The U.S. Army on April 20 resumed the process of sending new recruits to basic training again despite having around 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, according to multiple reports.
On April 6, the army announced that it would be halting the process of shipping out new recruits to basic training in order to give training commanders time to reassess its screening procedures in response to the spread of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, according to Task and Purpose.
The Hill reported that though the army will resume its process of sending recruits to basic training facilities, they are cautious about where they’ll be recruiting from and who can continue. Recruits in areas that are considered low-risk can continue while those in high-risk areas will have to wait for a later date.
In addition, the basic training facilities will be operating at a smaller capacity “in order to protect the health and safety of new recruits, while adhering to social-distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the Hill.
General Paul Funk II, the commander of Army Training said that following the earlier announced pause, recruits who were at the training facility already were made to practice social distancing and the drill sergeants would still conduct screening processes in order to figure out the recruits who needed treatment, according to Task and Purpose.
He also stated that following resumption of the process of having new recruits sent in for basic training, the new recruits will be extensively screened. Once they’re in the facility, these new recruits will undergo a 14-day “controlled monitoring” quarantine period.
During the two weeks of quarantine, the new recruits will undergo limited training consisting of academic work and fitness training.
“Once they get out of the controlled monitoring, and they’re now COVID-free, we can move into the—from a walk phase of the academic, to the run phase of the collective training and the team-building aspects of basic combat training,” said Major General Lonnie Hibbard, a commander of the Center for Initial military training.
Gen. James McConville, the army chief of staff, said that this process is to ensure that this is minimal exposure to other recruits and soldiers.
“So if someone does become positive for COVID-19, it’s a very, very small amount of other soldiers that they may have infected. And that’s how we’ll keep the spread of the virus down,” he said.
It was revealed on April 16 that Fort Jackson, one of the locations for basic training for the new recruits, had 50 confirmed cases of the CCP Virus. However, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said that there were no more cases following that.
“One training battalion in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, had about 50—and no more since then. We’ve done pretty well overall, all things considered,” McCarthy said.
