WhatIsa
MilitarySlave?
9
The
military
slave’s
special
statusbecomesevenmore
pro-
nounced
during
hisfirst
years
in
bondage.
Onarrivalinhisnew
country,
hefacesanumberof
experiences
intendedto
prepare
himfora
military
career.
Clearly,fortheslavetobeusedmost
effectively,
hecannotbeenrolled
directly
in
thearmybuthasto
learnits
ways
and formnew
loyalties.
Thetransition
period
serves
to
changehimfromaself-willed,alien
boy
intoaskilled
and
loyal
soldier.His
capabilities,youth,andisolationcombined
withthe
thoroughness
ofthe
trainingprogram
workto
assure
this
change.
Atthe timewhen
ordinary
slavesare
being
ex-
ploited
fortheir
labor, military
slavesare
being
trained and
educated. These
long years
of
schooling
and reorientation
sharpen
stillfurtherthecontrastbetweenthem.
The
trainingprogram
isthecoreof
militaryslavery.
Toun-
derstandthe
achievements
of
thesesoldiers,wemust
study
their
training,
for this
experience shapes
their entire adult
life.
Whereas untrained slaves
provide
dubious skillsand
loyalty,
only
suitableforlimited
military
functions,trained slavesfill
every position
of
skilland
responsibility.
The
program
lasts
aboutfiveto
eightyears
andhasatwofold
purpose:to
develop
skillsandtoimbue
loyalty.
Skillsare
impartedthroughan
inten-
siveprogramofphysicaland
spiritual
instruction,withrather
more
emphasis
placedontheformer.
Throughgames,contests,
hunts,
andthelike,recruits
exercisecontinuously
in
themartial
arts.
9
The
product
isa
superbly
trainedand
highly
disciplined
soldier.Or,ifassessedas
intellectuallypromising,
aslave
may
be
furthereducatedandpreparedforgovernmentalwork.
Training
hasanother
purpose
too:totransform
the
identity
oftherecruit.He
begins
asa
paganforeigner
with
loyaltyonlyto
hisown
people;by
theendofthetransition
period
heisaMus-
lim,conversantinthemannersofhisnew
country
and
intensely
loyalto
hismasterandfellowslaves.
As
a
result,
military
slaves
habituallyprove
themselvestobetheirmaster’s
mostsolidand
loyaltroops.
9.Details
may
befoundin
H.
Rabie,"The
Training
oftheMamlfikFiris."