@famousone I’m legitimately curious, what do they do to prepare you for a real battle situation and all of the related crossfire and chaos? I imagine they can’t simulate, say, a child with a bomb strapped to itself - can they? How do they get you (mentally?) ready for those real life or death situations?
Outside of the combat drills? Our Drill Sergeants don't bullshit us. They explain all the horrible, nasty truths every chance they get. The kinds of truths civilians often don't like.
I remember a DS at Benning telling us that can't mentally prepare us, they're just having us go through the motions again and again and again.
The idea is that I'll be in "war mode", and instead of seeing a kid who probably never had a choice, I'll see a bomb and default to my drills. Target identified, lone hostile with explosives. I'll raise my carbine, aim for center mass, and the threat will be neutralized before I have time to acknowledge who the hostile might've been.
An instructor of mine used to be infantry, he says the fighting and killing was easy for a lotta guys, a lot even enjoyed it, and most of them are well adjusted after retiring.
Another DS just quoted Gen. Patton. "The first time you're wrist deep in a puddle of goo that used to be your best friend's face, you'll know what to do".
I remember a DS at Benning telling us that can't mentally prepare us, they're just having us go through the motions again and again and again.
The idea is that I'll be in "war mode", and instead of seeing a kid who probably never had a choice, I'll see a bomb and default to my drills. Target identified, lone hostile with explosives. I'll raise my carbine, aim for center mass, and the threat will be neutralized before I have time to acknowledge who the hostile might've been.
An instructor of mine used to be infantry, he says the fighting and killing was easy for a lotta guys, a lot even enjoyed it, and most of them are well adjusted after retiring.
Another DS just quoted Gen. Patton. "The first time you're wrist deep in a puddle of goo that used to be your best friend's face, you'll know what to do".