Army Faces New Challenge: Too Many Recruits, Not Enough Training Slots

Washington, D.C. (KFMO) - After years of struggling to meet recruiting goals, the U.S. Army is now facing an unexpected challenge, too many recruits and not enough places to train them.

The Army’s recent surge in enlistments has outpaced its basic training capacity, forcing the branch to take action. To address the overflow, the Army is setting up 10 additional basic training units at military posts in Missouri and Oklahoma. Once operational, these units will be able to train nearly 10,000 recruits per year. Until then, thousands of new enlistees are being placed in the Army’s Delayed Entry Program (DEP), which currently holds nearly 11,000 recruits, double the usual number, according to Military.com.

The Army’s recruiting boom comes after years of sharp declines, during which recruiters struggled to attract young Americans who met enlistment requirements. Even now, many potential recruits are disqualified due to obesity or an inability to pass the Army’s entrance exam. Despite those challenges, Army recruiters have managed to boost enlistments to the point where training capacity has become the latest hurdle to overcome.

With the new training units on the way, Army officials hope to keep up the momentum and get recruits into service without lengthy delays.