US Army to Put Basic Training on Temporary Hold for New Recruits

The U.S. Army announced that the army will be temporarily holding off training exercises amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published: 4/8/2020, 3:25:04 AM EDT

US Army to Put Basic Training on Temporary Hold for New Recruits — Soldiers do physical training before sunrise during Army basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 1, 2007. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The U.S. Army released a press release on Monday indicating that it will be temporarily holding off with army training for the next two weeks.

The delay in combat training will affect new army recruits, not the ones already enrolled in the Basic Combat Training (BCT), according to a press release.

"One of the [U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command]'s main focuses is to develop leaders by accessing, training, and educating Soldiers.

"We have to do so responsibly, and we're already begun protecting those current in our ranks with social-distanced-enabled training, reduced movement of our Soldiers and trainees, and increased screening of those moving across our commands," said General Paul E. Funk, commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Funk stated that the temporary training freeze "will allow leaders to focus on setting conditions so movement can be conducted in a safer manner in the future."

As indicated, those already enrolled will continue their training, although it will be under the screening and monitoring guidelines that were issued in March 2020.

"This tactical pause will allow commands to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place and are operating effectively at training installations," the press release stated.

Following the completion of their training under the guidelines, the recruits will then go to their next assignment after graduation.

Military.com reported that to prevent the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, spreading, all recruits will have to undergo testing. Only after that can the recruit start the initial entry training in the army.

Lisa Ferguson, spokesperson for the Army Recruiting Command, told Military.com that "the Army has directed that all recruits be screened at recruiting stations just before shipping to [Basic Combat Training] and then undergo a second round of screening upon arrival."

During the screening process, the recruits will be asked to answer questions regarding their health. Military.com reported that the test would screen for fever, cough, sore throat, and other symptoms.

Should anyone answer yes to any of the questions or show symptoms of such, further evaluation will be given to the recruit by medical authorities who will then determine the further plan of action.

Military.com reported that on March 31, the U.S. Army Center for Initial Training started screening all the recruits for COVID-19 at the reception stations of Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; as well as Fort Sill, Oklahoma.