I respect the "fighting for our freedom" , BUT why do you do it, if you don't HAVE TO?

Is it to get help with college?(which I heard doesnt even cover half)

The "signing bonus" which gets paid ridiculously and isnt nothing like 20,000 in your pocket.

Or what about the "no money down for a house, veteran loan"

Why?

I really wanted to shoot someone.

In the face.

And a whole bunch of other reasons that are far more boring.

I am joining for 3 reasons.

1. I want to shoot someone
2. I love my country so i want to go to iraq/afghanistan to kill some muslims and stop them coming here trying to get asylum.
3. After being in the army you can leave and get most jobs.

I needed a change.

Before I enlisted, I was going to school, worked for an aerospace company as a software engineer, and I was a network security consultant. I was also a part-time bouncer, but we'll get in to that later. The pay was nice, but I wasn't happy. It was the same old routine day in and day out. Boring life, boring routine. Get up, work, go out with friends, come home, go to bed, repeat. I had a small core group of true friends; the others were very superficial. I enjoyed my work, but it didn't really feel like anything that I was doing was that important. To top it all off, I got engaged and then broke up with my fiancé.

Like I said: I needed a change. A change of scenery, a change of life.

As I said before, I was a bouncer at a club back home. I wasn't the kind of guy that would throw you out of the bar for drinking too much. Hell, I wouldn't even throw you out if you were puking your face off. I'd probably buy you a soda or get you a glass of water. If you started swinging at someone or pulled a knife, I would end you. If you tried to drive home obviously drunk, I'd steal your keys and call you a cab. So basically, as long as everyone was having a good time and nobody was getting hurt, I was your best friend.

The military made sense for me. While I didn't want to support a war I didn't believe in, I knew that there were other people out there dying while trying to help people they've never met before. And they were dying trying to rid the world of others who wished to do nothing more than hurt people. I could have gone combat, but that would have been a complete waste. I was already good at something: computers. So that's what I did, and that's what I still do.

Summary: I enlisted for the travel, the training, the free college, and the change of life. The fact that I was doing something to help good people was an added bonus.

I was going nowhere with my life. Dead end minimum wage jobs with shitty management, getting fired for stupid reasons (once for "Telling someone else how to do their job" because they put up a fence upside down when I told them to correct it), and I was getting into some bad habits.

I figured my friends wanted to see a change in me, my family wanted to see a change, and most importantly, I wanted to see a change. I didnt have the money nor the resources to go and do it myself, and I knew I needed help. So I turned to the military. I considered all the benefits, the training, discipline, the lifestyle, and talked to a lot of my personal friends about their experiences in the military. Really, I like what I heard, so I decided to do this to better myself while ensuring my family's health and welfare.

I don't plan to make this a career, though. I'll get out and find something else to do, but this time with experience that looks good to a lot of employers.

i joined because i was given a choice when i was 3 days away from my 18th birthday, that choice was, enlist or go to jail, i was looking at about 18 months of jail time, the judge offered me the choice of enlisting or going to jail,it was a no-brainer i joined the navy, and it was probably the best thing i ever did, i dont regret a second of it, the only reason i got out is i was offered a job making a lot more money and the wife at that time was tired of the military lifestyle

i joined because i was given a choice when i was 3 days away from my 18th birthday, that choice was, enlist or go to jail, i was looking at about 18 months of jail time, the judge offered me the choice of enlisting or going to jail,it was a no-brainer i joined the navy, and it was probably the best thing i ever did, i dont regret a second of it, the only reason i got out is i was offered a job making a lot more money and the wife at that time was tired of the military lifestyle

lol, one of my instructors in tech school told us that's how he ended up in the Air Force. He always said "All volunteer force my ass!"

I joined because it I saw it as the most noble and honorable way for me to be successful in life. You gotta die from something, and I'd much rather die from a bullet or bomb, in service of higher calling, than die in a car accident or from cancer. I see honor and bravery in anyone who fights for their country or faith. I take pride in being in the same profession as those who came before me, who fought and died for those things.

*Short version since the last one got eaten by the internets. I joined a non US paramilitary.

To serve is a personal thing. I joined because it suited my needs and wants at the current time.
* I learn a profession.
* I get paid better than the entry level jobs I was stuck doing.
* I get better job motivation for gaining the respect from your mates for not fucking up and not letting them down and being a good guy as opposed to being praised for selling 10,000 units instead of 9,999.
* Its a physical job that does different things in different places.
* The low points of the job don't affect me much at this time, e.g. constant movement, long times in remote areas.

I've only got one life. I want to do something I feel is worthwhile.

I'm also aware of the irony that this puts my life in danger.

I see honor and bravery in anyone who fights for their country or faith. I take pride in being in the same profession as those who came before me, who fought and died for those things.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Mohamed_Atta.jpg

Approves of this post.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Mohamed_Atta.jpg

Approves of this post.

I'm sure he does. Even though I don't condone what this guy does, I have some respect for him, for being willing to die for what he believes in. If these people truly feel that injustices have been done to them, and they are willing to take up arms and fight, that, in and of itself, is a noble and honorable act. Killing innocents, however, is not.

I feel the same way about the Japanese and Nazi's during WWII. They were all soldiers, answering their countries call, just like American soldiers.

I'm sure he does. Even though I don't condone what this guy does, I have some respect for him, for being willing to die for what he believes in. If these people truly feel that injustices have been done to them, and they are willing to take up arms and fight, that, in and of itself, is a noble and honorable act. Killing innocents, however, is not.

I feel the same way about the Japanese and Nazi's during WWII. They were all soldiers, answering their countries call, just like American soldiers.

Oh dear, sheep-like paroles much?

"answering their country's call"?! You sound like a WW1 recruitment poster. Countries don't call, corrupt politicians do.

There is nothing noble or honourable about 'taking up arms'. Its perhaps a necessity, a job that has to be done. Some people just need killing. But thats all it is.

Next you'll be spewing out nonsense about 'brothers in arms' and 'defending our great nation'.

Because the thought of going to places that the average person would never go to, and do things that the average person would never experience appealed to me, plus its a secure job end of the day. And general soldering appealed to me, why oh why did i leave? rejoining next year.

For the people who join the army specifically to 'serve our country'. Are fucking dipshits. You are only serving the pockets of already billion/trillionaire companies.

Nice one, fuck-ups. Only what? 3 wars in existance that has been for something other then land/greed, money/greed and greed/greed.

To those who 'believe' in what they are fighting for, sadly you're fighting for a lie. Get a fucking clue, the government practically shoved it in our faces these past decades and civilization blatantly shows us it's for nothing more then profits.

Oh dear, sheep-like paroles much?

"answering their country's call"?! You sound like a WW1 recruitment poster. Countries don't call, corrupt politicians do.

Sometimes, your country really does need you. Consider World War Two, especially from Britain's point of view. The men had to join up, or Britain would have fallen. Its as simple as that. And what she would have fallen to... I don't think I need to remind you.


There is nothing noble or honourable about 'taking up arms'. Its perhaps a necessity, a job that has to be done. Some people just need killing. But thats all it is.


Again, I must disagree. As in the example above, and in the counter terrorist warfare of today, people are daily putting their lives at risk to protect you. I'll say that again. To protect YOU. They've never met you. They don't know you. But because they believe in their values, they risk themselves to protect you. Can you really not see the nobility in that?


Next you'll be spewing out nonsense about 'brothers in arms' and 'defending our great nation'.

OK, people do spout a lot of idealistic BS. But there is some truth in these statements. certainly, serving with people does create a very tight bond. And, well, defending the nation, which, for most of the western world, is, for all its flaws, still a home of freedom (look at Saudi Arabia), is important.

For myself, I want to join because:
1. It is an amazing experience.
2. It can build you as a person.
and yes, 3. To serve and defend my country.

There aren't any fancy signing bonuses over here in the land of Oz. I decided to join the chocs (army reserves) because I wanted money, and a job that would always have a pretty regular schedule so I wouldn't have to screw my boss around everytime my uni timetable changes around. Another positive is that I get to go shooting (for those that haven't picked it up, being a gun owner over here is a huge hassle and pretty expensive).

There been a few times where I've had a gutful, and thought about quitting but of course that sort of thing is only temporary.

1. I wanted to wage warfare against those that would try to impose religious dictatorship or genocide upon others.
2. If I ever go into politics, military service will look excellent.
3. I could use the money for college, and as usual, most people that get screwed out of the college money weren't properly preparing for and thinking about it.
4. I could always use more self-discipline.
5. I wasn't looking forward to another 4 years of schooling after the 13 I just finished.
6. I wanted to psychologically test myself.
7. I have always supported the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and felt it was my duty to our men and women in uniform to fight alongside them, since I ask that they fight.
8. By the time my enlistment is over I'll have experienced more in a few years than many people have in a lifetime.

I respect the "fighting for our freedom" , BUT why do you do it, if you don't HAVE TO?

Is it to get help with college?(which I heard doesnt even cover half)

The "signing bonus" which gets paid ridiculously and isnt nothing like 20,000 in your pocket.

Or what about the "no money down for a house, veteran loan"

Why?

Patriotism aside, and the whole fighting for the State of Arizona...

Cause out of my friends who didn't join, I've been to a lot more places, and simply done a lot more.

...and currently have waaay too much disposable income for my age....

I respect the "fighting for our freedom" , BUT why do you do it, if you don't HAVE TO?

Is it to get help with college?(which I heard doesnt even cover half)

The "signing bonus" which gets paid ridiculously and isnt nothing like 20,000 in your pocket.

Or what about the "no money down for a house, veteran loan"

Why?

1. In the US we get the Montgomery GI Bill. Which right now stands at like $38,000. While you're active you also get what is called Tuition Assistance. Which pays for something like 16 credits per fiscal year. If you're motivated, you CAN get your degree in one enlistment.

2. The signing bonus is dependant on a lot of factors. When I first enlisted I got $12,000. IF I decide to re-enlist I will get (right now) $45,000

3. Meh.