Excerpt
In our first week of what can best be
described as the-worst-possible-joborientation-ever, we were told how to dress, walk, talk, eat, and even how to sleep.
The penalties for violations were severe; we were usually bent.
Being bent meant punishment through
exercise.
Not 20 push-ups like you see in the movies, but push-ups until the muscles in our arms stopped working and reached the involuntary spasm stage.
Once the quivering, jelly-arm, face down in
a pool of sweat threshold was crossed, the
sit-ups began.
Then push-ups again; then sit-ups.
The entire time the DI (Drill Instructor)
would whisper pet names with his red-faced,
outside voice. This learnin’ went on for 20 minutes - or until we vomited.
Physical abuse was an effective teaching
tool and I realized the lesson right away:
 Learn the rules quickly, and follow
them.