More Basic Training

Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (KFMO) - The Army is increasing the number of posts where it conducts basic combat training as recruiting numbers improve, and as it prepares for war.

Beginning in October, the Army will train its recruits at post in two states, in addition to its current basic-training locations. Drill sergeants will introduce civilians to the Army way of life in two training companies at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and two at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. The four companies will train as many as 4,000 recruits a year, more if needed. Army leaders believe they'll reach their target of 55,000 recruits this year. That's why they needed to increase the number of training sites.

The expansion coincides with the Army's restructuring from decades of fighting insurgent groups in Iraq and Afghanistan to preparing to fight a sophisticated adversary, such as Russia or China, in large-scale battles.