Army recruit: I was kicked 'like a football'

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-drill28.html

FORT KNOX, Ky. -- The recruits of Echo Company stumbled off the bus for basic training at Fort Knox to the screams of red-faced drill instructors.

That much was expected. But it got worse from there.

Echo Company's top drill instructor seized a recruit by the back of the neck and threw him to the ground. Other soldiers were poked, grabbed or cursed.

Once inside the barracks, Pvt. Jason Steenberger says, he was struck in the chest by the top D.I. and kicked ''like a football.'' Andrew Soper, who has since left the Army, says he was slapped and punched in the chest by another drill instructor. Pvt. Adam Roster says he was hit in the back and slammed into a wall locker.

[ComerPerro]

1. Is that normal now?

Has it always been?

[pie]

3. I didn't think so

I hope this is not the 'new normal.'

[ComerPerro]

6. Wouldn't really suprise me though...

[Balbus]

10. When I went through Air Force basic training...

I was slapped around and hit by the TI's a few times as were other recruits. Just assumed that was a normal part of the basic training. :shrug:

[ComerPerro]

20. That's what I was thinking. I don't really know

[seabeyond]

2. you know how you make a pitbull mean dont you

yet totally loyal and seeking love.

same with a child

[Maraya1969]

8. OMG - what a reference. The top level officials in Hitler''s regime

were subject to the same type of abuse. I'll have to look this up but I know they used this as a way of making them numb to the idea of torturing other people. Hitler didn't go around the country looking for all the sociopaths. He MADE them.

[seabeyond]

9. yes n/t

[tridim]

4. Just a fraternity prank

Says Rush (I have a boil on my ass) Limbaugh.

[undergroundpanther]

5. abuse

creates tough abusive soldiers.Guns in human suits.
Traumatize a recruit enough break him down and destroy his sense of self and inner locus of control that gives him a sense of right and wrong, and be sure he will have enough anger inside enough fear and suppression to be handled by skilled manipulators and rank games as to channel it into planned precision murder all for the corporate boy king Train a wounded heart to kill without thinking,and in rage and traumas he will do as directed obey orders until it's too late to stop..He asks the moral questions after the war is done and he is allowed to be alone with his own thoughts,abandoned homeless with PSTD, drunk sleeping on the sidewalk in February as a cop kicks him like a football because he is laying there..As long as the stupid game of inequality, abuse and domination goes unquestioned things will stay the same.

[Maraya1969]

11. Maybe that is why there is such a high level of sexual assaults

against women in the armed forces. If they are made into a person that can kill without blinking an eye what the heck is a little rape?

[undergroundpanther]

17. Abuse someone enough

They will act out and dehumanize others.

[Squatch]

7. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1586328

[NNN0LHI]

12. Why are you linking to another DU board to shut this thread down for?

Don't you think this story should be publicized as much as possible?

Don

[Squatch]

14. Why rehash?

This topic has been discussed at length in the other thread.

[NNN0LHI]

15. You worry about your threads, I will worry about mine. Deal? n/t

[Squatch]

16. That wasn't "my" thread.

Has a lot of good comments, nonetheless.

[andyhappy]

13. isn't the point of the army...

...to turn regular people into killers? It ain't the peace corp!

[undergroundpanther]

18. Maybe that is why we will never have peace

Because abusers like to abuse and people haven't got around to figuring out there is no excuse for abuse or abusers? Bullies must not be in positions of power.Because bullies use power to abuse others and replicate thier own illness in others.

[andyhappy]

19. word

[harlinchi]

21. I was a platoon leader in the 1st ITB at Ft. Benning in July 1981.

I was myself hit and actually thrown (6 feet, with one hand!) by a Drill Sergeant (I was in the wrong, though). Those Screamin' Eagle guys did not care about themselves; they cared less about recruits. I was also encouraged to hit other recruits when they were in the wrong ('Those mothereffers are out of step, Childs? Smack that SOB!')

Seven guys died, including a Sergeant Major, all on forced marches in Georgia in July! Of course this was back in the 'OD Greens' days of the Army, no BDU's at that time! PT was in Bloused boots and t-shirts; no PT gear! But they tell me that infantry is a pretty tough place to be!

I'd imagine, though, that the road from the airport to Baghdad is a little uncomfortable too!