is there brutality in the army, navy, and air force basic training? there was plenty of brutality in the.....?

Question

USMC basic traing when i attended 26 years ago at MCR san diego. are blanket parties still being done? and one last question, how does brutality in basic training makes someone a better fighting man? do hitting someone on the head with a pipe makes him a better plumber? or hitting someone with a wood plank makes him a better carpenter? please explain the brutality in basic training

Answer 1

Basic training is designed to subdue the ego in order to make the individual more group-oriented. Western egos are about the hardest to crack so it takes quite a bit.

Answer 2

I went through the US army's Basic training and then OCS 30 years ago and never experienced or saw any brutality.

Were the DSs harsh? Yes. Were there some "old time" brown boot types that had the potential and even a history of brutality...I have no doubt that is true. But with the elimination of the draft and the creation of the all volunteer army (and all services) the ignorant, abusive and the "motivate by fist" mentality had to go.

I don't doubt your experience...the USMC has always had its own unique training methods. All I can say about the USMC is that my son's godfather is a former marine and went through basic at MCRD in San Diego 33 years ago and when we shared Basic stories he said that he had seen "unacceptable" behavior by 1 or 2 DI's but never out right brutality.

Answer 3

Brutality and physical violence does not take place in boot camp any longer. Our society is pumping out too many young men and women that couldn't possibly handle it. Most of the new recruits that graduate boot camp are not ready for military life because they are being pampered in boot camp. Many rules are in place to prevent the recruits from even being yelled at or exercised too hard. I don't approve of physical abuse of any living creature but a small amount of physical punishment used at the right time is an invaluable training tool. I was subjected to physical punishment when I went through navy boot camp but I could handle it. Society was different then and we accepted what needed to be done and we were willing to work. Afterall, it is the military and our job is to fight. The enemy will not pamper us.

Answer 4

I was in basic training in the Air Force in 1971. I never saw brutality, not once. Yeah, there was plenty of screaming and sarcasm. But this was to "break" your will as a civilian and get you to think in military terms, get you to work as a unit and not as an individual. No, I never saw or heard of any physical brutality at all.

Answer 5

As far as the Army is concerned, there is still the occasional blanket party. These are stricktly forbidden, but if you screw around enough, you have it coming to you. The Drill Sergeants aren't allowed to abuse any of the Privates, but again, you'll find cases every once in a while, especially at bases like Ft. Bragg.

Its really all about discipline.

Answer 6

I take it you must have gotten blanket partied on more then one occasion? Basic training has nothing to do with Blanket Parties,or brutality and if c.o's find out it's going on they put a stop to it right now. If you were in the military you should know that blanket parties are something the troops do to disipline their own.

Answer 7

hitting a recruit is assault. "blanket parties" are talked about to have happened, but my platoon never did one. the from serving in combat in iraq. i can personally verify that the stress in boot camp makes you a better fighter. or, the people that can handle the stress of basic training are more likely to do well in combat than those who cannot handle the stress of the DI. however there is no brutality in US basic training.

Answer 8

From what I hear alot of the brutality stuff by drill sargeants had to cease b/c there were actually alot of unexplainable deaths and lawsuits. No, it doesn't make them a better fighter. These men (and women) are there b/c they have already made the decision to defend our country, they don't need it beat into them that that's why they are there.

Answer 9

I don't remember any brutality except for the one day the TI and three really really big guys came in and trashed the dorm. Took us hours to get it cleaned up. If you are that sensitive, I would think joining the marines was the wrong decision for you.

Answer 10

basic is made to break you and weed out all the people who can't take it. there really isn't much brutality, but that depends on what you're training to become. if you're a poge going through ordinary basic, than no, there really isn't any, but if you are infantry or something of that sort than there is likely to be more, and there training is definitely harder anyway.