DEER LODGE - Montana's Department of Corrections has incorporated the idea of community-based facilities into the corrections system.

One of these incarceration alternatives is the boot camp program in Deer Lodge. A new group of trainees have arrived and the barracks explode with the drill instructor's orders.

"You want to do the right thing?" program manager and former drill instructor Joe Fink asks one new trainee. "Yes sir," 23 year old Michael Otero replies.

"And what would that be?"
"Do what you tell me sir." Otero has chosen to come to the boot camp instead of serving time in prison for two counts of Partner Family Member Assault.
"And why would you do what I tell you to do?"
"’Cause I have to sir. ‘Cause that's what needs to be done."
"’Cause that's what needs to be done?"
"Yes sir."
Fink seems to be satisfied. "Well sounds like we got a start going here, doesn't it?"
"Yes sir," Otero agrees.
It's just the beginning for these new trainees at the Treasure State Correctional Training Center, or boot camp. It's an alternative to prison. And for the trainees it may be one of the most frightening but productive experiences of their lives.

It's militaristic disciplinary style and intensive treatment has proven very effective. The boot camp has only a 4 percent new crime recidivism rate. It's loud, it's scary, it's even chaotic. And it's supposed to be.

"We're breaking the kid down to the point where we're making him look at everybody he's ever hurt in his life. And when you hit that rock bottom realization I think it's a very, very hard thing for these guys to deal with," Senior Drill Instructor David Fogerty explains. "And then that's where the build up process starts again."

When asked if he's scared and if he thinks it's working to be scared, Otero said 'yes' to both questions.

The average age at the boot camp is 25, but many of the trainees already have an extensive criminal history. Now they have 90-to-120 days to learn how to be a positive member of society. While they don't know what to expect during this intake process, they seem hopeful it's going to make a difference in their lives.

Otero expects to "learn everything and how to control my anger and why I do the things I do." For 17 hours each day trainees are pushed to their limits. Only about an hour and a half is spent doing physical training. Most of the day is devoted to organized work detail.

But for 5 hours they're in a classroom. They analyze every aspect of their crime, their criminal behavior and their criminal thinking. They undergo anger management, substance abuse and victimology. And it is intense.

It's going to be a long road for these trainees. Only about 60% of them will march through to graduation.