> The perpose of Basic Training is not to break down
>the troops so they cannot progress. All the new
>recruits have the pysical ability to be able to do
>all asked of them. Even if they don't know it.
>Pushing them to the limit is to build confidence
>within themselves so they can suceed.

I've never been in the military, but I tend to agree with what others have said on this. I'm sure there are many purposes to basic training, but I think it's agreed that the main ones are physical conditioning and indoctrination into the military mindset. Part of this indoctrination is breaking down the individual. This doesn't mean just physically driving them into the ground, and it doesn't mean the purpose is to "break" them so they are worthless. What they're doing is washing away your pre-conceptions and your way of thinking and getting you ready to think the way they want you to think.

-- Dave