Finally we have it, a kinder, gentler Army:
Hollywood may have to tone down its portrayal of the military's screaming, in-your-face boot camp drill sergeant. In today's Army, shouting is out and a calmer approach to molding young minds is in, says the head of Pentagon personnel. The Army says it has reduced by nearly 7 percent the number of recruits who wash out in the first six to 12 months of military life.
[. . .]
He said the old way was to "talk loud, talk often, get their attention" — shock treatment to teach discipline and mold the newly recruited civilian into a soldier.
But trainers found today's generation responded better to instructors who took "a more counseling" type role, Jones said, using strong tactics when needed but keeping them the exception instead of the rule.
The approach has had two positive results, he said: It has lowered attrition among those who go through training each year and has eased one of the greatest fears of recruits — their fear over whether they can make it through basic training.
Of course it remains to be seen whether the people retained by this policy should really be in the Army. Those "responding better to instructors who take a more counseling type of role" might be facing an enemy that has hardly toned down its approach to war. The role of the military is to stand watch for the rest of us, which means they have to be tougher than us, more devoted to duty, more willing to sacrifice. I'm not sure how we create that kind of warrior culture with an approach that seems designed for college freshmen with self-esteem issues.
That branch of service, by the way, is ditching its "Army of One" slogan in favor of "Army Strong." Talk about false advertising.
