[cll]

What a bunch of sissies. And I thought the Army became far too soft when it changed from running in boots during PT to running in sneakers. Many of these new patriots-to-be really need a whooping to be shaped into form. Definitively not my dad's nor my Army.

[toddlintown]

``'It was just chaos - constant commotion, constant yelling,' Sgt. 1st Class Paul Holley said. Holley said he had come over from another company that day to help out, but was quickly turned off by what he perceived to be abuse, and left."

Sounds like my time at Ft. Leonard Wood. I don't know what this Sgt.'s problem is. The whole idea is to break you down and remold you into a soldier.

[LZ_Bayonet]

The tense of the headline does not match the article. It should be "...were abused...". But the disconnect between the headline and actual story is very helpful in identifying the political leanings of this MSM source.

[Piquaboy]

What a shame! Poor little darlings. It is about time some disapline was administered to these cream puffs. Who wants and army of p---y's.

[linkinpunk]

I hope the DIs didn't call the recruits any bad names or embarass them in any way.

How can someone fight a in a war with hurt feelings and a poor self image?

Give those recruits a hug instead!

[MEGoody]

Many of these new patriots-to-be really need a whooping to be shaped into form.

I believe recruits should be exposed to tough but fair leadership. Unless a recruit has become violent, I see no reason for them to be "kicked like a football" or "slammed into a wall locker".

Making them do 100 pushups in the rain - no problem with that. But in general, there's no reason to be smacking these guys around.

[lionheart 247365]

I was drafted in 1966 , sent to Ft. Bragg for basic , this new class of troopers have it made compared to what we were subjected to . The truth is our armed forces have also become somewhat politically correct much to my dismay .

[agincourt1415]

Its just Basic Training and the author of this crap would be kicked out the first day!

[jec41]

Once inside the barracks, Pvt. Jason Steenberger says, he was struck in the chest by the top D.I. and kicked ``like a football.'' Andrew Soper, who has since left the Army, says he was slapped and punched in the chest by another drill instructor. Pvt. Adam Roster says he was hit in the back and slammed into a wall locker.

Notice that this alleged activity took place in the barracks where there were no cameras. I do not believe it!!! I went through basic training, airborne training, ranger training, and re-con training in the early 60's. Never had a DI lay a hand on me or ever saw a DI lay a hand on a recruit. They may put you in the leaning rest. Mess up your bunks and footlockers if you are not strike. In the airborne you might even get a 25 mile night run-hike if not up to snuff. Our airborne training at Ft. Benning started with 840 men from the Army, Marine Re con, UDT, Pathfinders, and other elite groups and we finished with 78. Never did any trainer touch a trainee. Give the Marines and UDT credit, there were no dropouts from these units other than injury. To present this as normal training tactics is a flat out lie. Just as much BS as Gitmo.

[Blue Collar Christian]

"changed from running in boots during PT to running in sneakers."

Really? Are we really wearing sneakers? This is not just an exaggerated joke?

AND...this reporter should be satified that the Army initiated an investigation that led to convictions. What more do they want? Cash settlements where sissies and their families don't need to work for the rest of their lives?

[Citizen Tom Paine]

As I recall from the UCMJ, if you touch someone, it is aggravated assault period. As I remember, our Company Commander, a CPO, was replaced for shoving a recruit in the CC office. This has been the law since the rocks and shoals were replaced around 1948 or so.

They were clearly off base with that behavior.

[standing united]

Far lass than they would get in a war zone!

82nd ABN 1/508th BN Bco
"fury from the sky"

[Landru]

"Once inside the barracks, Pvt. Jason Steenberger says..."

The above quote from a "new" recruit mix in one "AP" -- The Associated Quislings" -- & add the recent drumbeat of that same AP announcing recruiting goals are not being met & y'know what it spells, my friend?

*Shill*

...Americans are painfully stupid.

[quadrant]

The NCO's who train Army recruits are not honored with the title of Drill Instructors but have to settle for the lesser appellation of Drill Sergeants. They are not addressed as "sir" and do not command the same respect, both within the Army and outside it, as do Marine Corps Drill Instructors, within the Corps and outside it.

[pawdoggie]

What a bunch of sissies. And I thought the Army became far too soft when it changed from running in boots during PT to running in sneakers. Many of these new patriots-to-be really need a whooping to be shaped into form. Definitively not my dad's nor my Army.

This comes down to a question of discipline, not the "discipline" the DIs or the Company Commander thought that they would instill in the recruits, but the lack of discipline the DIs and the Company Commander showed by making up their own rules instead of following established policy and orders.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"Definitively not my dad's nor my Army."

Agreed. I enlisted in 1978, and was in the first co-ed Training Platoon in the nation at Ft. Jackson, SC, so all eyes were upon us...to watch the women fail, of course. *Rolleyes*

The drills were as nasty to us as they were to the guys, if not moreso. We started off pretty even, but we lost more guys than gals along the way.

As Tom Hanks would say, "There's no crying in Basic Training!" LOL! (Man, I actually MISS those days!)

[pabianice]

Strange. GYSGT Winters, USMC, would have had a laugh at this while he was banging our heads against the bunk rails while screaming into our ear holes during inspection at AOCS in Pensacola. And not one of us died or had to have psychiatric counseling as a result. We DID, as a class, perform well flying in Vietnam, however, having learned the importance of discipline and attention to detail.

[Little Ray]

Dunno 'bout anybody else, but I was a volunteer - I WANTED to do things right... DI didn't have curse, hit, or anything else. Nobody wanted to fail - success, good scores, etc., were very important to the entire platoon.

[wildcatf4f3]

AP is trying to help with recruiting.....doncha get it?

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

For all you old farts, kind words from Lee Ermey can be found here:
http://www.wavsource.com/movies/full_metal_jacket.htm

[Clock King]

Viewing all the comments on this forum, I still say we have now reached a point where are totally dependent on our technology. If we ever have to fight a real enemy hand-to-hand, we're doomed.