Has a military drill instructor ever encountered a recruit whom they felt should never have enlisted in the first place?

Answer 1

Yes; ALL the time.

Answer 2

Only every waking moment of every day.

Answer 3

EVERY drill instructor has.

Answer 4

sure -- plenty of them.  and they usually wash out quickly, too

Answer 5

that is Part of Recruit Training to find those that don't Come up to scratch

because you can just say enough I am Leaving at no cost to you

Answer 6

Yes, but Gomer Pyle turned out to be very lovable. 

Answer 7

Probably in every class. Not everyone is up to it.

Answer 8

I'll wager everyone of the transvestites they get stuck with!

Answer 9

of course, they send them home with their mommies

Answer 10

There are more than one in every single platoon in every single series, every year. All branches. 

My Platoon in at Parris Island  started with 85 recruits, 42 graduated together. 

Not all got let go, There was a death at PT, a suicide. Others went to the brig for fights, stealing, or both they and their Recruiters got jammed up for a fraudulent enlistment. More than a few just lost it emotionally, completely,  and were hauled away. 

It's the DI / Drill  Sgt's job to weed out those who cannot make it, not accommodate the armed services to the recruit's lower abilities or standards.