An interesting article on the current state of the US Army
The Army We Have
By Brian Mockenhaupt
The Atlantic Monthly | June 2007
[B]To fight todays wars with an all-volunteer force, the U.S. Army
needs more quick-thinking, strong, highly disciplined soldiers. But
creating warriors out of the softest, least-willing populace in
generations has required sweeping changes in basic
training.[/B]
Brian Mockenhaupt talks about the men and women who enter basic
training today, and how the Army has adapted to meet their
needs.
Guns N Roses Welcome to the Jungle begins to blare through
the trees behind us. On your feet! a drill sergeant shouts at the
hundreds of men from Alpha and Charlie companies lining a street at
Fort Benning. Its 4:30 a.m. Down the road, the first soldiers from
Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment bob into view.
After marching through the sticky Georgia night for hours, theyre
finishing the final field exercise of their 14 weeks of basic
infantry training, and their fellow recruits, who are only halfway
through their training, are here to cheer them on. Sweat-slicked
hands clutch rifles. Their backs ache from 35-pound rucksacks. They
stink, and their feet burn. They rumble past, some smiling, others
tight-lipped, eyes straight ahead...
Link to Full Article on the Atlantic Online
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200706/mockenhaupt-army?ca=8ZEl%2BFk93q4ad1vL4Ae33THTuCQl23t7URGCp%2BsWkso%3D