NEWS |
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WHAT IS RECRUIT
SUSTAINMENT PROGRAM?
The intent of this
program is to reduce training pipeline losses by
introducing newly enlisted Soldier to the
military environment, and to ease their
adjustment to Basic Combat and Advance
Individual Training.
MISSION
The
mission is to prepare non-prior service
enlistees, hereafter referred to as "Warriors",
for the physical and mental rigors of initial
active duty for training (IADT); instill the
seven army values in each warrior; reduce
training pipeline losses; and verify warriors
are administratively, mentally and physically
prepared to meet shipping requirements.
TRAINING CONCEPT
The Recruit
Sustainment Program will incorporate instruction
in; Academic, Physical Readiness, and Common
Task Training. Each Warrior will be screened for
administration problems as well as height/weight
and physical fitness. New warriors will progress
through different phases of Soldier Empowerment
and Readiness (SEAR) training while attending
the RSP Course:
Red Phase is the
trainees' first drill weekend with the Recruit
Sustainment Program. Because they are completely
new to the Guard at this point, Red Phase
weekends are spent mostly in the classroom,
covering basic subjects new recruits need to
know right away.
White Phase varies
in length but covers the period between their
first drill weekend and the drill weekend before
they ship.
Blue Phase is the final
drill before shipping and covers what the
shipper should expect, both at Reception
Battalion and BCT.
Green Phase is for
warriors in the Split Training Option (STO).
These warriors will return from BCT and drill
with the RSP until they go to AIT. Since they
have already experienced Basic Training, these
warriors are groomed as junior cadre and given
additional physical readiness training and
leadership training.
RSP FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
When your Soldier first
starts, you will have so many questions. We hope
this helps to answer some. If you have a
question and you don't see it on here, please
contact us on the numbers given in your Soldiers
welcome packet.
• What happens first
when my Soldier gets to the post?
Your
Soldier will first be assigned to a "reception
battalion," which is a precursor to basic
training. During their stay in the reception
battalion, they will get their first military
haircut (this does not apply to females, unless
they need their hair cut, as long as it can be
put back or is short enough to be off of the
ears, eyebrows, and collar), get their ID tags
and uniforms, get their vaccinations updated,
learn a little bit about the military and its
ranking structure, and attend physical training
(PT). His/her stay in the reception battalion
will vary from a few weeks to several weeks.
• Why might my Soldier have to stay
in the reception battalion for so long? Why
can't he/she get started in basic training?
There are several reasons why your
Soldier might have to stay in the reception
battalion. The biggest reason is timing-- there
are no available basic training units at the
time. After a basic training unit graduates, the
drill sergeants will go and pick up a new
company from the reception battalion. Another
reason might be that your Soldier hasn't yet met
the minimum physical training requirements.
• Can I call my Soldier on the phone?
No. Phone calls are a privilege, to be
given only after your Soldier has demonstrated a
positive attitude or outstanding advances in
training. If your Soldier or their Commanding
Officer needs to contact you, they will.
• What if I have an emergency where I
absolutely have to contact my Soldier?
In an emergency, you need to do one of
two things: You may contact your Soldier's
Commanding Officer by email, and you can usually
find his email address inside the unit's
website. Also, you can contact your local Red
Cross office, and they will relay the emergent
information to your Soldier and his/her basic
training cadre. In certain instances, such as a
death in the family, your Soldier may be given
Encl 4 leave to go home and attend the funeral.
This may delay his training, however.
• What are Drill Sergeants like?
Most often, our impressions of Drill
Sergeants come from the movies and television.
Drill Sergeants are not like that! Drill
Sergeants are chosen from the top 10% of all
Army NCO's, so they are the top in their field.
They have usually been in the Army for more than
10 years, so they know their job well. Drill
Sergeants are extremely well-trained,
professional, and dedicated to training your
Soldier to be the best in the world. They will
not hit or abuse your Soldier in any way.
• Can I send my Soldier letters?
Yes. After your Soldier has gotten
settled into his basic training unit, their
Commanding Officer will send you a very
informative letter in the mail. This letter will
give you the mailing address for sending
letters.
• Can I send my Soldier Care
Packages?
No. There are several items
considered contraband in Basic Training. Among
these are candy, chewing gum, cookies, soft
drinks, and tobacco products. All these products
undermine the physical training advancements
your Soldier is attaining, and they will be
confiscated.
• Why don't I receive
many letters from my Soldier?
Your
Soldier is learning many new, impressive skills
during his/her basic training. Each evening,
after his/her daily training is completed,
he/she will be given an hour or so of "personal
time," during which he can relax and get ready
for the next day. Quite often your Soldier is
very tired from the work they've done, and just
doesn't have the energy to write very often. But
please keep sending them letters anyway! They
will enjoy reading about the happenings at home,
and your words of encouragement are priceless to
them.
• What happens if my Soldier
gets sick in basic training?
Your
Soldier is given the opportunity each morning to
go on "sick call" so they can see a doctor for
medicine. The doctor will give them bed rest
orders, send them to Encl 4 the infirmary, or
admit them to the hospital. The doctors will
contact you if they think it's necessary. Your
Soldier's Drill Sergeants are also medically
trained to administer first aid, giving IV
liquid if required. They are always in radio
contact with someone who can get an ambulance to
the hurt or sick Soldier, if necessary.
• Can my Soldier attend church
services while in basic training?
Yes.
Soldiers may attend any of several religious
services. The Army respects our First Amendment
right to practice religion, and Drill Sergeants
will shuttle trainees to various chapels.
• What about graduation? Can I
attend?
Yes, you are highly urged to
attend your Soldier's graduation ceremony. In
the letter you will receive from your Soldier's
Commanding Officer, it will give specific dates
and times so you can attend the ceremony.
• If I attend his/her graduation,
where are the hotels I could stay?
If
you plan to stay more than a day in the area
where your Soldier attends basic training, you
should call the nearest city's Chamber of
Commerce for some recommendations about clean,
safe accommodations during your visit.
• How long does basic training
last?
During boot camp (or basic as some
call it) recruits go through a variety of
training exercises, history of their branch of
service and its traditions, as well as the
physical training. It usually culminates in a
last exercise to complete before passing. The
Marines have The Crucible, the Navy has Battle
Stations, the Army has Victory Forge and the Air
Force has Scorpion's Nest. Once the recruit has
passed their respective "test" they are now a
member of that branch of the service. This is a
very proud moment for them all and it is not
unusual for grown men/women to cry at that
moment!
Basic training consists of two
phases: Basic Training and Advanced Individual
Training (AIT).
Basic Training is nine weeks
long. Every Soldier in the Army attends the same
type of basic training. For instance,
infantrymen have the same training as Encl 4
military police, food service technicians,
finance clerks, etc. In the AIT phase, Soldiers
learn more specialized skills specific to their
jobs in the Army. For instance, infantrymen
learn about infantry techniques and weapons,
military police learn police procedures, food
service techs learn about nutrition and food
safety, and finance clerks learn about military
pay procedures. There are more than 200 jobs in
the US Army, so every AIT is different in
length. Some AIT's are held at a different Army
post from where your Soldier attends Basic
Training.
• What is OSUT?
OSUT is an acronym for One-Station Unit
Training. This applies to Soldiers in the
Infantry. The Infantry has combined its Basic
Training and AIT to be one 14-week long training
session. Your Soldier will attend more
streamlined training, and will develop
camaraderie with his/her fellow trainees during
this time.
• Does my Soldier get a
break from OSUT?
Maybe. Not all units
get a weekend mid-cycle break, for various
reasons. If you hope to visit your Soldier
during his break, keep your travel plans
flexible. The mid-cycle break is a privilege,
and not everyone will get one.
• Can
my Soldier come home with me after he/she
graduates?
Every Soldier's situation is
different. Many will go on to other schools such
as Airborne or Air Assault schools, and will not
have time to come home on leave. You need to
make arrangements with your Soldier as he nears
his graduation.
• Where can I get
other information about my Soldier's training?
Each base's website is different, but a
wealth of information more specific to the post
where your Soldier is stationed. You can browse
through each post's website for other
interesting information. Here are the websites
for you to view also, if you have any other
questions.
Ft. Jackson, South Carolina -
http://www.jackson.army.mil/
Ft.
Sill, Oklahoma - http://sill-www.army.mil/
Ft. Benning, Georgia -
http://www.benning.army.mil/fbhome/
Ft. Benning, Georgia -
http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/
Ft.
Leonard Wood, Missouri - www.wood.army.mil/
Ft. Knox, Kentucky -
http://www.knox.army.mil/
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