Are Drill Sergeants in the US military really as mean as they are in movies? If so, what’s the benefit?

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In American media, Drill Sergeants are often portrayed as mean and shouty. Yelling at recruits / treating them like garbage.

The only thing I could think of is that they’re going for a “military service is hard so I’m going to make this as unpleasant for you as possible because life is hard” kind of thing, but couldn’t discipline be instilled in soldiers without the yelling and humiliation? Why is this the only way?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

I have an even deeper psychological question: why is personal emotional abuse effective in building someone up for the chaos of battle, fighting other soldiers or handling shock and gore? You’d think simulations and exercises in following orders under duress would be better, especially enforcing that your platoon and leader or whatever has actually got your back . I wouldn’t think so if this dude was fucking abusing me. Hell I might be less prone to following their orders, maybe this is why I’m not cut out for that shit lol

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