{"id":45632,"date":"2020-03-20T21:15:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T21:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/20\/army-basic-training-slowed-as-6-recruits-removed-for-possible-coronavirus\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:41:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:41:18","slug":"army-basic-training-slowed-as-6-recruits-removed-for-possible-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2020\/03\/20\/army-basic-training-slowed-as-6-recruits-removed-for-possible-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Army basic training slowed as 6 recruits removed for possible coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Army is going to virtual recruiting after shuttering brick and mortar stations, and has also cut in half the number of recruits brought to basic training, service leaders said Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical screening of recruits found six new individuals with symptoms indicating possible coronavirus infections, though service leaders did not say at which point in the intake process those recruits were isolated from others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have put extensive procedures in place,\u201d said Army Chief of Staff James McConville at the Pentagon. \u201cIt starts at the state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army officials are assessing the levels of infection in each state and screening recruits for symptoms before their arrival at military entrance processing stations, or MEPS, which all services send recruits through. Recruits are screened a second time at MEPS and then a third time at initial military training locations throughout the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\t