Army tests reserve drill sergeants to boost basic training capacity in wartime

In a summer exercise called Operation Wildcat Rising, the U.S. Army integrated a group of Army Reserve drill sergeants into a basic training cycle at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to test rapid expansion of training capacity for a major war scenario. The experiment gave a reserve formation under its own command a substantial portion of the training workload, a shift from the usual practice of assigning individual reservists to fill active-unit gaps.

Colonel Matthew Horning said the experience was equivalent to several traditional rotations and will guide refinements for future phases. Major General Michael Dougherty emphasized the importance of getting basic combat training right as the first step in preparing soldiers for combat. A post-exercise review highlighted issues such as some reservists lacking required certifications and unclear communication of requirements, as well as tight rotation schedules that limited knowledge transfer. Army leaders plan to use these lessons to shape a larger brigade-level trial next year.