Before Michigan Army National Guard recruits depart for Basic Combat Training (BCT), they participate in the Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP). This program introduces recruits to the military environment to ease their transition to BCT. Recruits focus on academics, physical fitness, common task training, chain of command, rank structure, saluting, military time, the phonetic alphabet and the Army Values. Recruits attend RSP in a paid status, one weekend each month, prior to their BCT ship date.