(Untitled)

[drumrollz]

What if people had to go to college in order to try to be educated enough to join the Marines? 

Comments

[silentjack]

Not very long ago, our Armed Forces had intelligence exams to make sure people weren't stupid enough to kill themselves accidentally, were smart enough to make wise tactical decisions, and could be at least somewhat rational if their C.O. made contradictory orders. Those are gone now after being labeled discriminatory.

When my dad joined the Army in 1962, his squad apparently had reading groups where they discussed The Art of War, The Geneva Conventions in full, and a tome on ethics. I guess things have changed in almost 50 years.

[rochacha_slaps]

isnt going to West Point something similar to that field??

[frank_grimes]

Because people without college degrees are necessarily uneducated? And uneducated people are necessarily unqualified?

I mean, you're a college graduate. What do you think?

Also, re: intellence exams, intelligence testing was introduced to the military during WWI, eventually as a method of screening for officer candidates but primarily as a way to advance the study of intelligence testing: http://www.holah.karoo.net/gouldstudy.htm

[drumrollz]

Points well made.
Here's the director's commentary on this entry: I was just listening to someone talk about how their brother had to join the Marines to try to pay for college, and I thought it would be an interesting inversion.

[frank_grimes]

If anything I would imagine it would lead to a much smaller USMC.

[drumrollz]

And perhaps one with a higher KIA rate:
http://www.military.com/news/article/study-ties-high-iq-to-high-kia-rate.html
Not that one study of a bunch of Scots in WWII is a great basis.