who wants to join the United States Army? or Learn more about the military in iraq?
408099
I don't understand your question so I am gonna stab at an answer. People join the Army and other military groups for various reasons. I can bet you none signed up 4-5 years ago with the intention of going to Iraq. \n\nIraq happens to be the conflict we are fighting now. We have not had a conflict since the first Gulf war.\n\nNow the reason a lot of young men and women sign up for the Army is because there is a GI bill for education that they want to take advantage of. Some sign up because there is a career field they want to get into, but don't have the experience or schooling to get into it. \n\nSay a person wanted to be a policeman out of high school. What city would hire this individual, no experience and too young?  Probably none, if this individual did not have enough money to go to college take the course necessary to become a policeman, what better place to go than the Army to become a military Policeman, now while this person is training to become a military policeman they are getting paid, have a place to stay, get three meals a day and free medical care. Where else could you get all this training and the benefits I have named for a 3 year commitment?\n\nNow let's be real if there is a combat confict that break out, this individual will be required to go and could not get out of his/her obligation. \n\nOnce the commitment is up, now this person has 3 years of experience of doing actual police work plus military police school, now what city would hire him/her? Most any would. They might be required to attend the Police Academy of the city they want to work with, but what a difference now than showing up our of high school.\n\nThe same can be said of a person that wanted to attend college. Suppose they had no money to attend college and did not want to go through the junior college route. They could spend 3 years in the Army accumulate money through their GI bill and after they got out have enough money to attend college, if they had to workl to supplement their GI bill money they would have learned a trade in the Army so they could get a job while attending college.\n\nSo as you can see there are many reasons for joining the Army, I have touched on just two. Not to say they would be a lot more mature and perhaps would not ask questions such as this.\n\nYou might not want to have anything to do with the military or Army, but there are many that see this as a means to getting into a career or getting a college education.  Just remember, presently you are not required to enlist in the Army as we don't have a draft now. If you are 18 you must register, but there is no draft. I think America should have a draft.\n\nI think travel is great, you have a few weeks off called leave and since you are already in Iraq, why not travel to India or some other country nearby so you can have a taste of another culture. There are advantages to be in an overseas area, even if there is combat going on. \n\nI hope this has been of some help to you, good luck
246111
We are training Iraqi armed forces as well as police as an ongoing project.  The country has many internal problems between the different factions there.  The insurgents trying to incite a Civil War does not make the situation any better.  Almost daily we hear about attacks against the Iraqi Police, it is amazing that there are even people who want those jobs.  Things will eventually stabilize and the Iraqi's will be able to take over.
732821
I so agree with you bro, I went to Iraq in 2004 and I was in Baghdad for a year. I'm currently in college and I love my country and I love the army, but Iraq was a huge mistake It's a fucking mess over there. I hope american leaders will wake up and realize the sooner we leave the better, because its only gonna get worse over there. I prey that no more of our countrys children will have to endure anymore torture over there because this war doesn't benefit anyone. BRING THE TROOPS HOME, and OBAMA FOR 2008.
974271
Whatever the political reasons were that we went to Iraq, how many people can argue that the people over there that are willing to try and build a civilized and organized government are much better off? Its a war, people die, goals are chieved and failed, thats what its all about. Did we invade their country? I don't think so, since the new government there is asking us to stay. I don't know if I'm the only one thats noticed, but 80% of the people opposed to the war are either parents concerned with the well being of their kids in the military, or people who aren't and never were part of the military in their entire life. People join the military to fight in wars and defend their homeland, thats what the military does, if you join the military with expectation of not being put into harm or for a free ride through college, thats your own fault, do not join the militarty unless you want and are fully ready to go to war.
1015674
I feel our president is on track with Iraq.  It's a touch and go situation right now but from what I have seen and read I feel we are on track.  If it were possible I would like to see Iraqi troops and police taking over more responsibility of there country and maybe help them more than we have to accomplish this goal.  We know they want there freedom, are willing to die for it and hope we can help them achieve there goals.  So other than that there is not much I would or would try to change.  I have faith in our military and our president's actions.\n\nGood question.
1070240
They joined the Military to do one thing and one thing only.  DEFEND AMERICA FROM FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC ENEMIES.  If you don't want to fight in a war, then don't join the Military.  I spent 8 years in the field of Special Operations, and know the sacrifices that have to be made by service members.  I support whatever the President of The United States calls for concerning the U.S. Military.
739407
No, the Iraqi people no longer want American or any other countries soldiers there.  We cannot force a true Democracy, especially when we do not have one ourselves.  People want to live with "their own kind".  That does not mean they do not want to interact politically.  \n\nWe are killing a maiming our own young people because G. Bush refuses to correct his mistake in going into Iraq.  There were other ways to get rid of Saddam Hussein without ruining Iraq.\n\nThe Iraqi people did not attack us, it was the Saudi Arabians.  We did not go in and take them out.\n\nYou also cannot police the whole world.
13206
I think at the beginning of 2007, our troop levels will be below 100,000.  Reason:  More Iraqi Military units are becoming self-sufficient.  They will be equipped better by then with vehicles and armor.  The Iraqi people will rather be policed by their own than outsiders.  Recruiting will be hurting, because the Army fell short for FY 2005.  They just sent out 80,000 letters to everyone who left the Army within the last 5 years saying we want you back.  The Army tapped into the  FY 2006 delayed entry pool to meet FY 2005 numbers, and they still fell short.  Stress on the force and equipment will take a huge toll.  Stress on the families that have their Service Members away 2 out of the last 3 years.  As our coalition partners pull out, it will put pressure on the US politicians to draw down.  As the presenditial elections heat up in 2008, the Republicans will have to draw down to get reelected.  Hope this helps.
881872
Here's a start:\n\nhttp://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/armymilacademy.htm?...+admission.   But, the guys above are correct.
693330
I have been thinking that way for a long time. there are some dodgy questions being asked. a couple i have seen, How Many Exactly US troops in Iraq.How do you get to a certain navel station. How many tanks has US got in Iraq. Do you know when a certain Division is about to be moved over to Iraq. these are just some of the ones i think are suspicious.
908423
I want to thank all the men & women serving in the Armed Forces wheather they are oversea's or on our home land. Especialy  my son-in-law Pat who is in Iraq on his 2nd tour. His wife (my daughter) and their 2 children miss him very much and wishes him a safe return soon!!) We love you!! Hurry Home!!
795219
I'm not jumping on the democratic mind frame. However I am having some serious questions about just how much the Iraqis them self want change. I know people that are in Iraq right now. During Ramadan the Iraqi soldiers did not get paid. So they just packed up and left the base. Leaving our guys to have a skeleton crew trying to hold the base down. This makes me wonder if our guys are giving their lives for Iraqis that are only in it for the money. Well than maybe I do need to take another look.
715853
I served for 20 years and retired in '92.  One of the things we noticed during the run-up to Desert Storm was the number of people all over Europe, I was assigned to CINCUSNAVEUR support in London, who were screaming "Wait! We didn't know we might have to go to WAR!"  That was from people with 8 or 10 years in.  All we career types could say was "You're in the military, what did you think we were here for?"  If there is a good thing about the Iraqi conflict, which I opposed from the start, it is that our young service men and women have a clear understanding of for what they are signing up.  The young people who put their lives on the line for the rest of us are truly the best of our best.  I just wish our National Leadership valued them as they deserve.
996312
This is the first I've heard of this.  Two years is still a long time for the troops to be there, but without fighting?  That's very interesting, and it probably won't happen.  If the "insurgents" are talking to the Iraqi government, who is then relaying the information to the US, that's even more interesting.\n\nIt will be worth watching this unfold since Bush refuses to sit down and talk with terrorists while the left has always been for negotiating with them.  Quite interesting.
1034304
The page below is a contact where the army will answer any questions you have by email.\n\nhttp://www.goarmy.com/contact/email_us.jsp
1056621
Pancha,\n\nI have never agreed with a word you have said on this website, but I can answer this question for you. Don't listen that ***** enlightenment. That is the dumbest crock of sh*t I have ever heard. MOST vets will tell you that there time in the military was extremely rewarding and taught them many life skills. Everything I have in this world, I owe to the skills the Army taught me. The friends you make will be lifelong, and the bond you share will be unparalleled - especially if you deploy to Iraq with them.\n\nWe in the National Guard have a saying: If you haven't been to Iraq yet, you will be going soon. The figure is close to 75% of all National Guard members nationwide have been to Iraq. I am getting ready to go again in October.\n\nService in Iraq is not ANYTHING like the liberal media would have you believe. It is statistically the safest war the United States has ever deployed anyone to. With over 500,000 military members having gone and around 2400 have died, that means you have a 99.9942% chance of making it back to the United States alive. Pretty damn good odds in this soldiers book.\n\nWe are doing a lot of good things over there that you NEVER hear about.\n\n* The media would have you believe that everyday Iraqis don't want us there. Nothing could be further from the truth. They want us to finish the job and leave when it is done - not sooner.\n* The media would have you believe that Iraq is close to civil war. Again, this is untrue. The violence is merely painted in such a way as to give that illusion. Most Iraqis want peace and the opportunity to succeed - NOT civil war.\n* The media would have you believe there is a deadly "insurgency" in Iraq. By definition, an insurgency is filled with citizens of an occupied nation. Iraq is not occupied, and the "insurgents" are all from other countries. My unit was responsible for transporting prisoners last year and 95% of all detainees captured were from Saudi Arabia or Jordan or Syria or Egypt or Yemen or a host of other countries. Most speak English very well (a tip off right there that they are not Iraqi) and will tell you that most of the "insurgents" are foreign.\n\nDuty in Iraq is not bad, and most find it very rewarding. Many of the Guardsmen from my unit who just returned at the beginning of this year have volunteered to go back in October.\n\nHow soon after your Basic Combat Training (BCT or just Basic) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) might you go? Depends on your unit. If they have not gone to Iraq or not gone in a while, they may be going soon. It is also possible you could get assigned to go with another unit if they need your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS - your job). This is the absolute WORST scenario. You would rather go with people you know, people you trust with your life. So, I guess the answer is you might get tapped to go just weeks after you graduate Basic and AIT or you might never go.\n\nEither way, good luck.\n\nm1a1mikegolf - Actually, you are incorrect. EVERY enlistment is for eight years. If Pancha signs for three years, five years will be done in the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve). This means that while she is not actively drilling with the National Guard, she is still subject to recall. But, yes, she can do a three year enlistment and then leave the Guard.
533403
The Iraqi people don't want the US there. The US is well overdue to come home. The soldiers are just doing their job, granted. But there is a distinct line between  a false liberation and an illegal occupation.