Army softens training for recruits

[LiberalNation]

Of course they don't beat the shit outa ya anymore like my dad went thru but I don't think it's gotten too soft or my cousin wouldn't have such a great bod now after just over 2 months.

[LiberalNation]

glad they aren't focusing so much on pushups personally. I have no upper body strength.

[Gaffer]

I think you missed the point. How are they not going to be in shape? Core muscles affect everything. they never said that they were completely taking running out. but instead of long distance being a focus, they now are focusing on sprints. They are making it how they are going to be fighting over there and in cities.

Being able to go long distances makes sprints even easier. And in a combat situation you might be required to run for a very long distance. As an example see Blackhawk down.

When I was in the army we had to run a mile and a half in under 8 minutes. In fatigues and combat boots. we trained in full combat gear with M14 rifles and double timed everywhere we went. Whether it was 100 yards away or 5 miles. By the time I got out of basic I could jog for miles without getting winded.

[Monkeybone]

Being able to go long distances makes sprints even easier. And in a combat situation you might be required to run for a very long distance. As an example see Blackhawk down.

When I was in the army we had to run a mile and a half in under 8 minutes. In fatigues and combat boots. we trained in full combat gear with M14 rifles and double timed everywhere we went. Whether it was 100 yards away or 5 miles. By the time I got out of basic I could jog for miles without getting winded.

i understand that. Like i said, it isn't just a focus as much anymore, not softening. unless I completely missed that part where it said that they aren't doing it anymore....


and i think there is where you have an upper hand over what they do now. they don't do that much in full gear anymore from what i am led to believe. they have PT outfits and everything.

[LiberalNation]

those doing ranger challenge still ran in boots and full gear plus a dummy rifle.

[Gaffer]

i understand that. Like i said, it isn't just a focus as much anymore, not softening. unless I completely missed that part where it said that they aren't doing it anymore....


and i think there is where you have an upper hand over what they do now. they don't do that much in full gear anymore from what i am led to believe. they have PT outfits and everything.

yeah that's what I have heard and seen too. I think a lot of that started changing in the 70s. The fashion conscious army.

when I have talked with iraq vets about what they did and what I did they are in awe of what I did compared to them. And these are guys that were in the thick of it. So I think the army has gone relatively soft by comparison. At least when it comes to dealing with discomfort.

[HogTrash]

glad they aren't focusing so much on pushups personally. I have no upper body strength.

So all your strength is in your ass huh?

[LiberalNation]

fuck yeah, ass of steal.

[Monkeybone]

yeah that's what I have heard and seen too. I think a lot of that started changing in the 70s. The fashion conscious army.

when I have talked with iraq vets about what they did and what I did they are in awe of what I did compared to them. And these are guys that were in the thick of it. So I think the army has gone relatively soft by comparison. At least when it comes to dealing with discomfort.

were you in when they could still hit you Gaf?

[Gaffer]

were you in when they could still hit you Gaf?

No, they had stopped that a few years before. But that didn't mean they always followed procedure. If you really got out of line you might have a private meeting with one of the DI's. The Marines were still doing it at that time tho. Our senior DI had been a Marine before switching to the army. He said he couldn't give us full Marine training, but he would take us as close as he could. I think the only thing we didn't get was regular ass whoopings.

[namvet]

No, they had stopped that a few years before. But that didn't mean they always followed procedure. If you really got out of line you might have a private meeting with one of the DI's. The Marines were still doing it at that time tho. Our senior DI had been a Marine before switching to the army. He said he couldn't give us full Marine training, but he would take us as close as he could. I think the only thing we didn't get was regular ass whoopings.

they did it when i was in boot. we had a kid that was hit hard by an adjutant. the kid took it in the eye. went blind and was discharged

[Gaffer]

they did it when i was in boot. we had a kid that was hit hard by an adjutant. the kid took it in the eye. went blind and was discharged

Don't know about the Navy, I knew what went on in the army and heard from Marines about their boot camp. That would have been an example of why they stopped the beatings.

[Mr. P]

I never saw a Drill Sergeant touch anyone that I can remember.

We policed ourselves really. Anyone ever hear of a "blanket party"?
Not to be confused with the Navy gay "blanket party".

If an individual was screwing up or slacking to the point the unit was being punished, he may well have had a blanket tossed over him in the middle of the night and the chit beat outta him.

Yes, I saw it happen and it always got the point across.

[Gaffer]

I never saw a Drill Sergeant touch anyone that I can remember.

We policed ourselves really. Anyone ever hear of a "blanket party"?
Not to be confused with the Navy gay "blanket party".

If an individual was screwing up or slacking to the point the unit was being punished, he may well have had a blanket tossed over him in the middle of the night and the chit beat outta him.

Yes, I saw it happen and it always got the point across.

Yes those happened too. Usually when one guy continually screwed up and go the whole platoon punished. If a DI wanted to get someone they would call them out and punish the platoon repeatedly until he was dealt with. The DI's knew just how to use that to great effect. They just weren't involved personally in the beatings any more.