{"id":48638,"date":"2020-04-06T19:53:39","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T19:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/04\/06\/army-pauses-bringing-new-recruits-to-basic-training\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:11:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:11:36","slug":"army-pauses-bringing-new-recruits-to-basic-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2020\/04\/06\/army-pauses-bringing-new-recruits-to-basic-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Army pauses bringing new recruits to basic training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Army leaders paused the shipment of new recruits to basic combat training<\/a> today, citing the gradual growth of the coronavirus pandemic<\/a> around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pause will last two weeks at a minimum, and will be assessed from there, said Gen. Paul E. Funk II, commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, during a Pentagon press briefing Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pause does not impact those already at basic training locations, where drill sergeants will continue to practice social distancing and medical screening of recruits, Funk said. After those trainees graduate basic, they\u2019ll still proceed to advanced individual training, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been about 100 total coronavirus cases across the Army\u2019s training base so far, some of whom already recovered. But the pause was not sparked by an outbreak at any specific training site, according to Funk, who framed it instead as an opportune time to take a \u201ctactical pause.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApril and May are our lowest shipping months anyway,\u201d said Funk. \u201cWe\u2019re in a good spot in the Army in terms of getting the conditions set to be ready for the summer surge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t