I went through boot at Great Lakes.....The CPO in charge of our group would regularly kick the shins of fellow recruits who couldn't march.....hard enough that blood would flow....We also got the standard humiliations,screaming cursing etc....
He also stood us at attention for two hours after getting our series of shots, this hobbled our company for 3 days....
But what really stands out is one guy who truly never got the concept of marching (left column, he's go right etc...). We were losing competitions against other companies as a result.
The Company Commander lined us up at attention, walked up to the young man and brought his heel down on the bridge of his foot breaking it.....The guy processed out that week and we started winning competitions.....
I was 17 when I entered boot and turned 18 just before graduation.....The comraderie, friendships, focus and sense of purpose I found in the military are dear to me.
NeverGore :^)
That's cruel, but I'm still laughing.
Good thing I wasn't this kid's parent. As soon as he was processed out, this 'commander' and I would have had a nice 'talk' in a dark parking lot.
Can't train them?
Screw it, break them so your incompetence is forever hidden.
Sounds like my brother's experience at Camp LeJeune (sp?)
"The Company Commander lined us up at attention, walked up to the young man and brought his heel down on the bridge of his foot breaking it.....The guy processed out that week and we started winning competitions....."
Your company commander sounds like a real wimp. The Rooskies take new recruits and beat them mercilessly. Dropkicks to the face and chest aren't uncommon. It's not unusual for recruits to die from the abuse during basic but I'm sure it just makes the survivors tough. After all, look at what a great army they have. Your commmander should have pistol-whipped the guy and then broken his digits one by one. That would have really showed what a real leader he was.
He also stood us at attention for two hours after getting our series of shots, this hobbled our company for 3 days....
But what really stands out is one guy who truly never got the concept of marching (left column, he's go right etc...). We were losing competitions against other companies as a result.
The Company Commander lined us up at attention, walked up to the young man and brought his heel down on the bridge of his foot breaking it.....The guy processed out that week and we started winning competitions.....
Here's another perspective on that. I went through Great Lakes a few years ago. I'm a terrible marcher. If you ask me to look right or left, I'll always take a second to think. I had a great deal of difficulty staying in step. I tried. I practiced at home for hours before I left for Great Lakes. I worked hard there, but by graduation, my marching was still mediocre at best.
The drill instructors gave me a hard time, but I graduated anyway.
Last month, I did my annual two weeks of service. I helped out some active duty folks for two weeks. After the end of that, they were giving me the highest marks for my ability to organize their data and do technical writing. They were asking if I could come back for more this year. Now if my drill instructors had behaved like your drill instructors, I would have never gotten the chance to help the Navy in ways that I could. On the other hand, my boot camp unit would have looked much more polished if I hadn't been there. It's a cost either way.
One question is whether the military wants to take all types of personalities and sort them to where they are most productive, or if they want to seek out those who most fit the military model and let the others wash out. I'm still not sure of the answer. I don't think the military is sure either.