In message , ArtKramr
writes
Did military discipline become looser and more liberal since WWI?.

Not as far as I can tell. In some ways it got worse: with "mission
command" you're not merely expected to fulfil your orders, but carry out
your commander's intent; and if that wasn't adequately communicated you
can get into a real mess. (It usually works and works very well indeed;
the recent fighting at Basra being an example, where units down to
platoon strength raided and recced without direct orders but fulfilling
the intent of "weaken the defenders and find out what's going on"). And
you'll _still_ be in the cacky for failing to obey an order unless it
was blatantly illegal.

Is
military life easier now than it was then?

A little more comfortable on exercises: Gore-Tex waterproofs, fleece
liners, better boots, good sleeping bags.

On the other hand, it's now a 24-hour battle, the enemy artillery is
larger and longer-ranged, chemical and biological weapons are
proliferated...

I'd have to say 'no'.

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk