Integrative initiatives Naval analysts note how Army training differs

Analysts from the Center of Naval Analyses arrived on post Tuesday to begin their study into how the U.S. Army, and Fort Jackson in particular, integrate genders into Basic Combat Training.

Dr. Patricia Neil and Leigh Rowland's first stop on their tour, which ends Friday, was the 120th Adjutant General Battalion were they learned how new trainees are processed into the Army before being shipped to their BCT companies.

Their visit was part of a study directed by the Marine Corps Commandant on how the sister services train female Service members. The two had previously visited Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois before arriving here.

Neil, who served in the Navy, said, "Why you want to look at the Army in particular, like the Marine Corps, they are ground combat components. The Air Force and Navy have been able to integrate their operational forces to a greater extent compared to ground combat forces."

She added that when the Services are training up for combat missions, one of the things to understand is "how to train up to do physically demanding" jobs. Women "may be less physically able" to do these jobs because of their biology. However, Fort Jackson and the Army have done

a great deal in training men and women together.

During the first stop on their tour Capt. Alexi Zayas and 1st Sgt. Theresa Lee-Love from Delta Company, 120th AG BN, showed the team how female Soldiers are first processed into the Army, what the differences of the clothing issues are, differing medical procedures and how females are

trained.

There are lots of facets that go into training women to become Soldiers -- one being the way boots are broken in.

While watching Soldiers preparing for shipment to their respective companies, Neil discussed with Zayas, Lee-Love, 1st Lt. Jacob Huber and Sgt. 1st Class Joshua O'Crowley, with Foxtrot Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, how Marines at Parris Island train recruits.

On the "Island," recruits break in their boots by marching and walking, but because training is segregated, female Marines may get less chance to break in their boots because their marching is confined to a smaller area.

This lack of marching in boots can affect the bones and sinews of Service members causing injuries that can be lingering.

"The Army spends a lot of time making sure the Soldiers are stronger," O'Crowley said. The ways the Army does this is by using stability drills from physical readiness training

before the marches.

Neil and Rowland will observe and participate in PRT, witness training at Victory Forge and the confidence course, have lunch with battalion and brigade commanders and visit the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy before they depart Friday.