spiritual life was considered just as important as any other aspect of soldiering. This was especially one of the most important aspects of the Code of Conduct.  One religion was not impressed upon anybody like it is perceived as such today.  Give me back the old days.

We were not required to go to services- but anyone who stayed back get the DI's undivided attention for numerous chores.

it was not mandatory for us. it is purely voluntary. but to tell you I enjoyed going to the sunday services rather than "sleeping" at the dorms because it gave me something to believe in a place wherein I felt I was alone.

I attended Parris Island in 1987 and religious services were mandatory the first three weeks. It was explained that they did not care which services you attended but you were attending service. I attended throughout basic and was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the recruits in attendance.

God, Country, Corps