I used to preach this message but my son in law who is in the army disagrees. With all the technology these days, he says, the last think you need is a bunch of thickos let loose with the latest missile launcher, or in charge of servicing a tank.
Sergeny majors are no longer the sadistic bullies as featured in comedy films, but skilled teachers who (whilst still demanding drill and discipline) are not in the business to browbeat a bunch of mo-hopers into the ground.
Sadly, we need nore input from families (lol) and teachers (poor things) or maybe bring back 'hard labour' as a punishment instead of comfy prison cells and sky TV.