http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,116522,00.html?ESRC=recruiting.nl

Will the Marines follow suit and provide nurturing, sweet-tempered DIs? Should they?!

Sure sounds different when I was in.

Did the name "rppearso" also ring a bell when you guys read the article?

War is hell, pure & simple. It is very important for drill sergeants to be tough so they can teach recruits how to face the pressures & dangers of war. This new military policy of gentle drill sergeants will surely back fire!

This just tells me that this generation sucks if they need a hug after training. I would rather see more bolos than creampuffs.

We'll just get kinder, gentler soldiers!

quote:

Originally posted by TOW Gunner:
We'll just get kinder, gentler soldiers!

Like rppearso, you mean?

quote:

The approach has had two positive results, he said: It has lowered attrition among those who go through training each year and has eased one of the greatest fears of recruits - their fear over whether they can make it through basic training.

If you can't make it through basic, a relatively safe, enclosed environment- What can you make it through? Scary.

quote:

He made the comments as he announced that all active duty services had met their recruiting goals for the budget year ended Sept. 30. The Marine Corps Reserve met its goal and the Air Force Reserve exceeded its goal, but they were exceptions among guard and reserve forces, some of which have seen "heavy use" due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chu said.

Yeah, by reducing their goals on multiple levels.

Isn't the point of basic to be molded? To bond with your brothers? To accomplish something? To gain confidence and perspective? To learn what it means and how to be a soldier?

I think America's army might be taking ques from the public school system. We'll see how it turns out though, it's not like I have the psychological and statistical data in front of me to form a informed opinion.

I agree with Ronnec on this one. The point is to prepare soldiers and marines for war. If an individual can't make it through basic or boot their chances of performing effectively on the battlefield, much less surviving are evidently lacking. I can see no reason why changes of this kind would have any positive effect on the battle capability of future soldiers and marines.

The problem with that logic is they do not discharge you based on your ability to cope with the stress, they pass you based on rifle marksmanship and the PT test, so even if you have a nervous brakedown like I did they just haze the F out of you even more so you are totally Fed in the head for a few months after you get out, but you are still passed through, I probably could have got through OCS as an ate up basket case as long as I could pass the PT test and rifle marksmanship (OCS might have had more elaborate map reading tests that were actually graded but thats not hard). Then what you have is a newly minted non coper officer who can shoot well and land navigate when not under fire but who totally break down under stress. Contrary to popular belief on this forum I removed myself from training at an oprotune time, I was not expertly weeded out.

So kinder drill sgts just reduce the chip on ones shoulder when they get out because they are going to pass everyone anyways (save PT test and shooting), there is no use in having someone fresh out of OCS or AIT that is pissed off at and does not trust his own people right out of the gate.

BTW I probably would not have minded serving in the army corp as a commissioned degreed engineer if I could not fly, it was the absolute subhuman treatment that was totally unacceptable to me.

CF

Ronald is a cry baby!

Subhuman Treatment...wow rppearso thats a good point. How dare they not tuck you in at night and read you a story. Did they yell at you? And make you do pushups? I bet they even called you names in the mean old military. Poor thing........go F*ck yourself.

rppearso...Since you think that the way soldiers are prepared for the very real stress and deadly consequences of battle is inhuman, what do you suggest? have a daycare type atmosphere in basic? Then send these troops in to battle totally uprepared to act instinctively on thier training? That`s what basic does. It breaks you down so you don`t end up crawling into your foxhole in the fetal position sucking your thumb the first time the shooting starts. No, you act instinctively on your training, not letting fears and your very human instincts to tuck your tail and run take over.
That extreme pressure put on us by our drill sergeants is what allows us to overcome that fear and do what we were trained to do...kill the bad guys.

Hello Old54B,

I understand why they do what they do in basic, my biggest issue is with the "you signed on the doted line" mentality. When I entered basic training I was totally unprepared and I was a total basket case during the whole process, I learned nothing and came back home the same. I wanted to leave basic the second week in and the drill sgt gave the "you signed speach" so I dropped it but my view on the process did not. I was definatly not willing to go through it a second time in OCS or AIT so I left.

And, as we have all said, "Fine."

rppearso, it's just as well that you quit. You surely saved your own life. You wouldn't have lasted 1 day in a combat situation because if enemy fire didn't get you, "friendly fire" would have.

quote:

Originally posted by HarryP:
And, as we have all said, "Fine."

Exactly... Rppearso you ****ed up and thought the army was something it wasn't. Move on.

My vision of a Kinder and Gentler Drill SGT!

quote:

Originally posted by rppearso:
Hello Old54B,

I understand why they do what they do in basic, my biggest issue is with the "you signed on the doted line" mentality. When I entered basic training I was totally unprepared and I was a total basket case during the whole process, I learned nothing and came back home the same. I wanted to leave basic the second week in and the drill sgt gave the "you signed speach" so I dropped it but my view on the process did not. I was definatly not willing to go through it a second time in OCS or AIT so I left.

We few we happy few ....Band of Brothers My Son and Me

Hmmmm...So you left because the Drill Sgts were not kinder or gental, waaaaa....snif snif! Well Son I guess I am one of those morons that believe that you signed on the dotted line you should complete your enlistment! Oh! By the way, I am also prior service which means I went into the Army twice! That also means I went in BASIC TRAINING TWICE! First time in Oct 72 to Oct 75, Second time in April 82 to Now! All you are telling me that you are a basket case that should have never, ever join in the first place! As for being unprepare you could of ask any of your freinds or Relatives(If you have ANY!) who have been in the Army to give you advice! Now my Son is in the Army and serving in Iraq. He understands completely on Honor, Duty, and Country! Something that you as an crying individual will never, ever understand!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ssgduke54,