Allowing recruits to use their cellphones during basic training comes as the Navy eyes ways to lower attrition rates and increase interest in joining up.
“The ability to conduct staging of poolees in hard structure berthing with rooms for 2-4 personnel, as well as on-site laundry, infirmary, and mess facilities, led MCRD Parris Island to a temporary partnership with The Citadel."
“This increase in testing is possible because of the overwhelming Naval Medical support to recruit training and an increased testing capability, which we have implemented to ensure recruits are healthy before they being their training."
Maj. Gen. Frank Muth told more than 4,400 people listening online that recruiting mission contracts have lagged by 5,500 during the last month as a result of the pandemic, and that Military Entrance Processing Stations will begin shipping recruits April 27.
“As recruits arrive to the depot in the future, they will enter a staging period of 14 days during which they will be medically screened, monitored and provided classes to prepare and orient them to begin recruit training."
The recruit depot aboard San Diego said in a post on Facebook that as of Wednesday all personnel aboard the depot are “required to wear face masks in all plausible situations excluding physical training in order to reduce the risks of contracting COVID-19.”
Parris Island said in a news release that in the future incoming recruits will enter a 14-day “staging period” where they will undergo a medical screening and be provided classes before stepping on the yellow footprints — the beginning step to becoming a Marine.
The new case comes despite last week’s move to lock down all staff and recruits at the Navy training center for up to 90 days — with staff forced to remain — to halt the pandemic’s spread.
The Corps “has to be ready to respond to a problem around the world. We’ve never been given advanced notice when that will happen” so Marines “need to conduct training that is necessary” to be ready when the nation needs it to act. Gen. David Berger said.
Spaced out bunks adds a little bit of extra room for maneuvering for heavy-eyed recruits scrambling early in the morning to get on line as the drill instructor readies recruits for morning chow and follow-on training.