FORT JACKSON, S.C. (AP) — Index cards taped to a large board on the wall at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, reveal the sometimes brutal and concrete reasons new recruits took a chance on a last-ditch program to join the army.

“The eviction notices motivate me,” one said. Others talked about free college, a good job, and a way to better themselves.

Known as “Why Wall,” the painting is meant to serve as inspiration to recruits who could not meet the standards of the Army’s physical and academic tests. They therefore followed the preparation course for future soldiers. It offers weeks of instruction to help them improve their scores.

Launched as a trial program two years ago to help boost dismal recruiting figures, the preparation course is fueling the military’s return to enlistment. Recruiting has suffered for all military branches in recent years in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid low unemployment and strong competition from private companies able to pay more and offer similar or even better benefits.

By the end of this fiscal year on Sept. 30, the Army had met its recruiting goal of 55,000, and service leaders said more than 13,000 of those recruits — or 24 percent — had entered service. active thanks to the preparation course.

Army leaders increased the goal to 61,000 for this year and are counting on the readiness course to again provide a significant share.

During a recent visit to Fort Jackson, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth spoke with recruits and program officials to see how the course is going and what changes might be made. She said the successful programme, which has involved more than 31,000 trainees since its launch, deserves to be made permanent.

Wormuth said the Army could make adjustments based on a long-term study of recruits coming out of the course, including looking at how they performed when they first enlisted and whether there were any behavioral problems or of discipline.

“We really want to see what kind of soldier comes out at the end of this first term, how are they doing in terms of discipline,” Wormuth said.

Drill sergeants expressed concern about more discipline problems, disrespect and complaints from trainees in the university curriculum. And they say trainees whose first language is not English have more difficulty understanding orders and using computers.

Although they are seeing fewer disciplinary problems among recruits in the fitness section, they are seeing more injuries, including ankle, knee and hip problems. These trainees, they say, may need to be brought in even more slowly, to increase their strength and conditioning, rather than moving them into basic training as soon as they reach the minimum required level.

Commanders told Wormuth that the fitness program aims to give trainees a healthy foundation for eating and training. Instructors said they don’t want to break recruits before they start basic training, so they do a lot of yoga, stretching and other exercises to prevent injuries.

In the classroom, they learn basic math, English, and other academic skills. The majority of recruits who follow the program follow the academic curriculum.

So far, Wormuth said, the data doesn’t reflect some of the concerns drill sergeants and commanders have expressed. Instead, she and other Army leaders said that, on average, the basic training graduation rate is somewhat higher — about 94 percent — for those who completed the program compared to those who did not, approximately 92%.

But so far, they’re drawing on the thoughts scribbled on the “Why Wall.”

Company commanders came up with the idea last year to let recruits set their goals early on so they could return to them each week to motivate themselves or see their progress.

A bright yellow sign at the top of the board tells recruits: “Your WHY will keep you going even when you most want to STOP.” » For many, the answer was that they had something to prove – to themselves and to others.

“I joined the army because my family thought I couldn’t achieve anything in life. So I had to prove them wrong,” one of them said. Another wrote: “I want to show my family that I’m worth something. »

Others said they wanted to “become a better man,” “gain my independence” and “prove to myself that I can accomplish something and that I’m not a quitter.”

One recruit was blunt: “To prove to her that I won’t become who she said I would become.” »

The recruits lined up near the wall told Wormuth that the fitness program was working for them.

Couper Godleski, of Pennsylvania, said that in 10 weeks he lost 20 pounds.

Britney Vaughn, from Louisiana, said she lost 30 pounds in six weeks. And although she says she misses her 3-year-old daughter, “I feel like it will all be worth it.”

Academically, recruits told Wormuth that even if they struggle with math or understanding English, they receive help from instructors while learning the structure and discipline of the military. A key goal, one recruit said, is “to be a role model for my nieces and nephews” and to get money for college so they don’t have to go into debt.

For Wormuth, the visit confirmed Army leadership’s intent to maintain the program.

The recruiting challenges aren’t going to stop, she said.

“I think we’re probably going to continue to see fairly low unemployment. We’re still going to see 60% of them go to college. It’s a more competitive job market,” she said. “So we will have to continue to fight hard for our new recruits.”

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