Army looks at extending basic training for new soldiers

The Army is looking to extend the length of basic training, just six months after beefing up the course by rolling out a series of new tests that are mandatory for graduation.

“The No. 1 priority is readiness in our Army,” said Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, the senior enlisted soldier for Training and Doctrine Command. “When we [at TRADOC] hand that soldier to their first unit of assignment, there are three things we want them to be — fit, disciplined and well trained.”

Extending basic training — it is currently almost 10 weeks long — will enable the Army to reduce attrition and give new soldiers more time to increase their fitness and learn their fundamental skills, Davenport said.

Read More- Army Times

Image courtesy of DoD