Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly signaled in early August that he is weighing the return of shark attacks alongside reinstating bay tossing as fundamental boot camp drills.
• Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson confirmed the review of traditional swarming exercises aimed at reinforcing discipline and cohesion among new recruits.
• On July 31, Col. Christopher J.C. Hallows of the 197th Infantry Brigade reversed his own ban on bay tossing, allowing drill sergeants to overturn bunks and lockers again.
• The aggressive shark attack drill was phased out in September 2020 in favor of the teamwork-focused First 100 Yards exercise at Fort Benning.
• Proponents say the high-stress swarming drills deliver a “shock and awe” effect that accelerates discipline, while supporters of modern methods argue collaborative exercises better foster unit cohesion.