Training Bases Used by the US Military

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By Melissa Bauernfeind Published
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Training Bases Used by the US Military

© Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images News via Getty Images

There are many reasons why the United States military is considered the best on the planet. Not only does it have the highest-funded military, but it also has technological superiority to many other nations as well as having one of the best-trained forces across all of its branches. It is always beneficial to have a strong military like the United States, but even more so during times of rising geopolitical tensions across the globe.

In all six of its branches, from the Army, the Navy, and the Coast Guard, to the Air Force, Marines, and Space Force, the U.S. military has a comprehensive training program in place. There are different tiers of training for each operational unit, such as the Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Rangers, and Delta Force. 

24/7 Wall St. reviewed information on Military OneSource, a Department of Defense-funded information resource for members of the armed services to determine where the U.S. military trains its forces across all branches. We listed the military bases alphabetically and included the training conducted at each base and for which branch. There are multiple bases where a wide variety of training occurs and others where it is similar training but at different locations.

Many of the military installations on the list house multiple training facilities for multiple units and even multiple military branches. As some units need to complete pararescue training, which is a prerequisite for more specialized operators, there is some crossover training between units at certain bases. (Also see, the largest military base in each state.)

Practically all of the basic training is standardized down to the day for whatever set duration each branch requires. Certain branches need more space for their basic training due to the sheer number of recruits. This is true of the Army as well as the Marine Corps. However, just because these recruits may train in different bases does not mean they are receiving different training. (Here are the 11 newest US military bases.)

Here are the training bases used by the U.S. military

Camp Geiger, North Carolina

marine_corps / Flickr
  • Branch: Marine Corps
  • Type of training: Infantry Training Battalion: 59 days

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

yoh4nn / Getty Images
  • Branch: Marine Corps
  • Type of training: Marine Raiders Training: 9 months

Camp Pendleton, California

David McNew / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Branch: Marine Corps
  • Type of training: Marine Combat Training Battalion: 29 days; Force Recon Training: 9 weeks

Cape May, New Jersey

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Branch: Coast Guard
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 8 weeks

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

  • Branch: Air Force
  • Type of training: Air Force Special Operations Weathermen Training: 138 weeks

Fort Benning, Georgia

Jessica McGowan / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Branch: Army
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 10 weeks

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Branch: Army, Air Force
  • Type of training: Army Green Berets Training: 61 weeks; Delta Force Training: 6 months; Air Force Pararescue Specialists Training: 70 weeks

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Luke Sharrett / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Branch: Army
  • Type of training: SOAR Night Stalkers Training: 6 weeks

Fort Jackson, South Carolina

Stocktrek Images / Getty Images
  • Branch: Army
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 10 weeks

Fort Knox, Kentucky

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Branch: Army
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 10 weeks

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

tradoc / Flickr
  • Branch: Army
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 10 weeks

Fort Sill, Oklahoma

mj0007 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Branch: Army
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 10 weeks

Great Lakes, Illinois

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Branch: Navy
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 7 weeks

Joint Base San Antonio

imcom / Flickr
  • Branch: Space Force
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 6 weeks

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

  • Branch: Air Force
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 8-and-a-half weeks; Air Force Combat Controller Training: 94 weeks

Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina

marine_corps / Flickr
  • Branch: Marine Corps
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 12 weeks

Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California

Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images
  • Branch: Marine Corps
  • Type of training: Basic Training: 12 weeks

Naval Special Warfare Training Center Coronado, California

  • Branch: Navy
  • Type of training: Navy SEALs Training: 12+ months

Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Branch: Navy
  • Type of training: Navy Officer Candidate School Training: 13 weeks

Quantico, Virginia

Edward Palm / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Branch: Marine Corps
  • Type of training: Marine Officer Candidate School Training: 6 months

Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona

Cheri Alguire / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Branch: Air Force
  • Type of training: Air Force Pararescue Specialists Training: 70 weeks
Photo of Melissa Bauernfeind
About the Author Melissa Bauernfeind →

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.

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