Worship in Basic Training? Mandatory?

No!...but neither should any cadre prevent it!

It was not mandatory, in my unit.

MY EXPERIENCE HERE WAS IN ARMY BASIC ,
FT LOUSY WOOD MO 1964!
I LISTED MYSELF AS AN ATHEIST AND ON MY DOGTAGS THIS WAS LABELED AS "NO PREFERENCE ". ON GOOD FRIDAY IN THE AFTERNOON, WE STOPPED DUTY AFTER NOON CHOW TO ALLOW THOSE WANTING TO ATTEND TO DO SO! THER WERE ABOUT 10 OF US NOT ATTENDING, AND OUR PLATOON SGT DIDNT SEEM VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS
BUT DIDNT SAY ANYTHING! HE DID LOOK AT MY DOG TAGS TO FURTHER CHECK MY POSITION , BUT SAID NOTHING.
I FIGURED THOSE OF US NOT ATTENDING WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME SORT OF A CHICKENSHIT DETAIL DUTY , BUT THEY LEFT US ALONE!

That's not legal to be mandated in any branch and shouldn't be. That was a stupid question.

Sunday was not a training day and yes you were always encouraged to attend Church. In my case I knew the Catholic Chaplain and always went to Mass on Sundays. The coffee and Continental Breakfast was always appreciated too.

Fort Jackson 1987 - my particular company had most Sundays off, with no punishment for those who decided not to attend Christian services (as a Jew, I went with a small group of other trainees off post to a synagogue for Friday night Shabbat services). While at the Chaplain School for AIT, chapel was held every school day, and although not mandatory, it was highly encouraged as a means of further refining our (required) "good character."

I arrived at Benning OSUT a Prot no denom. I realized that accountability was really laxed during worship times, so I went to Prot and RC services every Sunday. I left a RC. Our DS didn't count who was where during "worship time". The guys that stayed behind were mashed. Even if I had gotten caught, I had that covered. I spoke with the RC Chaplin after mass and told him of my interest in becoming RC. He told me to continue attending both services to be sure. I couldn't partake of the Eucharist, but I got 2 cookies and some down time.

It was never mandatory for us, but even the people who were non-believers generally took it as a chance to escape the norm for even an hour. I remember that the chapel was considered a "safe zone" and even seem to remember some of the permanent party members who went giving the trainees cookies and beverages other than water (usually a coffee or soda type drink).

Attendance not mandatory during basic, but in OCS, chapel always filled as only place to have an hour of rest

As I recall from my time in Basic, the option to attend church services was not offered until the second week or so. When I was able to attend, it was at Protestant services as I was a declared Baptist at the time. I don't remember any of the recruits that chose not to attend were placed on additional details.

I hope the regimen from the 1960s has lightened sufficiently to allow attendance to church services.