04-18-2014, 04:20 PM
cory Wrote:Let me just say first and for most, I'm really enjoy following this thread now. It has really taken an interesting, worthwhile direction.
I fully agree with you LRPF52, but I'm not sure it's possible to raise a warrior class with the wussification of America's youth that's going on. However, I'm completely open to ideas to move in the direction of a Warrior Class that begins at childhood.
One of the great things about the rising popularity of the UFC is the rise of MMA style martial arts dojos across the country. These could and should be utilized by kids who show an interest in the military as a career.
I don't think this will fix the problem, but it may be a step in the right direction. Let me throw this out there and see what you think. What if the Marines and Army offered a program that allowed a kid to complete bootcamp during the summer before their senior or junior year of highschool. Setup a program at the state's reserve station that would train them, mentor them, and monitor them to insure they are meeting certain academic requirements. Then after graduating highschool they could be sent to their MOS school. Of course this would likely require an ~8 year commitment. What say y'all?
The product I would send to the military could be ruined in basic training quickly. Initial Entry Training for the military needs almost a total overhaul, and the mindset towards it is based really on 19th Century training philosophies. You get a sense of stepping back in time at many basic training bases in the US-good for tradition, but bad for training usually. The Marines traditionally have been very competitive with instructor slots, whereas Drill Sergeant assignments are loathed by many in the Army. There are some serious institutional problems with IET and AIT(MOS School), and that's even true with the Marines being subjected to lessened standards so females can make it through SOI. You won't see Russia with women in the airborne, naval infantry, or Spetsnaz units, for example.
I am a big fan of learning martial arts from youth, starting with less likely disciplines for injuries. The fine line to balance is understanding that kids are still developing their skeletal systems, hormone systems, nervous systems, and overall mind-body system, so we want to minimize injury, and maximize an efficient development of the total human being.
The trends in wussification in Western Culture will motivate a sizable portion of the population to seek alternatives, especially for boys.