Once successfully graduated from Army basic training, Soldiers will continue on to Army Advanced Individual Training (AIT) where they will train, in depth, in their specific Military Occupational Speciality (MOS). AIT varies depending on what a Soldier’s MOS is, but here’s a general overview of what you can expect after Army basic training at AIT.
What happens after Army basic training graduation?
After Basic Combat Training (BCT) graduation, Soldiers will begin out-processing procedures. They will need to gather their belongings from the barracks and check-out of their unit.
Once check-out is complete Soldiers are required to check-in to their next unit at their AIT school. Depending on the Soldier’s MOS, AIT school may be located on the same base where the Soldier’s BCT was.
Soldier’s whose AIT school is on a different base will be required to travel to that base in order to check-in. Depending on where the AIT school is located Soldiers will either fly or drive to their new unit. All of this information is provided to Soldiers near the end of BCT, and by graduation, they will know exactly where they need to go next.
Do Soldiers come home after basic training?
Soldiers are not often given time to go home after basic training. Check-in for AIT School is most often the day after graduation, if not the same day.
How long is AIT?
Advanced Individual Training(AIT) ranges from 4 to 52 weeks depending on a Soldier’s MOS. After graduating from basic training, Soldiers will go to AIT where they will complete Phase IV and Phase V before joining their unit.
Phase IV
Phase IV of AIT will consist of three weeks, as Soldiers continue to train on the values of the Army and begin focusing on their specific MOS skills. During this phase, Soldiers will continue to receive more privileges such as phone time and weekend liberty.
Phase V
Phase V of AIT can range anywhere from a few weeks to multiple months, depending on the Soldier’s MOS.
Where is AIT?
| School | Base | State |
|---|---|---|
| Adjutant General School | Fort Jackson | South Carolina |
| Air Defense Artillery School | Fort Sill | Oklahoma |
| U.S. Army Armor Center | Fort Benning | Georgia |
| Aviation Logistics School | Fort Eustis | Virginia |
| Chemical, biological, radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) School | Fort Leonard Wood | Missouri |
| Department of Defense Fire Academy | Goodfellow Air Force Base | Texas |
| Engineer School | Fort Leonard Wood | Missouri |
| Field Artillery School | Fort Sill | Oklahoma |
| Financial Management School | Fort Jackson | South Carolina |
| Infantry School | Fort Benning | Georgia |
| U.S. Army Intelligence Center | Fort Huachuca | Arizona |
| Military Police School | Fort Leonard Wood | Missouri |
| Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School | Fort Lee | Virginia |
| Quartermaster School | Fort Lee | Virginia |
| Signal Corps School | Fort Gordon | Georgia |
| Transportation School | Fort Lee | Virginia |
AIT Weekend Passes
Weekend passes throughout AIT will be determined by the unit. In some cases, Soldiers may receive an on-base liberty pass for the weekend during Phase IV. Off-base liberty passes are normally not granted until Phase V.
Weekend passes are approved by individual units. There is no guarantee for liberty and often times has to be earned during the week by the Soldiers.
As time progresses through AIT, Soldiers will be granted more privileges including an overnight pass for the weekend. But, Soldiers will be limited to the amount of distance they can travel from the base. Most bases will not allow travel over 50 miles from the base. Soldiers may also receive more time to use their personal cell phones, to make those FaceTime calls home.
If you are traveling to visit your Soldier during AIT make sure you receive confirmation that they are allowed visitor’s before you make plans to travel. Even then, your Soldier may not be aware of weekend liberty until the day before.
AIT Army Graduation
After successfully completing Phase IV and Phase V of AIT, Soldiers will have a graduation ceremony to signify that they meet the requirements
AIT graduations are more intimate than the graduation ceremony for basic training. The graduating class will be much smaller and the ceremony may only last thirty minutes.
After the graduation ceremony is complete, Soldiers will complete the check-out process from AIT as they get ready to report to their next unit.
What happens after AIT?
After Soldiers graduate from their AIT School they are normally granted some leave, often 10 days, before having to check-in to their next unit. The unit Soldiers check-in to after AIT school will be their first Permanent Duty Assignment (PDA).
Know someone who will be graduating from Army Basic Training? Read our posts to learn more about what to expect at graduation.
Fort Sill Graduation
Fort Benning Graduation
Fort Leonard Wood Graduation
Fort Jackson Graduation
Why is there no mention of the AMEDD at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas?
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My son, has orders overseas after AIT, does he get to come home before? He is supposed to graduate on August 27, 2021
After AIT is over Do I get to go live with my husband after they tell him where his first duty station is at?
How long are soldiers able to visit with family after AIT graduation. I’ve heard that because of COVID they are only given 15min. Then they’re sent away. Is that correct?
When married can your significant other receive BAH during basic training? Or how will we help support for finances at home?
If married do we get to live with our significant other during AIT or does it have to be after graduation?
Hey, I was wondering what the deal with phone/electronic use is at AIT! I’ll be at Fort Huachuca for 26 weeks, and I’ve heard different things. After phase IV, are soldiers allowed to have their personal laptops mailed to them for use in their rooms? Also, are phone allowed on their person or is it like BCT where they will be handed out for a few minutes on a certain day?
It’s typically up to your commander or 1st sgt. Typically the way it works is you are granted the privileges until you do something to get them taken away. Now for phones I wasn’t allowed to keep them on me but I could leave it in my room rather turn it in daily.
It’s typically up to your commander or 1st sgt. Typically the way it works is you are granted the privileges until you do something to get them taken away. Now for phones I wasn’t allowed to keep them on me but I could leave it in my room rather turn it in daily.
So do they get to keep their phones in their room and not have them confiscated during basic training or is it just AIT???
This is a reply to Dyannd because I can’t reply directly to their comment. I went to basic last summer at Fort Jackson. Its all situational. For most MOS AITs your quarters will be a dorm setting with sharing a room with 2-3 other soldiers. At basic you will sleep in barracks with 40-60 other people in the bay. At basic I was allowed 5-10 minutes phone time every Sunday unless we fucked up. They kept our phones locked up the rest of the time. I was lucky because I had a buddy in a different cycle who only got their phones 1 time on the 4th of July for 30 minutes. So its just AIT. However, I do know someone at my duty station in the same MOS as me that didn’t get their phones at all during AIT. Its strictly up to the desecration of your commanding officers and you won’t know until you get told at your station by them. Remember, while soldiers are in TRADOC they don’t have privacy or personal time.
When in AIT, do you just go to “school” full time or do you have a job during the day and school at night?
School is your full time job
Are weekend passes given at fort lee?
Has it been decided if family will be able to attend AIT graduation in March?
How does passing mail work in AIT? Do the soldiers get their mail a certain day each week or is it every day or ? I mailed a small surprise care package and it was delivered a few days ago but I haven’t heard anything yet.
It all depends on the unit. I know that my unit will pick up mail every work day and give it to is the same day but it really depends.
Hi T
My son is at Ft Lee AIT. Can he receive UPS and FEDEX packages or only US Mail
So when they permanently get stationed after OSUT can the girlfriends or fiancé’s move with them!! Why do we have to wait after there contract is over or maybe that’s the wrong info
Once a soldier graduates out of AIT or OSUT and is assigned to a unit, you may see them, and spend time with them, but unfortunately you generally have to be married in order to live with your sig other. This is all depending on the unit that they are assigned to, however, and is entirely dictated by the higher ranking members of their command. Being married means your soldier can live off post, and is given B.A.H (housing funds). Nothing is stopping you from moving NEAR them, but as a general rule you wont be able to live with them until you are married to them.
Do reservists normally leave the day of graduation or the day after?
I left the day of graduation, ceromony at 0800 and by 1200 I was on a bus heading towards the airport. Most active duty left the day after but some left the same day. There’s also a possibilty of being a holdover and staying for a few more weeks. At the start of the Rona I knew someone who graduated in March but didn’t leave for AIT until June and wasn’t permitted to leave base.
Can anyone tell if after AIT are Soldiers allowed to take leave before being deployed overseas? In my day I got 19 days before shipping out to West Germany. But now in the time of Covd-19 it seems our troops are getting a raw deal. Not being allowed any leave.
Still an unknown at this time. So far has not been communicated by Chain of Command to Soldiers as far as I can tell. I have limited commo with my son and he has not been told formally.
I am assuming he will come home to secure his pov and arrange for shipment of personal belongings but, as stated, that has not been confirmed by chain of command or soldier.