Do americans who want to join the military not realize they will come back baby-killers and accomplish nothing
413727
The US started this war?  Where do you get your facts from?  I thought it was because S.H. wasn't playing by the rules set forth from the U.N.
552362
I think you are alittle ahead of yourself.  It is much different being in boot camp and I assure you it is much difficult than you think. Just because you can do this and that in the civilian world doesn't mean nothing. Here say from other military people, a friend etc.  is just here say. Look sweetie you do not belong to yourself or your parents when you go into service...the government owns you and tells you what you can and canot do   Do more for our country by helping those less forturnate than you. Go to college or try and open up your own business. Own yourself ok?
817124
Your lifelong dream doesn't include your husband and baby? Sorry, but you now have to put your little dreams second to raising your child for the next 18 years. If a military career was so important, you wouldn't have diverted off your path to get married, get pregnant and have a baby. It's not about what's "best" it's about what's RIGHT.
227281
Because they are what you say they are, jackasses. When I joined the Army, I had to get a person signed up to get extra rank before I went in. I had a buddy who was going to join but before he was even out of high-school, he got his second drunk driving conviction. The Army now would not take him. But a USMC (U.S. Marine Corps) recruiter went to court with him and off my buddy went to the Marines. So to that Marine vet who answered, "because they are", I believe  you are a retard. And since you joined the Marines, my theory is even more supported. At the end of the day, we are all on the same team, but it's over-proud people like that who give the military in general a bad name. To all of you who are thinking about joining the military, unless your dad was a Marine and would disown you for joining the Army, don't join the Marines. The Army is no cake walk, but your quality of life will be much better in the Army than in the Marines. But as long as you join, you're my brother in my book.
1119756
Most people are shallow (Take me for example - I can admit it!).\nI don't agree with the war, but I support our troops 100%. \nI work in the DoD/MoD field and I speak to grunts (well not Grunts, but their officers mostly) in the dirt everyday. I do my best to give them 100% away from the danger zone in hopes that it will help them come back in one piece.
793982
When you get down to it, the goal of war is to kill the other guy before he kills you right? \n\nSo the only issue is not one of whether or not they are violent. You WANT violent people in the military. It gives them a constructive outlet for those tendancies. It's a matter of whether or not they are capable of serving.  Using criminal offenses or at risk youths as our front line soldiers would have another significant advantage. The PTS disorder would become rather rare. These are kids that have been shot at since a young age.  So nothing new there. In war they get to shoot back and not worry about being arrested. \n\nMost importantly, most crime is a convegence of many factors. Giving people a chance for something other than life in and out of prison then right back to the crime filled neighborhood they came out of is one way to break the cycle for many of these people. Being a soldier is an honorable proffesion. If these kids off the street who are willing were to obtain training and education from the Military in return for risking their lives to protect the country. Then many would avoid lives as career criminals. Many crimes would be prevented. Crime ridden neighborhoods would decline. The cycle broken and a certain number returning to inspire the new generation to get out into the world and see beyond the graffit encrusted walls to the opportunites that await even the poorest American. Hard to see that when every day the cops treat you like a criminal no matter if you are doing anything wrong. When life is a struggle, higher education a pipe dream and opportunity means working a dead end job for low wages until you die or hurt yourself bad enough to earn disability. \n\nSo unless it's a sexual crime or cold blooded murder I'd move all that chose to do so to a sentence in the military. \n\nDetractors like to pretend the military is too complex for "criminals" to understand. Sorry but if farm kids and inner city youths are already doing it then why not more farm kids and inner cities youths which are the bulk of those in prison today not be able to do the same? It's not intelligence, it's a lack of opportunity that creates crime. \n\nThe second issue is one of keeping corruption down in the military. This is a more difficult task. Again it relies on volenteers and the fact that if one of those given alternate sentencing screws up they get a max sentence. Once in for a time, promotions, the potential for retirement, built in discipline and friendships will make them no more likely to commit a crime as a soldier than any other soldier.
23863
Actually, wouldn't you think if they stayed at home with their families that that would be more selfish? It's very noble that they are fighting for their country. Whether or not they're fighting for a stupid cause, that's a different topic. The fact they're willing to lay down their lives is unselfish.
160484
It depends on how long it tkaes to get the job done.One of the major beliefs of the military is to never give up and never surrender.Our soldiers are doing a wonderful job!I have spoken with quite a few and all of them say not to listen to the media.Our soldiers are doing alot more good things than the media will show and or tell.The ones that i have spoken too feel that they are doing the right thing and are working very hard to do what is nessecary.HOOAH to the military!
398909
I am a proud American combat veteran, retired professor, and retired career Army officer. Just as when we were in Vietnam and most of the Cold War period, the normal American people never really notice or care that their country is at war. That is primarily because of our geographic location and separation from the warzone, our tendency to focus on family and jobs, and the lack of any economic impact on their daily lives. It is only the current and former soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors and their families and friends who realize we are at war. The war on terrorism will last until the last SOB that supports terrorism is dead. So this may take a while. Throughout our history, Americans get behind our military and President in fighting our wars for a very short time, then they lose interest, go back to their jobs and daily life and ignore the war until it touches them or their family personally. In the past century, actually since 1898, the US has been involved in many small military incursions, brush-fire wars, and a few big wars. On average, we are in armed conflict about 1 out of every 4 years. But in general the US civilians (realize that we have an all volunteer armed force since 1973) are both unaware and unaffected by the war - unless they have a personal interest in the conflict - usually in the form of a son or daughter risking their lives for the betterment of the rest of the world. Mike
1037723
People get complacent and really don't know how to move forward in what they want out of life.\n\nReally, they don't KNOW what they want.  Therefore, can't go after "it".  They feel stuck.  If someone "feels" stuck, they ARE stuck.  They're receiving a pay check & getting they're bills paid (just or enough) and they're frozen there.  They're safe "enough".\n\nHabits are extremely difficult to change.  Getting up, going to your job everyday & receiving your pay check at the end of the week becomes routine.\n\nThen, when we hit that point where something just isn't sitting right with us (and not really knowing what it is), humans tend to complain about it (they "think" complaining is "doing") and intice others to join forces.  Since there are many that "get stuck" and don't know how or where to seek other options, the troops grow.\n\nAs the troops grow, the number of people complaining "proves" that the complaint is not only justified but out of "their" control.  It must be someone elses "fault" I am in this situation.\n\nThe blame game is very safe for many that don't know that the "power" of their growth is within themself "Only"!  You are the only one that can get you Unstuck.\n\nAll human behavior or lack of it is "fear" based and fear can be very cripling for many.\n\nFor those who are enjoying the challanges and growth that life has to offer, the stuck ones can be very annoying!  But, it could also be you at some point in your life and Never say Never.  You just never know what tomorrow will bring.\n\nAlways, even when it's hard to do, have compasion for those who have less than you do.  Especially if it is emotional strength & direction.
1027205
I admire those that are not mindless zombies ... the few in there capable of thinking for themselves.\n\nBut then, if they were totally capable of thinking for themselves...they wouldn't be in the military. \n\nBasically the military is for low IQ people who cannot get a job anywhere else that requires a thinking creative and individual mind.
969653
wow coming from a female soldier that dose no serve breakfast or do laundry.  I drive and fire big guns.  If you really have an attitude like that you should not be able to enlist in the military we don't need people like you in the military.  It is people with attitudes like you that make it harder for everyone including the guys to do our jobs.  you really don't need to be in the military.  If you don't care if you die then you should just jump in front of a train do us all a favor
1138289
They are probably scared. The thing is you will have to soul search. Alot of young kids join the military today for college, but ulitmately it's still the military, if you are called to duty you must go. It's not just a free ride and never has been, and you shouldn't go in with that mindframe. You join the military to serve your country for a certain amount of time. I joined the Airforce when I was 18 years old and I knew what it entailed. They didn't have the great big enlistment bonus's they offer to the new recruits today when I joined 14 years ago, and they only paid a certain amount for college then too so that wasn't my reason for joining. Alot of my reasoning to join was to get out from under my parents thumb...which is funny since being in the military you are just getting a whole new set of rules , lol. I enjoyed my time in and then got out, I'm proud to say that I served my country and I am still married to a wonderful Airforce sergeant today, it's a good life honestly and we love the traveling!! I wouldn't discourage my daughters from joining, I'd be proud! Good luck, only you can make that descision for your life, do youre research on all the branches and make sure they give you the job you really want, even if you have to wait, dont let them talk you into doing something you'll hate!
941476
No they understand it. Why do they care though? They don't care enough to wave an American flag, Learn our language, Raise their litters to be well behaved members of any society, Learn our culture rather than use ignorance as an excuse to change ours. Or apply for naturalization or citizenship because they truely love the country that is feeding them, providing them with special financing on everyhting from buying and owning property to SBA loans. They ruined their own country look at their water for example so they have now invaded the neighboring one like roaches moving to the next apartment. DON'T MISTAKE what I am saying...MY GRANDPARENTS WERE BORDER JUMPERS...but they where happy and greatful they contibuted served this country in times of war, hung an American flag, learned english and expected nothing. And became LEGAL citizensThey raised their litter (5 children total) to have respect and work hard instead of leech. They put themselves through college and raised their children as AMERICANS because thats what they we are. I chose to take Russian in HS and the only sentance I learned in spanish (as a HS student) Me Gusta Beber Cervesa. I like to drink beer.
937189
They are incredibly egotistical, and naive.\n\nThey would not have the freedom to trash everything America stands for unless the military fought and died for that right.\n\nSome gratitude, huh?\n\n<sigh>
556078
Wrong. \nA lot of them do join the army to become naturalized afterwards.
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.