Infantry basic training briefly bans ‘bay tossing’ before reversal

Two memos recently shared on social media show that the Army’s 197th Infantry Brigade commander briefly banned “bay tossing” by drill sergeants before rescinding the order a short time later.

Bay tossing — a practice in which drill sergeants trash the trainees’ area by overturning mattresses, emptying foot lockers and garbage cans and then force trainees to clean up — is often used as a memorable way to teach trainees how to do something correctly.

A July 31 memo from Col. Christopher J.C. Hallows, 197th Infantry Brigade commander, “strictly prohibited” the practice of bay tossing.

The 197th Infantry Brigade trains infantry soldiers for both Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training, called One Station Unit Training.

“Drill sergeants will not ‘toss’ the bay to include fl