What's the difference between a soldier, an assassin, and a mercenary?

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by CastleBravo

It takes many hours to remove the built in reluctance to take human life, unless you are an abortion doctor sworn to uphold the hypocratic oath.
Part of basic training is about breaking down the natural instinct which is built into everyone reguarding killing other human beings.

Killing has been around a lot longer than basic training. Personally I do not believe that there is a GENERALIZED natural instinct to not take a human life - instincts are proactive, and not taking a life is the default position). I believe that there IS a natural instinct to kill if threatened severly enough, however (this is supported by modern psychology).

Having been through basic training myself, I believe that there is very little in the way of breaking down any humanistic instincts. At least, not any more than there was on my highschool football team...