I often wonder whenever I discuss current events with current and former soldiers. I wonder is someone who has been subjected to this treatment is actually a reasonable voice to debate with.
Also if you have been in the military were you aware of what they were trying to do to you?
2007-01-28 04:22:47 · 29 answers · asked by The Angry Stick Man 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
So would you agree that soldiers are not in the right state of mind to debate the aspects of war since they are programmed?
2007-01-28 04:29:35 · update #1
You're an idiot. The point of Basic Training is not to "brainwash" a person; it is to instil the discipline and and teach them the things that are esential to being a soldier. The military wants soldiers with brains.
2007-01-28 05:05:58 · answer #1 · answered by JEHLERS 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Soldiers are not brainwashed or "programed" If you took one moment and applied some common sense to your idiotic though you would realize that it wasn't possible. If soldiers were brainwashed or programed we would have a perfect army. There would not be a need for court marshals or MPs, soldiers would not do anything but eat, sleep and drink the army. Everyone would make the army a successful career. See, its amazing what happens when you apply logic!!! No the military is not brainwashed. And no I'm not a soldier, however I am a very proud army wife!!
2007-01-28 08:03:59 · answer #2 · answered by Heather D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being a soldier does not mean you've been brainwashed. Brainwashing is "the application of persuasive techniques to change the beliefs or behavior of one or more people usually for political or religious purposes. " U.S. Army does not do that. They teach people discipline and positive team building. As for the old saying in the military that the army "does not pay you to think", it is becoming more necessary for soldiers to make decisions on their own and be more independent.
Many people in the military have been raised to believe that the military is a good thing and that serving your country is one's duty and honor. All the rest join the army for the college benefits. Therefore, the Gung-ho army people you're talking to are probably die-hard republicans and were already unreasonable to debate with.
2007-01-28 05:10:20 · answer #3 · answered by Tericka 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think some people refer to religion as "brainwashing" because they personally feel they have been influenced by family and society (predominately from an early age) to believe in a religion they may no longer completely believe in. Therefore, these people are left with a sense of being wrongly influenced by the very same people they trust. The term "brainwashing" is obviously a very negative term to throw around, and might be somewhat of an over-exaggeration, but people in this case are often describing the term from a personal level.
2016-03-29 06:27:23 · answer #4 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say brainwashed either. They do tear you down and help to rebuild you back up. They do it in a military way. But again, like some said, they are still individuals with thier own mind and what they feel and think is also different. Yes they signed on the dotted line to defend and protect but that doesn't mean they gave up thier mind at the same time. Many military members might now agree with what is going on but they will do what they need to do. Then if they aren't happy, they get out.
2007-01-28 06:25:35 · answer #5 · answered by ckamk1995 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Obviously, you have never had the privilege of serving in our Armed Forces. I have, and not only did I serve, I was a Military Training Instruction (that's Drill Sergeant to you straight legs, jarheads, and civilians) for 4 years, and I can tell you that the concept of recruits being "brainwashed" is a ludicrous idea at best.
The basic training courses of ALL branches of the service are designed to do basically the same thing: break everyone down to the same level so everyone advances at the same pace; develop teamwork; instill self-discipline; and most important of all, instill the instinct of immediate obeyance to orders without question.
That last one is where most civilians get confused. There is a HUGE difference between being "brainwashed" and immediate obeyance to orders without question. Military service requires immediate obeyance to orders by the troops; it is not the individual serviceman's place to decide whether or not he/she should obey the order. They must trust in the capabilities of the people giving the order, and obey without question as they swore to do in their Oath of Enlistment. I have been in several situations where a failure on the part of a troop to immediately obey orders would have gotten him killed, and that's going on right now in Iraq.
Besides, with the high quality of troops we're getting into the service these days (and I'm being serious here), why would we need to "brainwash" anyone? Our troops are the finest in the world, and they deserve our respect and support.
2007-01-28 05:30:19 · answer #6 · answered by Team Chief 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I would never use the term "brain-washed" with regards to basic training... you are indoctrinated into an entirely new culture from the one you just left.
Yes, you are stripped of your individuality: by clothes, haircut, first name... you become RECRUIT until they teach your company (I'm ex-Navy) to work as a team and follow the rules, regulations, and "Navy-way".
But once you leave Basic you're YOU again.. albeit a "Militarized" You... motivated, squared away, and proud. My next schools were Aircrew Candidate School and Rescue Swimmer School... RSS was a serious motivational exercise: you did things you NEVER would have thought your body would be capable of... is that "brainwashing" ?
Now the closest thing I came to "brainwashing" was SERE School... the Navy's Survival, Evasion Resistance, & Escape course where you spend time as a POW after an extended stretch of sleep deprivation and poor diet... you ARE in a psycologically altered state.
And YES, I was aware of what was going on.
2007-01-28 05:47:08 · answer #7 · answered by mariner31 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Now this is funny. Brainwashing? What basic training does is get people acclimated to the military and all thinking the same way in regards to respect, job, uniform, marching etc..etc... If you have ever marched at the back of a flight that was not in sync you could get sea sick. That is no joke. When you are given an order, there is often not time to think, only time to act. The Air force actually encourages free thinking and ideas to improve the air force.
USAF Veteran
2007-01-28 04:31:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Most people are subjected to brainwashing. The network news, school, music, movies, etc are all forms. Soldiers need to be programmed to act upon command...their lives depend upon it. It takes some reprogramming of a normal person to get them to the point of taking the life of another human being. I would worry about anyone who could join the army one day and go out and kill the next.
2007-01-28 04:30:01 · answer #9 · answered by Dino4747 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In my Navy basic training experience, we were trained to follow orders. I remember the saying during the Vietnam War era, " you are not being paid to think. If you want an opinion I will give it to you! . It used to be a parody : You Will Reach Inside Your Head and Take Out One Brain. You will Hand This Brain To Us. At the End of 11 Weeks It Will Be Returned To You Thoroughly Washed.
You Will Not Use This Brain but Will Store It In The "B" Drawer of your Locker Under Further Orders !!! "
2007-01-28 04:51:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋