LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
There is some truth to the above comments. Another truth is how quickly a decent infantry unit dealt with the troublemakers, dopeheads, slackers, and goof offs. We simply did not tolerate such behavior in the field and those types were never accepted at any level, even in base camps or rear areas. Without going into unnecessary, perhaps vulgar, details about the methods of discipline applied, either the commanding officer straightened out the problems or we dealt with them on a more personal level.
No combat unit, especially not an infantry unit in a combat zone, wants anything to do with the trash troops. Either we could count on you to carry your end of the load or you went somewhere else pretty quickly. Those who could not be counted on in the field might find themselves permanently at the base camp, usually assigned to details such as burning the barrels of human waste from the latrines (a rather unpleasant duty that must be performed constantly to maintain reasonably hygienic conditions), or other unpleasant tasks from day to day.
By about 1970 the Army was very sensitive to public perceptions of disciplinary problems, drug problems, courts martial, etc. The top brass was very reluctant to allow any situation to become controversial or bring on press coverage. Situations that might easily have resulted in court martial were frequently dealt with by informal company punishments. That did not preclude NCO's and peers from applying varying and creative types of pressure to rectify difficulties, and I think the brass counted on that happening.
Peer pressure is a powerful motivator for adolescents and young adults, especially when there is no respite, nowhere else to go, and no one who cares within 10,000 miles or so.
