My question is based on some things my grandfather and father were telling me about recruit entry level training. My fiance's enlistment and impending training in the Army is all the topic of conversation with the men in my family. Now I wasn't born yesterday (I'm 18) and realize that their experience is dated by decades but still I want to ask for my own peace of mind. He's a very sensitive boy and his mom never raised her voice to him nor have I. He and I always communicate in a very civilized manner. He's no wimp though; in excellent physical shape and very manly and brave. He's very respectful and often will intervene to assist people who need help. He never has money in his pocket because he donates it to the homeless people he comes in contact with. My grandfather, a Vietnam combat veteran says that in Basic Training the sergeants will yell and insult recruits. They have to stay up most of the night shining their boots. He said other scary things. I'm sure not true.
2007-07-17 14:55:03 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
They will start yelling and critizing the minute the bus pulls in. They will say things to get you to break, they will use your weak spots against you, they will be hard as hell! Not as hard as the Marines, but they do this to train you mentally while you are getting trained physically. They can jump on you for no reason at all except to try to break you. There will be lots of yelling and he better do as he is told or there will be double trouble. It is all to make you stronger, not to beat you down as you will feel.
2007-07-17 15:16:22 · answer #1 · answered by lana s 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
He isnt there for sensitivity training. The entire idea is to make him a soldier capable of surviving and operating in some pretty sorry conditions. If his DI doesnt kick his butt twice a day and three times on the weekend he is doing him a disservice. Life in a foxhole or on the line is a lot tougher than getting a little verbal dressing down. If he goes into a combat role he will be thankful for the hardasses who pushed him the most. I had a Marine instructor who took every opportunity to smack us goofy that he was given. Taught us that dumb mistakes are costly and to be avoided. May have saved my life. I will never forget him and if I met him on the street today, I would invite him for a beer or grade 4 battery acid his choice, (knowing him I think he would opt for the acid).
2007-07-17 19:39:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My dear, he hasn't joined the boy scouts, he's in the Army. Of COURSE the drill instructors are going to raise their voices. They're going to yell at him and demand he give them every bit of himself he has to give to get through basic training. It is the most physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging thing young men can do, I believe. But it's well worth it, because the lessons he will learn will save his life in combat situations.
In the end, though, he will still be the same nice young man you know... just... a lot more solid and mature than he is now.
2007-07-17 20:43:13 · answer #3 · answered by Amy S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i remeber a conversation which took place between myself and several other soldiers several years after i had gone through basic none of us had really remebered having a drill seargent actually yealling at us constantly most of the time they were just strict disciplinarians that would give you a reason to think about what you were doing yeah they are tougher then nails and dont take crap off nobody but i am sure if you little boyfriend is as tough as you say he is then he shouldnt have any problems getting through, but i think he will have more mental challenges then physical as did most of the guys i was in basic with the physical requirements are just somethign that you do its more mind over matter then anythign else if you forget you have a mind then nothing else matters, but i do remeber a drill seargent that i knew saying onetime that it is easier to be on your feet all damn day and making your recruits think about whats going on in your mind then actually letting them know as i recall he very seldom every had to even open his mouth to make a recruit drop to the front leaning rest and knock out 20
2007-07-17 15:10:24 · answer #4 · answered by wrenchbender19 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sure the new age drill instructors clutch new recruits to their breasts and nurture them when they fail to live up to standards. Yelling and insulting is no longer allowed in the kinder and gentler Army of today. He might even be able to gain points by using phrases such as "apple butter" in lieu of swearing.
The Army of today is not demeaning...it does require that a recuit face up to the proper level of maturity and follow accepted standards of performance that are foreign to most non military people. After six to eight weeks....he will be just fine..
2007-07-17 16:49:17 · answer #5 · answered by Mike C 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes they yell. It's to create a stressful environment to make sure the trainee/recruit can operate under stressful conditions and still keep his head about him.
They will yell at him for everything.
He will spend a lot of time in the front leaning rest position. Known as a pushup.
Tell him to be as quiet as possible, follow his orders to a T and never stand out.
Good luck
2007-07-17 15:18:13 · answer #6 · answered by Milmom 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The "new and improved" boot camps DO NOT yell and insult FNG's anymore. They're "not allowed".....a true disappointment really.
Some tree-hugger psychologist did a bunch of survey's and came back to the military and said "um, the guys don't like being yelled at. Says it scares them and mentally hurts them. They said they'd respond much better if DI's just talked them into doing tasks and not being ordered around. So if you can just talk to the DI's and let them know this, it'd be much appreciated."......BARF!!!
They've now created a couple of generations of WEENIES.....I liked it much better the old school way of doing things. I like the Marine way of doing it. Tear 'em down and build them back up----into MEN.
2007-07-17 17:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by Jennifer S 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm sure the Army Basic Training is not a "sensitive" environment. It will be mentally and physically demanding, and he can be sure he will hear some yelling. The Army is probably not as severe as the marines. But he can expect to be yelled at, disciplined, made to perform menial work and generally humiliated. It won't kill him. (I didn't want to deal with that myself, and went into the Air Force.)
2007-07-17 15:00:40 · answer #8 · answered by A Plague on your houses 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
the drill sergeants in basic live their lives to make recruits as uncomfortable as possible. they seem to think that that's how they'll know how a person will hold up in combat, but i think it's a lot like a disfunctional family. i spent more time reprograming my mind after basic than anything else!
tell him to remember it's just a game, it's nothing personal. they're just yelling because that's all they know how to do. he's smart, considerate and in good shape. not only will he do well, but it sounds like he'll be a natural leader.
2007-07-18 15:33:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you're in the army, be it at basic training or in a regular unit, you've gotta have thick skin. That's just the way the army is, if he wants to be treated in cvilizided, dignant manner he should stay in the civil sector. Yes, he will have plenty of sleepless nights in basic training, its not mean to be fun. If it was, then everyone would be joining the army.
2007-07-17 15:12:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋