College Graduates, when you enter basic, what are your thoughts on somebody yelling at you instead of actually training you?

Everyone's the same in basic training. That is the point. Education, socio economic stauts, race, religion etc doesn't matter. That is the way it needs to be to get the job done. The whole keep your mouth shut and do exactly what you are told to do comes into play. A big problem with today's kids is that quite a few of them have a problem with that. If the college grad goes into basic with an attitude thinking they are so much smarter than everyone else they will be in for a rude awakening. They also need to remember there are a lot of college educated enlisted folks these days. Some (not all) O's would do well to remeber that part too.

Getting yelled at is part of the training. Learning to obey orders as part of a team is what makes for a strong military.

I think you need more applicable tags, such as college, higher education, degree, cadet, ROTC, etc.

That is actual training. stress training. If you can't handle the heat of an instructor yelling at you, how are you going to handle bullets flying toward you and explosions in front of you? how are you going to handle officers demanding deadlines that look unreasonable, but really aren't? Regardless of whether or not you are a college graduate, if you cannot deal with people yelling at you then perhaps you should not be in the military... just my opinion there.

The first thing that comes to me is, why would a college graduate enlist? Become an officer.

(Nothing against guys that choose to enlist of course)

Nearly everyone agrees that basic instructors yell to create stress, and do so to acclimate you to performing under fire. But I'd like to address a related issue outside of basic. Too many EMs and NCOs yell, curse and belittle junior EMs when a level-heading informational briefing or a buy-in approach would be best. I saw too many dicks just being dicks, pretending to be DIs. That is counterproductive to building a strong 21st century force.

College grads in boot? I know--different strokes. But the officer specialties are very diverse. Some officer jobs are very hands on and don't manage or lead or do paperwork desk jobs for many years. I regret spending 10 years enlisted before my officer time. It literally cost me a million bucks. My first enlisted position was really fun and exciting, but I did it next to a Lt who was making twice as much to do the same job. Plus, as I discovered 10 years later, the O'Club at Cubi Point was really very nice.

Pretty sure this guy is trolling!!!

The yelling IS training. Here's the thing that most people have failed to understand for years:

1. Yelling induced higher stress levels. Soldiers, by their very nature, have to be able to operate under stressful environments. So they are going to get yelled at, screamed at, intimidated and belittled. Because it makes you nervous. It gets you shook up. And THAT is where the test of willpower and motivation comes in. The yelling is ENTIRELY based upon training you at an individual level.

2. Yelling, name-calling, threats, belittling, intimidating, etc. is designed to tear you down. Because in order to build something up to a stronger level, you HAVE to tear it down first. The sole purpose in tearing you down to your barest bones, is to reshape you into the Army image and mindset. Because it is that mindset that will keep you alive when the metal meets the meat.

3. Resiliency is one of a Soldier's greatest tools. The ability to take the most brutal, horrific, arduous, and hellish situations, shrug it off, sack up, and drive on. So if we tell you you're worthless, we yell at you for existing, we are harsh with you whether you're right or wrong, it instinctively teaches you to build up the resilience to it and move forward. Which makes it much easier later in life, especially in your career to take the hard times and push through it.

So college education or not, it makes no difference. We are going to yell at you and convince you that you are worthless because when we reshape you, we show you that you are more valuable than you ever imagined. Because you are stronger, smarter, faster, and now you have the ability to perform under stress, shrug off the hard times, and recognize the importance of what you bring to the table.

People who yell at me are wasting their time. I just tune them out. Fortunately other than being part of a group that was being yelled at I was never subjected to yelling or mistreatment. There were always enough fuck-ups around that if you did your best and performed well you pretty well got left alone.

Did said college teach "Having a Spine 101"? Look, young adults nowadays are just soft (in general). Since they were a child, they have been told that they are special, that the world revolves around them. Work under me or my NCOs and quickly realize that you are NOT. You and your team are special. You must strip your individualism and become a member of something greater. The individuality of new recruits is what makes them soft. Sometimes one just has to yell as the yellee is just dumb. The yeller has asked the yellee many times to stand at parade rest / attention when addressing the respective ranks. The yeller has nicely asked the yellee to be on time for formation. Enough is enough. Grow a spine, do not take it personal, and man/woman-up. If you do not like being told what to do, go be a Walmart greeter with your $200,000 liberal arts degree. I would not want you in a foxhole with me anyway. Good day! :-)