US Army will accept you even if you're half dead ...

[dogtag]

This story does not bode well for our Cavalry's chances if
the Apaches or Comanches decide to go on the warpath.
(and who could blame them ?)

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/army-recruits-second-chances/2022/08/28/id/1084930/

[Vern Humphrey]

I remember McNamara's Hundred Thousand -- men who couldn't meet the intelligence standards -- and how they performed. Among other things, their combat death rate was higher than other, more intelligent soldiers.

[dogtag]

I remember McNamara's Hundred Thousand -- men who couldn't meet the intelligence standards -- and how they performed. Among other things, their combat death rate was higher than other, more intelligent soldiers.

Knowing that bullets move faster than you can helps.

[Allen]

I guess they wouldn't want me. I'm more like 3/4 dead.

[blackhawknj]

McNamara's 100,000 was an attempt to "rehabilitate" hard luck individuals, and to answer complaints that the Army was drafting middle class and college boys, using them as cannon fodder-and just using them as Detail Men. I like to cite the Official Reports issued in early 1971 which, in addressing the Army's serious morale problems, especially alcohol and drug use, acknowledged that "most jobs in the Army require little or no intelligence. " in 1980 it was revealed that 46% of the Army's first term recruits were Cat IVs, the Army was offering little beyond 3 years of scutwork and tedium. In his book The Coldest Winter David Halberstam cites too many Cat IVs and Cat Vs as a cause of the problem, those guys went through Basic Training and little more.
They've kicked out thousands who have refused the Jab, PCness, training in using the correct pronouns and creating "safe spaces" is more important than marksmanship-who do they think they're going to get ?

[Vern Humphrey]

McNamara's 100,000 was an attempt to "rehabilitate" hard luck individuals, and to answer complaints that the Army was drafting middle class and college boys, using them as cannon fodder-and just using them as Detail Men. I like to cite the Official Reports issued in early 1971 which, in addressing the Army's serious morale problems, especially alcohol and drug use, acknowledged that "most jobs in the Army require little or no intelligence. " in 1980 it was revealed that 46% of the Army's first term recruits were Cat IVs, the Army was offering little beyond 3 years of scutwork and tedium. In his book The Coldest Winter David Halberstam cites too many Cat IVs and Cat Vs as a cause of the problem, those guys went through Basic Training and little more.
They've kicked out thousands who have refused the Jab, PCness, training in using the correct pronouns and creating "safe spaces" is more important than marksmanship-who do they think they're going to get ?

While I was commanding an Advanced Infantry Training Company at Fort Polk, we got a slug of college dropouts who got drafted when they dropped out. They were all highly intelligent, and they were taller, heavier and stronger than the average draftee. That company broke every record on post -- PT, marksmanship, you name it. I don't care what the bureaucrats say -- you need INTELLIGENT infantrymen.

[dogtag]

When I was "Called up" We had a medical exam then a written test.
The guy next to me was totally illiterate. He was a farm boy. The Pioneer Corp
was in his future where he would be educated
The Pioneer Corp performed functions like trench digging (when necessary)

[blackhawknj]

Yes, it was found out during WWII that the ideal infantryman was above average in intelleigence, good mechanical skills, probably. quick witted with sharp reflexes. Unfortunately those are the same qualities need to operate and maintain electronics and electrical equipment, maintain vehicles, tanks, aircraft, small arms-process paperwork. I served with a lot of Cat I and CAT II soldiers, I saw no correlation between a high IQ, a high school diploma, some college, and an ability to resist fatigue, hunger, thirst, heat-sleep deprivation. And bright soldiers will rebel more quickly against the childishness, the immatuity , the inanity of military life. It was repeatedly urged that McNamara's boys be formed into a permanent detail force-let Delbert DumbDumb and Dopey Dimwit perform the guard duty and KP and janitorial and groundskeeping so Bob Bright and Sam Smart can receive quality traing, or at least not die of boredom.

[Major Tom]

My friend in 'Nam was sent to the Army by a judge at his rape trial and given the choice of prison or joining the Army. He was so pigeon toed he was constantly tripping over his own feet. He got the 'clap' seven times and 2 weeks off kitchen duty for each time! He was also a good black market person selling government property to the Vietnamese and had a lot of money sent back home.

[Vern Humphrey]

My friend in 'Nam was sent to the Army by a judge at his rape trial and given the choice of prison or joining the Army. He was so pigeon toed he was constantly tripping over his own feet. He got the 'clap' seven times and 2 weeks off kitchen duty for each time! He was also a good black market person selling government property to the Vietnamese and had a lot of money sent back home.

I had quite a few soldiers who were given a choice between prison and the Army. I always wanted to meet one of those judges in a dark alley.

The Army's mission is to fight, not to be baby sitters for the problem children.

[blackhawknj]

Yes, Johnny Walker of the Walker Spy Ring was a "judge recommended" enlistee. The Waffen-SS general Felix Steiner said criminals made good soldiers provided you knew how to handle them. In the armies of the Greek city-states Thebes put the homosexuals in The Sacred Band. They were the frontline troops-spearheaded the attack or received the enemy's.

[Vern Humphrey]

Yes, Johnny Walker of the Walker Spy Ring was a "judge recommended" enlistee. The Waffen-SS general Felix Steiner said criminals made good soldiers provided you knew how to handle them. In the armies of the Greek city-states Thebes put the homosexuals in The Sacred Band. They were the frontline troops-spearheaded the attack or received the enemy's.

The way the SS "handled" them was with summary executions. And the men in Theban Sacred Band were not criminals, only gay.