Inside US Army Infantry Basic Training at Fort Benning

Basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia spans roughly 10 weeks and is considered one of the toughest programs in the U.S. Army. Fort Benning is home to the U.S. Army Infantry School, graduating more than 60,000 soldiers annually. Upon arrival, new recruits report to the reception battalion, where they begin initial processing including medical exams, paperwork, and regulation haircuts. Within the first 72 hours, recruits receive their uniforms, undergo drug testing, and receive essential boot camp supplies and identification tags. Once notorious, the shark attack tradition involved drill sergeants fiercely swarming recruits to instill discipline. Today, it has been replaced by the first 100 yards, a team-building event that reinforces discipline through leadership and mentorship. Early on, recruits learn the soldier's creed, Army values, and the importance of executing orders with precision. Sleep is scarce, with recruits averaging four to six hours per night as they quickly adjust to Fort Benning's relentless pace. The obstacle course pushes strength, endurance, agility, and mental toughness through grueling physical challenges. Recruits tackle rope climbs, wall jumps, balance beams, and low crawls under barbed wire to mimic combat conditions. At the end of most training events, we'll try and implement a competition because competition breeds better results. We had platoon versus platoon, and it was a timed event, and all of the competitors in it had already done and succeeded with the obstacle course, so we sent them through again with timed and penalties. So fastest team won with the deduction of penalties for a minute in their overall time. Obstacle courses enhance cardiovascular fitness via high-intensity functional movements. Studies indicate these courses can burn up to 600 calories per hour, offering a high-impact full-body workout. U.S. Army infantry recruits are expected to stand between 5 feet and 6 foot 8 and stay within strict height-to-weight or body-fat standards based on age and gender, proving they're physically built to endure the grueling demands of combat. The gas chamber is a crucial exercise, preparing soldiers to survive chemical attack scenarios using their M50 gas masks. CS gas, formerly called chlorobenzamalononitrile, induces burning sensations in the eyes, throat, and skin. This event usually takes place by the third or fourth week of training at Fort Benning. Once recruits have developed a basic confidence in their performance under stress, it's designed to build soldiers' trust in their protective equipment during real-world exposure. Recruits enter the chamber masked and perform exercises that raise their breathing rate. Instructors then order soldiers to remove their masks, exposing them to CS gas that triggers coughing and tearing. The modern M50 gas mask is engineered to filter 99.97% of particulates and chemical agents, serving as a critical defensive tool for soldiers in environments contaminated by hazardous materials. Exposure generally lasts 20 to 60 seconds, long enough to teach soldiers to remain calm under pressure. The drill also confirms proper mask sealing. Improper wear allows gas to penetrate instantly. Despite discomfort, CS gas is non-lethal, and symptoms fade 15 to 30 minutes after exposure. Troops flap their arms after exiting to clear lingering gas particles from uniforms. Drinking water afterward is discouraged as it spreads chemical residue in the mouth and throat. While some recruits might experience mild coughing or skin irritation for a few hours after exposure, most symptoms diminish quickly with little lasting effect. Similar chemical warfare training is conducted at installations across the other branches of the U.S. military, including the Marines, Navy, and Air Force. On a scale from 1 to 10, I really sucked. The rappel tower trains soldiers to descend safely using ropes and harnesses from significant heights. Standard Army rappel towers range from 40 to 60 feet, simulating buildings or cliffs. Recruits are trained in the Australian rappel technique, descending face-first so they maintain visual contact with their landing zone throughout the maneuver. Tower training builds confidence, equipment trust, and conquers fear of heights, critical for combat operations. Instructors teach proper hand placement, footwork, and speed control before full tower descents. Maintaining a strong brake hand throughout the descent is emphasized as it directly controls speed and prevents dangerous free falls. Soldiers master the T-brake position, allowing them to stop mid-descent in emergencies. The tower helps simulate cliff drops, helicopter insertions, and urban warfare maneuvers. The first descent is always the most intimidating, but repetition builds speed and confidence. Each recruit is required to complete at least two full descents, one using the traditional backward method and another using the face-first Australian technique. Casualty and medic training ensures soldiers can render life-saving aid under fire. Troops learn tactical combat casualty care using the MARCH protocol for treating wounds in battle. Tourniquet application is emphasized as uncontrolled bleeding causes most combat deaths. Medics use hemostatic dressings like Quick Clot to stop bleeding by accelerating clotting. Machine gun training familiarizes troops with weapons like the M240B and M249SAW for suppressive fire. Recruits are trained to handle a full arsenal from rifles and machine guns to shotguns, grenades, and demolitions, giving them the confidence to operate whatever weapon the mission demands. Recruits master the four fundamentals of marksmanship, steady position, aiming, breath control, and trigger squeeze. Recruits are introduced to the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, a shoulder-fired anti-armor launcher, gaining first-hand experience in using it to take out enemy vehicles, bunkers, and hardened positions. Today we covered shoulder launch munitions, specifically the M3 and the M3 ECHO-1 Carl Gustav. The Carl Gustav is a multi-purpose anti-armor, anti-personnel weapon system. Today we went over specifications and components of both weapon systems before we got each of the trainees hands-on experience with the system. Once they all got hands-on, they all fired one training round before 11 of them were chosen to fire 10 TPT rounds, or target practice tracer rounds, as well as one HEDP, that's high explosive dual purpose. The main benefit of this training is going to be for when these soldiers do finally get to the line and they're introduced to these or reintroduced to these weapon systems, it won't be their first time seeing it. They'll be able to effectively pick up on the training that they're given on the line to employ these weapon systems against light, medium, or heavy armored vehicles. Standard rifle marksmanship centers around the M4 Carbine, a 5.56 millimeter gas-operated rifle capable of both semi-automatic and fully automatic fire. On qualification day, recruits hit targets from 50 to 300 meters in multiple shooting positions. High-performing shooters earn badges marksman, sharp shooter, or expert based on accuracy and consistency. Battle drills teach reactions to enemy fire, reloading quickly, and firing while moving. The M4's effective range of 500 meters makes it adaptable for both close and mid-range engagements. Routine maintenance includes disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly to ensure weapon reliability. Training also includes proficiency with shotguns and combat explosives for real-world engagement readiness. Shotguns like the M500 and M26 are taught for door breaching in urban operations. Fort Benning is nicknamed the home of the infantry for training America's frontline soldiers. Many recruits remain at Benning for both basic training and advanced individual training through the one-station unit training model. Fort Benning has cycled through multiple redesignations in recent years, reflecting shifting historical priorities. After becoming Fort Moore in 2023, it reportedly reverted to Fort Benning in 2025, this time honoring World War I Hero Corporal Fred G. Benning. Graduation represents a transformational milestone, marking a recruit's evolution into a full-fledged soldier prepared for service. If you're enjoying the content, hit subscribe so you never miss future videos.