Army recruits receive American-made athletic footwear at basic training for first time

A new fiscal new marked the initial issue of American-made athletic footwear to new Army recruits at Ft. Benning, Georgia Oct. 1, thanks to Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support.

Approximately 134 recruits received the shoes, along with other uniform items part of the organizational clothing and individual equipment kit. Recruits at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri also received athletic footwear this week, with recruits at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to receive the new shoes starting Oct. 7.

During the issuance process recruits are fitted for size, and provided items are scanned with radio-frequency identification technology. This system allows DLA Troop Support’s Clothing and Textiles supply chain to receive accurate inventory information directly from the recruit center’s issue line, customer relationship management supervisor Monique Williams explained.

C&T will outfit nearly 19,000 new soldiers at all four RTCs with athletic footwear by the end of the year.

DLA has been working with its industry and service partners for years gearing up for the roll-out, and overall athletic footwear program. Air Force recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas were the first to receive athletic footwear in January.