plained millennials are just as capable as other genera- tions but differ in several crucial ways. They tend to require a great deal of reinforcement, for
example, and might need to know why their jobs are im- portant. They often learn better through hands-on training rather than listening to lectures and viewing PowerPoint presentations, and they highly value independence and fl exible schedules. Obviously, some of these traits are com- patible with traditional Army training and others are not. Where possible, changes will be instituted to synchronize training methods with current societal realities: The Army Physical Fitness School has expanded its
program of standardized physical training for training bases, based on extensive scientifi c study. Drill sergeants, platoon sergeants, and initial entry training cadre will be schooled in balancing physical improvement with poten- tial injuries such as femoral neck stress fractures. The basic rifl e and advanced rifl e marksmanship
programs are being revised, based on input from Fort Benning. “We’re taking a path away from treating all sol- diers as if they were infantrymen during qualifi cation,” says Hertling. “Infantry soldiers will qualify with M4s — the weapon that the great majority will have in their fi rst unit — and all other [basic combat training] soldiers will qualify with the M16A2, the basic Army weapon.” Fort Benning’s Maneuver Center has completed a
review of combatives training and will increase emphasis on fi ghting skills that are more relevant in today’s com- bat situations. “Additionally, we have already revised the pugil and bayonet training periods of instruction, elimi- nating the bayonet assault course for a more active pugil fi ghting course and applying the skills of ‘fi ghting with a weapon’ to replace some of the more outdated bayonet movements,” notes Hertling. The combat lifesaver qualifi cation course will be re-
placed with a tactical-combat casualty-care course. Some battlefi eld medical interventions found to do more harm than good will be eliminated. The Army is moving toward incorporating digital de-
vices into its training methodology. Armed with e-readers, soldiers eventually will be able to study any place, any time, says Col. Craig Currey, director of the Directorate of Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson. “Much of basic training involves standing in line,” he says. “Having an interactive device would help them keep their minds engaged in cur- rent training. I think there’s a real possibility there.” Drill sergeants and advanced individual training pla-
toon sergeants have been studying resilience training at the University of Pennsylvania in a course that soon will exist at Fort Jackson’s Victory University. The initiative is part of
5 0 MI L I T A R Y O F F I C E R MO N T H 2 0 0 5
the Army’s new comprehensive soldier fi tness (CSF) pro- gram, says Army Brig. Gen. Bradley W. May, Fort Jackson commanding general. “Resilience — which in this context refers to the ability to grow and thrive in the face of chal- lenges and bounce back from adversity — is a key term in defi ning the vision of the CSF program,” he explains. A global assessment tool, also part of the CSF pro-
gram, provides recruits with a baseline of their strengths and weakness in the emotional, social, spiritual, and fam- ily areas. This self-guided, confi dential online tool pro- vides soldiers and their families an opportunity to track self-development and growth in these areas over time. West Point’s Army Center for the Professional Mili-
tary Ethic is working on new ways to teach core values. “We’re trying to get away from PowerPoint and from rely- ing too much on individual experiences,” says Currey. “In the past, a lot of values training was drill instructors telling stories off the top of their heads, which has its place. But if that’s the core curriculum for 17 hours, we can do better.” To supply company commanders with more informa-
tion about soldiers entering their outfi ts, the Army’s Digital Training Management System is developing methods to transmit data to a recruit’s fi rst unit of assignment. The in- formation will travel with a soldier from that point onward. Warrior tasks and battle drills have been revised after
3
a careful review of the program of instruction for basic combat training. Over the years, says Hertling, these tasks and drills have increased to the point of being “onerous” and simply took too much time to teach. In an effort to “train [soldiers on] fewer tasks well,” their number is being reduced, and they are being made more specifi c and rel- evant on an individual level to each individual soldier.
Step 3: Implementation By all accounts, the Army has selected the right person for the job. At 6 feet, 4 inches tall, Hertling is a com- manding presence, in every sense of the word. But, ac- cording to commanders, he has a way of putting people at ease, and he solicits feedback from everyone, regard- less of rank. During his Fort Jackson visit, the general stopped two young soldiers at the facility’s reception bat- talion for a chat. At fi rst wide-eyed at being stopped by a three-star general, they soon relaxed and fi lled him in on how their training was progressing. “When commanders tell him things, he’ll say ‘OK,
I’ve got it,’ ” says Col. Lee Rudacille, USA, commander of Fort Jackson’s 165th Infantry Brigade. “Then he’ll go talk to a drill sergeant, an [advanced individual train- ing] platoon sergeant, or a soldier — someone who re- ally knows — and get their take [on the situation]. He
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