Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Buddy recruiting basic training

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Expert: Rod Powers - 12/16/2007


Question
(ARMY) Is there such a thing of like a buddy system, where two friends are recruited and go to the same BCT Fort, but then seperate for AIT? Anything like that at all? I heard peole talk about it but Im not sure.

Answer
Hi Ken,

Both the Air Force and the Navy had "Buddy" enlistment programs. Under the Air Force program, "buddies," are guaranteed to be able to attend basic training together, but not follow-on job training, nor further assignments.

Under the Navy program, there are various categories (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/navyjoin/a/navybuddy.htm).

The Army also has such a program, but it's restricted only to those who enlist together, under the same MOS (job), withh the same shipping date.

That's because Army enlistments can be rather complicated. First and foremost, the Army has several different basic training programs that are a combination of basic training and AIT, all wrapped up into one basic training package. For example, if your "buddy" enlisted with a guaranteed MOS (job) in "Infantry," he would have to attend Infantry OSUT (One Unit Station Training), which is a course that combines basic training and Infantry AIT all into one single course. If you did not enlist in an Infantry MOS, and your buddy did, there is no way you could attend the same basic training. The same is true in many other Army jobs, such as MP (Military Police), Armor, combat engineers, chemical warfare, and more, because the AIT and basic training are all one single, combined course.

Second, if it isn't a situation with a combined AIT and basic, Army basic training shipping dates are based on availability of AIT class dates, following basic training.

Now, while the Army does have a "Buddy" Enlistment option, but you would both have to enlist at the same time, with the same MOS (job). The Army's program would guarantee you would be assigned together through basic training and AIT (or OSUT), and then to your first duty assignment. For details, see Army enlistment otpion 9B on my site at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/program9b.htm

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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Rod Powers

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Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.

Experience

Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.

Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

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