prior to the coup, the chilean military had undergone a process of de-politicization since the 1920s, when military personnel participated in government positions. subsequently, most military officers remained under-funded, having only subsistence salaries. because of the low salaries, the military spent much time in military leisure-time facilities (e.g. country clubs) where they met other officers and their families. the military remained apart from society, and was to some degree an endogamous group as officers frequently married the sisters of their comrades or the daughters of high-ranked older officers. many officers had also relatives in the military. in 1969 elements of the military made their first act of rebellion in 40 years when they participated in the tacnazo insurrection. the tacnazo was not a proper coup, but a protest against under-funding. in retrospect general carlos prats considered that christian democrats who were in power in 1969 committed the error of not taking the military's grievances seriously.