Yes, you get paid from day one of basic training, not after, though your first paycheck might be delayed (often arriving around the 4-6 week mark) and will include back pay for your time from enlistment. You earn a base salary, get paid via direct deposit on the 1st and 15th, and have expenses covered, so you can accumulate significant savings by the time you finish training, say users on Reddit r/MilitarySpouse.
Yes. You get paid while in training. No matter what branch you're in. Also, training is part of your active duty time. If you enlist for 4 years, and training takes 1 year, then you have 3 years left.
A single, 18-year-old enlisted member at the starting rank — pay grade E-1 with less than four months of service — receives, on average, a starting annual regular military compensation package of approximately $43,500 in basic pay, basic allowance for housing, basic allowance for subsistence and federal tax advantages, ...
You must complete basic recruit training to join the ADF. $1,433.00 per week.
If you leave for Army basic training in March, your first paycheck should arrive around mid -April, depending on when in March you start basic training; if you arrive before the 10th of the month, you might receive your first check on the 15th, otherwise, it will likely be on the 1st of the following month. Good Luck.
Your bonus payment will be paid in one lump-sum after you successfully complete your training and 30 days after arriving at your first duty station. It may be paid in installments throughout your enlistment contract depending on the career you're pursuing.
President Donald J. Trump announced last night that nearly 1.5 million service members would receive a $1,776 bonus to both thank them for their military service and to commemorate the 250 years the U.S. military has been defending the nation.
Paying tax on an ADF salary
If you're a member of the Reserves on SERCATS 2, 3, 4 or 5, you won't pay tax on your ADF salary, unless you are doing a period of Continuous Full Time Service (CFTS). Some allowances and bonuses are not included as part of your taxable income.
Yes, $130k is a very good salary in Australia, placing you well above the median income and in the top earnings bracket, but whether it's "comfortable" depends heavily on your location (high-cost cities like Sydney/Melbourne vs. regional areas) and lifestyle, as high rents can still strain finances, though it generally allows for a solid middle-class life with budgeting.
You can expect to get between seven and eight hours of sleep.
Do You Go to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Right After Basic Training? Yes, after graduation, you'll move on to AIT — Advanced Individual Training. In AIT school, you'll learn the specific skills needed to master your job in the Army. AIT can last from some weeks to several months, depending on your job.
New enlistments sign up for a Military Service Obligation (MSO). Contracts may vary from two to six years of service in active duty, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.
Junior enlisted ranks
As of Jan 9, 2026, the average annual pay for a Boot Camp in the United States is $56,452 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $27.14 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,085/week or $4,704/month.
Members of the military are paid the 1st and the 15th of every month. HOWEVER, there will often be some lag at the start of BMT. So it may take a few weeks before you see your trainee's first paycheck deposited.
A $75k salary in Australia is decent, above the median income for many age groups and allowing for comfortable living in regional areas, but it can be tight in expensive cities like Sydney or Melbourne, especially for families, with many feeling $100k is needed for stability, though it's a strong starting point for younger professionals. After tax, $75k becomes roughly $58.6k ($4,888/month), meaning lifestyle, location, and financial goals (like saving for a house) heavily influence whether it's considered "good".
The weekends are mostly free still depending on MOS and DS. It is completely varied by ait but mostly sat/sun are free time but that doesn't mean they can leave to do stuff. There are still rules.
The consequences from a bad conduct discharge may include:
Loss of military benefits, Not recognized by the federal government as a veteran, and. Must be disclosed if asked when applying for a job.
Each branch of the military has age limits to enlist in active duty: Air Force: 17 - 42. Army: 17 - 35. Coast Guard: 17 - 41.
The U.S. continues to dominate as the world's most powerful military. With a budget nearing $900 billion, it invests heavily in advanced warfare systems, from cyber capabilities to space defense. It fields the largest air force globally with over 13,000 aircraft, including stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35.
During training you get paid and you can accumulate leave days. But the contract they chose does not start until they complete their training.
You, however, must give eight years of your life, obey all orders, and possibly kill or be killed. You may be subject to health hazards, discrimination, and emotional or physical abuse. Your superiors may decide to cut your pay or benefits without even telling you.
"Military service members will receive a special we call 'warrior dividend' before Christmas, a warrior dividend in honor of our nation's founding in 1776," Trump said in a 9 p.m. broadcast from the White House. "The checks are already on the way… Nobody deserves it more than our military."