The difference back then was, apart from those conscripted into the Army, young people wanted to be in the services in the first place. The Army, Navy and Air Force provided career opportunities and made "men out of boys".
Maori in particular had lots of family: fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins and wider kin relations in the services. Not anymore. Today young people don't relate to military style discipline, although the gangs have borrowed and included some military terminology in their organisations.
Sending hardened young criminals to spend time in a bleak environment, in basic barracks forcing them to circle the drill yard carrying a heavy kit will achieve little.
My biggest objection to boot camp is the Army itself. It is no place for children. And has anyone actually asked the Army if it wants what is essentially a 12 month babysitting role?
The Government might see boot camps as a good opportunity to whip young offenders into shape. But I fear that is exactly what will happen.
New Zealand has an appalling track record when it comes to children and adolescents in state care. And boot camp is state care.
When we can't come up with a youth justice system that turns young lives around, the innovative plan is to push them out of sight to boot camp. They'll get cleaned up and sorted in Waiouru.
If they cause problems and perform there this will be tackled. It can be hidden. No one needs to know and no one will be told. No one will care either what happens to them.
We are good at covering up what happens in state care.
We have a woeful history of adults behaving badly to children and adolescents in state care. All the assurances in the world will not change our attitude to turning a blind eye to hurting children.
What we do know is that the majority of criminals, of all ages, are not born bad.
Of the 150 "toughest kids with the worst records" very few were born bad. Adults turned them into what they have become. Its adults, mainly parents, that should be rounded up for boot camp. Put discipline into that lot.
There are skilled people who know what needs to be provided to help these children.
They do not see them as a hopeless cause, "too far gone". They will look past their shocking crimes to their potential. That's what they'll concentrate on developing. And it won't just happen in 12 months and it won't come cheap.
If the children are Maori they must be placed with experienced, knowledgeable Maori service providers. Ones that smell BS a mile off.
Expose them to traditional values that are protective of family members and don't see harming others as behaviour to be admired.
Most of these children won't know or have experienced a loving home environment, unless some were fortunate to have had grandparents around them during their childhood.
Let them know they belong. For some they have a cultural heritage and identity that is centuries old and belongs to them.
They will be supported to develop positive life changing behaviour. These children will learn they are part of the family of humanity that values and accepts them.
Put these children with trusted people in trusted places.
Boot camp is not that place.
