SAND HILL, Fort Benning, Ga. — Many soldiers and family members are angry over reports of controversial remarks from the Commanding Officer of Fort Benning at a recruit graduation.
Speaking to an assembled crowd of new soldiers and their families at basic training graduation, Maj. Gen. Robert Brown was reported as "extremely hostile."
His speech began with the "standard fluff" about duty, country, and the privileges of serving when such a small percentage of the country chooses a career in the Armed Forces. The speech took a turn, however, when the General reached a point in his remarks, obviously reused from previous ceremonies.
"Look to your left and right towards your brothers in arms," said Brown. "You're all now members of a proud warrior class, and heroes like your fathers before you who-"
The General stopped, took a deep breath and crumpled the sheet before flinging it to the ground.
"Fuck it! I can't read shit like this anymore. Listen up you little bald bastards."
The newly minted soldiers — trying to stay awake throughout the ceremony — shifted uncomfortably in their seats at the sudden change in tone.
"Some of you fucks won't make it past AIT [Advanced Individual Training]. You'll wash out with the rest of the weakness that never should have been here in the first place. Most of you who do graduate will immediately go to combat units and deploy overseas. Many of you will threaten to kill yourselves to get out of real work, although you wont have the balls to actually do it!"