Blue Phase a culmination of 10 weeks of basic training

Fort Jackson soldiers ended their Red, White and Blue phases of U.S. Army basic training last week with an emotional family day reunion with their loved ones and a stirring graduation ceremony.

The last of the three phases of U.S. Army basic combat training is called Blue Phase, when these new soldiers combine all they have learned in the preceding weeks and put them to practical use on the battlefield.

As Fort Jackson continues a yearlong celebration of its centennial, The State newspaper has followed five South Carolina recruits and other members of D Company, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 193rd Infantry Brigade as they moved through the 10 weeks of basic training.

In Red Phase, recruits are shocked out of their complacent civilian persona by tough drill sergeants and taught the basics of being a soldier, down to the tying of their boots and learning to stand at attention. Drill sergeants are hardest on the recruits in this phase, and it most resembles the brutal regimen often portrayed in the movies

White Phase is the “rifleman phase” of the training. Recruits are taught how to use their weapons, engage the enemy, protect their fellow soldiers and live to fight another day. Not only do recruits learn to fire their rifles, they also use heavy machine guns as well as rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades.

In Blue Phase, these new soldiers (they’re not considered recruits anymore) learn to work as a team in combat situations. They learn how to cover each other when moving forward, negotiate a night infiltration course, take long, challenging marches, and other challenges.

Blue Phase is the culmination of all their training. When they have passed all of the tests, the new soldiers congregate for Rites of Passage and receive their black berets with their distinctive blue patches.

Then these soldiers are reunited with their families on Wednesday “family days,” and on Thursdays they go through a stirring graduation ceremony.

The next day they immediately shipped out for their advanced individual training at bases across the United States.

“You arrived at Jackson as individuals but you leave now as members of the Army Strong team,” said Lt. Col. Jeremy Peifer, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, at Thursday’s graduation. “We need you to be proud of what you have accomplished over the last 10 weeks. Remember, soldiers: No one handed this to you. You have earned the privilege and honor to call yourselves United States Army soldiers.”

This story was originally published September 10, 2016 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Blue Phase a culmination of 10 weeks of basic training."