Every few weeks, depending on the branch of service, a new group of young adults, at least by the definition of our country's laws they are considered adults, enters into a military environment after arriving at a local airport, bus station, or if close enough by being driven.
They pass through the gates of where they will reside for the next few weeks; length of time will depend on which branch of service they are entering.
Those in charge of their training have a preset number of weeks to try to instill into these often arrogant individuals the importance of following orders, the principle of team work, and try to remove all bad habits before they pass into the fleet, field, or wherever their final destination will be.
In addition, they have to do it so that these newly graduated recruits will not kill, injure, or maim someone by stupidity once they move to become productive into their chosen branch of service.
It takes dramatic measures to accomplish this in a short period of time.
It begins with the harsh reality of separation from "mommy and daddy" that many have never experienced. Much like a foal ripped from its mare when the appropriate age has been reached, these young men and women have to learn quickly that they must follow orders and refusal is not met with a pat on the butt and the withholding of a meal. Welcome to the real world and reality!
In a matter of weeks, a new recruit must learn the regulations governing their service's branch, marching, the proper wearing of the various uniforms including when to wear particular items, how to recognize various ranks of not only their chosen branch but the other branches as well on sight, the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), and many other aspects of military service.
Of these new recruits, some may have very little problem with doing what is expected, however, there will always be a select few who refuse to follow the regulations laid before them. "You can't make me do this stuff."
The program is geared towards them, if they cannot learn to fit into the program they will be dropped from military service, most likely with a Re-Enlistment Code that will prevent future attempts to return, even in another branch.
Within the military system, abuse, hazing, and other demeaning actions are part of a "zero tolerance" effort. Recruits are not abused, even though some may believe so. These are the ones who think being forced to rise before noon is abuse.
Every aspect of boot camp has been carefully designed to accomplish whatever the end goal is for that topic. Those who cannot conform will be rejected and those who pass will continue into the service for whatever lies ahead.
Abuse, not here. As a graduate of a class in 1981, I can certainly confirm that in many cases I was doing something I would prefer not to participate in, years after; it was that training that helped me in real-world circumstances. Tear gas isn't pleasant, but neither is exposure to nerve agents. Being soaked repeatedly in a mock hull of a ship is uncomfortable, but treading water in the middle of the ocean is an even more undesirable situation.
It may take years for a recruit to fully understand the lessons being taught in boot camp, the good ones will figure it out. Those who do nottypically aren't suited for military service anyhow and the system will eventually show them the door.
The bottom line for military boot camp is that our young men and women voluntarily choose to enlist into a branch of the service. If they do not wish to be exposed to the treatment received in boot camp, simply do not enlist. It may seem harsh to some, but it is necessary to instill that the military is not a democracy; you do not get to vote and in most cases decide for yourself certain things. It must be that way in order to meet the requirements placed upon the military personnel. If they cannot handle boot camp, they probably cannot handle combat or other situations that may require instantaneous responses.