In the era of the all-volunteer U.S. military, men who served are more than twice as likely as those who never did to have been sexually abused as children and to have grown up around domestic violence and substance abuse, a new study has found.
Aren't those some of the very traits of military life that have been making the back pages of late?
Yes, I know that the Drill Instructors/Drill Sergeants of today are kinder and gentler than before, but there is still an element of what is pretty close to domestic violence in the training programs. From what I read sexual abuse seems to still crop up in basic training and beyond. If there is ever a time when enlisted personnel stop abusing drugs I will personally assist in directing pigs through the air traffic control patterns.
But yes, possibly more kids from "troubled childhoods" are joining up. Personally, I put more weight on the availability of three hots and a cot plus pocket money over anything else. You'll never get rich by digging a ditch, but at least when you shoot at somebody you won't also have to dodge the cops.
Does it still take about three years for folks to get the idea that they could try for training as anything but cannon fodder?
stay safe.
