I'm not kidding. Running shoes, running shorts...the works.
In most BT companies there was always a platoon of the injured, and the wash-outs. The DI's called them openly "Jerry's Kids".
A marching cadence, which the DI's led us with as we marched past a female company went like this: "They say that in the Army the women are mighty fine...they're short fat and ugly and march like Frankenstein".
And yes, boot camp is now integrated also.
Maybe we're going to have battle sneakers and combat shorts too?
BTC at Ft. Ord for me in Oct '74 was about like you say. I didn't think it was so tough, none of the cadre had to touch trainees, but the language was atrocious. If there was someone who couldn't take that, I surely didn't want him in the same Army as me.
My son goes to Ft. Jackson on the 12th of July for BCT and yes, we're aware it's sexually integrated. What next?
Sneakers and shorts?
I guess, steel pots, canteen and belt, and jump boots would be considered cruel and unusual.