Joining the military?

[JohnnyZ]

No offence man, you're a war vet and you've seen some shit obviously, but I'm asking this to people who haven't seen the terrors of war. Who haven't killed.

[Mississippi Steve]

JohnnyZ.... its not about "taking a life", its about saving lives.....and there are more than just 4 branches of service. I have not killed, but I gave 22 years of my life in the service of my country. When I got my draft card, I was on USCGC Glacier in the Bearing Sea. I have traveled the world, and have gotten training and education in any number of different fields as a result of my service.

If I could offer a word of advice, before you continue with the line that your trying to get folks to bite off on, I suggest that you personally walk a mile in my shoes or any other vets shoes, so that you can speak from first hand experience, instead of spouting idealist ramblings.

[Coelho]

coelho, unelss those men were drafted, they had a choice.

I agree... and this is the choice Spoken Word is facing right now. But he must be aware of all the risks involved in this choice. Of course joining the military doesnt mean one will actually go to war, and even going to war doesnt mean one will die or get mutilated or incapacitated. But this are real risks that must be considered before choosing.

that is a choice that military men/women make on behalf of something bigger than themselves.

"Something bigger than themselves" like "freedom", "america", things like this? Well... they are just ideas, concepts... while one's life is real. But each one does whatever it wants with its own life...

so people can sit at home and be pacifists!

And yet, if everybody sat at home and were pacifists, there would be no wars, cause no one would be willing to fight them...

but those men/women that died for this county gave their life (once agian, not including the draftees). those are the true heroes. (...) but it is those people that defend those freedoms that we so enjoy. regardless of whether you or anyone else believes in the cause there are 17,18,19 year old kids dying overseas, doing as they are told. and that deserves supporting.

Well... from what i remember from world history, most (if not all) wars the usa fought at the last centuries were NOT to defend itself from a foreign invasion, but to attack other countries... and many (if not most) of this countries hadnt even attacked the usa in any way... so all this "defending the freedom" thing sounds like propaganda instead reality...
BTW the government of your country is the one which can take most of your personal freedom (and it seems it is already doing this), but no one seems to notice it...

[the image reaper]

I've been shot at, twice, in my own home town (close-distance, and point-blank, with deadly intent), and that was just a drunken biker thing ... would I have a problem killing an enemy soldier, in wartime ? hell, no, not one bit of hesitation :wt ... would I suffer later from depression and guilt ? ... probably, but I'd still be above ground, with time to get over it ... :smokin:

[JohnnyZ]

Steve, I think you missed the point of my "idealistic ramblings". It's great you got to see the world and shit, but you didn't need to join the military to do that. I'm gunna go traveling for a few months this winter, see the world, learn some shit too and not get blown up by a roadside IED.

I'm being a realist by the way. I never said that I don't condone the army or that in a time of war, given the right circumstances, that I myself wouldn't volunteer. I'm asking if the guy has the balls to kill someone in combat. That's it. Plain and simple. Either you can handle it or you become a regular to a psychologist and some expensive Pfizer anti-depressants.

[Spoken Word]

coelho maybe you should sit this one out. this guy wants our opinions about joining the military, not your opinion on America fighting wars. we can debate that somewhere else....

yea...it's like certain people automatically assume a military job is killing people....and organizing people in body pyramids....i'm pretty critical, but even i know there is plenty more to the military. and this is why im having trouble joining, cause im not alone with this sentiment.

steve, there are only 4 brances to the military... i've spoken to enough recruiters to know....the peace corps isn't part of the armed services....

guys, there's plenty more to the military than killing people.:hippy:

[Spoken Word]

errr, correction...h4h cleared something up for me....the coast gaurd is part of the armed services. haha i was wondering what that acronym standed for. hmmmm i might join the coast gaurd, i have to look up info on them. sorry for the misunderstanding, steve.

so that's 5 branches of the military. what about the national gaurd?

[headshake]

if i'm not mistaken that's the army reserves. and i think the air national guard is the air force reserves. and technically the USMC falls under the department of the navy.


-shake

[Mississippi Steve]

errr, correction...h4h cleared something up for me....the coast gaurd is part of the armed services. haha i was wondering what that acronym standed for. hmmmm i might join the coast gaurd, i have to look up info on them. sorry for the misunderstanding, steve.

so that's 5 branches of the military. what about the national gaurd?

THe National Guard is part of the Army Reserves.

FWIW, the US Coast Guard is the only military service that is a law enforcement agency, complete with powers of arrest.

I would highly recommend the Coast Guard for those looking to enlist, because they are very big on cross training. Because the CG is so small, everybody has to know everybody elses job in case they get hurt, or whatever. Any bonehead can join the Army or Marines....they are always looking for cannon fodder. And....no... the Coast Guard doesn't just stay around the US coast.

[the image reaper]

I would have recommended the Coast Guard, but the point was made, that he had some 'issues' that narrows his choices ... USCG is the most difficult branch to get into ... long waiting lists, too ... I tied the USCG entrance exam record score in 1968 (brag ), but went into Army instead :wtf: ... Coast Guard is pretty hard to get into, even harder than the Air Force ...