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> as a kid I went to a kind of a military training after school activity. That sounds super weird, I know, but it was fun, got to learn the basic military train

> as a kid I went to a kind of a military training after school activity. That sounds super weird, I know, but it was fun, got to learn the basic military training. It sounds like the way I've always heard dictorships indoctrinate kids and start training them, but was that your experience?

defrost 3y ago
Many countries have versions of the ROTC and Scouts though. I recall drilling after primary school here in Australia for a "get 'em while they're young" proto military kids club. Super boring and way less interesting than being a solo ranger in my own time.
jazzyjackson 3y ago
lol I'm not OP but curious where you are in USA we have JROTC which is basically a military larp alternative to marching band. I appreciate the gun twirling as an art form, don't think it's that weird at all if you're going to have a warrior society, some kids are going to look up to and want to be warriors, nothing to do with dictatorships
- wolverine876 3y ago
  > if you're going to have a warrior society Would you share what you mean by that?
jgilias 3y ago
Not really. Context is important, I think. So I’m talking about Latvia specifically. Just after regaining independence we had to rebuild any military capability from scratch. So a kind of a citizen paramilitary national guard was formed called “Zemessardze”. In the first few years it did everything. From securing the borders to guarding high level government officials. Zemessardze has a youth wing for teenagers who are interested in military stuff called Jaunsardze. So that’s what I did because a friend of mine wanted to do it but didn’t want to go alone. Looking back to it, there was completely no political indoctrination whatsoever. It was mostly physical conditioning, knowing your way around maps and terrain, basic wilderness survival skills, how to get over a stream without getting wet, a little bit of weapons training.
- wolverine876 3y ago
  Thanks for sharing your experience; that is always the richest part of HN. And Latvia obviously is in an unusual position.

defrost 3y ago

Many countries have versions of the ROTC and Scouts though. I recall drilling after primary school here in Australia for a "get 'em while they're young" proto military kids club. Super boring and way less interesting than being a solo ranger in my own time.

jazzyjackson 3y ago

lol I'm not OP but curious where you are in USA we have JROTC which is basically a military larp alternative to marching band. I appreciate the gun twirling as an art form, don't think it's that weird at all if you're going to have a warrior society, some kids are going to look up to and want to be warriors, nothing to do with dictatorships

wolverine876 3y ago
> if you're going to have a warrior society Would you share what you mean by that?

jgilias 3y ago

Not really. Context is important, I think. So I’m talking about Latvia specifically. Just after regaining independence we had to rebuild any military capability from scratch. So a kind of a citizen paramilitary national guard was formed called “Zemessardze”. In the first few years it did everything. From securing the borders to guarding high level government officials. Zemessardze has a youth wing for teenagers who are interested in military stuff called Jaunsardze. So that’s what I did because a friend of mine wanted to do it but didn’t want to go alone. Looking back to it, there was completely no political indoctrination whatsoever. It was mostly physical conditioning, knowing your way around maps and terrain, basic wilderness survival skills, how to get over a stream without getting wet, a little bit of weapons training.

wolverine876 3y ago
Thanks for sharing your experience; that is always the richest part of HN. And Latvia obviously is in an unusual position.