U.S. Army basic training is a difficult but necessary process.
Conversion from civilian to soldier involves a complete reconstruction of character. The responsibilities of a U.S. Army soldier can involve deployment into any environment or situation around the world and it is the duty of the Army to prepare soldiers to face these challenges. Knowing what to expect can help prepare a recruit for the awaiting trials.
Military Introduction
Recruits receive uniforms, haircuts and their initial gear. This is the first step in re-socializing a civilian into a soldier. The goal is to remove them from their former lifestyle and give them a new, more regimented life. They move recruits from their civilian homes into barracks where they will spend the rest of their training process. The army uses a One Station Unit Training technique that involves a recruit's placement in a barracks under the command of a Drill Sergeant. They will remain under this Drill Sergeant and in these barracks through basic training. The phases of their training process are difficult to distinguish and many recruits are unaware of this change.
Red Phase
During the Red Phase, recruits are subjected to a training technique known as total control. Drill Sergeants are responsible for critically watching every move that recruits make and scrutinizing these actions severely. Recruits learn to march and begin doing so regularly. They are awakened early and forced to march late into the evenings. Clearly delineate the change from civilian to soldier is the goal as recruits are pushed into their new military world. Additionally, recruits begin their training in chemical warfare defense and are introduced to poisonous gasses in a controlled method known as the gas chamber. Modern warfare has made this type of training necessary and the Army has responded. Drill Sergeants will introduce recruits to their weapons, which includes either the M16A2 or the M4 assault rifle.
White Phase
Physical Training and long marches continue into the white phase of a recruit's training. Drill Sergeants introduce recruits to ceremonial marches in this phase as well. Additionally recruits will begin their weapons training. This begins with their rifle and continues as they learn use grenades, bayonets as well as their larger anti-tank weapons. This is the first time a recruit will actually fire their weapons but this weapons training is an integral part of this phase.
Blue Phase
This phase begins with a challenging physical-conditioning test. Recruits are required to achieve a high score on this test to graduate basic training. They will also begin field training that involves night training techniques, camping techniques and squad functionality. Drill Sergeants will work as an adversary during this phase, challenging recruits and working to make their field training more difficult. Recruits deal with fluctuating and elevating circumstances where they will use what they have learned in conjunction with their own instincts.
Tags: Drill Sergeants, basic training, their training, their weapons, this phase, Additionally recruits
