Banjo
Apologies I should not have made that assumption.

Clearly there should be standards. My understanding is that nowadays there are no physical restrictions in recruiting other than a fitness requirement. Having been involved with one of my children's martial arts classes there are some small sized black belters (adults and children) who could give a big person a run for their money.

I think the funniest thing is this is seen as a defence culture problem when the cadets had only been there 3 months. I wonder if scandals in the defence forces also stretch to people who have filled out the paperwork but have not yet joined.

It's a very powerful institution that can corrupt young men away from the morals their parents gave them in 3 months.

pelican,

'Bad behaviour within defence should be a matter of concern to all. Ex officers and cadets have come out speaking of similar incidents and other ritualistic perversions and most of those now going public about this are men.'

I don't think it is of concern. When all is said and done, a certain amount of bastardisation is required. This is an occupation where people will have to survive great adversity, and kill and unquestionable follow orders that put them in grave danger of being shot.

No matter how you paint this 'bullying' or 'ritualistic perversions', it is at the core of building a culture, a necessary culture where the chain of command is sacrosanct, and the team is more important than the individual. There is no place for 'special' people. Those that cant hack it need to be sifted out. Bastardisation is the best tool. Soldiers need to know the guy next to them has been degraded and humiliated and has been able to take it on the chin and still thrive and earn respect.

Now I'm sure you'll enthral me with new age respectful and cuddly team building over a coffee and a sharing caring non-hierarchical culture the defence forces need to embrace, but I'll bet you'll change your mind when they actually have to defend you.

I want the brutal sadists defending me.

I'll just add, that I would never join the defence forces as I wouldn't accept someone shouting and spraying saliva in my face. I'm with pelican, they should do a health and safety audit on that one.

I am somewhat of an individual, and not a team player at all, so I am not suited to the defence forces. I have a problem with authority figures.

DO you really want an army full of people like me? That's where we're headed.

See, degradation and humiliation aren't my thing, so I don't join organisations that are into that and expect them to change for me. I accept that personnel must be emotionally toughened and tested as well as physically toughened and tested. I'd rather not be tested.

If most of those expressing so much sympathy were asked to crew a RIB, [inflatable boat] to go apprehend an illegal 60ft fishing boat, that the illegals were defending with 15ft sharpened bamboo poles, they would probably foul their pants. Most of our defence force have no trouble with this.

We do this rubbish, with our men's lives because bleeding hearts have made it politically more attractive to endanger them, than endanger the illegals by putting a round through their bow. God help us if ever we have to fight for our survival.

However when a junior lady officer, who is more worried about hurting the illegals than the safety of our men, is given command of that RIB, some sailors do come close to such fouling.

Due to this cr4p there have been instances where our navy ran away from such fishing boats, defended with sticks.

Reading many of the above posts makes it obvious why we can't attract recruits.

Having spent one year in the CMF then six years Regular Army (plus 1 year on Active Service including being shot at by bad shots) and a further five years in the CMF I never saw any bastardization, nor did an NCO or an Officer ever shout in my face. Spraying a soldier with one's saliva is and was, assault.

I well remember an incident at a National Service Training Battalion where the Duty Officer tried to take the rifle off of a lad who was on Guard. The Officer got a butt stroke and a broken jaw. the lad got a "Well done" off the Commanding Officer. He that got butted had been in the habit of asking young inexperienced boys to give him their rifle while on guard, when they did he would put them on a charge for giving him their rifle. The one that 'butted' him had had a brother in the same company in the previous intake. Forewarned etc.

I saw another incident in which an Officer called to a soldier with the salutation "Hey, You" which the soldier ignored. Finally the Officer after a couple more 'Hey You's , sprinted in front of him and demanded to know why he hadn't stopped.
"Were you addressing me, Sir?"
Getting an affirmative, he then told the Officer that as he was a trained soldier he could be addressed by his rank of 'Private' or 'Soldier'.
End of confrontation, the Officer swallowed his pride and addressed him as 'Soldier'
Perhaps more fitting would have been 'Old Soldier'. :)

I served in an army of individuals who worked together as a team.