Has boot camp gotten too soft?

Question

I heard they don't yell as much in boot camp anymore. And they don't hit or cuss. What's up wit that?

Answer 1

Well in the MC it's claimed that there is more done to make our soldiers feel more comfortable, and less "hardness" is applied to training. So yes I do think that the military training is becoming a little soft, which I don't fully appreciate because I feel that we should be trained in the best way possible to prepare us for the conditions that would certainly be faced. At the end of the day war doesn't stop, or lighten up for anybody, so we shouldn't be trained as such...

Answer 2

I was in Marine Corps boot camp in 1968. With the exception of the racial taunts, the boot camp scene in Full Metal Jacket was just how it was. Yelling and profanity were the order of the day. In the absence of an officer, punching or beatings were not unusual.
Although I personally was never a victim, I have always felt that this tactic was actually counter productive. Those that could perform did and those who could not did not - regardless of how many times they were "motivated." The physical fitness part was definitely strenuous. Remember that in those days, some recruits were drafted into the Marine Corps.

Now fast forward to the present. Based on what I have heard from Marines more recently graduating from boot camp, it has changed. Gone are the profanities and beatings, although the yelling does continue. However, the physical demands, such as in the "Crucible," are much greater now than forty years ago. Even with an all volunteer Marine Corps, the drop-out rate appears higher now than in the past.

Therefore the answer is no.

Answer 3

I don't know about the regular Military, but ROTC, JROTC and CAP boot camps are push overs now. I went back this past year on staff, and they told me I wasn't even allowed to make anyone cry, If they started getting teary eyed I had to discontinue and make sure they were alright later. When I went though 5+ years before my Sgt couldn't sleep at night till at least one of us was balling like a baby.
We did anything wrong, out side for some good old PT to get that brain working. When I went back, PT was only to be allowed during the set training times.

Answer 4

I can't say honestly. When I went through boot camp in 69, it was brutal. And this was the US Navy boot camp. I ended up being shoved down a flight of stairs and spending 6 weeks in hospital. Seems like we have some fine military people serving so it may be alright as it is now.

Answer 5

Where are you getting your information, there is still PT and there's still yelling, they just can't hit you or cuss at you, spit or point. To me those are all disrespectful things to do to another human being, that wouldn't make it "soft". And btw, when my cousin came out of marine boot camp, he had a big cut on his lip where his DI knocked him out, they aren't supposed to do it, but it happens. They told him he could go cry like a baby or he could be a Marine. Too soft, I don't think so. My husband came out of Air Force basic training in excellent shape and not all brainwashed. The objective of basic training is to take civilians and turn them into a functioning team who can work together and accomplish the mission. Not to make your life a living hell.

Answer 6

boot camp is just an introduction to the society (yes the military is a society) and a minimal weeding out process, the fleet, garison, ect. is where marines and i'm guessing soldiers get their real training...boot camp is probably the easiest thing you'll do in a military career, the runs and humps get longer and harder once you get to the FMF.

actually i'll bet bootcamp is harder than when i went, you have to imagine ALL of the DI's are battle harden war vets now

Answer 7

MUCH too soft!!! It's the millitary, not the girl scouts! If you can't handle it, don't enlist. Lowering the standards / expectations is not a good thing. The purpose of boot camp is to prepare an individual to enter into a combat situation... it's not the time or place for nicey-nice...

Answer 8

There's a difference between 'soft' and 'non-disfunctional.' When I was in basic, I couldn't figure out what they were yelling about when they hadn't even told us what to do in the first place. There was very little direction and way too much finger pointing.

Once I got to my permanent unit, we communicated like human beings: 'specialist, go down to the motor pool and PMCS those humvees.' If 'specialist' failed his mission, he got a good dose of push ups. That's discipline.

Answer 9

Considering the manpower shortage in the military today, they can't have too many people flunking out of boot camp. They need the manpower to send to Iraq.

Answer 10

Yeah. You can thank the Democrats for that, Its not neccessarily a bad way, but a different way. The BT Instructors will be acting more as a Coach than an enemy to the recruits.