Is Joining The Military Stupid?

Also, serving in the military isn't all about war either. There are many times when it's the US military that is called to action in times of natural disasters around the world. The US Coast Guard is part of the military and one of their main jobs is search and rescue. US Navy ships keep supplies on hand in cases of natural disasters. Military pilots are involved in many actions that don't involve war including fighting wild fires and helicopter rescues.

Many of you here say only the ignorant join the military. You're the ignorant ones. All military officers have already attended and graduated college with degrees. Some have moved on to masters degrees in various fields. Some enlisted service members started their college courses while in the military and left the service already with an associated or BA degree and continued on to a university to finish their studies. My dad and uncles all served in the Navy. Instead of trying to push me towards the Navy, they waited until I said I wanted to join before talking to me to make sure I knew what I was getting myself into. My dad even came with me to talk to the recruiter. I wonder how many of you are from the San Francisco Bay area to have such an ingnorant view of the military?

 

Really gardnener? You can choose to not do something in the military. You may get punished for disobeying a lawful order, you may get a dishonorable discharge, but you can choose not to do something. If your convictions are that strong you can refuse. Soldiers and sailors do it all the time. One guy on my ship was so scared of combat that he laid in his rack and refused to move. When we tried to drag him out he threatened assault charges. He was removed from his rack and taken to sick call and transferred off the ship. He served out his punishment at a shore command before being discharged. Also, if the order you receive is an illegal order you have a right to disobey that order as long as you do it in a respectful manner. We used that loophole all the time. Works as long as you know the rules and stay within the limits of the rules.

 

yeah join follow orders of people you dont know or care about get abused then maybe if your lucky you can kill some humans from a third world nation. semper fi

 

Yes.

 

Or you can rescue and save the lives of people in third world countries like the military did after the tsunami in Asia and the massive flooding in the Yucatan and as they're currently doing with the floods in Iowa.

 

It depends. Fighting fascism is not stupid. World War II was not stupid because we fought fascists. So I can't say Dad was stupid.

Vietnam was stupid, but they MADE most of those guys go, didn't they? And they knew it was stupid. And they were fighting to keep from getting their ass shot. Not stupid. Not the troops, anyway.

JOINING THE MILITARY TO FIGHT A WAR FOR SHRUB IS STUPID.
STUPID. STUPID. STUPID.

 

I read somewhere that one of the soldiers who killed one of Saddam Hussein's sons is currently working at a car wash. During the Administration of Ronald Reagan I read that one third of homeless men were combat veterans of the War in Vietnam. Combat training has very little transfer value to civilian employment.

Those who talk about how projecting American military power in parts of the world where it is not wanted, such as Vietnam and Iraq, somehow defends our "freedom" frequently want to restrict our freedom here at home by restricting civil liberties, and by preventing the legalization of a drug as comparatively save as marijuana.

 

I read somewhere that one of the soldiers who killed one of Saddam Hussein's sons is currently working at a car wash. During the Administration of Ronald Reagan I read that one third of homeless men were combat veterans of the War in Vietnam. Combat training has very little transfer value to civilian employment.

Those who talk about how projecting American military power in parts of the world where it is not wanted, such as Vietnam and Iraq, somehow defends our "freedom" frequently want to restrict our freedom here at home by restricting civil liberties, and by preventing the legalization of a drug as comparatively safe as marijuana.

I have debated on another website with those who claimed that because the soldiers and Marines fighting in Iraq were defending my freedom, that I should not have the freedom to criticize what they were doing.

 

Dave, don't even waste your time trying to explain the value of serving your country to people that couldn't care less. This country has degenerated to levels we should all be ashamed of. Most of those against war for any reason (11% of the population), are tree hugging worthless hippies in the entertainment field. The rest are just cowards using any excuse to justify ignoring the call of their nation. Both of my sons have done two tours in Iraq, and my best friends son came home last month, and we buried him. The world has always been governed by military force. Always. Those that seek to change this are living in some imaginary utopian paradise in their mind. They can cry about war. They can cry about Bush. But they don't have a clue just how brutal and harsh the world is outside of their borders. Perhaps they haven't watched Americans getting their heads sawed off. Or perhaps they just feel no allegiance for the greatest country in the world. Unfortunately, our soldiers can not pick and choose who to defend. I think EVERYONE should do two-foour years right out of high school, or the moment they turn 18. Then the entire country would know what the world is about. Instead, we are entertaining a bunch of worthless yuppies living on their daddys' ticket. They are self absorbed, and have no idea how to spell chivalry, much less know what it means. Honor is a brand of shirt to them. The days when America had principles and was happy to defend those that couldn't defend themselves, died when congress refused to honor our agreements with south Vietnam, leaving them to be over-run by communists in black pajamas. The all mighty dollar is all todays youth recognizes as significant and worthy of fighting for. Don't waste your time explaining to these ungrateful imbeciles the value of military training. They would rather conduct themselves like children the rest of their lives and never grow up. All we can do is pat them on the head, send them off to work at Star Bucks, and hope and pray that a few good ones like yourself have our backs. Because the comments I have read in here are disgusting, and typically liberal rhetoric. And a lib wouldn't know which end of a rifle was the business end anyway. They'd rather lubricate it and do something vile, or use it for a support in their flower gardens. But don't think the rest of the country isn't grateful for your sacrifice. Most of us appreciate your efforts, and your service to your country. The ones that don't can spin. They'll be whining about something from now on anyway.

Those of you that think only your government can take away your freedom have never had a Viet Cong bayonette plunged into your side. And have never had a holier than thou Afghan blowing chunks of rock away inches from your head with an AK-47. We have had many many further terrorist attempts in the U.S. since 9-11. And we have stopped them all. But it is pretty apparent that strikes are possible right here on our own soil. We are at war NOW. Just how long do you think America can sustain itself with anti-war whiners and rainbow coalitions marching naked in the streets? My youngest may indeed see the fall of the United States. If not him, then my grandchildren for sure. Because the generation inheriting this nation has lost its' identity. They are learning nothing in public schools, and at home it is easier to dismiss them with a 50 and send them to the movies for the night, than answer their questions and raise them properly. There will not be a TRI-centennial at this rate. No way. Obama wants to down size our military already. Who will stop our enemies? Our worst enemy is ourselves, for tolerating this liberal tripe being taught in our centers of academia by the likes of Ward Churchill and others. I long for the days when people like that disappeared, and we didn't know or want to know how our secret services were protecting the nation. Only that we were protected and the mightiest force on the planet. And gas was 35 cents a gallon too. Of course, that means little to crocheting peaceniks with their global warning erections. Little until someone in black pajamas knocks on their door in the middle of the night, and America as we know it is over. And so is their life.

Oh my...was I ranting? lol. I really only came to this forum to escape the political ones. It seems I just couldn't resist. But I'm not sorry.

 

You don't think Saddam was a fascist? He tortured millions and murdered women and children in horrible ways you couldn't imagine. If you don't think Iraq was a threat, I wonder what saddam was doing with the 550 metric tons of uranium that just got shipped to Canada. Of course, CNN wouldn't tell you about that anymore than they would tell you that our unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in 40 years. Some of you people are media sheep and need to wake up.

http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/07/07/iraqi_uranium_transferred_to_canada/afp/

 

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It is never stupid to do something for what you believe in.

If you believe in this country and what it stands for then join, but with your attitude I would say don't join. The Marines only want the best. (And that would include those willing to risk death for what they believe which I don't think you would be willing to do)

My two cents

 

The marines want the best?

The marines want people who can kill anyone and feel no remorse.

I don't think that's the best....IMO that's the worst.

 

as some one who bought the lies that the recruiter told me, yeah, its stupid.

The fast are clear: if they tell you something and its not in writing they its not true. The collage money they tell you you can get? First you have to pay in to a fund 100$ per month for a year, be in the military for so long and most people wont get a degree because the funds don't materialize like they were promised. They will tell you what ever it takes to get you to sogn, but once your in, your fucked.

 

The yellow cake you are talking about was not weapons grade, but what Bush agreed to provide the Saudis who were most of the terrorists involved in 09/11 probably will be as to the number of people killed by Sadaam, it can't hold a candle to the civilian lives lost during this conflict.

 

Once should ask rather, why Canada? They are largest provider of petroleum to the US, now are they going to also provide our yellow cake?

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/us-ships-iraqs-yellowcake-to-canada

Perhaps to jump start the additional nuclear plants McCain wants to build. And just who stands to profit?

Have the McCain's, Cheney's, Bush's, Kerry's, Clinton's bought stock, perhaps we should have the same insider information so we can invest. I'd love to see full disclosure so we know why people promote what they do.

Except of course we have no disposable income any longer, we have to buy groceries, medical care, car insurance, and fuel.

 

Yeah you can also be court martialed or executed.

 

Not true. And doesn't need to be true today. This isn't a football game or a competition as to who is better. It's about respecting all live and saying no to insane violence to preserve the power of a few.

Think of the great teachings of all religions.

Hard to preach war if you follow those tenants.

The only heathen enemies of society you didn't mention with glee were the red indians, and canabalist natives mentioned in the Tarzan books or movies.

Why do we view beheading as more barbaric than electroction or gassing, or Shock and Awe. Because the individual is never personally involved in the execution? Do that make it more civilized. Murder is murder whether it be by government edict, or during war.

If you take the oath and become part of the armed forces you agree to following orders and in many cases it involves taking human life. That's why they arm you. Think before you join.

 

So, we really ARE living in Hell then? Absolutely nothing can be done about it so just get over it? If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em?
God, I think I'll just go kill myself now...

 

think what would happen if noone joined the military, ever.

 

What do you mean not true? When, has the world ever been managed other than with war? There have been wars since man first utilized tools and found he could hunt with them. So yes it is true. Your psuedo-hindu view is eactly the utopian complex I was referring to.

Great teachings of all religions? I do not know what religion you associate with, but mine (Christianity) is dedicated to a God that commands the Israelites to enter Babylon and slaughter everything that moves. Men, women, children, and even the livestock. My God condones war when it is necessary, obviously.

Since you have ventured there, and someone has made the comment about giving up, I'll just say that in my religion, the U.S. (eagle) is not mentioned in advanced prophesy. Only the bear (gog-russia) and the dragon (magog-china) are mentioned. It seems the eagle has fallen at some point. And it is my belief that we falter from within, because of these peace mongers that are oblivious to the horrors of the real world. Try taking a stroll through the streets of Somalia, or Sudan. Go stand for five minutes on a corner in Mogadishu. Take off your hat in any dusty town in Pakistan or afghanistan, and see how long it is before you are kidnapped and beheaded.

We are at war. Not with principled peoples, or over oil or land. We aren't even fighting for rights actually. We are in a struggle against evil. We are attempting to liberate a people from monsters that live in the stone age. Often the peoples we are trying to help don't understand our intentions. I'd like to see you convince them about wurled peas. lol. You will hear Allah Akbar, and then feel the knife split your throat like warm butter until it bounces off your spine. And the only way to deal with these monsters is to eliminate them, because they can not be rehabilitated before they shed the blood of thousands more. So wake up. Get real.

I haven't given up. But I am a realist, just the same. I won't delude myself. If just reading the texts in this forum isn't enough to show you the hopeless state of part of our population, you truely are living in a dream world. Or it may take more American blood spilled on our own streets to make people put down their bongs and pay attention. In any case, it isn't looking good right now.