You Can't Hack It Little Girl: A Discussion of the Covert Psychological Agenda of Modern Combat Training

The psychological experiences of combat training may be understood as having three interlocking components: the acceptance of psychological control, the equation of masculine identity with military performance, and the equation of the entire military mission with raw agression. These processes produce individuals with a well‐honed emotional edge. The consequences both immediate and delayed of placing such individuals in a situation as ambiguous and frustrating as the Vietnam War are cause for grave concern.