{"id":38076,"date":"2017-10-08T22:05:24","date_gmt":"2017-10-08T22:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/08\/units-need-more-fit-disciplined-soldiers-so-tradoc-is-looking-at-a-basic-training-overhaul\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:10:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:10:00","slug":"units-need-more-fit-disciplined-soldiers-so-tradoc-is-looking-at-a-basic-training-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2017\/10\/08\/units-need-more-fit-disciplined-soldiers-so-tradoc-is-looking-at-a-basic-training-overhaul\/","title":{"rendered":"Units need more fit, disciplined soldiers, so TRADOC is looking at a basic training overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Army\u2019s Center for Initial Military Training has launched a study to take a closer look at how it makes and grows soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study is underway largely because the Army is growing again, and there is increasing concern about the fitness and readiness of newly minted soldiers as they arrive at their first assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review will include basic combat training, advanced individual training and basic officer leadership training, said Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost, commander of the Center for Initial Military Training. It also will look at how the Army selects drill sergeants and AIT platoon sergeants and their daily work load, he said, during an interview on Sept. 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe No. 1 thing [units] expect from a new recruit or from a new solder is a disciplined soldier,\u201d Frost said. \u201cNo. 2 is a physically fit soldier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To deliver that, Frost is considering a program of instruction overhaul that would focus more on \u201csoldierization\u201d and physical endurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe operational force tells us that they will train them on the specifics they need for warrior tasks and battle drills,\u201d he said.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CIMT is looking at what soldiers absolutely must know when they leave basic and AIT, and what they need to make up for, based on unit feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to be able to deliver soldiers that can shoot, move, communicate, treat \u2014 meaning [the] right weapons proficiency, medical proficiency, physical fitness, communications proficiency \u2014 those big four, which every soldier needs to know,\u201d Frost said. \u201cThey need to be physically fit, like I talked about, but they need to be disciplined.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then they need some basic institutional knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey need to have an esprit [de corps] and an ethos,\u201d he said. \u201cThey need to be trained in [sexual harassment and assault response and prevention]. And then, quite frankly, they need to be confident coming out that they are a soldier. Everything else beyond that, we have to look at.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review will begin in October at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the Army\u2019s biggest basic training post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longer basic?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Army is still toying with the idea of adding to basic training, in terms of time and curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, Training and Doctrine Command\u2019s top enlisted soldier told Army Times that the organization was considering adding more time to the 10-week program to increase readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\t