Army Recruits Quickly Abused in Training

[thedrifter]

Army Recruits Quickly Abused in Training
June 27, 2005 7:16 PM
By DYLAN T. LOVAN
Associated Press Writer

FORT KNOX, Ky. (AP) - 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.

Eventually, four Army drill instructors and the company commander would be brought up on charges. Four have been convicted so far.

The tough-as-nails D.I. who berates and intimidates recruits with remarkably creative profanity is a familiar figure to generations of men who went through the Army or the Marines, and a stock character in the movies - ``Full Metal Jacket'' and ``An Officer and a Gentleman,'' among them. The idea is to break the recruit down, instill discipline and make him a well-trained part of a cohesive fighting unit.

But Army regulations in effect since 1985 say superiors cannot lay a hand on their recruits to discipline them. The Army's Training and Doctrine Command regulations also disallow any physical or verbal hazing, which includes ``cruel or abusive tricks.'' Vulgar or sexually explicit language is also prohibited.

The guidelines reflect some of the lessons of the Vietnam era and the changing culture of the Army, which became an all-volunteer force with the end of the draft and began accepting women.

The Army gets complaints of abuse by drill sergeants ``all the time, but we often find that they are not founded,'' said Connie Shaffery, a Fort Knox apokeswoman.

The Fort Knox case, involving a unit of the 1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment, was unusual, too, in that a company commander was convicted.

The abuse took place in early February. An Army investigation began the next week, as the company's leaders were removed and the 25 recruits were sent to another command. Six of the trainees have since left the Army, including two who went AWOL.

``It was just chaos - constant commotion, constant yelling,'' Sgt. 1st Class Paul Holley said. Holley said he had come over from another company that day to help out, but was quickly turned off by what he perceived to be abuse, and left.

``In my eyes, it wasn't the way I would conduct an initial pickup,'' he said.

Staff Sgt. Jason J. Harris, a drill instructor who has not been charged in the scandal, testified at one court-martial that it was the worst treatment of recruits he had ever seen.

Staff Sgt. David H. Price, Echo Company's head drill sergeant, said on the witness stand at his own court martial in April that he was ``burned out'' from being a D.I. for too long. He also said that he felt that the guidelines on abuse limited his ability to turn recruits into tough soldiers.

The evidence in the scandal included a 25-minute video - taken by a sergeant as the recruits stepped off the bus - that showed the recruits being poked, grabbed and berated. Recruits are often videotaped on arrival, and the footage is shown during their training graduation or at family days to show how far they have come.

Capt. William C. Fulton, 35, the company's commander, was convicted last week of false swearing and dereliction of duty for not halting the abuse. He was sentenced to six months' confinement.

Earlier this year, Price was convicted of maltreatment and demoted, as was Staff Sgt. Ricky L. Stauffer. Staff Sgt. Michael G. Rhoades was found guilty of maltreatment and impeding an investigation, and received a bad-conduct discharge. Staff Sgt. Bryan G. Duncan is awaiting a court-martial.

Harvey Perrit, a spokesman for the Army Training and Doctrine Command in Fort Monroe, Va., said there 120 allegations of abuse against Army drill sergeants in fiscal year 2004, and as a result 16 drill sergeants were relieved of duty.

So far in fiscal year 2005, there have been 42 complaints of abuse, and six sergeants have been relieved of duty, Perrit said.

Shaffery, the Fort Knox spokesman, said reforms put in place before the incident helped reveal the abuse. ``We are holding to the policies and systems we have in place now, which discovered this situation within six days,'' she said.

Ellie

[hrscowboy]

What a bunch of babies I guess they never thought it was going to get rougher than that when they get to combat? Sissy boys is what i call them.. They have no place in My Armed Services.. enuff said.

[sgt.lane]

Sombody got a tissue???? Somebody got a cotton torpedo for this dude's MAN-GINA infection????????????ABUSE??????????? WHATEVER------- That was the "WELCOME TO MY MARINE CORPS" greeting ceremony about 0230 hours-- complete with footprints so you knew where to stand and you knew you would not get that part wrong!!!! It was positive re=== enforcement................HAHAHAHA

[hrscowboy]

girly boys thats the bottom line...

[jinelson]

I reckon that they believe our enemies would treat them with love and respect if they were to be captured. If you cant take it here you cant take it there. What a bunch of Puss Cakes.

[Joseph P Carey]

These people have not lived until they have been smacked with a 'Swagger Stick'! Maybe this is the reason that Marines are being used more in Iraq than are the Army units. The last four major operations against the insurgents have been conducted by Marines and Iraqis. These are the 'go to' guys when things have to be done.

Lord, it makes me feel better to have been a Marine. At least I know that they cared enough to make me ready for anything that may come my way! Even in combat, things were never as bad as were those first two weeks in PI Boot Camp. I was prepared!

[Phantom Blooper]

.Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Army issue (6) Six each Boxer Skivvies...(1) One Piece 3' FRILLY LACE....(1) One Sewing Kit (Housewife).....(1) One Pair Scissors/Blunt....Nomenclatures Unknown.

Instructions: Take above items and sew FRILLY LACE on to Skivvies.Using (1)One Pair Scissors/Blunt Cut Boxer Skivvies into shape of female undergarments. Take left over material and cut into shape of hearts, sew on to new Army issue under garments.

Then complete Army training or take your pansy a$$ home.

Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall

[Jock]

Some of that lot need to come to the UK and find out what real Marines have to go through in training, no disrespect to you guys. I trained you US Navy Seals back in the 60s but was treated well by your country, I am more affiliated to Amerca than to Europe, kick ass and more ass and get rid of females in your corp, they have no place in the Marine Corp and most definatly not in Her Majesties Marine Corps. in Great BRITAIN, THEY WILL NEVER BE ACCEPTED.

[LivinSoFree]

All I can do anymore is shake my head in disbelief. Sure, there's a line between training and abuse, but it's certainly a lot further back than where the d*mn civilians wanna put it now...

[david fox]

I have to agree with my fellow service members on this one. Give the Army a hanky. This is not my step-fathers Army he loved for 20 years. I am sad to (I'm in another service-USCG) we are a little soft by comparasion as well. I was stationed in Cape May for a number of years, our training center, and was amazed by some of the stuff Company Commanders had to put up with. It showed up in the fleet. I am proud to say my son (3/7 Marine in 29 Palms) was raised to be in the front and kicking ass. Sorry to hear the Army has gone to less than favorable ways to help toughen up personnel. I agree that you do not want to abuse but getting their attention another thing.

[seabag]

In a way you can't blame these recruits for being disallusioned.

look at the way the tv commercials sell the army, "earn money for college", "an army of one" {love that one}, and the latest for the army reserve where they are trying to convince the parents- "it's good training, right?"

Marine advertisements on the other hand pretty much tell you right up front, "panty waist's need not apply".