Big Changes to Recruit Training by Dayton Ward
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The U.S. Army is updating its basic training curriculum with an eye toward instilling improved discipline, better physical fitness, and an enhanced appreciation for Army values and the ethics of the professional Soldier. (Graphic by NCO Journal) Back to Basics Big Changes to Recruit Training By Dayton Ward asic Combat Training or the "Ten-Week Journey ia, the Army takes an assessment of its basic training from Civilian to Soldier"1 is the foundation upon curriculum every three years per U.S. Army Training and which the Army builds professional, principled Doctrine Command policies. Bwarriors. More than 100,000 men and women undertake "With these normal assessments and discussions this training each year.2 with key leaders, we are getting after the 'Soldierization' As our nation faces evolving and more complex process," Mitchell said.3 challenges, it is vital to turn a critical eye toward the pro- Beginning in 2015, the Army surveyed more than cesses affecting this most fundamental aspect of military 27,000 Soldiers across the officer and noncommissioned training. Recognizing this need, the Army is in the midst officer ranks, asking them to identify the most common of evaluating and improving how it creates Soldiers and deficiencies in recent BCT and Advanced Individual ensuring recruits who graduate basic training are ready Training graduates. Topping the list was a lack of disci- to tackle the responsibilities the Army will soon place pline among new Soldiers, such as arriving late for duty upon them. assignments or failing to wear uniforms correctly. Also highlighted was a failure to show respect to senior-rank- Assessing the Situation ing Soldiers and failure to follow orders.4 According to Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Mitchell, The second most identified concern was Soldier Center for Initial Military Training, Fort Eustis, Virgin- fitness. This perception stems from standards designed NCO Journal 1 May 2018 to help recruits complete BCT, with the idea that Soldiers tude during combatives training can compete for Level continue to progress toward passing the Army Physical 1 certification, the lowest of four possible skill levels, Fitness Test in AIT. Survey respondents described a pat- before graduating BCT. Soldiers holding this certification tern of Soldiers arriving at their first units of assignment are qualified to teach MACP's core hand-to-hand combat unable to pass the APFT.5 techniques.12 Armed with this information, senior leaders and Instilling these concepts at the earliest possible train- NCOs convened at the BCT Program of Instruction ing stages makes for better-prepared Soldiers, regardless workshop at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, from October of their military occupational specialty.13 31 to November 3, 2017. They identified specific areas "It doesn't matter what MOS you are. Your entire life of required improvement in both BCT and AIT. Led by and career can come down to just 60 seconds, five min- Maj. Gen Malcolm Frost, commanding general of CIMT, utes, or 15 minutes in intensive combat," Frost said. "It the workshop spotlighted BCT's need to focus on the can happen to any of us who deploy at any time, and to goals of producing disciplined, physically fit Soldiers any Soldier who comes out of Basic Combat Training."14 ready for advancement to their next stages of training.6 "I equate this to baseball or football because I played Putting the Plan into Action sports. You want [Soldiers] 'in the game.' You don't want A "pilot program" conducted by training leaders at them on the sidelines," Mitchell said. "The changes we're Fort Jackson, South Carolina, features drill sergeants making are what the Army wants and needs, and that's a testing the revised BCT curriculum. better Soldier on the field."7 As part of the increased focus on discipline, the Reviewing and updating the initial training Program updated basic training program devotes more time of Instruction is a result of the Army facing changes on to educating recruits about Army values, more close multiple fronts. Army recruiters face the formidable task order drill and ceremony competitions, Army history, of recruiting up to 80,000 viable candidates during FY and barracks and bunk inspections. These subjects 2018 in response to expected personnel turnover as well received less attention in recent years, as the need to as the National Defense Authorization Act, which called train new Soldiers for rapid deployment saw those for an increase to the Army's total force strength by 7,500 hours of instruction shifted toward combat skills.15 The Soldiers before the end of 2018.8 modified program incorporates additional drill and However, according to DoD statistics,9 seven out of ceremony training. For example, drill sergeants have 10 people in the 17-24 age demographic are ineligible an opportunity to use platoon movements to and from for military service. Primary disqualifiers for potential the barracks to reinforce aspects of close order drill, recruits include obesity, criminal record, past drug use, and competitions between platoons offer opportuni- or failure to meet minimum educational requirements.10 ties to show off recruits' new skills. The Army hopes Once recruits begin training, the Army wants to en- this renewed emphasis on discipline, knowledge, and sure efforts focus on developing and preparing Soldiers increased competition will build esprit de corps as for more advanced training, so they arrive at their first recruits learn and work together.16 units ready to serve at a high level. Bolstered standards, designed to address the physical "Get back to the basics of what we teach Soldiers," fitness issues, require recruits to score a least 60 points Frost said while speaking to workshop participants. in each Army Physical Fitness Test event. The previous These fundamentals, including physical fitness and profi- standard called for a minimum score of 50 points in each ciency in numerous skills such as weapons and commu- event. These changes bring graduated recruits closer to nication, are at the heart of this push to streamline and the desired fitness standard at the start of AIT and pre- improve BCT. pare them for their first assignment.17 Also included is a renewed emphasis on battlefield "If you graduate basic training on Friday and go to first aid as well as enhanced training requirements to AIT on Monday, you're at 60 points on Monday at AIT," better match U.S. Army Medical Command guidelines. Frost said. "Would we send a Soldier to their first unit "The MedCom POIs have changed," Mitchell said, assignment who wasn't qualified on their weapon? No, motivating BCT changes to keep standards consistent. we wouldn't."18 The expanded training covers battlefield first aid tech- Finally, the knowledge and skills recruits acquire niques such as treating for shock and dealing with open during BCT will be brought to bear during three dis- wounds or fractures.11 tinct phases of training, each culminating in a field ex- Another inclusion is renewed attention to Modern ercise: the Hammer, the Anvil, and the Forge. Each test Army Combatives Program concepts, which is already compels recruits to incorporate everything learned in a requirement for training in all units per Army Regu- each phase of training, and the grueling, 81-hour Forge lation 350-1: Army Training and Leader Development. exercise brings together all the knowledge absorbed According to Mitchell, recruits who demonstrate apti- during BCT. NCO Journal 2 May 2018 NCO Journal provides a forum and publishing opportunity for NCOs, by NCOs, for the open exchange of ideas and information in support of training, education and development. https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/ According to Frost, completing the Forge is a gradua- Along with the BCT disciplinary and fitness changes, tion requirement, upon which recruits "earn the right to bringing drill sergeants back to AIT will help Soldiers become a Soldier."19 make a smoother transition from an Army training envi- According to Mitchell, the pilot program continues ronment to their first operational assignment.24 at Fort Jackson, but BCT changes will not apply to Army As Mitchell put it, "When you see somebody walk- training centers until after the modified curriculum ing around with a drill sergeant hat on, you understand receives a thorough evaluation by the fall of 2018.20 that's the best of the best, and you need to go ahead and "We have to make sure that we test everything within shape up, because you know he's going to make an on- this pilot," Mitchell said. "We have to make sure the pilot the-spot-correction."25 is complete, and we have stress-tested everything we In addition to converting 600 AIT platoon sergeants, want within this POI revision before we push it out to the Drill Sergeants Academy program incorporates the rest of the ATCs."21 facets of AIT platoon sergeant training to provide drill sergeants with a more comprehensive understanding of Drill Sergeants Return to AIT their enhanced responsibilities in the AIT environment. These planned changes impact more than just the Areas of focus for this additional instruction include drill recruits and Soldiers. Those who deliver this training will and ceremony, rifle marksmanship, land navigation, and see a transformation as well. administrative and personal financial matters.26 On March 9, 2018, 84 NCOs graduated from a new "Every single Soldier understands what being a drill 10-day course held at Fort Jackson designed to "convert" sergeant is about," said Command Sgt. Maj. Buck O'Neal, AIT platoon sergeants into Army drill sergeants. These command sergeant major at Army Medical Department graduates were the first drill sergeants sent to over- Center and School, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.