A Kinder, Gentler Military...what some milk and cookies?

[ForFuxakes]

I guess that with an upopular war, one has to do what one has to do to keep soldiers coming in to sign up...

Recruit: I can not handle all the yelling at basic training though...

Recruiter: Oh Don't worry, we do not do that anymore...you'll be fine

"Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war!"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15210867/

WASHINGTON - Hollywood may have to tone down its portrayal of the military’s screaming, in-your-face boot camp drill sergeant.

In today’s Army, shouting is out and a calmer approach to molding young minds is in, says the head of Pentagon personnel.

The Army says it has reduced by nearly 7 percent the number of recruits who wash out in the first six to 12 months of military life.

[madmusic]

1. That was news, what, 5 years ago?

Seriously, that's not a new story, just a newly updated story.

[ForFuxakes]

2. Uhhh....read the article....

"The changes started about a year ago, as defense officials looked for ways to make drillmasters more effective, said Lt. Col. Mike Jones, head of Army National Guard recruiting."

Thanks for trying to make my contribution to DU meaningless...

[madmusic]

6. Nothing personal, and why say meaningless?

I never said it was meaningless, only said it's been going on for a while.

http://www.d-n-i.net/fcs/comments/c374.htm">Kinder & Gentler Boot Camp - A "Hard Right" or an "Easy Wrong"?

July 24, 2000

[ForFuxakes]

9. I do not see

where in the article/link supplied that the basic concept of yelling and screaming was stopped or even toned down. The article only refers to the lowering of standards for graduation (which btw, has happened again: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2553342)

As far as the term meaningless...by implying that my post was "old" news, you (to my mind) are attempting to downplay the relevance of the post and the obvious implications that it speaks to in that the military is now facing some of it's toughest challenges in decades.

[madmusic]

10. Didn't mean to do that.

And can't find the old article.

Do carry on.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. In boot camp, I would have been delighted if they just screamed.

It was the punching, kicking, battering with rifle butts, and "stress" positions, that were more than a bit annoying.

Of course, that was the Marine Crotch's way of "building men" in 1961. All for the princely sum of $79 a month.

[BrotherBuzz]

4. This dumb draftee saw NO yelling or screaming in basic training...

but then again, 100% of my DI's wore the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and they made it clear from the get go that they were there to try and save our sorry asses 'over there'. After that, they didn't need to resort to harassment to keep our attention. I disliked many of them, but for all the right reasons, we paid close attention; fear is a strong motovator.

[ForFuxakes]

5. What branch

and during which war were you drafted?

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Army

Vietnam

[ForFuxakes]

8. Wow...

I was in the USAF in the late eighties and there was plenty of yelling and screaming there. I guess that was a different time and place with different circumstances. Never heard of "no" yelling before though.