FORT JACKSON, South Carolina – Last month, on a rainy Wednesday, new soldiers entered classrooms, looking forward to completing their 10-week basic training.

Instead of focusing on weapons training, marksmanship, or combat skills, the day was dedicated to learning strategies for coping with stress, proper texting manners, and recognizing unhealthy relationships.

At Fort Jackson, the Army base in Columbia, South Carolina, where many new U.S. soldiers begin their training, the basic training experience has transformed significantly. Drill sergeants now use less profanity and insults, aiming to be more supportive to recruits. Soldiers are taught breathing techniques, nutritional health, take yoga classes, and are encouraged to get a full eight hours of sleep.

The Army is now focusing on teaching recruits essential social skills and emotional well-being, addressing some of the challenges the military faces today, such as sexual harassment and poor communication habits among tech-savvy Gen Z soldiers.

Drill Sergeant Tyler Bergman recalls that when he enlisted in 2013, the training was limited to preparing individuals “to go to war,” with no consideration for other skills.

“That was the only goal,” he stated. However, he remarked, “now the Army is focusing on a broader perspective.”

Redefining ‘Battle Readiness’ in the Army

In response to criticism from some conservative factions regarding perceived “woke” policies, former President Donald Trump commenced efforts to dismantle federal diversity and inclusion programs shortly after taking office.

Trump has indicated a similar approach for the Pentagon under his newly appointed Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran and ex-Fox News correspondent, has spent years accusing the military of shifting its focus away from combat readiness in favor of cultural sensitivity.

Recently, critics, including Hegseth, have attacked the Pentagon concerning the growing emphasis on “wokeness.” They argue that the push towards diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, along with efforts to recruit and promote women and minorities, has weakened the military’s stringent standards for fitness and strength.

Are Standards Really Declining?

However, proponents of the new training methods argue that standards haven’t diminished; instead, the military’s definition of battle readiness has simply grown. According to them, a well-rounded soldier must be a proficient communicator in addition to being an effective warrior.

“I don’t see this training as separate from warfighting,” explained Col. David Uthlaut, commander of the 165^th Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson.

“We cannot solely concentrate on technical and tactical skills; we also need to focus on trust, cohesion, and effective communication,” he emphasized.

Humor from a Former Drill Sergeant

When 19-year-old Joshua Fredericks from Manhattan, Kansas, shared the details of the new training with his father, it sparked laughter from the retired drill sergeant. As a trainee at Fort Jackson, Fredericks noted that his experience is vastly different from what his father and previous generations faced.

He mused that if his dad “had been more open-minded,” the mental health training could have significantly benefited his military experience.

“If he had started young with such training, he definitely would have performed better,” Fredericks commented.

In June, the Army introduced communication and emotional awareness training at three military installations and plans to expand it throughout the Army’s initial training programs, potentially continuing it into advanced training, as stated by Lt. Gen. David Francis, deputy commanding general for Army training.

At Fort Jackson alone, tens of thousands of soldiers have gone through this new training, according to Uthlaut.

Recruits Face Challenges with Military Stressors

Feedback within the Army has revealed that recruits often lack the resilience needed to cope with the pressures of military life or everyday challenges, according to Francis. Uthlaut highlighted persistent “corrosive behaviors” among troops.

Drill sergeants and soldiers report frequent conflicts. In a recent training session, when an instructor asked how many soldiers had experienced a disagreement, nearly every hand in the room was raised.

Tionna Mack, a 21-year-old from Philadelphia, mentioned that her platoon often faced “frequent conflicts.” However, she credited her drill sergeant with assisting her in managing her emotions.

Once, she expressed to her drill sergeant, “I honestly don’t know how to handle what I’m feeling,” during a particularly intense moment of anger.

“He simply said, ‘I just need you to breathe,'” she recounted.

New Recruits Struggle with Digital Distractions and Communication Skills

Approximately half of the Army’s active-duty enlisted military members are 25 or younger and struggle with a modern issue: excessive phone and technology use that hampers their ability to communicate effectively in person. New recruits at Fort Jackson are typically allowed phone access just once a week.

“It’s been a significant shift for me, but I genuinely believe it’s for the better,” remarked Cameron O’Brien, a 25-year-old from Frederick, Maryland. “I used to spend too much time on my phone before I arrived here.”

Uthlaut acknowledged that many new soldiers arrive with “some degree of phone addiction” and “struggle to engage in real-life interactions because of their reliance on digital communication,” he noted.

This trend isn’t limited to the Army. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of 12- to 17-year-olds spend four or more hours daily on screens, with many reporting feelings of anxiety or depression. In July, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy urged social media platforms to feature warning labels, citing studies linking social media usage to a growing mental health crisis among youth.

To combat this issue, the Army is employing technology itself. Some trainees at Fort Jackson are testing virtual reality headsets that simulate challenging social interactions.

In this immersive 3D training, soldiers navigate through scenarios in a “choose your own adventure” format.

One scenario involves resolving a loud music dispute in the barracks, where soldiers must select responses that either promote a peaceful resolution or escalate tensions. Another scenario presents a situation where a soldier and a potential partner return home from a bar, only to discover differing expectations regarding intimacy. The soldier has the choice to either communicate openly or react negatively.

As a group of soldiers removed their goggles after a session, laughter occasionally erupted. When a soldier was prompted to share their thoughts on the experience, they mentioned intentionally selecting incorrect options to see the outcomes.

doesn’t penalize them for the choices they make, they’re just asked to reflect as a group about their impressions.

Pentagon Confronts Recent Surge in Military Sexual Assault Cases

Prior to arriving at Fort Jackson, Gleny Montenegro Herrera, an 18-year-old from Milwaukee, received warnings from people at home about the risks of sexual assault. “Just keep your distance from everyone and everything,” her friends and family advised her. “But I can’t,” she responded.

The 2020 murder of Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year-old Army soldier at Fort Hood who reported experiencing sexual harassment, along with a 25% increase in sexual assault incidents from 2018 to 2021, have compelled the military to face a persistent issue within its ranks. Although reports of such incidents saw a decline for the first time in nearly ten years in 2023, a study suggested that actual rates of sexual assault could be as much as four times higher than the figures reported by the Pentagon.

Army officials also believe that emotionally focused training that covers topics like consent, active listening, and physical boundaries can address other facets of this issue.

Incidents of sexual harassment, such as unwanted touching, persist. “The repetitive nature” of these cases during basic combat training and beyond underscores the necessity for such a course, according to Uthlaut.

At Fort Jackson, instructors are straightforward when addressing sexual consent. “You will be dismissed immediately” for violating consent, Bergman informed a group of trainees. When a soldier inquired if the rules were different if both individuals involved were intoxicated during a sexual encounter, Bergman dramatically formed an X with his arms above his head. “No!” he exclaimed.

“Many people are accustomed to the banter typical of guys’ locker room discussions,” remarked Fredericks, a 19-year-old trainee. Some soldiers in his barracks have had similar comments reported to higher authorities.

‘I Wanted to Cry Every Day’

Army trainees describe basic combat training as an emotional as well as a physical hardship. For many young recruits, this period also marks their initiation into adult responsibilities.

“I thought I was ready, but once I got here, I found myself wanting to cry every day because I missed my family so much,” shared Cameron O’Brien, 25, from Frederick, Maryland.

Montenegro Herrera enlisted in the Army partly to gain residency status for her parents, who were deported years ago and currently live in Mexico. Navigating Army training while dealing with their absence is “challenging,” she admitted.

“You must be deeply connected to your emotions, your goals, and your purpose for being here,” she explained. “Having a strong emotional support system is crucial to help you stay motivated and not give up.”

“This is all foreign to me,” Montenegro Herrera said, her voice shaking as she apologized. “But I’m doing my best, and I think I’m managing pretty well.”