New recruits of the 193rd Recruit Holding Company get a leg up on their peers during physical training at the Bethany Beach Training Center. (Photo by Spc. James R. Vadakin)

The 193rd Recruit Holding Company (RHC) of Bethany Beach Training Center offers recruits basic Common Task Training, as well as a valuable introduction to the basic training environment.

The RHC program, developed during the 1990's, is designed to assist recruits in the often-difficult transition to military life.

A small cadre of instructors spends drill weekends marching, motivating and instructing young troops during the months before the new soldiers ship out to basic training.

RHC instructors are all volunteers, and they wear neither the telltale, round campaign hats nor the patent patch of the drill sergeant. They do, however, retain the drill sergeant's exacting professionalism and attention to detail.

Staff Sgt. Terry Handy has been the chief instructor for 2nd Platoon, 193rd RHC for three years. He said his chief challenge is the transient nature of his charges. In a short space of time, Handy must carry out his primary goal of "preparing troops for basic training."

It is his deep care for troops that motivated Handy to volunteer for this demanding duty, which regularly runs from nine in the morning until 11 at night.

"I look forward to seeing them come in, and they look forward to seeing me," said Handy. "It keeps me young."

 

New recruits of the 193rd Recruit Holding Company practice drill and ceremony techniques during the October drill weekend. These recruits will be ahead of their peers when they attend Army's Basic  Training program in the near future. (Photo by Spc. James R. Vadakin)

CW4 Roger C. Perry, 193rd company commander, said the Guard's investment in the RHC program has reaped great benefits.

"Delaware has the lowest IADT (Initial Active Duty for Training) losses in the country," said Perry. "Once our soldiers ship, they don't quit."

Perry attributed this statistic to the quality of preparation recruits receive at the RHC.

RHC familiarizes recruits with military life and apprises them of what will be expected in basic training. By the time the recruits arrive at their basic training sites, they will have been instructed in drill and ceremonies, proper wear and appearance of the uniform, Army Physical Fitness and the Army rank structure. The majority of their peers will have to wait until they are immersed in the stressful boot camp environment to learn those same skills.

CW4 Roger Perry's Six Tenets of Success for soldiers

1. Do the right thing because it's right. 2. Do the best you can at every endeavor. 3. Treat others the way you want to be treated. 4. Walk with a purpose. Look like a success and you will be successful. 5. Pay attention to detail. 6. Take care of your fellow soldiers.

Perhaps most importantly, RHC strives to impart the Army's Core Values to these future soldiers. In addition, Perry shares with each new recruit his own Six Tenets of Success, as the foundation for their entry into the Delaware Army National Guard (see side column for the Six Tenets of Success.)