For all those getting ready to enlist

[skibunny4dean]

I found this website that gives you some pretty good questions to ask recruiters.

If the military is such a great opportunity, why are there military members who have to use foodstamps to feed their families?

Why do people of color represent 1/3 of all enlisted people, but only 1/8 of all officers?

Why do 65% of military personnel who pay $100 each month into the GI Bill receive nothing?

Why are 1/3 of all homeless people veterans?

If military “high-tech” job training is so great, why do only 12% of male recruits and 6% of female recruits ever use their military training in a civilian job?

Why are rapes and other assaults on women an on-going crisis in the military?

What’s the point of participating in the GI Bill when you can actually receive more money by applying for Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and other sources of financial aid?

Why does the government ask us to “support the troops” while it cuts benefits for Veterans?

Why hasn’t the government come clean about Gulf War Syndrome and the ongoing health problems of veterans, including chronic illnesses and birth defects?

...more power to you if you want to get out and defend the nation, just be sure you know what you're getting into. And never forget to question authority, i.e. BUSH!

[amandae]

1. Used to be part of military poor ...

Hubby made between 15,000 and 18,000 dollars a year while in the USMC ... wouldn't have been bad but we lived off base (on-base housing lists were VERY long) and had an infant daughter. Oh, didn't help that we were stationed in San Diego County. Wanna talk expensive?

I remember the news always covered the holidays for military families ... the lines of military families hoping to get free food for their holiday dinners ....

it's sad. :(

edited to add that we were living off of those figures (15,000 to 18,000 dollars) in the mid to late 1990s.