As I've read through more about this issue, I must say that I am quite impressed with the array of insightful comments that have popped up since my post. And I also agree that the article was very one-sided and as biased as Tom DeLay's speeches-- it gave not even a breath to what one of the real roots of the problem was, which was that the recruit made the wrong decision of joining the Marines for a half-a$$ed reason -- college money. I mean c'mon, yeah, maybe that extra college money is a good thing so you don't have to stay at Uncle Ben's farm in Montana, but every other branch offers the same kind of monetary benefit. And plus, how is that reason alone going to motivate you through extremely strenuous and the physically demanding stress that Marine Boot Camp puts you through? It's tough $hit through what all the recruits at Parris Island have to go through, but it's not impossible. Personally I probably can't run even a mile at B.M.T. thinking about me doing this for college money alone. I would be joining the Marines for the character and career opportunies you get out of it, the intangible reasons.