How do we rebuild the mental toughness of new troops while keeping with the military's new direction?

SGM Kindred, very well stated !

agree..go to the old standard training. we get what we create.

SGM W. Heath, as I have told members of Congress the enemy is not gonna give a shot of a soldier id's stressed, they will torture the enemy or anyone else, if we cont to allow this pussy bull shot we are gonna have big issues with our soldiers, we don't make soldiers accountable for being wimps, and it's past time, we need to go back to our old ways and weed out these lil bitches that mom and daddy's raised! Very disappointed in our rules of training. Its time we bring back Motivational seminars and let the soldiers handle this shit like day's of old. Failure is an excuse, that needs to be handled. If we allow weakness then we will be weak. I think we should do away away with recycling, and make them know coming in that this ain't for all, and pursues need not apply!

They need to return to the draft and back when the military turned out fighters, not whiners. Not speaking for any other branch, but the Marines did just that during Vietnam. The Marines didn't have as many draftees as the Army, but what came out of Marines Boot Camps did just that. I shipped over as a 2511, field wireman, didn't look forward to climbing poles or trees in the jungle, within a week I became a warrior with a radio on my back, humping the bush.

PFC Scottandkelly Godwin My dad knocked the crap out of me frequently. Being immature, I just thought he was mean. As I got older it became more and more clear that I had every one of those coming. He loved me enough to care and he cared enough to correct me in terms that I could understand. I'd be dead or in prison if it wasn't for him.

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Doing the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing; it usually pays off.

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Absolutely! Now and for many years I spend my excess money on tools, guns, etc.; things that will tend to give decades of use. Alcohol just makes expensive urine.

No matter what mommy and daddy instill it is supposed to be up to the military to break them down and build them up in basic training. The civilians and Senior Officers making policy is why we have a social experiment for a military these days.

Absolutely It's the Coddled Syndrome..

When I came back from TDRL I was ready to step in and take charge again, and I got told they could say
No and ask to go see their “social-worker”. Seriously? I asked..
Seriously! Well maybe I overplayed it a bit. But it has seemed to have reached a boiling point these days.
We had a G.I. Party and we’re giving the kitchen a realky good going over.. don’t be telling them to do that.. you got to get right in there and scrub and scour too.. Well first I got to get them going in the ‘right direction’ once I do that I will get doing that Scouring thing..
My job is to lead/ direct.. kind of hard when I’m tied down myself..
got to keep them working ... and not malingering .. Well... don’t say we didn’t tell you, they said... a few tried to play some stuff.. the others got with it and did what they were told... those guys and I had a party after the party.. the whiners
Went and whined some more...
“Hey Sarge, where’s our pizza and beer, huh? I said these guys that stayed and did their job without whining got rewarded.. if you had done that.. you’d of got beer and pizza .. somebody told my top pizza I had to order them whiners a pizza and beer.. I got them the nastiest greeziest pizza and skankiest beer(they wanted their participation trophy.. they got it) I could get hold of..
after that they were too busy taking care of a personal prob to be complaining.. after that point.. when we had a G.I. Party, they were there and did their assigned detail..
no whining... I didn’t buy pizza and beer for participating I bought because my cooks did a fab job w/o complaint. With exception of those others.... I did it cause I wanted to show appreciation not because I had to.. i handle have to’s diffeeently aa you have read..

Bring back the good old draft; and start from scratch. Oh wait that's not politically correct, oh well tough for momma boys and girls

CPT Bob Coleman - Award for getting Your drivers license, thought the license was the award. I don't like all kinds of garbage to hang on a uniform anyway, I think it looks foolish, the less the better. I put more stock in being told I did a good job when i did a good job than some award. Being part of the team was the real reward and carrying Your own weight.