The extremely difficult exercises to become a navy soldier

Navy Basic Training Requirements

Basics

If you want to be a part of the Navy, you must meet the following basic requirements.

Be between ages 17 and 39 to enlist
Be between ages 19 and 42 to become an officer
Have a high school diploma or GED
Pass the academic and physical requirements (outlined below)
Pass an in-depth medical exam
Meet the mental and moral standards of the Navy
Be a U.S. citizen or legalized permanent resident

Note: Those who are 17 years of age will need parental consent to enlist. You can contact a recruiter if you want to join or learn more about the basic requirements.

Physical Fitness

Navy basic training requires you to pass a baseline physical fitness test, as outlined on the Navy’s boot camp website. There are three core steps to the Navy’s physical readiness assessment: 2-minute push-ups, planks, and a 1.5-mile run. Depending on your age group and gender, the standards are slightly different.

Push-Ups (in 2 minutes)

Men (ages 17-19): 46
Women (ages 17-19): 20
Men (ages 20-24): 42
Women (ages 20-24): 17

Planks

Men (ages 17-19): 2 planks for 30 seconds each
Women (ages 17-19): 2 planks for 30 seconds each
Men (ages 20-24): 2 planks for 30 seconds each
Women (ages 20-24): 2 planks for 30 seconds each

1.5-Mile Run

Men (ages 17-19): 16:10
Women (ages 17-19): 18:37
Men (ages 20-24): 16:10
Women (ages 20-24): 18:37

Other physical tests are also conducted but without precise standards to reach. Applicants will need to do as many push-ups and curl-ups as possible in two minutes.

If you are a recruit who is unable to meet these standards, you may still be able to pass. However, your training will be significantly delayed. If you fail multiple times, you will not be able to continue.

Swim Test

This is the Navy! You can’t get away from an intensive swim test here. During training, you’ll be categorized as either a 2nd or 3rd class swimmer.

2nd class swimmers “can stay afloat and survive without the use of a PFD indefinitely under optimum conditions.” 3rd class swimmers “can stay afloat and survive without the use of a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) in open water under optimum conditions long enough to be rescued in a man-over-board situation.”

The tests for each class have slightly different criteria, but the following elements will all be tested. The exception is a 100-yard swim test, which is only administered to 2nd class swimmers.

Deepwater jump
Breaststroke
Sidestroke
Elementary backstroke
Crawl stroke
Prone float
Shirt and trouser inflation

To find out more about how each test is measured and administered, check out the Navy’s swim guidelines here.

Academics

There are several tests you must pass during Navy basic training. The first one is the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Another test you’ll have to take is the Aviation Standard Test Battery, or ASTB-E (for enlistees), or just the OAR for officer specialties. It consists of math, reading, and mechanical comprehension tests for officers, and for non-officers, it includes aviation, nautical, and performance-based measures.

Medical Exam

You must be deemed physically fit in order to join the Navy. You will have to pass the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to be considered. Don’t worry; this isn’t another academic test. Think of this more like an in-depth wellness visit with your doctor. Navy physicians will test your physical wellness to make sure you’re ship-shape for service. That consists of the following:

Height and weight
Hearing and vision test
Urine and blood tests
Drug tests
Alcohol tests
Joint and muscle group testing
Full physical exam
Interview (for mental preparedness)
Any specialized tests required

How Long Is Navy Basic Training?

In total, Navy basic training lasts for eight weeks. The first week is mainly processing, so it’s nothing too physically intense. There is also one extra week at the end in which you’ll mainly be preparing for graduation.

Where Is Navy Basic Training?

The only Navy basic training center is located in Illinois at Naval Station Great Lakes.

Do You Get Paid for Basic Training?

This is the number one question that gets asked about all military basic training: Do you get paid for basic training? The answer is a yes! As soon as you have boots on the ground on day 1 of Navy basic training, you will be getting paid. Recruits generally start off at a pay level of E-1, which gets them a base-level entry pay of $1,795.00.

What To Bring to Basic Training Navy?

You won’t be able to keep most personal items once you get to boot camp, so packing is the easy part, as you only have to worry about essentials.

Things you HAVE to bring:

Your social security card
Your vaccination records
Two valid forms of ID
Marriage or divorce certificate (if applicable)
Direct deposit form
Permanent resident card (if applicable)

Here are the items that you ARE allowed to bring to basic training:

A comb or hairbrush
A small (ideally pocket-sized) religious book
Pen and paper or other writing material (no bottled ink, though)
Wristwatches
Wedding rings
A prepaid phone card
A single pair of prescription or reading glasses
Cash amounting to less than $10
One small religious item, like a medallion, as long as it is less than 2”x1”
Prescription medication (with correct, identifying labels)

Additional items are allowed for females:

Conservative cosmetic limited to one of each of the following: face powder, blush, lipstick, eye shadow, mascara
Hair ties that match your hair color
Sanitary products (pads, tampons, menstrual cups, etc.)
Birth control medication

Things you will NOT be allowed to bring: