Shouldn't boot camp instructors get arrested for pushing you too hard?

Question

What if this happened:

Instructor: DROP DOWN AND GIVE ME 100 PUSH-UPS!

Trainee: YES SIR! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5......99, 100!

Instructor: 100 PUSH-UPS? TOO EASY! I WANT 100 MORE!

Trainee: Can I at least have a bottle of water? It is so hot out!

Instructor: WATER'S FOR SISSIES! I WANT 100 MORE!

Trainee: Okay! (Struggling) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5....49, 50 (collapses and dies from heat exhaustion)

Answer 1

The training instructors know how far they can push, which is actually much more than you think you are capable of. This is what builds confidence and character. If you are a wuss, the military doesn't want or need you. Wuss's need to stay in mommies basement.

Answer 2

They would NOT be arrested for "Pushing You Too Hard"... obviously there is NO SUCH ARTICLE in the UCMJ !! However, in the scenario you described, he/she COULD be charged with manslaughter and negligence.

Now I went thru Navy Boot (giggle), Naval Aircrew Candidate School, and Rescue Swimmer School way back in 1985... and RSS was THE tough school. We did Hell-Day in 95 degree heat with 95% humidity... they ran us 12 miles with stops each half-mile for push-ups and flutter-kicks... BUT the instructors are ALL first aid trained AND we had 2 corpsmen and an ambulance with us at all times. We had water to drink, and were sprayed down or run thru the surf.

We were ALL suffering from "heat exhaustion", and ONE guy did start to show signs of Heat Stroke. They cooled him off, got him stable, and he CHOSE to continue. Nothing "Illegal" there: just TRAINING SAR-Puppies to go go go... because there is no "RESTING" in the middle of the ocean as you pull pilots or sailors out of the water.

Those SAME instructors sadly had a kid die in the pool during a later class... he had an underlying heart-condition that the doctors had missed. They were charged and aqquitted at their Courts Martial

Answer 3

What kind of boot camp are you refering to? I wasn't aware that the response to a drill sergeant was 'sir'. Second, the drill sergeants will rarely deny a soldier water. The only times I've seen that happen is when a soldier is using it as an excuse to slack off, or they are trying to use it to make themselves sick. If there was a death under their command due to their poor judgement, yes, I believe that they should be held accountable. But honestly, dude, just because you've watched platoon and full metal jacket doesn't mean you know **** about military life.

Answer 4

Daily drill instructors are put through a more gruilling process than the recruits. And yes there are those select few that cross the line, but for the most part no. If someone wants to be able to pull a red card on a drill instructor they best not joint the marine corp. There is a reason the instructors do what they do!

Answer 5

This just goes to show that you know nothing about the military. They only push so much, what you do with what they tell you is up to you. You get more than enough time to drink water. Ive never heard of an Drill Sergeant denying anyone water. We were force hydrated in basic. They are there to train you not kill you. Basic training is more mental than physical. If you are weak mentally, then you are gonna fail, and be recycled. If you do what you are told when you are told you will be fine. I went through basic without my Drill Sergeants knowing my name. Hence I never got picked on. Hell i wish I only got to do 200 push ups, like in your little scenario.

Answer 6

The point is to get you fit. What happens when a mine damages your patrol vehicle/s and you have to hump it back to base? Or if you're fighting in a guerrilla environment, like Vietnam? Mechanized infantry has removed a lot of the pointless marching, but sometimes long marches are a part of military life.

Answer 7

I watched the drill instructors go at it at a Marine camp training drill and I was in tears, but my son explained to me that it is necessary so they don't bend under pressure "out there". It was quite a sight that day and i was told that they were going easy on the guys since it was parent day! God Bless all of them soldiers and Commanders as well.

Answer 8

Are you serious? I just spent the last year in Iraq. Do you think the terrorist who we fight day and night should be arrested for fighting too hard...War is real and the more you sweat in peace time the less you bleed during the time of war. If we can't train our Marines, Soldiers,and Sailors then Tough Drill Instructors will be the least of your worries.


USMC

Answer 9

Drill Sergeants are trained to push a recruit to his breaking point and build him back up to be a soldier. They are also trained to recognize when a soldier is in danger or in danger of being hurt. They will not let anything go that far. If you are one of those that will question their methods or wimp out, then the military doesn't need you.

Answer 10

Millions of men and women have completed basic training and the number of fatalities is infinately small. I won't even get into the fact that none of them are being drafted so thy all joined. You are being trained to survive in a hostile environment where you may die because you weren't taught how hard you can push.

Do you want to wind up like Dick Cheyney or Rush Limpdick.

Answer 11

What stupid movie did this come out of? That is not the way that it works. For starters they never make you do that many push ups at one time (except for your PT Test, where you do as many as you can as fast as you can.)
There have been instances of DI's being relieved of duties for abusing trainees. In my boot camp one DI got in trouble for making us run in formation immediately after lunch. Not many of us didn't puke that day. But he wasn't relieved or arrested.
But to arrest them for pushing a trainee? No! They have to push you so that you grow mentally and physically.