Stop Yelling At Me...

[Omaha Red Sox]

Drill Sergeants: No More Mr. Mean Guy
Army Goes to Kindler, Gentler Approach to Training

By DEAN REYNOLDS

Oct. 11, 2006 — The Pentagon recently announced that all active duty services had met their recruiting goals for the budget year that ended Sept. 30. And now we have a possible reason why.

Drill sergeants have been told to cool it. All the cussing, swearing, in-your-face intimidation by a vein-popping, bull-necked brute is now passé.

What?

You read it right. Drill sergeants — the toughest, meanest people in the military — have been ordered to try a more sensitive approach to the young male and female recruits who once answered to the name "maggot" — or worse.

David S. Chu, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, told The Associated Press, "However much it may be satisfying from the shouter's perspective, it really isn't the best way to shape young people for the future."

And it took the Army, oh, about two centuries to figure this out?

Chu said the Army must change the nature of how it treats the very people it wants to retain. And at a time of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is no small point. The military needs good men and women. Period.

So "less shouting at everyone," said Chu.

Veterans would probably chuckle, but according to Army Times, today's recruits can do their push-ups from their knees if they get too tired. Sit-ups can be accomplished with the help of a sleeping mat. Today's Army doesn't want recruits with bruised, er, tail bones.

The "kinder gentler" thing — adopted more than a year ago — may be working. The Army says it has reduced by nearly 7 percent the number of washouts in the first six to 12 months of a recruit's life. In place of the "shock treatment," the Army now urges its drill sergeants to adopt more the role of a counselor than an antagonist.

"We said, 'Drill sergeants, your job is to mentor, teach and coach these kids and help them be more," said Gen. Peter Schoomaker, Army chief of staff.

That has made a difference, according at least one commander.

"The soldiers shoot better, are in better physical condition, and their hearts and heads are in the zone, said Col. Jay Chambers, commander of 1st Combat Training Brigade, 13th Infantry Regiment.

There's more, and it says a lot about how stretched the military has become in recent years. We know that the age-of-service ceiling has been raised and some standards relaxed to absorb new soldiers, sailors and airmen.

But now, injured recruits who might have been discharged are given more time to recuperate so they can resume their basic training rather than leave the service entirely.

Chu told the AP that two-thirds of all recruits finish their enlistments, ranging from three to four years. The other third is made up of many who drop out in the first six to 12 months. Many who didn't make it often cited humiliating treatment as one reason.

Attrition, of course, is factored into the numerical goals the services put in place every year. Retaining too many recruits is unwise. Discouraging too many is worse.

So the drill sergeants must adjust. "Excuse me" will take the place of "I CAN'T HEAR YOU."

Because from now on it's No More Mr. Mean Guy.

[RugbyD]

we've officially lost war.

[Pogotheostrich]

I thought the whole point of Boot Camp was to break recruits down so they could then build them up as soldiers.
How are they going to accomplish that now?

[teddy ballgame]

My (female) cousin recently came back from a fort in Missouri after a few months of training. She said people would purposely get kicked out because they couldn't take all the yelling and stuff. One guy pointed his gun at a drill seargent and another guy sat in his own waste for 3 days without talking. Obviously these people aren't fit for the army anyways, but I think this change might not be that bad.

[Madison]

OMG! Now that is just plain stupid!


"What's wrong Johnny? Too tired to climb the rope? Don't worry about it, that's ok. I'm sure the Taliban would understand and just let you come home because you're too tired and worn out to fight anymore. Did you happen to kill any of the enemy before getting too tired to fight anymore?"

"CLIMB THE ROPE YOU MAGGOT! DO YOU THINK THE ENEMY CARES THAT YOU'RE TIRED? DO YOU THINK THEY CARE YOU WANT TO RUN HOME TO MAMMA LIKE A SISSY BOY? THEY DON'T! THEY WILL KILL YOU EITHER WAY! CLIMB THE ROPE OR DIE LIKE THE PANSY YOU ARE! HERE, I'LL EVEN GET YOU A SKIRT TO WEAR MAMMA'S BOY, NOW GET UP THAT ROPE, OR DIE!"

[The Artful Dodger]

Oh great, you know our country is politically correct to the living end, when the military becomes as such.

[thedude]

Patton, McArthur, Grant, Washington, and Jackson are all rolling over in their respective graves.

[Melo255]

I thought the whole point of Boot Camp was to break recruits down so they could then build them up as soldiers.
How are they going to accomplish that now?

Exactly. Personally I still think they should be allowed to use any language they want and even small physical abuse like pushing and pulling a recruit to get a point across. Now you absolutely cannot lay a hand on a recruit or swear at all.

I understand the desire of the army to get more people into active ranks but I'd prefer less soldiers of a higher quality than more soldiers of a lower quality. They need to be ready for real life war time situations that for normal people are mentally crippling. The place where they begin to develop that mental toughness to persevere through absurdly difficult situations is in brutal boot camp situations not at tea time.

Edit: One of the most important points any recruit needs to understand as they enter boot camp is that all the yelling and insults ARE NOT PERSONAL! They are trying to make you a better tougher man not hurt you.

[Big Pimpin]

I thought the whole point of Boot Camp was to break recruits down so they could then build them up as soldiers.
How are they going to accomplish that now?

Exactly. Personally I still think they should be allowed to use any language they want and even small physical abuse like pushing and pulling a recruit to get a point across. Now you absolutely cannot lay a hand on a recruit or swear at all.

I understand the desire of the army to get more people into active ranks but I'd prefer less soldiers of a higher quality than more soldiers of a lower quality. They need to be ready for real life war time situations that for normal people are mentally crippling. The place where they begin to develop that mental toughness to persevere through absurdly difficult situations is in brutal boot camp situations not at tea time.

Edit: One of the most important points any recruit needs to understand as they enter boot camp is that all the yelling and insults ARE NOT PERSONAL! They are trying to make you a better tougher man not hurt you.

Very well said. I couldn't agree more.

This is very disturbing news.

[Mugrila]

Once again...packing my bags for Australia, I'm getting far away from here.