The Army announced the creation of a new program Tuesday dedicated to helping aspiring recruits meet the service’s requirements to enlist.
The Future Soldiers Preparatory Course pilot program will start next month at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and will provide education and training to help these possible soldiers overcome academic and physical barriers.
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This program comes at a time when every military branch is facing a significant recruitment struggle due to a variety of factors, including the coronavirus pandemic and a smaller number of people who are eligible to meet the requirements. Only 23% of the public fully meets the Army’s requirements, down from 29% in recent years.
“The Future Soldier Prep Course allows recruits, who meet all other qualifications for enlistment, a path to serve,” said Gen. Paul E. Funk II, commanding general of Training and Doctrine Command. “The young men and women who will participate in this pilot have the desire to improve themselves and want to honorably serve their country. This course is a great way to increase opportunities for them to serve without sacrificing the quality needed across our force.”
Each would-be recruit could be in the program for as many as 90 days, but they will also have the opportunity to pass out of it every three weeks.
“This course gives us an opportunity to unleash unrealized potential by surrounding trainees with experts that they likely would not have access to at home,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick Michaelis, the U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson commanding general. “With the right instruction and professional support, we are confident they will be able to perform successfully and meet the standards expected of every soldier.”
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The Army expects it will finish this fiscal year with a total force of 466,000, which is significantly short of its initial goal for this year of 485,000, though they later lowered it to 473,000.
Various defense officials have cited the pandemic, labor shortage, and increasing unfamiliarity between civilians and those in the military as contributing factors to the recruitment problems.
