Wall scaling at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina, circa 1918. Spartanburg was chosen by the army for a World War I training camp. The camp was named in honor of James S. Wadsworth, a General in the Union Army. In 1917 and 1918 over 20,000 troops were encamped several miles west of the city. Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called boot camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer. After completion of Basic Training, new recruits undergo Advanced Individual Training (AIT), where they learn the skills needed for their military jobs.