What do you think is lacking in the Basic Training/ AIT process?

Your always going to hear that point of view because generally earlier graduates want you to believe they had it tougher. I went through in 1982 back when the Drill Instructors still beat on the recruits, I remember low crawling under barbed wire while the Drill Instructors threw Artillery Blast Simulators at the slower recruits (fairly cruel and that would never be tolerated today). Having said all that and looking at the full Infantry OSUT course. Today's graduates have it tougher and more challenging because even though they eliminated some of the abuse........Ft. Benning was careful to replace it with more challenging training that was more relavent. Such as the administer IV to fellow soldiers part, the combative training (which unlike hand to hand is much more physically exhausting), all the hours we spent on Drill and Ceremony also trashed in favor of rubber shoot rooms. So Infantry OSUT is more physical today than it was when I went through and more relavent to a combat environment.........I would probably go a little farther and say it requires more physical fitness than in my day as well (1982).

How we just start with the minimum standard for the APFT upon graduation. Achieving that minimum standard requires several of the factors discussed already, discipline to work out and get more physical, heart, to continue regardless, and a multitude of other combinations and factors. I am not going to say that the PT was harder, but the Drills obviously had more fear power back in the day to "pump you up" to get you going. Knowing the rigors of the Army, before going to basic I started training as I was really out of shape going in at 222 pounds. I left basic 167 and a fighting machine. Not sure that is the result these days. maybe its the focus and direction of the Army or the inclusive idea that everyone is made for the Army. We all know that is not true. .02

#1 thing I feel is lacking is pride. Without pride, discipline suffers. It snowballs from there. The new generations don't have a personal sense of pride to the degree of those before. They are becoming more reliant upon outside recognition for even the smallest thing/task done. They crave recognition for doing things that are expected which in turn, cheapens the recognition for things done beyond what's expected.
How to fix this? In my opinion, stop rewarding mediocrity. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Almost all of our new guys, right out of AIT, have been saying that APFTs in both BCT and AIT get pencil-whipped if the Soldier cannot pass a PT Test. The training staff no longer want to hold Soldiers back and retrain them. They just send them to their first assignment, where they have to get "fixed."

Well from my point of view, I cannot say about combat arms, but I can tell you as a corporal I worked BCT at Knox for the regular BCT battalion, all males very high standards, as a Staff Sergeant I was cadre at Ft. Jackson again regular BCT but coed and the problems with male and female were amazing. Plus the standard had dropped by a factor of 10. Plus I have been several times to Ft. Lee which is mostly an AIT post and the standard there is very low. To me Ft. Lee AIT is almost like being in college or summer camp. I can't say about other post that have AIT or BCT.

This is a perpetual cycle that will always be in place. No new folks will ever be "as good and tough" as the older folks. Well, not until those new folks turn into the old folks. I am of course speaking for the AF. Id bet its the same story though. I say that because I'm currently in that realm and it is hands down more difficult than I remember when I was in their shoes.

Sense of belonging and familiarity with the history of the Army for starters! Half of the soldiers these days don't even know what they should be proud of. Who is General Patton, Audie Murphy? They don't even know the significance of previous battles, what they did, or how they did it, let alone know when the Army celebrates its birthday. It is a huge honor to be considered a U.S. Soldier a (1%er). Our history is rich, and should be engrained into the brains of our knew Soldiers! There is so much down time that can be taken advantage of throughout basic training that it's ridiculous. Maybe that sense of pride would help our newer soldiers roll their shoulders back and hold there chins a little higher. Which in turn breeds a culture that allows peers to hold each other to the standards and Army Values that have been laid out before us! Just my two cents... SSG, Army National Guard

I surely hope this photo attached to the story is that of a Drill Sergeant holding the feet of another Drill Sergeant taking the APFT, and not of a IET or AIT soldier.

Pain and suffering

I don't think the things that are missing can be taught. It takes life to do that.