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

Question

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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In: Other

Answer 1

I went to boot camp in 2002. Our drill sergeants were mean as hell until we reached the (white phase) when we were given live ammo on the range and a live grenade to throw at another range.