Do the US Marines brainwash recruits and officer candidates in boot camp?

W

Winger17

New member
In addition to breaking down the use of the phrase "I" during boot camp, the instructors make them shout "KILL! KILL! KILL" during bayonet training, they are broken down to the point where they need to be built back up... as Marines. Sounds like brainwash, yes?

I do not want arguments, I do not want insults. I do not have a solid opinion on this issue, indeed I am quite divided. If you are adamant that the USMC does not brainwash, come back with an intelligent answer in support of your viewpoint and you just might win Best Answer.
I already know they go to the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia... I can't fit that in the question, can I? No.

So far the answers have sucked.
 
I was in the Marine Corps and I know for a fact they do not brainwash you. My parents said I came back the same person I left as. They do play a lot of mind games and they do attempt and are successful at breaking people down and then building them back up as Marines. Mostly this is to "weed out" the weak individuals (Ones that may not be able to handle a combat situation which could lead to deaths of more Marines) Why they make you yell KILL KILL KILL during training was always weird to me also but I think this was to make you feel tough? (I thought it was funny and stupid that we ever said that!) or maybe more to make you think less about killing someone in a real life situation not for brainwashing purposes. Also I think that some of this is to make Marines feel like they are better then regular citizens but again I don't think its brainwashing by any means. I was in and I did my time and I just got out a few months ago I never thought for a second that I was better then anyone or brainwashed to think or do something that I would not have done in the same situation before I was in. Also I'm sure you probably knew this but if not I thought I would add it. We said KILL, KILL BABIES, KILL KILL KILL (All sorts of stupid crap like that) all the time not just during combat training even once you get out of basic Marines say it most the time instead of saying O.K. they just said KILL. And we were never allowed to say "I" until we got out of basic it was always "This Recruit" for instance if I had to go to the bathroom (Called a Head in Military talk) I would say "This recruit request permission to use the head sir!" Anyway hope this helps.
 
They do the same as any sports coach would do, they teach you to look at situations in a different light. While a football coach is teaching you the rules and strategies your D.I. is teaching to react to orders quickly and to also be aware of your surroundings. When you are in any branch of the military they have certain ways of doing things so they need to drill these into you quickly so you will retain them even under stressful periods. The reason I always heard was you fight like you train, and they are training to be soldiers not history teachers. ( no offense to history teachers, mine was a USMC WW2 vet) So my point is any institution, business or organization is going to train you to work their way, so calling it brainwashing would be a stretch training would be the proper term.
 
Now let us have you ask the same question....phrased different in Religion...do they brainwash nuns and priests?

The Marines strip the individual ego...to have them work in a team...a process that is not brainwashing...

The Marines want a clear, clean palette to work with...so you strip away the heinous civilian who is a naracistic, materialist selfish, person and then slowly, but surely build them into the team/person you require them to be to be humanitarians yet at the same time willing to lay their life down for people like you who ask questions like this...
 
Officers do go to boot camp it's just called OCS (officer candidate school) and yes the Marine Corps is nothing but brainwashing and basic is just the start of it. Not that it works that well but they try
 
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