Military cadence

[Kadagar_AV]

It is common to most "high trust requirement" teams in various areas: soldiering, fire-fighting, etc. Integrating the new member [FNG] involves the membership determining that they can handle stress and remain "with it" while being stressed. Since they have to trust you, literally, with their lives this takes on a good deal of importance. Add in that most such units have a somewhat higher morale -- with it's concomitant 'show me you are as keen to be a part of this as I was when I joined' -- and the new member "welcoming" efforts make a bit more sense.

This sums up the hazing nicely, so I'll just add my voice to it.

At least where I was stationed, it wasn't about causing physical harm... Some slaps, pushes and kicks against body parts that could take it, sure... But I have been roughed up more doing sports than I was when it was my time to get hazed....

The shock factor was the big thing, I remember just waking up by being pushed out of bed, extremely loud noises all around, masked men manhandling us and forcing us out in the woods...

Those who then "can't take it" will be reported to the captain, those who remain calm will be extra praised.

The celebration afterwards is the important part of it though... In a way, having completely broken regiment like that, and having a mutual shared experience, removes the lines between officers and new recruits - leading to a bonding across the formal ranks.

It SOUNDS rough, and stupidly manly.... But I must say it works.

I was soooooo scared of the sgt's and stuff BEFORE the hazing, afterwards I had a personal relationship but still under the official chain of command.

They kind of beat being scarred out of me, and gave me beer afterwards... All sharing their pro-tips on how to survive in the army's day to day life. Hehe, I get all nostalgic thinking back on it now