[RebelBanker]

I went through Basic Training at Ft. Knox in 1983. The two Drill Sergeants assigned to my platoon did not need to curse at, strike or otherwise abuse recruits to teach us to be soldiers. The junior Drill Sergeant in another platoon was removed because he could not handle recruits without abusing them. Turning raw recruits into soldiers is a very difficult and demanding job and bullies fail miserably at it - they do not produce good troops, they create more problem children like themselves.

Many people who have not been there can not understand the difference between a tough, hard Drill Sergeant who does his job well and a stupid bully in a 'brown round' hat who turns recruits into discipline problems.

[leadpenny]

Someone who gets it. Thanks for your post.

[Trust but Verify]

I'm glad to see two people know the difference between training discipline and abuse. My son is contemplating joining the Army or Marines. I would not want him subjected to this kind of treatment by superiors.

Why would anyone join if they knew they were going to be treated this way?

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

I look at the results.

We train in the manner you describe.

Our enemies train their soldiers in the way described in this article, and the way some loudmouth FReepers want.

But when we go to war...we kick our enemies' a$$es all over the place.

I think I'll take our way.