10-week basic training on hold

[unhappycamper]

10-week basic training on hold
By Jim Tice - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 22, 2008 7:31:31 EDT

FORT BLISS, Texas — A pilot program that extended basic combat training from nine to 10 weeks was placed on hold Friday for the spring and summer training surge, but it will be permanently reinstated Oct. 1, said Lt. Gen. Ben Freakley, commander of Army Accessions Command.

Freakley, here to host the Initial Military Training Forum, said the pilot program that began in November has validated the 10-week brigade combat team concept, which gives drill sergeants an additional week to introduce soldiers to the Army and focus on tasks and issues they believe need work.

The 10-week regimen does not add new material, as was done in 2004 with the introduction of several combat tasks based on lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan. The new system only applies to basic training. The one-station unit training programs that combine basic training with advanced individual training are not affected.

The temporary suspension of the 10-week format for the 2008 summer training surge was planned from the beginning, Freakley said. The training surge is expected to be especially robust this year because of the ongoing program to increase the size of the Army from 520,000 to 547,000 by the end of 2010.


Article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/army_pilot_032008w/