# What was the point of terrorist training camps? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2015, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682 "2015-03-10T08:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/1 "2015-03-10T08:23:13Z")
Yea remember these? Before ISIS had useful idiots flying half way across the world the media was obsessed with people supposedly leaving western countries to go to “terrorist training camps” in various middle eastern countries. Cue stock footage of some bearded dudes crawling under barb wire and rappelling up a wall. This never made a bit of sense to me, all that stuff could be done right where these people already were. Set up an obstacle course in your rural lot, set up a shooting range, hell go to an existing shooting range. What exactly did these camps offer that needed people to travel half way across the world for? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/2 "2015-03-10T08:41:39Z")
> [@grude](#): > > What exactly did these camps offer that needed people to travel half way across the world for? the ability to not be seen doing it ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/3 "2015-03-10T09:03:15Z")
> [@grude](#): > > What exactly did these camps offer that needed people to travel half way across the world for? People who could train you in stuff you can’t work out for yourself, like explosives or AK-47 maintenance? That and the chance to hang out with a bunch of like-minded people, kind of like a holiday club for jihadis. Plus I hear the campfire cookout singalongs are amazing. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/4 "2015-03-10T11:06:43Z")
Not sure the local shooting range covers suicide bombings and building shrapnel bombs suited to blow up shopping malls, but maybe that’s included where you live? These camps are for training terrorists. Pretty clearly. It’s naive beyond believability to think since you see only people clambering over the ground or shooting at targets, that it’s all that’s being taught. Is that what you actually think? ---
**Author:** ![jezzaOZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/5 "2015-03-10T11:13:45Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Not sure the local shooting range covers suicide bombings and building shrapnel bombs suited to blow up shopping malls, but maybe that’s included where you live? I seriously doubt the vast majority of recruits would be taught how to blow up shopping malls or for that matter how to do a suicide bombing. They are there as foot soldiers to shoot their AKs at the enemy and/or cook and/or drive and/or clean out the shitters. Specialist bombs are a sapper course and suicide bombers probably do a religious indoctrination course. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/6 "2015-03-10T11:20:07Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Cue stock footage of some bearded dudes crawling under barb wire and **rappelling up a wall**. I might be tempted to travel to the middle east if they would teach me to defy gravity like that. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/7 "2015-03-10T12:02:03Z")
> [@jezzaOZ](#): > > I seriously doubt the vast majority of recruits would be taught how to blow up shopping malls or for that matter how to do a suicide bombing. And why not? These are some of there most effective methods of terrorist attack. One person takes out dozens of others and causes a panic. Perhaps the purpose of the training is to figure out which individuals would best be suited for these task. Weed out the trill seekers from the true believers sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/8 "2015-03-10T12:14:37Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > It’s naive beyond believability to think since you see only people clambering over the ground or shooting at targets, that it’s all that’s being taught. And that’s _aside_ from brachiating on monkey bars. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/9 "2015-03-10T12:26:52Z")
Ambiance. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/10 "2015-03-10T13:33:24Z")
One of the purposes of any training is to find out about your teams capability. Who are your suicide bombers vs who are the people who can best recruit suicide bombers. Who has the traits necessary to blend in with a population in another country while awaiting orders to attack. This is stuff you can’t get a good feel for just by talking to people; you need to interact with them in a stressful situation with live fire sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/11 "2015-03-10T14:05:16Z")
In the UK you can apply for a shotgun licence for farming purposes or clay pigeon shooting. Otherwise there is usually no access to handguns or military style weapons. If you wanna learn to handle a AK47 or a Glock it will be far easier done abroad in a training camp. Despite that it is known that would be terrorists have done training exercises in UK National parks > **[Training camps for terrorists in UK parks](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/aug/14/terrorism.immigrationpolicy)** > > Suspected terrorists have mounted training exercises in some of the most popular areas of the national parks of England and Wales, the Guardian has learned. If you read the story you will note locals questioned about the terrorists seem more bemused than outraged. The story suggests no weapons or bomb training took place. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/12 "2015-03-10T14:05:51Z")
Why do armies have basic training? Just give them a few weeks at home with a list of exercises, and then assign them to their units. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/13 "2015-03-11T01:29:32Z")
How to recruit terrorists. [ISIS is trying to lure recruits from the West with promises of love and jobs](http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-promises-of-love-jobs-for-foreign-recruits-in-is-utopia-2015-3), AFP, March 7, 2015. > [@](#): > > Beirut (AFP) - It has become known for horrific images of beheadings and torture, but the Islamic State group is trying to lure foreign recruits to its “caliphate” with promises of adventure, homes, jobs – even love. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/14 "2015-03-11T01:47:38Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Why do armies have basic training? Just give them a few weeks at home with a list of exercises, and then assign them to their units. How would a typical terrorist training camp compare to a regular military’s Basic Training? Would they cover the same general area (e.g. obeying orders, using firearms, desensitization to violence, marching) or are the skillsets completely different? Or, suppose I encounter someone who has been to a terrorist training camp. What sort of skills could I assume that he probably has? Would he probably be able to field-strip an AK-47? Hit a certain percentage of targets at a specific range? Build a bomb out of X set of common household items? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/15 "2015-03-11T05:36:35Z")
Less formation drills. I’m reasonably sure bombers (whether suicidal or plant) aren’t required to be particularly good at the whole “sight right AAAAAAAAAAAAARH!” ---
**Author:** ![jezzaOZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/16 "2015-03-11T06:21:39Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Why do armies have basic training? Just give them a few weeks at home with a list of exercises, and then assign them to their units. Spoken like a true never-has-been recruit. Many (most?) recruits do some preparation training before boot camp. Boy are they in for a shock! Most recruits lose a significant percentage of body weight in the first few weeks to then bulk up with muscle and weight for the later part. It’s a result of the continuous forced exercise regime combined with sound nutrition. In the meantime they learn about obeying orders, skill at arms, and obedience to orders - not to mention how to march. They may not exit boot-camp as first rate soldiers but they sure are changed individuals in just about every way. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/17 "2015-03-11T06:44:17Z")
I understand that **Allesan** has had some exposure to a military organization. I’ll observe that evaluation is not mutually exclusive with training and I did not perceive that anyone has claimed otherwise. ETA: Curious readers can view Allesan’s reported location by clicking his name. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/18 "2015-03-11T08:09:44Z")
> [@jezzaOZ](#): > > Spoken like a true never-has-been recruit. > > Many (most?) recruits do some preparation training before boot camp. Boy are they in for a shock! > > Most recruits lose a significant percentage of body weight in the first few weeks to then bulk up with muscle and weight for the later part. It’s a result of the continuous forced exercise regime combined with sound nutrition. > > In the meantime they learn about obeying orders, skill at arms, and obedience to orders - not to mention how to march. > > They may not exit boot-camp as first rate soldiers but they sure are changed individuals in just about every way. Well, it’s good to know those 4 months I spent back in '93 weren’t a complete waste. Now, on an unrelated note - are you familiar with the concept of the rhetorical question? ---
**Author:** ![jezzaOZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/19 "2015-03-11T08:27:40Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Now, on an unrelated note - are you familiar with the concept of the rhetorical question? I am, but what you said was possibly Ironic, more likely Facetious, but certainly not Rhetorical. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682/20 "2015-03-11T08:31:47Z")
> [@jezzaOZ](#): > > I am, but what you said was possibly Ironic, more likely Facetious, but certainly not Rhetorical. Conceded. Still, I thought my statement was ridiculous enough that no-one would take it at face value. Poe’s Law in action, I suppose. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-terrorist-training-camps/714682.md?page=2)