Honorable Secretary Hegseth,

We, the undersigned, respectfully submit this petition to urge you to take immediate action to reinstate the Shark Attack in Basic Combat Training (BCT) and to restore the emphasis on lethality, discipline, and combat readiness across the United States Army’s initial entry training pipeline.

Over the past several years, a concerning cultural shift has occurred within BCT that has hindered the ability of Drill Sergeants to effectively train and prepare soldiers for the realities of combat. Increasingly restrictive policies have placed undue limitations on Drill Sergeants, stifling their authority and neutralizing the intensity that once forged lethality, resilience, and respect for the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) corps.

The removal of the Shark Attack—a historically effective and proven method of instilling immediate discipline, urgency, and attention to detail—has weakened the foundational training experience. Today’s basic trainees are entering the Army under the impression that they can manipulate policies such as SHARP and EO to avoid accountability or discipline. While these programs are essential to maintaining ethical conduct and professionalism, they are being misused by trainees who have quickly learned that their words often carry more immediate weight than those of their Drill Sergeants. This imbalance undermines the very chain of command that our Army is built upon.

This erosion of authority and discipline has not stopped at the gates of BCT. First-line leaders across operational units report a disturbing trend: new soldiers arriving to their first units demonstrate a lack of respect for senior leaders, disregard for standards, and an unwillingness to embrace the warrior ethos. The ripple effects are being felt Army-wide, and it is contributing to a growing readiness gap.

Meanwhile, our near-peer adversaries—unburdened by concerns of “fairness” or “comfort”—are training harder, faster, and with more intensity than ever before. They are not preparing for safe spaces; they are preparing for war. If we continue down the current path, we are failing to give our soldiers the mental toughness, discipline, and combat effectiveness they need to survive and win on the battlefield.

The current softening of BCT may come from a place of good intent, but it is having damaging long-term consequences. We are producing soldiers who are physically present but mentally unprepared, and this puts our formations, our missions, and our national defense at risk.

We call upon you, Honorable Secretary, to restore the authority of our Drill Sergeants. Reinstate the Shark Attack. Reignite a culture of lethality, discipline, and respect from Day One. Our Army must be ready to fight and win against determined adversaries, and that readiness begins in Basic Combat Training.