FORT KNOX, Ky. –
The U.S. Army will resume shipping future Soldiers to initial entry training April 20, following a two-week pause that was put in place to ensure necessary COVID-19 mitigation measures were operating effectively at all four Army training centers.
In order to protect the health and safety of new recruits, while adhering to social-distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, Basic Combat Training and One-Station Unit Training courses will temporarily operate at a reduced capacity.
Recruits from areas considered low-risk will be able to continue movement to training bases. Those who are in high risk areas will be rescheduled for future dates.
To minimize the potential for COVID-19 infections within training environments, several protocols and procedures have been established prior to recruit movement from hometowns and after they arrive at the training bases.
In the two weeks leading up to their scheduled ship dates, future Soldiers will be screened for symptoms of, and possible exposure to, COVID-19 at various intervals by recruiters and Military Entrance Processing Station personnel. Additionally, they will be assessed upon arrival at their training centers.
During their first two weeks at the training centers, recruits will undergo modified training curriculums and will be closely monitored with daily health assessments. Much of the classroom-based training will be shifted to the first 14 days of the ten-week basic training curriculum to help facilitate the controlled-monitoring phase.
Since mid-March, about 4,800 Regular Army and Army Reserve Future Soldiers across the country have had their training dates rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To support Future Soldiers who have been impacted by these delays, Army leaders have implemented two different incentive programs.
The Future Soldier to Active Duty Program is available on a case-by-case basis for those experiencing extreme hardship because of the delay. Approved participants will be brought onto active duty rolls as U.S. Army privates and will receive pay and full benefits as Soldiers assigned to the local recruiting battalion while awaiting their scheduled ship dates.
Regular Army Future Soldiers who don't qualify for the FSADP may be eligible for the Delayed Shipping Incentive, which ranges from $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the length of the delay.
Army Reserve Future Soldiers are not eligible for these programs, as they already assigned to a reserve unit upon the completion of their contract and before shipping to training.