Does the military perform brain washing?

Question

I was wondering about this. I know that part of basic training is to break you, and make you take orders without questioning. I have a friend who joined and i swear, he is all for the military and chain of command even after they royally fubar'ed him. So i'm wondering if anyone else knows or thinks that the military does a form of brain washing to convince its recruits to not question authority and the like.

Answer 1

Not in the sense you are implying

Vet-USAF

Answer 2

In the military when someone tells you to do it, you just do. It's not brainwash, it's discipline.

Answer 3

If it WAS true, no one would legally be able to tell you.

The military does what it has to. They keep our country safe.

I do not consider it brain washing, but rather forcing your to have respect for yourself and your country.

Answer 4

[rolls eyes]

The military shows you how to be a better person, how to be a more active individual, a more driven, courageous person.  

Answer 5

i can only speak from my personal experience. they break you down so they can build you back up. this to me is in no way bad. it allows you to function as a group and complete complex and/or dangerous tasks. my drill instructor said it best,

"in war, individualism gets people killed"

Answer 6

u learn how to be a robot. a killin machine that merely follows orders

thats a perfect soldier

Answer 7

In Basic Training, they will break everyone down individually and remold you all as a working team; the backbone of the Marine Corps.  There is a entity within the Marine Corps, that is called 'esprit de corps', it's about comadarieship!  Some people may call it brain-wash, call it what you will.  Once you earn the title as a Marine; you'll understand the pride and the instilled discipline that you have developed whence you don your uniform.

No Recruit nor Marine should question their superior, unless he/she is giving an unlawful order.  If you cannot tactifully address the problem to him/her, then it is your job as a leader to Request Mast to his superior.  Marine Corps teaches you to be decisive and use common sense; judgement.  These are some of the traits that makes a great leader.  If your superior is doing something that you know for a fact is unlawful, be that leader and have initiative, seek someone in your chain of command that will help you on the matter.

Self-discipline, don't mistake it for the word, discipline as in punishment.  Yes, you have to show self-control, hold your bearing and always be tactful, regardless if he/she is given orders you may not agree with.

Eh? What the heck is with this 'robot' c**p?  No, what makes the Marines accomplish their missions is that everyone works as a team.  If there is no teamwork, there is no Marine Corps.  The strongest chain is its weakest link.  This 'robot' c**p sounds like an individualism ideology thing to me.  That doesn't exist in the Marines.  What makes a 'perfect' Marine, is the Marine next to him, and the Marine next to the other, and so on!  If you do not know your Marines, you are destroying the comadarie that is instilled!

Self-discipline - it's like cleaning your room without having your parents having to tell you to do it, you just do it because you know that is what you are to do, to be clean, not a slob.

Answer 8

My husband entered the Military at 18 and just retired from it at the age of 40. He is the most independent, self reliant individual I know, and he's a person who has no problem "Questioning" authority. His Military background and training has made him very successful in the civilian world. So no, there is no brainwashing that goes on in the Military. It's called discipline!

Answer 9

I'm sure you have heard the term "jar head".

Answer 10

99 percent of the people who join the military have general idea what happens in boot camp. Second, a civilian example would be religion

Answer 11

The short answer is no, they don't "brainwash" you in the sense that you mean.  It would be impossible to do on such a large scale without anyone outside the military knowing about it.

They do a helluva job breaking people down though.

Added:  If that's your definition of brainwashing, then you get brainwashed at school and at many companies you might work at.

Answer 12

If you consider becoming a better person with more respect for authority brainwashing, then yes the military is guilty.