I have yet to find a webpage I can link to for support on the stages of cult indoctrination. Or at least, a site that provides the same steps that I remember having to deal with while in my first 6 months of Army training.
Recruitment. Any group that has the intention of continuing on past its current members needs additional members. Thus the need to recruit individuals. Cults all have their recruitment grounds and the Military is no different. I met my recruiter in my high school cafeteria. (Quick aside, how fucked up is it that this guy was given permission to go into a high school, spew a bunch of bull to a bunch of kids who don't know any better?)
Warming Up To. Any good recruiter will say and do any number of mostly reasonable things, so long as he, or she believe you will sign up. Yes, the Army will help make you the best version of you possible. Just do everything you're told, don't ask questions, and you'll be everything you can be. It's also the same 'Salvation Pitch' any good cult uses.
Separation. After the paperwork is signed, it is time to isolate the individual from their friends, family, and familiar surroundings. Cults will take the initiate into a commune of sorts. Probably a massive building, a lack of windows, in a disorientating location. Can't let these initiates know 'where' they are, physically, or mentally. I was flown to Butt-Fuck-Nowhere, OK, by way of TX. Even if I wanted to run away, I wouldn't be able to find the front gates. My Basic Training unit wasn't allowed to make the first call home until 8 days after our arrival, which was the second Sunday we were there.
Loss of Individuality: Shaved heads, enough said. But for the sake of thoroughness, every individual wears the exact same article of clothing, head to toe. Every individual must act in concert with the rest of the group. Just think of any military movie in which all members exercise in a nearly identical manner. That is a grotesque loss of individuality.
Physical Exhaustion & Sleep Deprivation. Used in tandem, these two items are a lot to overcome. I don't even know how many push-ups and sit-ups I did the first day we showed up for Day 1 of Basic Training. It was ridiculous. But then of course, it was lights out at 10 p.m., knowing full well we would all be up until at least 11 p.m.. Our Drill Sergeants gave us a trash can wake up call at about 3:30 a.m. with tons more running, push-ups and sit-ups. After that, I don't really remember Basic.
Controlling the Food. We really had no ability to control when we could eat. Breakfast and dinner were at set times, MRE's could be spread out through the day, if our Drill Sergeants weren't making sure we ate all of it that is. I think we were finally allowed to store a snack or two in the final two weeks of our twelve week Basic Training.
Dependency. This is the end result of Basic & MOS Training and cult indoctrination, turning individuals into replaceable parts. I had to say and do the right things to end negative conditioning in order to earn the privilege to eat, shower, and sleep. Every individual had to demonstrate enough similarity to one another, in thought and action. Once the agreement has been made in full between the system (military/cult), the individual no longer exists and is now part of the whole. The individuals well being, mentally and physically, depends on approval from the group.
Next time around I'll get into some issues I have with the military, in general, but for now, I'll leave you with one of the best movie quotes ever:
"Suck on this at one time" - Bones Conway (played by Polly Shore) in the movie, In The Army Now.
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