America's finest?

Hazing incidents not in accord with Marines' standards of honor

When Americans think of the U.S. Marines, pictures of brave men and women fighting for our nation's standards and beliefs should come to mind.

But when images of trainees being beat and humiliated by older officers are summoned up instead, Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their respect for the organization.

"Hazing has been present in the military for years, even though it violates the codes of conduct Marines are held to."

At a hearing last Wednesday, a counsel for Marine trainees at Fort Knox said his clients were subjected to beatings in which other Marines punched and dragged them into the hall, fights that occurred regularly and mock crucifixions in which trainees were suspended from broomsticks.

Marines, as well as other members of the armed forces, are supposed to hold themselves to a set of standards higher than the rest of the public. Considering allegations such as these, those standards are clearly not being upheld. Hazing has been present in the military for years, even though it violates the codes of conduct Marines are held to. Until recently, though, very little has been reported.

Just last year, a videotape of the Marine ritual referred to as "bloody wings" was released. It showed a hazing practice in which Marines pinned gold jump wings into the bare flesh of other Marines' chests.

After watching the gruesome videotape and hearing of the most recent allegations, it seems as though some Marines' conduct has been more of an embarrassment than a source of pride for the nation.

But, some argue that because these men and women are being trained for violent combat, we should be prepared for the possibility of such outbursts of violence. Not so -- Marines must be able to control the emotions and techniques they develop during training and restrain them to be used at appropriate times.

Possibly, Marine trainers should place more emphasis on teaching their trainees when and where to use the techniques they learn.

And, regardless of whether these rituals are tradition or not, trainees should be aware that hazing behavior does not measure up to the high ideals set for the nation's armed forces. Beating fellow trainees as part of a group of older officers is not the way to build camaraderie; upholding a high set of ideals as a group is.