Talk me out of joining the military.

[landeaugriffin]

I'm male, 22, from Illinois, about to graduate college with a bachelor's degree, and have no immediate plans for the future. I don't know what I want to do for a career, I don't have any "real" job skills, and I'm in desperate need of excitement and adventure. I want to see the world, I want to experience incredible things.

Also, I have some profound need to suffer. Sounds weird? Let me explain. I've grown-up middle class and my parents have paid for most things. I've worked plenty of crappy jobs, but overall, I've had that parental safety net and things have always been mostly comfortable. Call it guilt, or curiousity - but I want to rough it. I want to test myself against challenge and difficulty and adversity. I've never been pushed to the limits and I don't want to go through life without ever being sure of just what I'm "made" of, or what I could've been turned into.


This isn't a trolling thread. It is honest. I just got enough posts to ask, because honestly, I have the nagging feeling the military will suck...but no one I speak with can give me real reasons why. They say I'm "crazy" and foolish and that the military is all bullshit.

Well it probably is...but college has been a lot of nonsense too...and from what I can tell, the business world won't be much better.


I know the pay sucks, but I'd be doing it for the experience. I know you get treated like garbage, but I've come to expect that from most every civilian job too. I know they will "own" me, but if my parents cut me loose...my job and the paychecks will "own" me too. If they don't cut me loose from their financial aid...well then they own me. I know it will be dangerous, but honestly, I don't care. I have no girlfriend or kids or close friends. I know I'll be used for questionable reasons, but that goes for every U.S. citizen. Our tax money, our democracy, and our begrudging acceptance of this war are all the ways we are complicit - I'll just be doing it more up-close and personal than most. I'm leaning towards the infantry of some sort, for the most "ridiculous" experience possible. I just am sick of this humdrum, plodding civilian life and am worried about going through life wondering why I never took the hard road - to see what I'm made of, to learn more about life, and to really find myself.


I know it sounds like my mind is all made up, but it isn't. Those are my whys. Please give me something convincing to the contrary. Paint me a picture of why I'll despise it. I can't tell if I'll be making a fundamental mistake here, b/c like I said - everyone I ask says it will be shitty and not worth it, but can't give specifics as to why. I do oppose the wars, but I feel like whether I fight or not makes little difference. They'll continue, things won't change much, and I might as well stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the guys stuck over there, and suffer as they do.

Thanks for any replies.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Goldmund]

2. You mean if you survive, right?

[Ganja Ninja]

7. Why don't both of you join together?

:shrug:

[matcom]

9. LMAO!!!

12 and 13 posts respectively :rofl:

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[matcom]

19. me either

hell, i'll buy thier bus tickets

[4_Legs_Good]

16. Hee hee

[Lerkfish]

33. the preceding morality theatre production guarantees that no democrats

were harmed or abused during filming.

thank you and please throw away popcorn in the approved receptacles.

[crispini]

3. If you want to see the world, experience incredible things,

and suffer, join the Peace Corps. There will be much less shooting. You will suffer intestinal ailments like you would not believe. You will see the world and experience wonderful things. And, instead of shooting or being shot at, you'll be doing something which is much more difficult: you'll be doing one on one ambassador kind of things to the people all around the world who really need to know that not all Americans are asses. The people you meet will also be educating the crap out of YOU. You will most certainly see what you are made of, will learn more about life, and go a looooong way towards really finding yourself.

Plus, much less possibility of death and serious injury. ;)

[Dora]

6. I second this motion

Peace Corps. If you have to enlist somewhere, enlist here.

[crispini]

14. Yep. Plenty o' suffering.

Of a completely different variety. Suffering of not knowing how to communicate with anybody, suffering of not knowing how to make your way in this new society, suffering of being like a small child in another culture.

Plus, like I said, more intestinal ailments than you can shake a stick at. I was hospitalized TWICE. (Neither was intestinal, actully, you just learn to suck that up and deal with it.)

[4_Legs_Good]

22. As a serious response, I completely agree

Plus it's even more of a challenge because you have to work hard and be very bright to get into the Peace Corps. They don't take just anyone.

david

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. Nothing wrong with joining the military, especially if...........

you are not sure what you want to do with your life. A suggestion though would be to look at the U.S. Navy. I deal with a lot of great people in all branches.
Good luck.

[blm]

5. I agree with you. It does sound like a troll post and does sound like a

recruiter has come up with a new approach.

Also sounds like you DID make up your mind, so go ahead and do it.

It's a shame about that AWOL commander-in-chief, though. Damn shame that he didn't have 10% of the integrity and honesty to serve when it was his time.

[Goldmund]

8. You're right, it won't make much difference to the global picture...

...whether you personally fight or not. But each human being has only one commodity to disperse: his or her energy, creativity, enthusiasm, time. And while you don't have a choice to pay or not pay taxes, you do choose where you will dissipate your energy.

If you give up that choice and instead place it in the hands of politicians with, to put it mildly, dubious motives, then you have given up the only commodity you truly possess.

[The White Tree]

10. Cause You'll get Blowed Up

Seriously, though, one of the things I've always hear about the army is the amount of boredom there is. If your in desperate need of exitement and adventure, this is not likely to be the soution your looking for.

Do a little research, there have to be 1000's of things you can do other then the army that would give you the sense of adventure and fulfillment you are looking for.

If you have no ties and no expenses offer to be a full time volunteer for an organization that you are interested in, this could help you find your calling.

The bottom line is, you are only going to get out of something, as much as you put into it. If you are unsure whether the military is right for you, then it probably isn't. They are not going to hold your hand there and tell you what to make of you life. Maybe you'll get lucky, but chances are you'll be left to the wayside there as well.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

[Zuni]

11. I say go for it

do your duty and do a good job. Our honor will be in your hands

[HeeBGBz]

12. You will come back from Iraq in a box or severely damaged

In a war for oil.

I was in the army. Spent most of the time in the field. It had it's interesting points, but there wasn't a war then.

Air force is better if you feel you HAVE to join. At least with the airforce, whatever you choose to do you can apply it to the outside world when you get out.

[BOSSHOG]

13. I served in the Navy for 24 years

there is no way I would try to talk you out of it. Go check out what the Navy Officer Recruiters have to offer. As far as the pay "sucking." Compared to what? You will have the opportunity to serve around the world and retire with a pension at the ripe old age of 44! And, don't count on a moron being your commander in chief for all that time. Make a Nike commercial - Just Do It! And when you get that commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy, find a Chief Petty Officer and absorb his advice. Good Luck.

[Modem Butterfly]

15. Are you fucking kidding me?

Assuming you're not, join the Coasties or the Air Force. It's safer and you'll be more likely to stay in the US.

[qnr]

34. Relative, actually

Safer in some respects perhaps (Coasties lost a higher percentage of members in a couple of wars than the other services) - plus, the CG has a dangerous job in Search and Rescue, law enforcement, etc.. Also, the Coast Guard put me on all seven continents (however, I specifically asked for the assignments that made that happen).

[Modem Butterfly]

35. Okay, good point

[rasputin1952]

18. Those of us who've served in the past, know your question well...

if you feel like joining, go ahead. I was Army, choose your Branch and go.

Just remember, this is not for the faint of heart; you can't just up and quit like bush did.

[4_Legs_Good]

27. Fantastic response!

:)

david

[One_Life_To_Give]

20. What you need is a Job That Matters!

Search and Rescue
Saving Lives

Join the Coast Guard
Actually it is also a branch of the Armed Forces. But it has missions other than breaking things and killing people.

[qnr]

39. Naturally, I agree. Though I'm not particularly happy about it now being

part of that cluster-f*** known as the Department of Homeland Security.

[MadHound]

21. You want to test yourself, see what you're made of?

Well, unless you can handle the notion of killing innocent people in an illegal, immoral war, the military isn't for you.

But I do have a solution for you. Go and join your local volunteer firefighting company. You can knock around on a job and still serve. You get a huge adrenalin rush, you test your courage out very well, you will experience things that few others will. And you will be saving lives as opposed to taking them. Who knows, it could become a career for you.

I spent a number of years fighting fires, and there is nothing like it, including the military. Give it a shot, I highly recommend it.

[DrDebug]

23. Don't Get Blown Up, Y'Hear

Or return with a non-combat related arm and a leg missing.

But it's fun you get to play in the sand, meet all kinds of interesting people. Get spit in the face by elderly women which are total strangers etc. etc.

[RevolutionaryActs]

24. Um... you'll be sent to Iraq?

:shrug:


Do what you got to do, or want to do.. the choice is really up to you.
Butnthere is no way in hell you could get me to sign up to be shipped off to fight(and probably die) in Bush's illegal war.

Good luck with whatever you do. :hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Ok some reasons

You say you have a college degree, try OCS, being an officer is a far better deal... try Navy... you want excitement, if your degree happens ot be in engineering, try Subs...

That said, why you should not go to the military right now....

the draft is coming (given that may be a good idea to volunteer while the pickings are goods), But a draftee military will turn a blind eye to physical abuse, mostly it is gone from the force.

Other reasons, you will be moving from post to post every three years... that is average.

You will, assuming you go Marines or Army, see a combat deployment to an active conbat zone every 18 months or so,,, and those will be for a year plus.

Now the pay does suck, but the benefits do counter some of it, three squares for the most part and medical care.

Now if you decide infantry again try OCS, they need good officers... and you have the degree... and if you truly want to do this... go for Special Forces.

Regardless what you do... LISTEN to your sergeants... they have been there and done that... and as an officer, regardles what they tell you at OCS, sergeants still run the show... you just sign for it... and you want some job expeience that will help on a resume... US Army Lt, or Capt or even Major is a good thing.

Oh and the first tour you are allowed to complaint for you will not know exactly what you are getting into. I know, been there done taht, and trust me boot camp cannot be explained it has to be experienced. By week eight the civilian in you will be gone. So I can tell you all the horror stories in the world. the second tour, you re-up, well it is YOU who signed up with full knowledge... so your right to complaint is goone.

By the way, this ain't an X-Box game, and there is no reset button... so realize, you are not invincible and them mosquitoes do kill, yes they may even kill you, or worst, injure you so horribly that you will wish you were dead. Again being shot at is something I cannot explain, but something I do not wish on anybody. Seeing the effects of war is soething that I can aproximate. Lets just say both I and my husgand still wake up at night, becuase of what we have seen, or in his cse done, when he pulled the trigger (Cut a poor bastard in two, inestines came out, he folded back, his eyes still hunt him)

For the best argument against joinuing the army, go rent the movie, "Johnny Got his gun." The movie will have more of an impact than the book. Also read and watch, "All is quiet on the Western Front." Oh and talk to war vets, they will try to explain to you why war is not an adventure, but a nightmare... anythng the corporate world throws at you will PALE in comparison.

[Rob H.]

30. "...moving from post to post every three years..."

"...that is average."

That really depends on what you do in the Navy. My dad was career Navy (24 years) and with the exception of three years in Spain and two years in Italy, we moved every year until he was transferred to Guam for three years when I was in 6th-8th grades. After that we rotated back to States and my dad retired during my junior year in high school.



Edited to add: I was born halfway through my parents' three years in Spain, just to give you an idea of how frequent the moves were.

[livetohike]

26. Another vote for joining the Peace Corps

Welcome to DU by the way :hi:

If you do despise wars, then do not join the military. We had a phrase back in the 60's. "What if they gave a war and nobody came?"

The Peace Corps will give you a wonderful experience. I have never served, but I have friends who did serve over the years. Not only will you gain experience, you will be a force for the good in the world. It also gives you a little edge when applying for Federal jobs. It's worth looking into.

Good luck and keep posting.

[Worst Username Ever]

28. Peace corps

You want to suffer? You will. You want to see the world? In the military, "seeing the world" really means "seeing iraq." You'll get paid shit. The job you do will be more important than fulfilling the buisness goals of GWB's friends and family. You won't be hated by the populace, in fact you'll be revered. And they need college graduates, whereas the military just needs breathing bodies.

[DrDan]

29. go fo it

but with the idea of taking advantage of the good things the military has to offer, for example a chance to live abroad, not just travel abroad. Also, take advantage of the educational opportunities - some great opportunities for graduate study.

I spent time in the military - and while I probably hated it at the time, my wife and I had a great 3 years in Europe and I earned a graduate degree pretty much at gov expense. Play it right and you can do your graduate work full-time with no military duty requirments.

The benefits while on active duty are better than you will start out with as a civilian - for example 30 days vacation and full health benefits from day-1.

You will be surrounded by military hawks - but there are certainly liberals/progressives if you look for them.

No I am not a recruiter, but it sure sounds like it as I reread my post.

[Kali]

31. another vote for peace corps

or a non-prof/NGO doing something you do believe in. Go build schools or medical clinics in the "third" world instead of bombing them.

[LeftCoast]

32. Your User Profile says you're from OH

:shrug:

[crispini]

36. And he hasn't even bothered to participate in his own thread, either.

Somehow I don't think he's really all that interested in a discussion.

[MissMillie]

37. If you really feel you must join

Stick w/ the Navy or the Coast Guard.

The good news is that w/ a degree, you are an officer.

[deutsey]

38. Read this essay from Harper's on desertion

http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/AWOL-UA-Desertion1mar05.htm

It may not dissuade you, but it might give you some things to think about in making your decision.