I'm probably the one of six people who have seen the film referenced above.
Posted on 10/10/2006 5:50:58 PM PDT by neverdem
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Hollywood may have to tone down its portrayal of the military's screaming, in-your-face boot camp drill sergeant. In today's Army, shouting is out and a calmer approach to molding young minds is in, says the head of Pentagon personnel. The Army says it has reduced by nearly 7 percent the number of recruits who wash out in the first six to 12 months of military life.
"Part of it is changing the nature of how it treats people in basic training," David S. Chu, undersecretary for personnel and readiness, said Tuesday.
That means "less shouting at everyone, in essence, which some of you may remember from an earlier generation as being the modus operandi," he said.
The changes started about a year ago, as defense officials looked for ways to make drillmasters more effective, said Lt. Col. Mike Jones, head of Army National Guard recruiting.
He said the old way was to "talk loud, talk often, get their attention" _ shock treatment to teach discipline and mold the newly recruited civilian into a soldier.
But trainers found today's generation responded better to instructors who took "a more counseling" type role, Jones said, using strong tactics when needed but keeping them the exception instead of the rule.
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.
Other changes aimed at improving graduation rates include such things as letting recruits with injuries or minor medical problems remain in the service, heal, and then go back to training. Before, an injury would have meant discharge, training officials said.
Numbers differ from service to service and depend on what the recruit is being trained for. Those training to be Navy SEALS or other special forces may wash out at the rate of 70 percent. Those training to be truck drivers may have an 80 percent graduation rate.
But Chu said that across all services, generally, some two-thirds of recruits finish their enlistment period _ typically three or four years.
Of the third who don't make it, half bomb out in the first six to 12 months, Chu said, adding that the attrition rate is better than most private sector firms.
Keeping a balance in the number flushed out of the service is important. Too many dropouts and you lose people you really want to keep. Too few dropouts, and you are keeping people you should have let go, Chu said.
Both the military and police academies are moving away from harder-edged approaches to training, he said.
"However much it may be satisfying from the shouter's perspective, it really isn't the best way to shape young people for the future," Chu said.
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.
On the Net:
Army Training and Doctrine Command
Does this mean that drill instructors will no longly abruptly wake up new recruits at 4:30AM by throwing a large metal trash can into the barrack floor and yelling that we are in a world of sh*t?
ummmm right what you said....
Just one old Sergeant's opinion but I agree.
Our military is stretched thin; it's in the Army's interest to produce more soldiers for active deployment. They've been lowering education standards, overlooking arrest records and raising the acceptable age level for recruits; it only makes sense that they'd make it easier for a recruit to finish boot camp.
I remember being shocked with a first sergeant hollerd about one of the trainees, "Wake that maggot up!" Yup! Even to a WAC.
I'm probably the one of six people who have seen the film referenced above.
No it makes some of them unprepared for what awaits them.
The system works just fine. You don't WANT a 100% pass rate. That means your training is too damned easy.
Maybe that's ideal in the Dem world and sure as hell that's what they do in France, but we don't want to be France.
That, and two jelly doughnuts per day.
I might've seen that movie, what's the name of it?
Brings to mind the Three Stooges' Hippity-hop-at-the-Barbershop drill march bit from several of their short films.
LOL! My first night of boot camp (we arrived and finished in processing at 2am) we were allowed about 20 minutes to drift off to sleep and had our first fire drill. Great Lakes Naval Training Center in December is not a fun place to stand in your boxers, flapping your blanket around.
I think that would be worse.
Lowering education standards and overlooking arrest records are very bad ideas. They motivate the best and brightest to consider any other branch of the Armed Forces over the Army.
"The Sergeant" with Rod Steiger. Not a bad flick.
It's not to be mean. It's to wash out those who cant handle it and save lives in combat.
Maybe there should be two different boot camps. sigh.
They run this "New Army" crap every few years. It's nonsense, makes recruits sign on the dotted line.
Ok I've seen parts of it then.
Not all the way through, but parts.
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