when one is in an army, are they conditioned and programmed in a cult like fashion with breaking down the psyche then building it into a vision of war and unconditional support for serving in acts of war?
2007-03-15 14:34:07 · 14 answers · asked by Earthy 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
As a veteran of the USAF your question has merit, and I will answer you.
Technically yes, and no. Military personnel are conditioned and programmed in a cult like fashion, in basic training that is especially true. There are similarities as with a cult. Lots of repetition. Lots of mind games. Lots of both positive reinforcement for those things that the military desires and negative reinforcement for those things that it doesn't. And there is a lot of testing. That may not sound like much, but those are the same things that cults do to their new members.
Now I would not say that they program you for war exactly but they do for the notion of combat itself in the army and marines, less so in the navy and air-force. Unconditional support is something that they all condition troops toward in varying degrees. Obedience and Discipline are very important to the military and they go hand in hand.
The military has one thing going for it though. The civilian population has already had a great deal of conditioning. If you read the majority of the rest of these responses here you just may be able to figure out what that conditioning is. I'm not going to tell you what it is specifically but it's there and it's noticeable.
2007-03-15 15:27:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is a peace cult. The whole idea of having a military is not to create war, but to end it while still maintaining your freedom. Military training is nothing at all like the brainwashing of a cult. But don't take my word for it, join the Army and find out for yourself.
2007-03-15 14:46:02 · answer #2 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think this is very much the case. However it is done to a greater extent in some armies than others. An extreme example of what you are describing was performed by the CIA-created School of the Americas, which trained Latin American paramilitaries in fighting US proxy wars. They did horrible things to civilians for political ends, and they received cult-like training. However, I do believe this sort of cult-like training is a necessity to some extent in any organization that makes it okay to murder people.
2007-03-15 14:43:10 · answer #3 · answered by Katie B 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are not broken down but rather taught how to be part of something bigger than yourself. The fact of the matter is that the Armed Forces mission is to defend this country, hence depending on your job, you will be taught how to kill, however, you are not taught to kill indiscriminately as some people will have you believe. There is no such thing as unconditional support, for a crime is a crime.
2007-03-15 17:48:13 · answer #4 · answered by R C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not just the Army. The entire military of all countries behaves like a cult, or a gang if you like. This is because the main purpose of military training is to get people to do things (like run toward danger rather than away from it ,or kill other people) that they would not do normally.
2007-03-15 17:33:38 · answer #5 · answered by James@hbpl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I guess it depends on which Army you are talking about. If they are being told they will be rewarded with 99 virgins in the afterlife if they blow themselves up then yea you could say its like a cult.
But most Armies are just good people doing a good thing.
2007-03-15 15:04:18 · answer #6 · answered by Curt 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is a valid question! There is some psychological training that goes on for sure. I do not equate this with brain washing, or coercion. It is intended to insure that in a given situation, you will react properly. I was never told what to think, or believe, or who to vote for. I hope this answer helps.
2007-03-15 14:47:34 · answer #7 · answered by Don 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is a very exclusive club. To be in it, you have to either enlist or be drafted, complete basic training, do your job and be discharged under honorable circumstsances.Do that and for the rest of your life you can say "I was in the Army" and be damn proud of it!
2007-03-15 15:07:19 · answer #8 · answered by TedEx 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's nothing like a cult.
They do break down the person to build them stronger.
2007-03-15 14:37:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
it actually builds character ,sharpens the mind and builds your body so you can react to any situation at any time in any condition , and its more like a brotherhood.
KATIE B must have been their
2007-03-15 14:55:18 · answer #10 · answered by 15E 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋