AUSTIN (KXAN) — For the first time in years, the United States Army has exceeded its recruiting goal.
This fiscal year, the Army brought in 55,000 new soldiers. Military officials said it has to do with a recruiting push to help future soldiers get into shape.
“The Future Soldier Prep Course is a pre-enlistment course that’s designed to educate and train future soldiers to either overcome academic or physical fitness barriers to army service,” First Sgt. Eric Immel explained.
Twenty-eight thousand recruits have graduated from the program which has been in place for two years.
“Within the program, there are two distinct tracks,” Immel said.
“One is the fitness program that educates trainees on nutrition and physical fitness in order to meet the enlistment body fat composition standard. And then the academic skills portion is an educational program that helps train future soldiers.”
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said the program is working with 90% of future soldiers graduating from the program.
According to Immel, there is a “95% success rate for soldiers in the academic skills portion.”
While the physical side has a lower rate, “an 87% success rate of soldiers that graduate the program within the first three weeks and move on to basic combat training.”
Military officials said fitness barriers may be difficult to overcome for the younger generation of future soldiers.
“I think a lot of it is screen time. I think if we can educate the younger generation on physical fitness, nutrition, taking a break from their screens, going for a walk, going to the gym, a run,” Immel said. “I think a lot of that will ease mental health stressors and help build a foundation for a healthy life.”