1. Marine Corps - The Marine Corps is often considered the toughest branch of the military both physically and mentally. It has the most rigorous basic training, known as boot camp, which lasts 13 weeks. Marines are trained not only physically but also mentally, to have a "first to fight" mindset.
There's a great argument that the Marine Corps has the hardest military training of anyone, and here's why. Of course, when you reach the top, you can find them becoming SEALs or a part of the Marine Raider Regiment (MRR), but the training of any Marine is some of the hardest military training in the world.
While the Air Force may be considered the easiest branch to join, it's essential to choose the branch that best suits your skills, interests, and personality. Each branch has its own unique requirements and challenges, and it's crucial to research and understand these differences before making a decision.
As for physical training, most of the Navy is less physically demanding than the Army, except for the Navy's special operations like EOD, SEALS, and SWCC, which are all more physically demanding than the Army.
In the Army, the most well-known elite group is the Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets. They conduct a range of operations including unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism.
The Marine Corps is often involved in the initial assault of conflicts which can lead to potentially more dangerous confrontations, while the Army also serves on the front lines and has a high number of combat MOS (military occupational specialty) roles.
As of Mar 14, 2025, the average annual pay for a Navy Seal in the United States is $98,176 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $47.20 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,888/week or $8,181/month.
All branches of the U.S. military offer the same base pay based on rank and years of service. However, other factors can impact a military member's pay, including: Special pay: Some service members receive additional pay based on their job specialty or tasks performed.
Navy SEAL candidates endure a grueling program that most would agree is the toughest training in any branch of service. SEAL classes have an 85 percent dropout rate and the training to become a SEAL lasts for about a year compared to three months of Marine boot camp.
1. U.S. Air Force: Generally considered to have the most manageable basic training, the Air Force focuses more heavily on the classroom and less on physical conditioning than other branches. The training lasts about 8.5 weeks.
For instance, the training that the Navy and Air Force conduct is rigorous but might involve less physical intensity than the Marine Corps or Army, focusing more on areas like technology and aviation instead. The Marine Corps' boot camp often gets discussed as the most physically and mentally challenging.
Different branches have different personnel needs and may approve of your waiver. In general, the Army has the reputation of approving the most moral waivers, while the Air Force and Coast Guard approve the fewest. The Navy and the Marines fall somewhere in the middle. However, this is not always the case.
As the newest and smallest branch of the U.S. military, the U.S. Space Force has a different problem when it comes to recruitment – namely it has too many applications. More than 4,000 people sought to sign up in FY23, but the service had a fraction of available billets.
Of the branches, the Marine Corps was found to be the sole service rated as “strong.” Army and Space Force were considered “marginal,” while the Navy and Air Force were rated as “weak” and “very weak,” respectively.
1. Navy SEALs: Widely regarded as one of the most challenging roles in the U.S. military, becoming a Navy SEAL requires dedication, resilience, and extraordinary physical stamina.
Marine Corps - The Marine Corps is often considered the toughest branch of the military both physically and mentally. It has the most rigorous basic training, known as boot camp, which lasts 13 weeks. Marines are trained not only physically but also mentally, to have a "first to fight" mindset.
The phrase “jarheads” is also a slang phrase used by sailors when referring to Marines. The term first appeared as early as World War II and referred to Marines' appearance wearing their dress blue uniforms. The high collar on the uniform and the Marines' head popping out of the top resembled a Mason Jar.
Basic Combat Training (BCT) is a 10-week intensive course of exercises and drills designed to toughen you up inside and out. The time is broken down into three phases of roughly three weeks each, designed to take you from an ordinary civilian to Citizen-Soldier®.
E-1: $20,340. E-1 is the lowest enlisted rank in the US military: Airman Basic (Air Force), Private (Army/Marine Corps), Seaman Recruit (Navy). Service members usually hold this rank through basic training, and automatically promote to the next rank after six months of service.
In modern times, the first to arrive on the battlefield has traditionally been the front line infantry made up of soldiers from the Army, but this has not always been the case. Depending on the situation, the first to enter a conflict zone could be the Special Forces, Marines, Navy Seals, or other specialized units.
In the Army, promotions up to the grade E4 (which includes ranks of Private, Private Second Class, Private First Class, and Specialist) can be achieved relatively quickly through time-in-service and time-in-rank requirements, along with the completion of designated training.
Navy SEALs are eligible for retirement after 20 years of service, but many SEAL members continue service for at least 30 years to maximize their retirement benefits. After 20 years of service, Navy SEALS are eligible for 50% of their average base salary for retirement.
How much does a Green Berets make? As of Mar 14, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Green Berets in the United States is $18.65 an hour.