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All through your Army careers, you men have bitched about what you call 'chicken shit drilling'. That, like everything else in this Army, has a definite purpose. That purpose is alertness. Alertness must be bred into every soldier. I don't give a fuck for a man who's not always on his toes. You men are veterans or you wouldn't be here. You are ready for what's to come.

George S. Patton#15

DisciplinePreparationSafetyReadinessTraining

About this quote

What does it mean?
Drilling builds essential alertness and readiness for unexpected events.
In plain terms
Repetitive training keeps soldiers ready and alert.
What can you take from it?
Routine drills prepare you for real challenges.

Where it applies

  • workplace safety
  • emergency drills
  • skill building

Putting it to work

  • practice regularly
  • stay focused
  • build muscle memory

Questions to consider

  • Are you truly ready?
  • What happens if you are distracted?

Another view

Overtraining can cause complacency or physical strain.

More from George S. Patton

  1. Remember that the enemy is just as frightened as you are, and probably more so. They are not supermen.

    Permalink to quote #14
  2. There are four hundred neatly marked graves somewhere in Sicily. All because one man went to sleep on the job. But they are German graves, because we caught th…

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. Every man is scared in his first battle. If he says he's not, he's a liar. Some men are cowards but they fight the same as the brave men or they get the hell s…

    Permalink to quote #13

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