 Why can't Lane read or write?
Raging , Trooper Lane hovered three thousand feet above Tammany Square. The humming paragrav-paks embedded beneath his shoulder blades held him motionless above Newyork's three administrative towers. From seven years old up, Troopers have too much to learn about fighting. Lane dropped lightly to the floor, inside the room, in battle-crouch. Tammany Hall has warned that this man is extremely dangerous. Lane is an insane killer. Lane's mailed hand snapped open a pouch at his belt. The force-bomb "exploded"—swelled or inflated, really, but with the speed of a blast. It shaded the view from his window and re-entered the tower wall just below.
 Lane has only been schooled in soldiering since he was seven. He was taught to fight, nothing else.
 When the cybrain was installed, Lane's own brain was wiped clean.  Lane is dyslexic. He got frustrated trying to learn and gave up.  Teaching the soldiers how to read and write would only lead to rational thinking. The soldiers might start to question orders. Therefore, they are only taught fighting.  Lane has only been schooled in soldiering since he was seven. He was taught to fight, nothing else.