Thinking of Joining the Army!

[underOATH!]

If I were you young man I would not join the Army or the Marines until this sorry war is over for you might end up dying or getting wounded for nothing in a lost cause. I would choose a nice cushy job in the Air Force or as they say the Chair Force right now . Nothing against those wonderful men and women in all branches of the service I just would not risk dying in another Vietnam quagmire like Bushes War..

Call me crazy but I want to go to war. If you do die then what more honorable way to go than to die for your country.

 

[StromRider]

Call me crazy but I want to go to war. If you do die then what more honorable way to go than to die for your country.

You are crazy

Dieing in a war to save your country or the world from tyranny is one thing. Dying in an unnecessary, immoral war that was started for invalid reasons is another. Serving lying, selfish, uncaring political masters is not the same as serving your country.

 

[pinqy]

you do die then what more honorable way to go than to die for your country.

"The object of war is not to die for your country. It's to make the other poor sorry [expletive deleted] die for theirs." Patton

 

[TheReasoner]

Call me crazy but I want to go to war. If you do die then what more honorable way to go than to die for your country.

I'd say that depends wholly on why you are fighting for your country.
If you are an invading force, or oppressing the population of your own or another nation, then you should have deserted a long time ago. Dying for such a nation is worthless and meaningless.

However... Dying fending off an invading or oppressing force, now that is where an "honroable" death is at.
The best alternative is always to live for your nation.
Now I have served, and if we're invaded I'll fight. Our freedom did not come cheap, and I'll fight to keep what we have. But if my nation were to decide to invade someone else... To start a war, oh I'd desert in a second. I'll fight, kill and die for my nation. But I will ONLY do so when it is the last option.

 

[3girls2dogs]

I think it is important to remember that everything you do, MOS-wise, is for the "good of the military" they can put you whereever they want if they have to. Trust me, we have learned from experience.

You will be able to choose your preferences, but there is no guarantee you will get them, and from everything I hear from PMO here, it isn't the dream job they thought it would be anyway. They stand gate guard for 12 hours at a time, and here in the summer it is 115 almost every day. And when we were in NC, it was raining like 75% of the time. And while butter-bars don't stand gate duty, they will still get the junk jobs...just because you are commissioned doesn't mean you will start at the top.

And as far as the ironing...the Marines are the strictes in their appearance, but the new camis don't have to be ironed or even dry-cleaned (yay for the budget).

I think it is vital to go into the military expecting to not always get what you want, or you will always, I mean ALWAYS, be dissappointed. The military wife motto is Semper Gumby..."always flexible". Our motto isn't "always predictable" or "always the same" so that should give you a hint at what you are in for.

My husband's Master Sergeant (E8) is being sent somewhere he doesn't want to go, having been promised to be here until retirement next year. And it doesn't get much higher up enlisted-wise than that. We love the military life, don't get me wrong, and my husband could never be anything other than a Marine, but I see you young people wanting to enlist (or be commisioned) and expecting everything to go your way, and I can only see some serious disappointment in the near future for you.

And as far as one poster saying the Army does all the work....don't be so cocky. All the branches of the services work their tails off, and all Army-Marine joking banter aside, it is an insult to all the hard working servicemen and women to negate their constant sacrifice. My husband, a Marine, has deployed on a regular basis, always, even in times of peace and is constantly having to qualify for every aspect of his job every year. I found that comment extremely offensive.

 

[BourbonFromHeaven]

You are crazy

Dieing in a war to save your country or the world from tyranny is one thing. Dying in an unnecessary, immoral war that was started for invalid reasons is another. Serving lying, selfish, uncaring political masters is not the same as serving your country.

This actually quite offensive to those of us, that have lost friends to the war on terror

 

[StromRider]

This actually quite offensive to those of us, that have lost friends to the war on terror

I am sorry for those who have lost friends or loved ones in this conflict, but it doesn't change my views on the war or the political leadership of the US.

As a former soldier I know very well that they don't set policy, they only suffer the consequences of it.

Every time I see the tv news honour 'fallen heroes' I seeth with anger and wipe a tear away. Every lost or maimed life in this conflict should never have happened.

My harsh words were directed at those thinking of joining the military at this time to rethink their positions given the ideas and actions of this current regime.

I would consider changing or withholding my views on the war to be more of an insult to the fallen. Are they not defending the right of someone like myself, an immigrant, a permanent resident, and future citizen, to say what I want?

 

[EricCartman]

I was in Iraq and I don't consider my service to have been unnecessary or immoral. But back on topic, I am no longer active duty, but I did serve for five years and if you have any questions you can ask me. My advice is only join the army if you are interested in being in the army. You have to soldier and you will have to fight. All this talk about wavers and not being deployed is nonsense. Especially if you’re an MP. There will be no time for school after you’re in and no time for other occupations, that will be your life. And with the stop-loss policy it may well be a career decision you are making. So just don't treat it like a stepping stone to get somewhere else. It would be in all likelihood your final destination. We are at war, not just with the terrorist in Iraq but world-wide, and their is no evidence that we will cease to be at war in our lifetime.



p.s I loved it.