Is Basic Training getting softer?

My dad was in the Army for 24 years, he joined during Vietnam, He wasn't drafted. The stories of his basic training sound way tougher than my cousin or brothers basic training. My brother joined in 2000 and my cousin joined about 3 months ago and already finished his basic training. From what my brother tells me and what my cousin tells me, as time goes by, it sounds to me like basic training is getting soft. Appareantly my cousin says that drill seargents are not allowed to smoke or cuss at them, and they have to call them warriors or soldiers. My brother didn't have that luxuary, and I know my dad didn't either. My dad complains that they aren't warriors or soldiers till they comlete basic. Also, would it have to do with the fact that my dad and brother are both combat arms, infantry and tanker, and my cousin is some sort of accounting?

Basic is getting softer. The reason behind this is that Americans as a whole are getting softer and weaker. The whole point of Basic (and AIT to an extent) is to condition and help mold a person into becoming a soldier. As a soldier, you must be mentally and physically prepared to handle stress, to handle hard situations.

The original point of a hard Drill Sergeant was to provide these situations. How can a you expect a person to be able to handle combat and stressfull situations if you baby them and make Basic and AIT a "more college-like atmosphere to provoke an easier learning environment" (as one TRADOC BDE CMD mandated).

Parents these days are too concerned when they hear that their son/daughter is getting cussed at. Recruits take it personnel when they are called anything but "Warrior/Soldier."

Americans must realize that the Military is not a place for the weak, or a place to promote weakness. We are here to defend the nations interests, which will require people to die. That is the nature of war. If American society cant handle that, I am truely worried about the future of our great Nation.

it has been softened much since the 1970's

yes and you can thank mothers of america for it.

I am of your dad's age and I witnessed big boys/men cry because they couldn't take the discipline and the training back then. Now, I hear that the they have "time outs" for those who cannot take even today's basic training methods. Of course, I have never really heard from any new recruits about their basic training.

It is true that Drill Sergeants aren't allowed to be as demeaning though whether this is a good or bad thing can be debatable. However, I know someone who spent a week manuvering through wilderness on his own in training with no equipment of anything.

Yes it has, there are many reasons for this

For those of us who have served we like to think "our time" in basic was the toughest. No basic has not softened. Like everything else in time it has become advanced. Ther eis no need to hit a troop to get them in line, nor is there a need to "cuss" a troop to get them to understand a point. Softer? before you could smoke in basic, now you can not in order to reach peak physical condition. Softer? the equiptment is more and heavier, the areas of operation different (you cant compare jungle to desert) and the training is now longer. Softer no, more advanced and resourceful, yes.

Every generation thinks their boot camp was tougher than the next's.

I would say yes overall basic training is softer.

Drill sgts are not allowed to hit a soldier any more. Really what it comes down to are that the Drill Sgts are under so much scrutiny about what they can and can't do that most of them are too busy trying to cover their own *** that they are afraid to really disipline anyone.
That having been said, Basic training still isn't a walk in the park. Drill Sgts are still plenty intimidating. Also really the number one thing the army hangs over your head these days is the UCMJ. They threaten you with article 15's all the frickin time. They want to take your money, ruin your career and all that jazz. It is a war fought with paperwork.