Army mulls tougher basic training for out-of-shape, undisciplined recruits

[Peter1469]

Army mulls tougher basic training for out-of-shape, undisciplined recruits

Drill Sergeants has more latitude when I went through Sand Hill. They got a lot softer in following years. Looks like they may go back to pass practices.

Citing a disturbing trend of new soldiers lacking both proper discipline and physical fitness, senior U.S. Army leaders are calling for a tougher and longer basic training program to prepare troops for combat over the next decade.

“We have every reason to get this right, and far fewer reasons not to,” Secretary of the Army Mark Esper said at the Association of the United States Army's Global Force Symposium in Alabama on Monday. “That’s why we are considering several initiatives — from a new physical fitness regime to reforming and extending basic training — in order to ensure our young men and women are prepared for the rigors of high-intensity combat.”


While Esper didn’t divulge any details of what an extended Basic Combat Training (BCT) might look like, the Army has already floated the idea of adding two weeks to its 10-week program. A redesigned BCT is expected to be implemented by early summer.

***

“The ultimate goal of the military is to strip a civilian of civilian status and to put them in a military mindset,” Mike Volkin, an Iraq war veteran and author of “The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook,” told Fox News. “So if you were to boil down the goal of basic training to its essence it would be to conform.”

And bring back collective punishment and blanket parties.

[Common]

They should do the same thing with Police Officers and weed out the physically worthless that are so out of condition they cant possibly perform their jobs.

Years ago cops would refuse to partner with someone they thought wasnt physically able to support them or take their back

[DGUtley]

Geee.... we want our military in top physical shape. Hmmm.

[Peter1469]

They should do the same thing with Police Officers and weed out the physically worthless that are so out of condition they cant possibly perform their jobs.

Years ago cops would refuse to partner with someone they thought wasnt physically able to support them or take their back

Another problem with cops is that they don't track officers' physical fitness very well after their police training. Not to the extent that the military does. (I understand that some departments may; I am just referring to my experience.)

[Peter1469]

Geee.... we want our military in top physical shape. Hmmm.

The article alludes to more than that. It refers to giving drill sergeants more latitude in their interactions with recruits. In the 1990s they came up with the concept of the "stress card." If a recruit felt that the drill sergeants were to rough, they could pull out a "stress card" and then policy said the drill sergeant had to leave the recruit alone for a certain period of time.

When I went through basic that concept was unheard of.

[Don]

I see a lot of cops that waddle instead of walk.

In the military I think maybe they could just fail them like schools do and make them take the whole thing over. Just knowing that might make some of them try harder.

[Tahuyaman]

Army mulls tougher basic training for out-of-shape, undisciplined recruits

I'm not overly concerned about recruits being in poor physical condition as there is a remedy for that. What concerns me is the increase in low test scores, criminal history and drug use which is hampering recruiting.

[Tahuyaman]

I see a lot of cops that waddle instead of walk.

In the military I think maybe they could just fail them like schools do and make them take the whole thing over. Just knowing that might make some of them try harder.

There are physical fitness standards to be hired as a police officer. However there aren't many departments which have fitness standards one must maintain in order remain employed.

When I was a deputy sheriff, I was always trying to get physical fitness standards and annual testing mandatory. The union seriously opposed my efforts. Our union president was never going to allow the issue to go anywhere. My co-workers were split 50 / 50 on the issue.

[jimmyz]

They should do the same thing with Police Officers and weed out the physically worthless that are so out of condition they cant possibly perform their jobs.

Years ago cops would refuse to partner with someone they thought wasnt physically able to support them or take their back

I agree. Have you seen some of the officers on the shows Live PD, COPS, Southern Justice and the like? Some look like they're 300 pounds or more. How can they possibly pursue a suspect on foot effectively.

[Peter1469]

Army mulls tougher basic training for out-of-shape, undisciplined recruits


I'm not overly concerned about recruits being in poor physical condition as there is a remedy for that. What concerns me is the increase in low test scores, criminal history and drug use which is hampering recruiting.

That is true also. But if they are fat asses, it doesn't really matter that they have a criminal record.