We Are Getting SOFT and WEAK as a Civilization

[Ganthrol]

The "stress card" myth was one my wife and I just spoke about last week. I don't know how it got started, but the true sad part is how people will believe it. The stress created during boot camp is minimal compared to the stress a sailor/soldier will receive in the field. If I had a choice between a drill instructor yelling (and spitting from the yelling) in my face or manning up a shipboard fire party for a possible fuel oil leak, give me the instructor.

Stress is a very big factor in the military, and the military tries to help people but at times they just can't help enough. When I was on a Med cruise, I rode a helo from my ship to a carrier. On the carrier someone gave me a tour of the ship and pointed out how they had a 'jumper' just last night. Trust me, stress is very real.

But back to the topic...

American society is just sliding downhill. People just like to argue and a lot of people are becoming litigious. A few years ago, there was a court case in Hampton, VA where a woman took a man to court for cursing in a public park.

Then there was a case here in Virginia Beach last week where a little 8-year-old girl was bitten by a bulldog (I think it was a bulldog). This case got a lot of media coverage, but for NO REASON.

First, the dog was enclosed in a fence in its own yard. Second, the girl climbed the fence and got into the yard with the dog. The dog owner was taken to court and the dog was impounded. Today the judge ruled that the dog will not be killed but it cannot return to the owners house, the owner has to find another place to house it (luckily the owners mother lives nearby and can house the dog). Why wasn't the parents of the child charged with child neglect?

Rudeness levels are on the rise as well. No one says "Excuse me" if they wish to pass you in the store, they will just bump into you. No one says "Thank you" either.

Ok, nuff rambling...I could go on for hours about this.

[Raeghin]

Originally posted by Valthaeris
That is one of the most popular and least accurate rumors regarding basic training. There are no such thing as stress cards. Where did you pick that idea up?



Actually it was implemented at Ft Jackson, SC in 1993 when I was there. Having seen it first hand I think my knowledge of it is more than mythical. However, this was all coming about for the next cycle to pass through and I remember the Drill's talking about the implementation of it. They even had the yellow cards. Also it was right after my cycle that the co-ed things started as well. The drill instructors would actually tell us how cushy the next cycle would have it compared to us.

Now, whether or not they put it to fruition...or it just got ignored, I don't know. I certainly remember they were NOT happy about it.

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I have also heard that drill instructors are not allowed to use profanities. That's ridiculous!
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It is ridiculous. Ridiculous and untrue

OK, with this one, it was my understanding that technically they weren't allowed to curse and the drills didn't in front of the company commander or any officer. Once that officer left it was back to cursing as usual. I think most of it had to do with just a level of resepect for the commander, but they DID say that they weren't really supposed to.

[kestra]

giving out an award for being a crybaby??
that's just stupid!!
coaches are motivating, supporting, and inspiring.
those who simply don't meaure up, are cut.

Makes me wonder why the player wasn't cut in the first place.

[Darion]

Actually it was implemented at Ft Jackson, SC in 1993 when I was there. Having seen it first hand I think my knowledge of it is more than mythical. However, this was all coming about for the next cycle to pass through and I remember the Drill's talking about the implementation of it. They even had the yellow cards. Also it was right after my cycle that the co-ed things started as well. The drill instructors would actually tell us how cushy the next cycle would have it compared to us.

Amazing. I guess they must have introduced the stress cards for your cycle and then never used them again, considering I attended both BCT and AIT at the same place only last year and never saw a stress card in the entire brigade.

Or heard of one anywhere on post.

[Bramond]

Unfortunatley England is turning the same. We have a "jellyfish" "sheep like" Government. Criminals get treated with kid gloves. Our tax contributions go to other countrys or helps Imigrants live here without contributing anything, whilst the country goes to pot.

If you tried to take your whole family to Albania for instance, asked for free health care, £25,000 a year in benefits, a house, free school education, clothing and everything else. Then refused to live in the traditional way of the country that had adopted you, and then did things against your benifactors......well youd be kicked out on your ear before you could fart, and thats probably been conservative!

I am realy concerned for what future this country has for my kids!!

[Sajek]

Hell, Canada/US society is getting pretty damn close and yes, this 'problem' seems to be happening everywhere. Noone wants to face adversity so what do we do as a society? Eliminate anyone and everyone that might create it or at least make them change their act or create a bunch of 'pollitically correct' words to make sure we don't offend anyone. We also choose to protect our kids from the harsh realities of the world so much so that they are not prepared for what's ahead.

I wasn't sheltered in such a way as a child and I'm thankful for that because with the job I do now, its ALL adversity (I'm in the steel industry and I'm the guy you call when you have a problem. I drive/fly to your facility, have meetings, determine action plans etc..., etc... while the customer can be really angry that he won't be able to meet shipments because of you).

If you're protected from dealing with adversity all your life, you'll be creamed in many job environments and have a tough time jumping life's many hurdles. High school didn't even come close to preparing me for studying engineering, I fear for the young people that aren't even prepared for life.

[Lebeau]

Well, about the stress card myth, I think that's something the drill sergeants started to mess with your head. I went to Ft Jackson in 97 and 98 and I heard the rumors both years and that the cards would start being implemented next cycle and what to expect if you even think of using them. Same as in 93 and from what I understand from new soldiers, the rumor is still circulating. I'm glad it's not true. If I were the drill sergeant, I'd have to smoke the shit outta the rest of the platoon and make the one who pulled the stress card watch. See if he or she pulls that shit again. Peer pressure is a bitch.
And the profanity ban? It's actually true. You can technically be court martialed and kicked out for profanity. Then again, no one gives a shit. My company actually tried to enforce a cussing ban. My squad leader said to that, and I quote: "That's fucking bullshit." Loudly. Daring anyone to say something. Only thing the leadership asks of us is to try to minimize the use of profanity in front of customers. That, I don't think is unreasonable. But my drill sergeant said, "We're not supposed to cuss at you, so if it offends you, get the fuck over it."
Basic is still pansified, though. I think it was too easy to be challenging and too hard to chill. It was more annoying than tough. The results boil down to the individual soldier, though. Jessica Lynch's convoy was likely led by an NCO or an officer that didn't learn his job right, and I highly doubt that none of the other soldiers picked up that they were going the wrong way. They just didn't want to question their leaders. Same with the prisoner photos. No one stood up.
While I agree that training should be tough, I think that the training has its place. Follow all lawful orders. The defense "I was just following orders" is bullshit. That was the defense at Nuremberg too. Yeah, I know I'm getting into another topic here, but they kinda link.
My unit came back with no casualties. Yes, we're the personnel/finance battalion, but they were still in the shit. They still got attacked and although you'd think we'd be the last ones to get attacked, they still were able to call in reinforcements, defend themselves and come out with no casualties. I guess I'm rambling now, but anyway, it does have its place... just not in basic. Maybe AIT or permanent duty stations. Or if they do have sensitivity training it should be more hands-on to show why it's important and when it's appropriate. I'll stop rambling now.