"♪From the Halls Of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli...♪

Time was when it was almost an article of faith that the Army -- or the Armed Forces, in general -- "made men out of boys", meaning that military discipline was beneficial to rebellious or otherwise troubled youth. (I never believed that, for a minute.) Now it seems that every day we find out how far from the truth that stereotypical notion really is. The latest episode has taken place during a visit of a U.S. Navy ship to Vladivostok. Although all of the facts have not been disclosed, heavy drinking was involved and we can pretty much guess the rest of it. It was serious enough to cause the commanding officer and some other officers to be relieved of duty.

So much for all that "An Officer and a Gentleman" myth.

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