Raúl Blass was the marshal of the army of the Solomon Viscounty. He was currently heading toward his lord's study.
"What crazy idea will he have this time?" he murmured quietly to himself.
He still remembered that five days earlier his lord had given him the task of recruiting thirty thousand male civilians between the ages of 16 and 40.
Raúl was in his fifties, but he had a robust bearing and barely looked thirty. He was only a knight who, due to his great military merits, had received the position of marshal after the death of his predecessor.
Upon arriving at the study, Raúl adjusted his armor and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
André was sitting in the study and heard the knock. He already knew who was coming, so he searched his desk and took out some papers.
"Come in."
The door opened and Raúl entered, giving a standard military salute. At first André had not been entirely sure whether Raúl was the right person for the position, but as the days passed those concerns were carried away by the wind. The best thing was that Raúl was absolutely loyal to the Solomon family and, therefore, loyal to him, the head of the family.
"My lord, I have done what you entrusted to me. I have recruited the thirty thousand civilians. All of them are in good health and are physically strong."
Nodding, André smiled, very satisfied with Raúl's ability. It should be said that the entire recruitment task had been completed in only five days, which was no easy feat.
Then André took the papers he had on his desk, handed them to Raúl, and said:
"This is the training method I need you to carry out. In addition, this will be a permanent army, and I want you to finish forming them in a maximum of six months."
What André gave Raúl was a set of military instructions, which consisted of the following:
The formation process: it resocializes the recruits to the demands imposed on them by military life. Psychological conditioning techniques are used to shape attitudes and behaviors so that the recruits obey all orders, face mortal danger, and kill their adversaries in battle.
According to an expert on United States military training methods, Dave Grossman, recruit training makes extensive use of the following conditioning techniques:
**Confinement and suppression**
A United States Marine Corps recruit is shaved before beginning instruction.
Once training has begun, the recruits' right to leave the military state (or leave the armed forces) is denied or strictly restricted.
By shaving the head, issuing uniforms, denying privacy, and prohibiting the use of first names, individuality is suppressed.
**Control and conformity**
The daily routine of the recruits is highly controlled, in the manner of the total institution described by the Canadian sociologist Erving Goffman.
For example, the training regime determines how the recruits must make their beds, polish their boots, and stack their clothes; mistakes are harshly punished.
Throughout their training, the recruits are conditioned to comply with military norms and work as a team. In particular, they are repeatedly instructed to stand, march, and respond to orders in a ritual known as close-order drill, which trains the recruits to obey without hesitation or questioning.
**Stress and punishment**
Instruction continuously applies stressors. Instructors may deprive the recruits of sleep, food, or shelter, shout personal insults, use physical aggression, or give orders intended to humiliate.
Evidence from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom shows that punishments are routinely used to condition group conformity and discourage poor performance.
**Camaraderie**
As a buffer against the stressful conditions of their training, the group of trainees normally forms a strong bond of mutual loyalty, called camaraderie.
American researchers have described it as an intense "feeling of us," more powerful than civilian ties.
**Aggression and objectification**
Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom shows that aggression systematically stimulates courage, particularly in close-combat functions.
Example: bayonet practice, where extreme aggressiveness is instilled.
Another example is the English "milling," an exercise of the Royal Marines in which pairs of recruits wearing boxing gloves strike each other on the head with the greatest possible aggressiveness.
They are taught to dehumanize the opponent: "it is an enemy target that will fall when struck."
**Education and fitness**
The recruits are taught the basic skills of their profession: military tactics, first aid, camp skills, use of weapons and other equipment.
At all times, physical fitness is tested and developed, although it also leads to a high rate of injuries.
**Graduation**
Recruits who complete their initial training normally participate in a graduation parade, observed by senior military personnel, family members, and friends.
Raúl saw this novel method and could not help but shine with excitement.
"My lord, if you want to achieve that, I am afraid the militia budget will have to increase at least twenty times."
Raúl spoke of his concerns frankly, and André replied accordingly:
"I have planned that over the next five years the army budget will increase at least five hundred times. So do not worry about the expenses; I want results."
"Yes, my lord."
"Now let us talk about the reorganization of the army."
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