Is BCT too easy due to Drills being forced to be soft?
I've said it before and I will say it again. I remember standing in line outside the DFAC at Parade Rest, no talking, no looking around, waiting to go in. Once you were through the line, you sat down, you ate, you left. There was no sitting back in your chair, relaxing, shooting the breeze with your buddies. If you looked up it was because you were done eating. I remember having to EARN phone privileges. You stood in line, facing the opposite direction, you stood at Parade Rest silent and waited your turn. When it was your turn you got 10 minutes. If anyone in line was caught talking or BSing then the whole platoon lost that privilege until they EARNED it again. Those that were on the phone simply said goodbye or I have to go and hung up.
There was no walking around with your cell phone, or smoking, or any of that. That's where I think we have gone soft. New recruits aren't treated like Soldiers they're treated like it's college or summer camp. I don't blame Drill Sergeants for the way things are I blame the system. These new recruits don't get that harsh wake up that they are now in the military like we did. I'm not saying let the Drills smoke the life out of new Soldiers, but definitely make them earn what they get. The reason they don't act like Soldiers is because they aren't made to.
We wrote letters by hand if we wanted to talk to someone at home. If you received candy, cookies, or some other junk in the mail sorry it went away. At the end of the day there was no going outside to talk to our buddies and enjoy the evening air. You were in your bay and you weren't laying down on your bunk until lights out either. I do believe that Drill Sergeants should have a little more freedom in how they deal with Soldiers, but within reason. My Drill Sergeants (DS George, DS Stunkard, and DS Meehan) were never abusive, or mean, or anything like that, but you better believe that they would jack you up in a heart beat and smoke your bags until you puked. My Drill Sergeants TRAINED us to be Soldiers, they didn't baby us, or give us a time out if our little feelings got hurt. As I recall they told us that the Army didn't issue us feelings. They kick our butts when we screwed up and patted us on the back when we did something good. They taught is respect for our superiors and for our peers. We were Privates so we didn't have subordinates. By the way, when in the hell did being called by your rank become demeaning? If you are a PVT, PV2, or PFC guess what YOU'RE A PRIVATE!