Who else think the US Army needs to end its BS politcally correct basic training?

Question

My apologies to you if your basic training was hard.

However, mine was not.

I went to basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in 2003. I went there fully expecting it was going to be like "Full Metal Jacket." Boy, was I mistaken.

The drill sergeants barely yelled that much. They never played the mind games I'd heard about. Our smoke sessions were incredibly short. Even the training itself was ridiculously easy.

I've never been a real tough guy, and it was still incredibly easy.

We went through AIT with some Marines. It was embarrasing even trying to talk about "Relaxin Jackson" after hearing their stories about Parris Island and San Diego. Or when I talked with people who went through basic training in the 70's and the 80's.

Excuse me, I meant to say "politically."

hypofocus, Full Metal Jacket was great movie, but that part was kind of ridiculous. I know people who got "blanket partied" and none of them ever went insane and shot their drill sergeants and themselves.

Answer 1

Ft. Leonard Wood was harder then Jackson was. But overall, it is becoming too PC. When I was a commander of a Basic Training Company, we could develop our own program as long as we met all the mandatory training requirements. Half way through my command, they changed to this directed program and started doing things like stopping Drill Sergeants from "engaging" trainees in the Dining Facility. After I left command, I heard it went downhill from there. There is too many lowest denominators they are catering to. I once had a 34 year old trainee that complained because a Drill Sergeant used the word "retarded." Drills had to make up things to say, like "Chicken Noodle Hoogie" because they couldn't say "Sh** Sandwich." And that new PT program that was designed for couch potatoes and not soldiers didn't help either.

Answer 2

Yes, when I went to reclass I saw soldiers fresh out of Basic who could not pass a PT test. Even when I went through a few years ago this was not possible. How soft must things be if new soldiers are not even physically fit enough to get 60 points in each pt event. While I was not the most high speed PVT I still had military discipline, unlike many of the new soldiers who think they are back on the block, and do not even pretend to stand at parade rest. Despite all of this most of the soldiers coming out of BCT are still good troops, and would have made it back in the day, but the problem lies in the fact the many soldiers who would have washed out in the first 3 weeks getting to a real unit and becoming a liability.

Answer 3

It is an all volunteer army and it needs to keeps its population. Beyond that, there are certain things, like food and water that are good additions.

Granted I have not been through basic, but my father (a Vietnam era vet) and my brother (completed basic 2004) had a very different experience and my brother is in a vastly better military that takes care of its soldiers. There are some stories from the Vietnam era that can be told and have no need to be repeated nor necessary for training.

Answer 4

It is not your fault my son. It is today generation of youth they need something easy, for god's sake do you want to get punched in the stomach. I will tell you that Navy boot-camp was easy for me and there was a few apples that thought it was impossible to do. Any way we live in America were everything has drastically changed since then. Look at todays youth they are on the celly texting each other, playing video games on line. It is sad because I am not that much older but I remember the days when I was young I use to play in the streets and the parks. Todays generation in my eyes is a bit weaker. Look at the fashion trends all everyone wants is name brand clothing. PS3, 360, blk berries, new cars, and many youth get these from their parents.

When I was young I remember playing baseball in the streets and I use to get pissed off when someone would drive by and stop our game. Now I look at my neighborhood and I see no one outside playing even my nephew wants to do is play on his psp and ipod all day. It is not the Army fault, they have to adapt to todays youth.

Answer 5

Um, did you happen to notice the guy who went insane and shot his drill sargeant and himself after basic training in "Full Metal Jacket"? Did that part not help you with your answer?

Answer 6

Don't usually come into Military catagory, but i saw your question on the front page....I just wanted to say that i think that the Armies in most countries need to drop all the politically correct bullsh*t....none of it counts for anything in a warzone!