[albie]

There are probably cases where the DI’s got abusive to a point PHYSICALLY where they’ve crossed the line. How do you judge “crossing the line” though. In combat, or as a POW, a Marine faces abuses and torture that most people can’t even imagine.

How in the world can a DI even begin to cross the line MENTALLY?! Being told “your Mama wears conbat boots”? “You’re so ugly you throw dough in your faces and make monster cookies”?

[Future Snake Eater]

This isn’t POW training, it’s training young civilians how to be war-fighters. If they need to be trained on POW actions, then they can be sent to SERE school. There is very much a line that can be crossed physically. As far as your examples of mentally crossing the line, maybe those were good examples on TV shows of the 1950s, but there is quite a bit more intensity than that in the real thing. Hell, Marines are famous for it. Drill Sergeants and Drill Instructors are supposed to be consummate professionals, and they should know when they’re about to cross the line.