How Long Is Air Force BMT? 7.5 Weeks in 2026

U.S. Air Force airman sprinting during PT test training

Air Force basic training lasts 7.5 weeks. It happens at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, the only Basic Military Training site for the Air Force and the Space Force. Most trainees arrive on the Tuesday of "Zero Week", graduate in a two-day ceremony on the Wednesday and Thursday about seven and a half weeks later, and ship to technical training that Friday. On the 2026 graduation calendar posted on the official BMT site, a group that arrived on Tuesday, July 28 graduated on September 16 and 17 and shipped on September 18.

If you have seen 8.5 weeks, that is out of date: BMT dropped to 7.5 weeks in 2020, and the Air Force says no further change is planned. Here is every week, the fitness standard you need to graduate, and what is new in 2026.

Air Force BMT at a glance

	Air Force BMT
Length	7.5 weeks, with arrival week counted as Zero Week
Location	Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
Unit	737th Training Group, 37th Training Wing
Hardest week	Week 6, PACER FORGE
Graduation	Wednesday and Thursday; ship to tech school on Friday

Air Force basic training, week by week

Week	What happens
Zero Week	Arrive on Tuesday. In-processing, uniform and running shoe issue, haircuts, immunizations, drug testing and your first phone call home.
Week 1	Initial PT assessment, weapon issue and familiarization, reporting and saluting, medical and dental appointments.
Week 2	ID card issue, weapons handling and maintenance drills, Air Force history.
Week 3	PT appraisal, financial readiness and nutrition classes.
Week 4	Law of war, dress and appearance inspection, and the gas chamber.
Week 5	BMT fitness test and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, getting ready for PACER FORGE.
Week 6	PACER FORGE, a 57-hour simulated deployment, and the end-of-course written exam on Saturday.
Week 7	Graduation practice and final appointments, then the Airman's Run, the coin ceremony and graduation.

PACER FORGE

PACER FORGE is the field exercise of BMT and the week the Air Force calls the most intense. It replaced BEAST in 2022, and in March 2025 the 37th Training Wing lengthened it from 36 to 57 hours. It is now a three-day, two-night, scenario-based deployment exercise at JBSA-Chapman Annex.

What is new at BMT in 2026

BMT 2.0. Launched in October 2025, it raised physical fitness standards, put more weight on small team training, and introduced "Airmindedness" as a foundational idea. News reports describe 90 minutes of PT a day.
Aircraft at BMT. The 737th Training Group is building an Air Base Training Range so trainees see real aircraft early. Training on an F-16 began in 2026, and two C-130H aircraft arrived in August 2026 for cargo loading, refueling and aircraft marshaling practice.
No alternate fitness events. Trainees test on push-ups, sit-ups and the 2-mile run only.

The fitness standard to graduate

Under the Second Air Force supplement to the fitness manual (August 25, 2026), trainees must pass the last fitness assessment before graduation. That means meeting or beating the minimum for standard push-ups, standard sit-ups, the 2-mile run and the waist-to-height ratio, and the minimum composite score. PT happens at least six days a week, and alternate events are not allowed.

Scores come from the Air Force fitness charts, where cardio is worth 50 points, waist-to-height ratio 20, push-ups 15 and sit-ups 15, and 75 is passing. The minimum and maximum for the under-25 age group (effective March 1, 2026):

Event	Men under 25 (minimum to maximum)	Women under 25 (minimum to maximum)
Push-ups (1 minute)	30 to 67	15 to 50
Sit-ups (1 minute)	33 to 58	29 to 54
2-mile run	19:45 to 13:25	25:23 to 15:30
Waist-to-height ratio	0.49 or less earns all 20 points	0.49 or less earns all 20 points

Note the trap: hitting only the minimum in every event does not add up to 75. The manual says so directly. Train for well above the minimums. Score yourself with our Air Force PT test calculator and read the Air Force PT scoring chart explained.

What if you fail the PT test at BMT?

Trainees who miss the standard get more chances, sometimes after a recycle, which means extra time at BMT. A trainee who still cannot meet the fitness requirements after being given time to improve may be discharged. Plan your travel to graduation with refundable tickets for that reason; the BMT graduation page says the same.

Before you ship

Get in shape early. We found no official pre-ship fitness test, but the Air Force tells recruits to start preparing as soon as possible and offers a 14-week training schedule. Build up to running 2 miles and solid sets of push-ups and sit-ups.
Know the basic rules to enlist. You must be 17 and not yet 42, have a high school diploma, a GED or 15 college credits, and score at least 31 on the AFQT (50 with a GED).
Pack light. Bring original ID and Social Security card and your Visitor Access Request Letter for graduation. Smart watches, electronics, over-the-counter medicine and supplements are not allowed.

Calls, mail and pay

Trainees get a handful of phone calls rather than daily access, and those calls are voice only. Mail is never held, but care packages are not recommended. Trainees get a $500 prepaid card as an advance on pay, and the first paycheck usually takes 30 to 45 days.

Graduation and what comes next

Graduation is a two-day event. On Wednesday, families watch the Airman's Run, a 1.5-mile run, and the coin and retreat ceremony, where trainees become Airmen and Guardians. On Thursday comes the graduation parade. Liberty is granted on merit, and graduates may travel within one hour of the base. Every guest needs a background check through the trainee's Visitor Access Request Letter, and guests 18 and older need photo ID. Graduates ship to technical training on Friday; tech school runs from about four to 52 weeks depending on the job.

Joining the Space Force? Guardians go through the same BMT with their own squadron; see our Space Force basic training guide. Comparing branches? See Navy and Marine boot camp.

Sources: Basic Military Training, FAQ; BMT Graduation Information; 37th Training Wing, PACER FORGE, March 10, 2025; AETC, April 3, 2026; AFMAN 36-2905, Second Air Force Supplement, August 25, 2026; AFPC Fitness Program and PFRA scoring charts; AirForce.com, Basic Military Training; AirForce.com, How to Join.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Air Force basic training in 2026?

Seven and a half weeks at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Most trainees arrive on the Tuesday of Zero Week and graduate in a two-day ceremony on the Wednesday and Thursday about seven and a half weeks later.

Is Air Force basic training 8.5 weeks?

No. BMT was 8.5 weeks until 2020, when it moved to 7.5 weeks, and the Air Force says no further change is planned. Airmen's Week, a one-week course after BMT, ended in 2018.

Where is Air Force basic training?

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas is the only Basic Military Training site for the Department of the Air Force, so every enlisted Airman and Guardian trains there.

What is PACER FORGE?

PACER FORGE is the week 6 field exercise of Air Force BMT: a 57-hour, three-day, two-night simulated deployment at JBSA-Chapman Annex. It replaced BEAST in 2022 and grew from 36 to 57 hours in March 2025.

What PT test do you take at Air Force BMT?

Push-ups, sit-ups, a 2-mile run and a waist-to-height ratio measurement, scored on the Air Force fitness charts. To graduate you must meet every event minimum and the minimum composite score on your last test, with no alternate events allowed.

Can you call home during Air Force basic training?

Trainees do not have daily phone access, but they get a handful of chances to call, starting with a call in Zero Week. Instructors cannot cut the number of calls, and calls are voice only.