Army Extends Basic Training

The Army is extending the length of its basic training from nine weeks to ten weeks. A pilot 10-week program began on Nov. 2 and will run through mid-March. The Army will then revert to it's nine week program, before instituting the 10-week program permanently in October 2008, after next summer's basic training surge.The extra week will consist of discretionary time to allow drill sergeants to provide additional training in areas where recruits have shown weaknesses, according to Army officials. The Army hopes the additional time will reduce basic training attrition rates.