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So as a veteran I can certainly remember the annoying kids in basic training that couldn't really keep up. I think every veteran can remember some folks they w
by justin_vanw 10y ago
So as a veteran I can certainly remember the annoying kids in basic training that couldn't really keep up. I think every veteran can remember some folks they went to training with that could barely hack it.
But what's the point of harping on it years later? I don't think anyone would be surprised that Manning was a 'bad soldier'.
Then there is a bunch totally unrelated stuff that happened much later, took a huge amount of courage, and led to arrest and imprisonment.
- cholantesh 10y agoSerious question: is it a fairly accurate perception that if someone can't hack it in basic they will _never_ be able to make it as a soldier? I'd like to think that Manning had the potential to become better, though I'm not really familiar with her career outside of the leak.
- k__ 10y agoI don't know, luckily I nerver had to work as a soldier. But I read some stories about soldiers getting medals for progarmming stuff, when they were deployed somewhere. So it seems the stuff you learn in basic training doesn't necessarily determine the value you got for the army you serve for.
- r00fus 10y agoAs a veteran, I can say that Basic really doesn't prepare you for much other than the rudiments of military life. Heck when I went through a couple of decades ago we were still shouting anti-communist slurs while we practiced with bayonets.