What branch of military service has the hardest physical program?

Question

What branch of US military service has the hardest physical Basic Training program?

Answer 1

All services have physical requirements. You have to pass a PT (Physical Training) Test. In the army it's a two mile timed run, two minutes of push ups and two minutes of sit ups. The marines have a three mile run. The Air Force, I think, has a chin up test as part of the PT test.

Different jobs have different requirements. Different schools have different requirements. For example everyone in the army has the same PT test. It changes with age but for an 18 year old you have to do about 50 push ups in two minutes and sit ups too and run two miles in less than sixteen minutes. but if you go to ranger school you have to pass road marches mountian climbs and go through months of physically demanding training that you don't have to endure if you're a clerk.

Swimming tests and road marches are part of basic as well.

This is standard for all army soldiers and the other services have similar standard tests, but it is job dependant. A mechanic that fixes planes doesn't have to drove jets at five gees and a laywer or doctor doesn't have to routinely go on marches or runs with a sixty pound ruck sack.

In the marines all soldiers go through as infantry so this gives them an edge and reputation as being tough (and deservedly so) but a SEAL sees a high OPTEMPO (workload) in danger combat situations that the average marine won't see outside of wartime rotation (but their philosophy is to train every Marine for that rotation).

It's a trade off. Any services special operations service members are in a physically more demanding occupation.

One of the most selective sepcial ops jobs it the Air Force's Para Rescue folks who don't engage enemy troops, or put rounds down range, so to speak, but do a very dangerous job.

But your question was about basic training. No one you ask is going to have gone throug all four (or five if you include Coast Guard) but I went to the Citadel where all four branches train potential officers ( I went to the Army) and as far as basic training the Marines were run way harder than any of us going through Army Navy or Air Force "basic" (going in as officers we didn't do boot) training unless you were went into Ranger or Special ops training.

Marine Corps has a reputation as a tougher, physicaly, training regiment in basic. But like I said it depends on the individual service member and what job you take.

Answer 2

Toughest Military Branch

Answer 3

It's true that the Marines have the toughest basic training. It is called Hell for a reason.

Of the special forces, the most difficult is the SERE training... it is because they are charged with the task of teaching other Special Forces from all branches, ie Airborne Rangers, SEALS, ect. Survival skills and they also facilitate the prison camp training for these groups.

The hardest standard to maintain, however is the Air Force. They are in the process of trying to downsize, and thus test frequently even though physical training is not part of their daily regimen. I wouldn't say that the USAF is the best trained or the toughest, just that their standards are now higher and if you fail you are at risk of being separated. I know a lot of you are probably balking at this... but it's true.

Answer 4

The Marines have the toughest Boot Camp, however, due to their having 87% of their enlistments come from open contracts, you may end up on a Navy ship as a cook. The next 4 years may be very sedentary.

The Army can offer you pure physical, from day 1. Just enlist Army Infantry. All they do is work out, run, shoot and maneuver. The majority of their day is spent physical. You can also go Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger (equal to Marine Force Recon and SEALS), advance to Green Beret, and to other units that don't exist.... All Special Ops belong to the JFK Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, NC.

Answer 5

It's the Marines -- from '88 to '92. I could have made a lateral move at
anytime when I got out to any other branch w/o going to a another boot camp. Now, when my cousin went to Army basic -- he was able to call home every night to his mommy. We (Marines) weren't able to make a phone call until the wk before graduation. To days, military I hate to say is a bunch of pu**ies anyway.

SEMPER FI

Answer 6

Marines. I was in the infantry in the Army from 1998 till 2010. It was tough but not as tough as the Marines. I have family in both and I love the Army but evryone knows from a BASIC training perspective its obviously the Marines. You can youtube actual basic videos and make your own observations but anyone in knows the Marines have the toughest basic.

Answer 7

All branches have basic training and in order from Hardest to easiest it is Marines, Army,navy or airforce, and coast guard

Answer 8

As a branch The USMC. AS A program The SEALS BUD's. Watch the Movie GI Jane. It's not hollywood, it is that bad!!! Many apply, few finish...

Answer 9

It all depends on the job.......Marine corps has the hardest basic. In fact, you can go through army basic training.....then after four years of service, join the Air Force and never have to go through Air Force basic training. But no matter what branch you were in before...you always have to go through Marine corps boot camp if you want to be a marine.

Answer 10

Marines I was Army and dated guys from all branches. The Marines were the ones that trained the hardest.