{"id":13906,"date":"2020-10-22T20:32:10","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T20:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/22\/two-star-wants-to-ease-the-civilian-to-soldier-transition-during-army-basic-training\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:44:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:44:45","slug":"two-star-wants-to-ease-the-civilian-to-soldier-transition-during-army-basic-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2020\/10\/22\/two-star-wants-to-ease-the-civilian-to-soldier-transition-during-army-basic-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Two-star wants to ease the civilian-to-soldier transition during Army basic training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some recent changes to Army basic combat training<\/a> caused by the coronavirus pandemic are expected to remain even after the virus has subsided, according to Maj. Gen. Lonnie G. Hibbard, commander of the Army\u2019s Center for Initial Military Training<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The changes included lowering the drill sergeant-to-trainee ratio during the initial weeks of basic, front-loading academics, and abbreviating in-processing during that same time-frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pandemic precautions required drill sergeants to break trainees down into smaller groups for two weeks of controlled monitoring \u2014 the amount of time it takes after exposure to COVID-19 to begin exhibiting symptoms. Trainees stayed in PT uniforms during those 14 days, as well, and haircuts were put on hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hibbard believes making those changes permanent could curb problems not related to the virus, such as suicides. Anecdotal reports from basic training locations show \u201csome decrease in behavioral health incidents,” Hibbard said, though official numbers still weren\u2019t available for the fiscal year by the time this article was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy changing the way we in-processed them, it allowed these new recruits, trainees to take on the stressors of transitioning to become a soldier incrementally, instead of simultaneously within the first 72 hours,” Hibbard said during a telephone interview earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really hard for a drill sergeant to yell at a trainee with a mask on,\u201d Hibbard added. \u201cThe drill sergeants had to coach, teach and mentor significantly more when they came in. And you\u2019re also now in small groups. So instead of 10 drill sergeants with 240 trainees, you now have three drill sergeants with 30 trainees and you start building that noncommissioned officer to soldier relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t