Ahh I see, and I guess its more of a challenge then, but all the more welcome, too.
Thanks everyone!
Not so much "More Challenge". More like trying to not out guess the cadre. To answer the 1st question I posed. "WHY are we learning what we're learning"? Like I said, you can teach a monkey to stand, salute, march, fold clothes, etc... The answer is 2-fold.
1) Discipline: The object is to train future leaders. But no one can become or learn to be an effective leader, if they don't know how to "Follow". You need to be able to trust those giving you orders and trust those that you give orders to. This is a time where trust and respect is developed. If you come across as someone trying to beat the system because you think you already know what you need to do, and don't understand why you're doing it; concentrating mainly on the physical act; then you defeat the purpose of what they are trying to teach you.
2) Realizing that you have 1000 individuals from every possible state, background, economics, values, religion, etc... The objective is to bring out not the differences in these individuals, but rather what they have in common. And while doing this, emphasize that they must work as a team. They even design some tasks to be almost impossible without help from other team members.
You also have to realize the "Human Factor". These cadre we in your shoes 2-3 years ago. They had to go through it. Do you think they'd actually respect someone who is trying to game the system?
Like I said; there isn't one thing that they are going to teach you that you either don't already know or couldn't learn immediately. The objective isn't to see if you can fold your clothes, memorize facts, march, salute, etc.... The objective is for you to realize first hand how important teamwork, leadership, discipline, and following orders is. And that is something you can't learn in a book; on a forum; or someone telling you. You have to learn that first hand. Best of luck to you. Mike....