Mike Schaertl
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2013
- Messages
- 7
I thought the purpose of Beast is to help weed out those that cannot perform under near constant stress. The stress used to come in many forms at beast (constant yelling, PT/physical exhaustion, hunger, tiredness, mental exhaustion with knowledge etc..) and all at the same time. I understand the stressors have changed over the years, but there should be stressors of some sort. We had droves of new cadets leave during beast because they couldn't handle the stress. There is nothing wrong with that. I think that is the way it should be. Better to find out earlier than later. Those that stayed learned how to compartmentalize heavy stress and still get the job done. Isn't that what you want from Army officers?
And that is exactly where the problems start, people not understanding the purpose of Beast. As defined by the Superintendent and the Commandant of the Corps of Cadets on R-day, 2013, the purpose of Beast is NOT attrition. As the Commandant stated, it may have been when he was a cadet in the 80s but it is no longer. The focus is training, not weeding out. Don't expect the cadet cadre or the officer/NCO chain of command to act in a way that is contrary to the mission, even though it is a mission you may or may not believe is valid.