Current Affairs Armed Forces

Okay, guys, here's a question.

Given the state of our country's foreign policy right now, would you willingly joined the armed forces? Coast Guard doesn't count, by the way. I only ask because I've been working to get into West Point all my life, and now that it's time to apply, our country is at war! If I was to go, I would be sent to active duty right after graduation, in a war that I myself don't support. I don't want to give up on my dream, and I want to make a career in the military, but I'm afraid of what I will be ordered to do.

So what about you?

 

Frankly, I wouldn't, and I find your comment rather silly. You would devote yourself to a country that could very well throw you into any cause... but not this time. Yeah. Wait until after, then you can have the joy in being part of Bush's NEXT mistake.

 

It's not that I want to devote myself to this country, I just need the discipline in my life. I really have no idea what I would do, other than the military. None of my other interests are enough to get me into college, and I want to do something more than just working some half-rate job for the rest of my life.

 

Aiite, we've had this talk before so I'm going to try and be "brief". First my Credentials-

-Enlisted Navy going on 4 years (6 year enlistment)
-My rank is E-5 (Petty Officer 2nd Class in the Navy/CG, Sergeant in every other branch)
-I've been around the world including the Pacific, Persian Gulf and Mediterranean while in active duty.

And, most importantly- I hate the military.


I'll give it to you straight- Odds are high you're going to go straight to Iraq or Afghanistan. In fact, I would bank on it. As a fresh officer right out of school you'll be spending your time over fighting in the dust and heat. You'll get a paycheck, free medical and dental, and you get to shoot people.

Here's what they don't tell you:

You'll be getting officer's pay in a warzone with the added bonus of combat and hazardous duty pay (extra stipends on your pay stub) as well as O-1 basic housing allowances ($$$). All this will be tax free as long as you're in the combat zone. Not too shabby if you survive.

The free medical and dental is given to you by the hands of people who have had little to no formal training. In the civilian world doctors and nurses are hired who have had extensive medical experience. In the military, you're one of the poor SOBs who they're learning thier trade on.

Good luck with that.

And those people that you shoot? They're shooting right back at you. You buy the farm and everything you hoped to achieve is lost in a single instant. I call this the "Worst Mistake You Have Ever Made" scenario, something I've been able to dodge since I'm in the Navy and we really don't see too much active combat. Out of Westpoint it's going to be your way of life. You'll have to deal with the stresses of trying to stay alive while those whom you work for are wounded and die around you. In order to be overseas you have to have a great deal of mental stamina to deal, cope, and appropriately react to such situations. You have to leave behind everyone and everything important to you to go out and fight.

Why you fight is the most important reason you're out there. It's why you're out there dodging bullets in the first place, and what will subsequently keep you sane under the worst of conditions.

So... What is it? What is worth putting your life on the line for? You don't need to share it here. It's usually something very personal. Is it something you're willing to lose in the event you die?

Don't bullshit yourself either. You'll just shortchange yourself and end up miserable. If you can't think of something important enough for you to go overseas and die for then you probably shouldn't sign up. The excuses protecting my Country and my family are really rather self defeating purposes- You're leaving both behind and, to be honest, the United States has never been in a state of direct danger. We're not underfire, not like over seas. You're not protecting anyone or any thing by traveling halfway around the world to shoot at people in clay huts- you're brainwashed and needlessly putting yourself underfire.

Also, your "Future" falls under the same category. If you die, you have no future. Subsequently you'll be spending your future putting your life on the line and for what? To ensure that you have one? That doesn't make sense.

Now, fighting to support a family, rather than "defend" them, is another matter entirely. At that point you're fighting to sustain a lifestyle and future for others who are not placing thier wellbeing under direct attack. That's why most people stay military: They have family and the like the benefits it offers them. That's an evolution of priorities.

Still, it's up to you do decide, and what you consider to be most important will probably be worlds apart from mine. I joined up because I wasn't ready for college and I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself. The Navy offered the "best" program that offered the best post military job opportunities. Plain and simple.

I came in with the intention of getting out. After the initial "Go Navy" euphoria after boot camp wore off, I quickly came to realize that the military was a big mistake. I sound embittered because these are things that I have learned since joining, and the asenine, militaristic BS was far worse than I ever imagined.

It's your choice, so what ever you chose prepare yourself to deal with the consequences. That's all I have to say.

~W

 

Thank you VERY much. I suppose you answered my origional question, and I'm immensely grateful for the advice. I'm not quite to the point of applying yet, and I'm still thinking it over. Though after what you had to say, I've been thinking a LOT harder.

 

Good advice Wertitis, but I have to disagree with you on one point.

I think the five-year anniversary our country just observed on Monday kinda makes a pretty good case that the US is both under fire and in a state of direct danger. True, there hasn't been another attack since then, but that isn't because al-Qaeda hasn't tried. It's because those attempts have been foiled by the increased vigilence of our intelligence services, and also because our aggressive foreign policy measures have made it more difficult for those enemies to successfully carry out their attacks against us here at home.

The courageous men and women of the US military who travel halfway around the world to fight the forces of Islamic terrorism, are doing it so that our police, fire fighters and civilian rescue workers will not have to fight them here.

Having said that, I agree with your admonitions to Alchemy_Dude that he should probably seek a different career path, it's certainly not something that everyone is cut out for. And please don't misunderstand me on that point, I don't mean it as a criticism -- my own physical health prevents me from serving. But I admire the hell out of each and every person who does. And Wertitis is dead right that in the world we currently live in, you'd better check your reasons for signing up, because this war probably won't be over anytime soon.

 

My dad's an E-8 in the army, a major position since we live in Navy territory. Hell, I live in Navy housing currently. >< I'm surrounded by squids who hit on me, verbally abuse me and basically think they're bad ass 'cause they're sub schoolers who make a measely $600-880 every two weeks. **** them and **** the navy, I'm sick of it after less then two years here. I've seen and heared some horrible things about those people and the few that I do like in the navy are ones I met either here or in LARP.

...I'm off topic a bit. Let me rephrase.

West Point is an amazing school, my Father went. I used to have to drive out there when we lived in New York to get an I.D. and trust me, that's no fun BUT it's a nice place. You'd like it. And I think you'd like doing a few years in the army, it's, in my opinion, the best choice out of the armed forces listed. [IE:Navy]

 

Good to hear a dissenting opinion.

 

A woman after my own heart.

~W

 

Mmmhmmm, that is all I want. Your heart..
And half your paycheck.
And that is the Navy wife attitude!
<3

 

Lets try to stay on topic here people. Thank you. I myself can not offer any words of wisdom. My grandpa was a chief master sergeant. My other grandpa was in Rotc. I myself am in JROTC, but do not intend on joining the military. I've gone a week at a bootcamp and that about all of it. All I can say is it's your life. It's you choice. No one, and I repeat no one, can make that decision for you. Joining the military is like deciding to pick up a sword in some cases. You devote your entire life to both, in the case that you might be able to protect someone one day. So good luck with whatever you decide my friend.

 

Honestly speaking, I'd be terrified by the notion that I'd be sent to die for the mess "Operation Iraqi Liberation" left behind.

 

Hey that's cute. I suppose that's also the reason gasoline prices were so ungodly high until recently, because we went into Iraq to steal all their oil, AM I RITE???