ABSTRACT
Male children are set up to be soldiers. The military takes the attitudes and behaviors already developed in young males and hones them to a fine edge. The attitudes include being emotionally closed, preferring power over pleasure, and feeling superior to women. The behaviors include domination, aggression, and physical violence to oneself and to others. One of the most destructive facets of bootcamp is the systematic attack on the recruits’ sexuality. While in basic training, one is continually addressed as faggot or girl. These labels are usually screamed into the face from a distance of two or three inches by the drill instructor, a most awesome, intimidating figure. Once the sexual identity was threatened, psychological control achieved, and sexuality linked with military function, it was made clear that the military function was aggression. While in the midst of a particularly grueling run, Private Green began to drop out.
