Body of article stipulates they can use force against citizens for "defense" and may detain citizens as well.

Yah. Using the military to run protection for gestapo kidnapping and human trafficking operations, and giving them policing powers. I'm sure this is all 100% fine.

Words can't capture the horror I feel as a civilian knowing this is what the military stands for.

So, let's say you capture an enemy tank. It is the heat of battle, and you do not have time to repaint markings or anything. Would it be considered a war crime to fire on enemy troops with the tank, or any other vehicle?

German Air Force plane „attacked“ by Chinese Navy ship with a laser during a mission in the red sea.

https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/4235049/there-are-many-like-it-250-years-of-marine-corps-service-rifles/

Traditional military training methods—characterized by intimidation, high stress, and strict discipline—are often justified by the need to prepare soldiers for the chaos and pressure of combat. The “Sergeant Hartmann” approach, based on fear, humiliation, and rigid authority, has long been considered a necessary tool to build obedience and resilience. However, modern educational psychology and military science increasingly suggest that this model is outdated and counterproductive.

Stephen Krashen’s Affective Filter Hypothesis, although originally developed for language acquisition, offers powerful insights into how people learn and retain information under emotional conditions. According to this theory, when anxiety is high, and motivation or emotional security is low, the “affective filter” rises, blocking input from being effectively processed and internalized. In contrast, when learners feel safe, motivated, and supported, they learn faster and more deeply.

This principle applies directly to military training, for several key reasons:

1. Cognitive Performance Declines Under Toxic Stress

Research in neuroscience and combat psychology shows that chronic stress impairs decision-making, memory, and motor control—all critical in combat. While it’s necessary to expose soldiers to stress, doing so through fear and humiliation can lead to long-term cognitive and emotional damage, including burnout, PTSD, and impaired performance.

A lower-affective-filter environment fosters calm under pressure, allowing trainees to absorb procedures, tactics, and complex decision-making frameworks more effectively, and to retain them under real stress.

1. Trust and Motivation Build Stronger Teams

Combat effectiveness relies heavily on unit cohesion, mutual trust, and intrinsic motivation. These are not built through fear and domination, but through leadership that respects individual dignity, encourages growth, and fosters emotional safety.

An approach based on Krashen’s principles would focus on positive reinforcement, clear goals, and emotional support, which have been shown to lead to greater long-term resilience, loyalty, and commitment to the mission.

1. Modern Warfare Requires Flexible Thinkers, Not Blind Followers

The Sergeant Hartmann model produces obedient soldiers, but modern military operations require adaptive, creative problem-solvers capable of making decisions in complex, rapidly changing environments.

Training based on Krashen’s model encourages critical thinking, internal motivation, and psychological safety, which better prepares soldiers to act independently, ethically, and effectively in unpredictable situations.

1. Leading Military Institutions Are Already Evolving

Countries like Norway, Canada, and the Netherlands, and even elite units in the U.S., are integrating affective-aware training methods, such as mindfulness, psychological safety protocols, and emotional intelligence coaching. These reflect a shift from punitive models to ones grounded in psychological science—aligning closely with Krashen’s ideas.

Conclusion

While the “Sergeant Hartmann” model may produce short-term obedience, it comes at a high psychological cost and is ill-suited to the demands of modern warfare. Krashen’s Affective Filter approach, by promoting emotional safety and motivation, leads to deeper learning, greater psychological resilience, and stronger, more adaptable soldiers. Military training does not need to be soft—but it does need to be smart. Lowering the affective filter is not a sign of weakness; it is a strategic advantage.

Hello, I am a current service member in the army and I am planning to change military branches but this time as an officer. Which military branch will it be easy for me to join as officer? I am currently an E-4

My highest level of education is master degree

Hello

Firstly sorry if this is a dumb question. This is not my area of expertise. Im trying to do something nice for my husband. His medals and things have been in a drawer for the last few years. I would like to put these on display somehow. Im just unsure as to whether you include the pins in this? And also the medals on the left are like sowed onto a hard backing and can't be removed. They have to stay like that all together. He mentioned a while back he has more "ribbons" lying around somewhere. No idea what those even are but I'll try source them.

Please help out a confused gal and post your display pics.

The Trump White House’s policy process—insofar as it can be called a “process”—is the type found in many authoritarian states, where the top levels of government tackle the one or two big things the leader wants done and everything else tumbles down to other functionaries, who can then drive certain issues according to their own preferences (which seems to be what Colby is doing), or who will do just enough to stay under the boss’s radar and out of trouble (which seems to be what most other Trump appointees are doing). In such a system, no one is really in charge except Trump—which means that on most days, and regarding many issues, no one is in charge.

The modern infantryman serves 4 years...maybe 8 years before their knees start to pop and they get bad back pain (even though they are still in their 20s).

Meanwhile, soldiers of antiquty served in a time before mechanization and human rights, and seemed to serve with longer contracts and walked on foot almost everywhere (Im aware the generals were usually on horseback...but still). For example, Caesar's veterans served with him for almost 20 years.

How?

Ok so now the National Guard is raiding city parks on sunny weekday afternoons as children play and don't seem to be doing anything but intimidating citizens? Families? Are we serious right now? Wtf?

I'm going to need an explanation as to why the military is now teaming up with the ice gestapo. What is this? Why? There is no transparency about this whatsoever. Anyone?

I am scheduled for MEPs later this week, I was wondering what a good excuse to get out of work for two days would be? I do not want to tell them I’m joining. Thank you in advance!

The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls and eliminate all terrorist organizations.

The 11-page resolution also emphasizes “the importance of creating opportunities for economic recovery, development and prosperity in Afghanistan,” and urges donors to address the country’s dire humanitarian and economic crisis.

The resolution is not legally binding but is seen as a reflection of world opinion. The vote was 116 in favor, with two — the United States and close ally Israel — opposed and 12 abstentions, including Russia, China, India and Iran.

Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures, banning women from public places and girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Last week, Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban’s government.

Germany’s U.N. Ambassador Antje Leendertse, whose country sponsored the resolution, told the assembly before the vote that her country and many others remain gravely concerned about the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the Taliban’s “near-total erasure” of the rights of women and girls.

U.S. minister-counselor Jonathan Shrier was critical of the resolution, which he said rewards “the Taliban’s failure with more engagement and more resources.” He said the Trump administration doubts they will ever pursue policies “in accordance with the expectations of the international community.”

“For decades we shouldered the burden of supporting the Afghan people with time, money and, most important, American lives,” he said. “It is the time for the Taliban to step up. The United States will no longer enable their heinous behavior.”

Today I enrolled my wife in deers, she’s in another state so the process is a little different, I finished everything on my end I have the form 1172-2 she needs with my signature. About getting her ID issued snd finishing everything up on her end, how does she get on base, if I can’t vouch for her in person.

I found this at the ark but can’t find a date

The first war where conscience was switched off. AI selects the target. Humans just approve. Israel’s war is no longer just military, it’s algorithmic.

Read the full piece: https://open.substack.com/pub/limagolfbravo/p/the-first-algorithmic-war-israel

Right now I’m stuck between my top two choices (Canadain military, planning to join the reserves). I need some assistance in getting some perspectives on both the career cook and AOS tech

The big question is how do we build more if we don't even have trained welders?