Navy adding weeks to boot camp to include 'extremism' and sexual assault training
Fox News
The Navy is adding two weeks to its eight-week boot camp program this year to focus on improving recruits' emergency skills and war readiness, as well as equipping them to handle issues related to suicide prevention, sexual assault, hazing and racism.
The news comes as the Navy deals with a series of shipboard crises in recent years, including fatal fires and collisions. Suicides, sexual assaults, and other objectionable behavior have also risen, according to The Associated Press.
"We're telling our recruits ... here are all of the things that we expect you to do, and here's how we expect you to behave and act," said Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture, according to the AP. She added that the training involves treating people with respect and holding peers accountable.
"We believe very strongly that those types of behaviors are directly impacting our fighting readiness and the performance of our sailors."