Why are people still joining the military?

[Charla]

And I'd say it's greed when people knowingly put themselves in harm's way because dollar signs are dangled in front of them.

Would you go work in a hostile area of the world for the same rate you'd get back in West-Bumblefuck USA? You see, people have these things called "families", and they have to support these "families", so sometimes they are willing to put their lives on the line to do this. It's not an easy decision to make, so to say that people see dollar signs in front of their eyes is ignorance.

Probably a little difficult to support a family if a person is dead or maimed. Even if there's monetary compensation, absence of a parent is pretty harsh. I'd think the smart thing to do would be take a safe job and earn a little less and be there for a family as opposed to be at risk while thousands of miles away.

That argument is based on a perception created by the press coverage of the death toll, not the actual statistics of risk for a soldier vs. those of an American trying to not get run over or shot in a random city. Even though I agree with part of your premise, you really need to back stuff up with numbers in a debate like this.

edit: page 2 claimed with dinosaur pilot, page 3 claims with elephant rider!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Metalslug3.jpg

edit2: I thought Khamsin's link sent me to another forum at first. I didn't think they could override my theme like that on a specific board.

[Devek]

It is pretty retarded to pass judgment on people for joining the military considering it isn't something you would know jack shit about unless you have served.

[Khamsin]

It is pretty retarded to pass judgment on people for joining the military considering it isn't something you would know jack shit about unless you have served.

People are concerned about the ends, not the means. Nobody knows jack shit about the means unless they serve, but everyone knows the ends.

[Venture]

Don't go into the Army, or Marines with a wife and kids. Their support systems are terrible, because they only have them to appease civilian overwatch. With the Army and Marines at least, you can tell that they'd be happier demoting you and/or kicking you out of the service for getting attached and having offspring, then paying for your housing and extra support. You're just a nameless peon that they'd rather stuff in sardine cans so long as you're breathing and functioning, so anything other then that is just unnecessary for those two services.

Air Force on the other hand is a smaller branch that focuses on the individual intelligence and well-being of their Airmen. Why it's so hard to get into the Air Force into the first place. They'll support your family well, because if it hurts your morale it hurts your effectiveness. Of course the trade-off is that Air Force constantly tests your performance, and if you're found lacking, they'll happily demote you from aircraft mechanic to cook or security guard without your consent, so it's a much more competitive branch to stay in.

I have no experience working with the Navy, though. Although I can guess being on a boat 3/4 of your career has to suck for your family.

[Axil]

I didnt read the thread because Im lazy, but I do know that people join the marines or military sometimes out of an existential funk. I may be a pacifist, but im even more of an existentialist, so I cant really hate someone for wanting to get away from their boring dead end lives and try to do something else, far far away from whatever may be bothering them.

[jmc]

just a few points I thought of right away, probably mentioned in the other pages already.

1) Well... some people are just born for the armed forces. They like to shoot stuff.... or blow stuff up, its just the way people are.

2) Alot of my friends, joined various branches (mainly Air force) to support other friends or family members who are currently serving in various branches.

3) People like to support the country, some think the war is a mistake but still are fighting for the country. More power to them

4) Some kids need the discipline, sometimes due to bad teen ages. The armed forces is probably the best way to get the discipline they seek.

5) As someone mentioned, the possibilities for work after discharge is endless. Many government jobs are open to veterans after they are discharged on good standing. Dont forget, Veterans (and police Cadets) get preference when joining various police departments over standard Civilians.

[Fng]

I would be a Marine right now but I couldn't pass the physical (bad hearing)
My reasons:
My father served 22 years
My older brother served 20 years.

The first 10 years of my life revolved around military bases, until 18 I was going to the base every month for groceries / medical / shopping.

Reasons I wanted to join aside from my family's history
No one to pay for college.
No future in the town I grew up in
Get to shoot guns
Get to blow up stuff
Get the hell out of the town I lived in.
Travel
Accomplishment


For the record, I am not a fan of Bush or the middle east conflicts, but I would still go if called. As my father and brother did before me.

[Khamsin]

I would be a Marine right now but I couldn't pass the physical (bad hearing)
My reasons:
My father served 22 years
My older brother served 20 years.

The first 10 years of my life revolved around military bases, until 18 I was going to the base every month for groceries / medical / shopping.

Reasons I wanted to join aside from my family's history
No one to pay for college.
No future in the town I grew up in
Get to shoot guns
Get to blow up stuff
Get the hell out of the town I lived in.
Travel
Accomplishment


For the record, I am not a fan of Bush or the middle east conflicts, but I would still go if called. As my father and brother did before me.

It's good that they survived 20 years on the front line. Like the guy with the story about the cop-wannabe getting shrapnel to his knee, a lot of shit can happen in 2 years of service (let alone 20).

[Xiona]

people are still joining the military because not everyone in america is intelligent. actually the only reason america even still functions as a "superpower" is due to the lack of across the board education.

advertising is our educational system

[Tyche]

people are still joining the military because not everyone in america is intelligent. actually the only reason america even still functions as a "superpower" is due to the lack of across the board education.

advertising is our educational system

Ironically enough, ask yourself what would happen if all these "idiots" didn't join and our military was completely disbanded. Real safe country we'd live in eh? Do you people even think about what you say before you type it, such as labeling all troops as uneducated.

[Venture]

Stereotyping about a group's collective intelligence...

[Devek]

.. and not to their face.

Dare you to go to a base and start telling people that.

[Khamsin]

.. and not to their face.

Dare you to go to a base and start telling people that.

That's a little unfair. As much as I disagree with racism, it would be unfair to tell someone to go to Harlem with a nigger sign a'la Die Hard and see what happens. Why? Because you could tell someone to the special olympics and call people retards and see what happens, too. The fact that a group of anything together could kick your ass (except quadraplegics) doesn't make anything right or wrong. It just means they can kick your ass.

[Dustinsp]

My brother recently joined the navy. He has 26 more days in basic. Hes 23 years old. He graduated college, and has not been able to find work related to his field. So he joined up with 5 year obligation Ithink. I'm not really sure what job hes going for, but it has to do with working on computers and what not on there. I honestly don't know his views on politics, whether he supports the war or not, but I 100 percent support his choice being there. I find it hard to understand how someone can look down, or rip on someone for joining. Just for the fact that they don't bealive in Bush, and whats going on in government. Even if you don't agree with the war in iraq thats all good and great, but these people are joining and even if not in iraq. In other parts of the world they are protecting our lazy ass lifestyle we have here.

One other thing. As I said my brother went to college and graduated then joined up. All the people lumping everyone who joins into uneducated rednecks or whatever really need to get out of whatever box there living in, and look around every now and then.

[Wtfiku]

Joined and cant wait to get out.

Why ppl join military?

A stable job with stable income. Enough for you to buy a house after a few years in service ( for Midwest ppl mostly ). You can go shopping with military discount.

The best part is you get to spend other people tax money including your own.

[anoush]

Not everyone is as close minded as you seem to be and believe in world issues, not just american issues. While this may not be doing shit for america, i'm sure there's a country with quite a few people that'll be glad we're doing what we are. Maybe not now or even in the next 10 years, but when the dust settles this will have been a good thing on a global scale.

I might sound a little jaded. But i'd like to think that something good can come of it. I was all for getting rid of saddam and his kids, but i'm sure we need to get out of there asap as well.

haha have you ever watched anything but FOX NEWS in your life?

im sorry for your lack of education and your feeble minded ways

I can't stand the news and don't watch it, I dont' watch TV except for House, Boston Legal and a few discovery channel or animal planet things. I do however have friends that've been to iraq and back and say that what you see in the media about everyone hating us over there isn't exactly accurate. While the world will always hate america, from what my friends have said it's we're not as hated by everyone over there as people make it seem, just the radical's.

I'm not saying that this is entirely accurate either, so don't get your panties in a bunch. I don't like politics, I don't care for the news or much when it comes to global issues that don't really concern me. Was just saying what i've been told by a few people that've been there is that it's not as bad as people make it out to be.

As for the 'feeble minded ways' comment, I bet that comment was the result of an exceptional mind for sure. If you want to be clever, you should try a little harder.

yeah, i'm not trying to clever nor do I desire forumalte some 30 minute rebuttle so. long story short: you were wrong about your assumption and i was calling however you obtained that idea/theory (aka FOX NEWS) horseshit. This war is NOT helping the Iraqi situation because, the majority of the people would LOVE to see the withdrawal of American troops (and I'm not just making that up). Although I cannot prove this fact, I believe this war is based on corporate gain and lies on behalf of administration.

You mention in 10 years Iraqi people being happy with our actions and "this may not be doing shit for america". They said the same 10 year long term deal, 4 years ago yet everyday secertian and civil war violence increase and take the lives of hundreds almost daily with no sign of improvement. Sure, Saddam was a crazy motherfucker who needed to be hung but he atleast had a tight grip on the place so shit like this wouldn't break out. Looking at a few different statistics, there has been over 100,000 Iraqi casualties directly caused by the war. More than 3,500+ American troops killed, which is more American deaths than that caused by 9/11 (just a note). So with this in mind, I don't think the Iraqi public sure as hell didn't benefit from these events and the general American public? I'm doubtful as well (has only brought me and my friends grief). But maybe Halliburton


As for people joining the military and etc, if you wanna go for it. you know the risks and benefits and your life is your choice. so if you believe in it or get economic, moral satisfaction out of it, GL bro.

[Jerseyprophet]

For the barracks parties and having CQ the day before a three day weekend (on pay day).



(Army people, can I get a fuck yea?)

[Stee]

Some of the people commenting within this thread are complete idiots. People who join the military are mentally dumb? No matter how much of a big shot your stupid ego has you believe there are always people a lot more smarter then your sorry asses. There will always be people who believe your job is equally as lowly as how you believe military jobs are right now. The very fact is those within the military are protecting your way of life, if it wasn't for the military there probably would be a large man with scabs all over his body screwing your bloody shit packed corpse.

Secondly just because someone prefers another path then what you believe is the right one doesn't give you the right to insult them or try to push your beliefs onto them. The people who are insulting those within the military reminds me of those who take religion too seriously. Someone has a belief that is different then yours and doesn't even harm your beliefs in any way and you choose to seek annihilation of their existence. Stupid idiots.

[Venture]

You only worked really from 6:30 to 7:30, then 9:00 to 11:30, then from 1:00 to 3:00 while in garrison, anyhow. Minus all weekends and holidays unless, rarely, there was a field exercise that weekend. Never planned a exercise on a holiday, though. My very first active unit, if you finished everything you had for that day, you just ninja'd to the barracks for the rest of the day and showed back up at 5 PM for final formation. Married guys who lived off-post in your squad or team came with you. Back in 1999, it was all about the Goldeneye tournaments at like 3 PM in the afternoon, hell yeah.

During the weekend or after-hours before evening the barracks halls would be full of gunfire and explosions from four-way Goldeneye blasts. That game was awesome back in the days! Now I think it's SOCOM. Always was one barracks deathmatch, wherever I went. The barracks I was in in South Korea had Unreal Tournament and Quake 3 LAN parties. Communications branch. Bunch of geeks.

[Demosthenes11]

you were wrong about your assumption and i was calling however you obtained that idea/theory (aka FOX NEWS) horseshit. This war is NOT helping the Iraqi situation because, the majority of the people would LOVE to see the withdrawal of American troops (and I'm not just making that up). Although I cannot prove this fact, I believe this war is based on corporate gain and lies on behalf of administration.

"Your facts with a backed up source are wrong, listen to dan rather more! Here is my x-files theory which has way more ground than yours!"