View Single Post
Old 08-27-2008, 09:35 AM   #18
JustAMomOf4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 2,360
It is important for folks who read this forum - (future, current applicants and their parents) to understand that "Hazing" at West Point does not have the same connotation as it does in the outside world. When my daughter visited with a plebe - she came out talking about "Hazing". The look on my face prompted her to explain that "Hazing" isn't "hazing" - the cadets just call it that.

Many/most states and schools have clear legal definitions of "Hazing" - the old days of "fraternity hazing" are gone.

When a West Point cadet refers to hazing, being hazed - what they mean is the act of correction. There are limitations of how and when they can haze.

If a officer in training relies on correction through "Hazing" this will work at the academy because the plebes will do it. Although some won't and will drop out - a process of "weeding out". Out in the "real" army this type of motivation will not work.
A good book to read on motivating enlisted troops is "This Man's Army" by Andrew Exum.
JustAMomOf4 is offline   Reply