Basic Training Hoohah

[WesleyMustDie 0]

No disrespect is meant by any of this...

 

Bayonet Training

 

DRILL SERGEANT: What makes the green grass grow?

SOLDIERS: Blood! Blood! Bright, red blood!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: What is the spirit of the bayonet?

SOLDIERS: To kill! To kill! To kill without mercy!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Why is the sky blue?

SOLDIERS: Because God loves the Army!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Attack!

SOLDIERS: Kill!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Relax!

SOLDIERS: Never!

 

 

Physical Training

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Change over!

SOLDIERS: Switch!

DRILL SERGEANT: Change over!

SOLDIERS: Switch!

(Often repeated for several minutes)

[will_marx 0]

No disrespect is meant by any of this...

 

Bayonet Training

 

DRILL SERGEANT: What makes the green grass grow?

SOLDIERS: Blood! Blood! Bright, red blood!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: What is the spirit of the bayonet?

SOLDIERS: To kill! To kill! To kill without mercy!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Why is the sky blue?

SOLDIERS: Because God loves the Army!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Attack!

SOLDIERS: Kill!

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Relax!

SOLDIERS: Never!

Physical Training

 

DRILL SERGEANT: Change over!

SOLDIERS: Switch!

DRILL SERGEANT: Change over!

SOLDIERS: Switch!

(Often repeated for several minutes)

 

Been there, done that. Got the headaches. And the backaches.

[WesleyMustDie 0]

I graduated Basic in November...the memories are still fresh. *shudder* :P

[will_marx 0]

I graduated Basic in November...the memories are still fresh. *shudder* :P

 

Congratulations, then. I remember when I graduated back in 1992. I still have nightmares every now and then. They do eventually fade. Of course, I was Air Force, Army Guard, and now Air Guard, and for some reason I still haven't been able to break into the NCO corps, after 10 years of combined service. :-w Ah well, maybe this time, I'll finally make that coveted E-5, that I've been waiting for for so many years.

[Images 0]

I know its all about motivation in training but I slightly feel such chanting for blood and death is not too conducive to a soldier's future psyche when he may be in a tense situation and could end up doing something silly he might really regret. If a grunt thinks back to his training and that's what he remembers the most, triggers could get pulled that don't need to be.

 

Sorry to be a killjoy and all. *throws in his two pence*

[Kansas_Jones 0]

I've been eyeing this topic for a few days doing the "should I shouldn't I" thing. I'm not in the military, so the following is totally my opinion and impressions, and I don't want to tick anyone off. Thanks!

 

Basic Training not only removes the people who aren't mentally or physically able to serve in the military, it also:

 

1.) Gives the necessary training for these people to survive out in the field. The grueling physical training and tests, the dismantling of your comfort zone, the yelling, the insults, that PIA Drill Sergeant that is a walking Grim Reaper and haunts your dreams. The "go go go" constantly. It all comes together for necessary survival.

 

2.) The soldiers who endure this training are brought to a numb state during the process, and this is the whole point. Meaning, if all hell breaks loose around them on a future engagement, they are able to function as they go into that "numb state", click back into the training showing them what to do to stay alive, and get out alive, as well as their fellows. If you are too scared to move, you are going to get shot. If you clamp down on that fear due to your past training, you can get out.

 

3.) As for doing something "silly", that they will regret. Oh I am sure this could happen, and has happened - accidentally shoot a civilian or the like, just completely losing it, depending on the battlefield. However, for the most part, a soldiers will work through hundreds of stimuli assaulting their senses, processing all that is around them (again, training comes into play), and then a decision is made to not shoot at that civilian while they take out the enemy and get to a locked down location.

 

Overall, Basic Training has been in play for how many years? It makes a valid, and necessary point of impact for the survival of our soldiers, even if that little cadence is about "blood and guts".

[Images 0]

Well obviously basic training works. Conditioning people is fine, its the chants I'm kinda bugged with.

Edited January 3, 2007 by Images

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Congratulations, then. I remember when I graduated back in 1992. I still have nightmares every now and then. They do eventually fade. Of course, I was Air Force, Army Guard, and now Air Guard, and for some reason I still haven't been able to break into the NCO corps, after 10 years of combined service. :-w Ah well, maybe this time, I'll finally make that coveted E-5, that I've been waiting for for so many years.

 

Will, are NCO promos designed to work points wise? Or, do you need to be sponsored by someone (meaning - this person puts your name up for promo)? Wish luck!

 

Well obviously basic training works. Conditioning people is fine, its the chants I'm kinda bugged with.

 

I agree, Images, definitely brutal and "in your face". But, since the phrasing is linked to the survival conditioning, I can't picture the Grass one being changed to "What makes the green grass grow? Water, lots and lots of water!".

[will_marx 0]

Will, are NCO promos designed to work points wise? Or, do you need to be sponsored by someone (meaning - this person puts your name up for promo)? Wish luck!

 

National Guard NCO promotions are different from Active Duty promotions. I need both the slot, and the points. Finally, I'm in an E-5 slot, so hopefully someday, I'll see E-5. Of course, there are three others in the same slot.

[will_marx 0]

Drill Sergeant or Theologian? :P

 

COL Joshua Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, once remarked that a "General on a Battlefield was close to God on earth". However, Drill Sergeants are more like his angels, creating Man in their image.

[WesleyMustDie 0]

I've been eyeing this topic for a few days doing the "should I shouldn't I" thing. I'm not in the military, so the following is totally my opinion and impressions, and I don't want to tick anyone off. Thanks!

 

Basic Training not only removes the people who aren't mentally or physically able to serve in the military, it also:

 

1.) Gives the necessary training for these people to survive out in the field. The grueling physical training and tests, the dismantling of your comfort zone, the yelling, the insults, that PIA Drill Sergeant that is a walking Grim Reaper and haunts your dreams. The "go go go" constantly. It all comes together for necessary survival.

 

2.) The soldiers who endure this training are brought to a numb state during the process, and this is the whole point. Meaning, if all hell breaks loose around them on a future engagement, they are able to function as they go into that "numb state", click back into the training showing them what to do to stay alive, and get out alive, as well as their fellows. If you are too scared to move, you are going to get shot. If you clamp down on that fear due to your past training, you can get out.

 

3.) As for doing something "silly", that they will regret. Oh I am sure this could happen, and has happened - accidentally shoot a civilian or the like, just completely losing it, depending on the battlefield. However, for the most part, a soldiers will work through hundreds of stimuli assaulting their senses, processing all that is around them (again, training comes into play), and then a decision is made to not shoot at that civilian while they take out the enemy and get to a locked down location.

 

Overall, Basic Training has been in play for how many years? It makes a valid, and necessary point of impact for the survival of our soldiers, even if that little cadence is about "blood and guts".

 

That's actually one of I think three cadences we ever did about death...The rest were silly stuff like "Let me see you bark to the left!"

[Dumbass 0]

COL Joshua Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, once remarked that a "General on a Battlefield was close to God on earth". However, Drill Sergeants are more like his angels, creating Man in their image.

 

You forgot the most important part of Chamberlain's legacy. During the Civil War he led the 20th Maine in defence of what would later be known as Little Round Top during the 2nd day at the Battle of Gettysburg. When his command ran out of ammunition (which he didn't have a lot of going into the battle) he led a bayonet charge that routed the enemy.

 

I don't know if this incident depicted in the movie Gettysburg or the book The Killer Angels (on which the movie was based) was an accurate one but they certainly captured the drama.

 

Had he done what most commanders have done and surrender or flee it is entirely possible the Confederates could have outflanked the Union lines and won not only the battle of Gettysburg but possibly the war.

 

He received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United State's highest military decoration.

[will_marx 0]

You forgot the most important part of Chamberlain's legacy. During the Civil War he led the 20th Maine in defence of what would later be known as Little Round Top during the 2nd day at the Battle of Gettysburg. When his command ran out of ammunition (which he didn't have a lot of going into the battle) he led a bayonet charge that routed the enemy.

 

I don't know if this incident depicted in the movie Gettysburg or the book The Killer Angels (on which the movie was based) was an accurate one but they certainly captured the drama.

 

Had he done what most commanders have done and surrender or flee it is entirely possible the Confederates could have outflanked the Union lines and won not only the battle of Gettysburg but possibly the war.

 

He received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United State's highest military decoration.

 

I was actually discussing the role of Drill Sergeants, as opposed to Generals, which was why I left the rest of what Col. Chamberlain did at Gettysburg. He was also wounded at Vicksburg (or was it Petersburg? I'll have to look), under Gen. Grant.

 

Did you know that he was in charge of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox? He received the Confederate soldiers, not with contemptuous victory, but in magnanimous humility. He, and his troops, saluted the defeated Army of Northern Virginia, as they moved forward to lay down their arms. A gesture of honor to a vanquished foe, and the hope of healing the deep wounds of the Union, caused by the Civil War.

[Philip Carst 0]

I was actually discussing the role of Drill Sergeants, as opposed to Generals, which was why I left the rest of what Col. Chamberlain did at Gettysburg. He was also wounded at Vicksburg (or was it Petersburg? I'll have to look), under Gen. Grant.

 

Did you know that he was in charge of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox? He received the Confederate soldiers, not with contemptuous victory, but in magnanimous humility. He, and his troops, saluted the defeated Army of Northern Virginia, as they moved forward to lay down their arms. A gesture of honor to a vanquished foe, and the hope of healing the deep wounds of the Union, caused by the Civil War.

 

Col. Chamberlain is one of the few men in history I hold in high regards. Great man.