Why volunteer in the first place?

How many people take up a job only to realise later -- often too late! -- that it's not for them? Lawyers who don't want to lie, soldiers who don't want to kill, postmen who are afraid of dogs, etc, etc. Soldiers, like any other professionals, should be allowed to resign, and no oath should bind them. As a scientist, I took an oath to remain true to science and to never misuse it. Fine, that's not big deal. As a soldier, taking an oath to serve your country should not necessarily entail to kill or be killed for it unless you really want active combat service. I have served in the Forces, as part of a compulsory military service, and I do understand professional soldiers. I also understand the pain of being forced to do things you don't want to do, not always imposed on you by the hierachy, but also by circumstances. People who enlist should be given the opportunity to revise their choice if they wish to do so. Those who are drafted, sadly, don't have this choice. Just remember that a soldier is a human being, and that the human mind evolves through life. What you thought was right at one point of your life may not be appropriate anymore at another.

classic case of a total moron. plain and simple. USMC wife.

The US will have to contnuously recruit military personnel because, he has taken it to be his task to police the world. Reasoning out that only US can do it considering the country's status in the world in terms of leadership and the economy. Besides, as the US has a very enormous territory, his resources runs very deep. Most of us abhor wars. But even if we take some biblical readings, war is inevitable. It always takes place without relent dating back to those years way before the Israelites fled Egypt. Every community had armies who deal with war time and again. Let us accept it for a fact that wars will always be with us no matter what steps we undertake to erase it from the earth. So for those soldiers, we know that we owe them so much for fighting those agressors. We salute them for their bravery and valor. Protecting the populace where few would even care what happens to them in the battlefield.

I'm not very familiar with the ways and lives of the military. You know me,loves. As I try to analyze what you're posting, here's some of the theories I can give you: A person or an individual enlisted himself because of the excitement, because they feel that they can reach the power, because of the military uniforms and because of the respect they get from civilians. I do not know how much money you can get either. A person who demanded to be release at once is because he chicken out. Sorry, loves...this is an analysis coming from the mind of a housewife who only knows about cooking and srubbing toilet. LOL...

Well you know me and how I feel about this. They took the oath and the oath clearly states what they are to do in the military. Suck it up and do your job that you volunteered to do. Don't do something dumb and jepordize other people's lives because you decided at the last minute this isn't for you.

I personally believe that these individuals joined for the "free" education. They saw it (pre-2001) as an easy way to get the college degree and have someone else pay for it. Honestly, pre 9/11/2001, that was the thought. Go to college on the ROTC program and get the free education. Spend 2 days a month playing army, and get a couple of hundred extra dollars for the trouble. These "kids" also have an invinsible complex...they never think things will happen to them...until they feel forced into a corner. MHO is INSTANT GRATIFICATION is the culprit in this society that causes the situation you describe... Unfortunately, in the US today, the main stream population is all "ME, ME, ME!" Not "WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY?"

The main reason so many young people join the armed forces is that they know they will be drafted into a branch of the service if they do not "volunteer" to serve in the one of their choice. My brother was a CO (conscientious objector) and enlisted in the air force when it was clear he was about to be drafted into the army. The air force is focused more on individual achievement rather than the group goals of say the Marine Corps. That said, he went many many times to all the officers who held chaplain posts and tried every way he could to keep from having to kill people. No one listened. He did not want to load bombs, but because his scores showed him to be of above average intelligence, that is the job the Air Force insisted on teaching him. He said he would go into combat willingly with no weapon. He would serve as a medic or any other non-combatant job they had as long as he did not have to kill people. They still taught him to load bombs. Eventually they gave him an honorable discharge with CO on it, but more than once he was set to be deployed to Thailand (where they loaded bombs to drop on Viet Nam) and at the last minute pulled his orders. Had he gone he would most likely be serving a prison term for refusing to load bombs that would kill people. The truth is that whenever this country thinks they need more soldiers, they will institute a draft so young men in particular tend to volunteer so they at least have some choice of which service they end up in. There are other reasons people enlist, such as educational benefits, to get a chance at a better life than they have growing up... learn a career... all of which is dangled before the young who don't think about the possibility of war, but about bettering their lives and getting training/education they believe is out of their reach otherwise. What we need are universities of Peace, a way to serve your country being trained to facilitate, arbitrate and help solve the problems rather than being cannon fodder for an insane immoral and illegal war like we have today.

I dont know what the requirements are but it used to be all you needed was a high school diploma and so many young people had many reasons for enlisting i.e., see the world, bad home life, couldn't get a decent job, running away from a misdeed, etc. etc.

I don't understand it either. I don't know why someone would enlist, only to later claim that they are anti-war. Maybe they think they'll never have to face war. Many of these kids joined 10 years ago, when things were FAIRLY peaceful, and they maybe didn't foresee anything in the immediate future that would require going to war. I know my little brother seriously considered joining the army after my brother in law (who is in the reserves) suggested it as a means to an inexpensive/free education. I thank God that he decided not to, not that I don't feel like we need men and women to serve, I would just hate for that to be the reason you join, for educational purposes. I think people should join with the intent on serving this country. It is a dangerous job, that is usually not only unappreciated but many times misunderstood. I applaud those whom willingly serve to protect me and my family, and I think those who try to 'escape' from the oath they have sworn, disgrace the uniform.

I agree with you one hundred percent. No matter what other reason you have for joining the bottom line is that you know when there is a war it is the military that get sent to war. They have been trained in that field and it is to be expected that they are the ones who will be sent. If you sign that line on the bottom of the contract and yes it is a contract like any other contract and more important even because you are upholding the promise to fight so that we can stay free. I do not take any contract or promise I make lightly. I find out every thing that is in the contract or find out everything about a promise before I commit myself to it. The recruiter might promise a lot of things and those not be true. But I have never heard of a recruiter promising you would not be sent to war. My husband served in the Air Force for 20 years and is very proud of it. These people need to take pride in their country and that is what they are lacking.

Everyone in this country knows that there are two wars happening. One in Iraq and one in Afghanistan (although it is often overlooked). When they sign those papers to join, they know that there is a chance that they may be going to war. No matter what branch, rank, etc. This war has been going on for quite a while. He has had plenty of time to get out of the service, but why wait until it's time to deploy to try to get out of their service. My husband joined after the war had began, we knew there was a possibility that he would go to war. He has gone, and is going again soon. My views with C.O. is this. I remember when my husband was deploying last time (2005) a soldier at our base filed Objector status. He had waited until the last possible moment to file. He was a Sgt. and had trained soldiers and they looked up to him. Then at the last minute, let's it loose that he does not believe in going to Iraq and would not go. This put his command in a bind because they had to find someone to replace him and this someone had to take over the command for his soliders. These soldiers were also in a bind. They had new soldiers that had not gone to Iraq and had trained under him...then he filed. What does that tell our newer soldiers who have never been? I've trained you, but you have to go, I've decided I don't want too. It's ridiculous. Should have thought about that before hand.

Yes, it does sound kinda weird to me. Why volunteer unless you have a passion for it? Makes no sense really. If you hate war, don't join a military unit - unless your intention is to save life by treating the injured or by preventing war when you get promoted up the ranks. Either that or you are not truly volunteering because the pay is good. :P

You are right in my opinion, when someone signs up for service they should have some idea in the back of their mind that chance for going to war could come up. Right now my stand is our men are needed to serve our country where we can do the most good. I am sad for our service men that are over in Iraq defending that country who doesn't seem to be taking the reins for themselves. War should be used as a last measure and for valid reasons, I feel that our servicemen have been misled and are not being properly equipped in the process. My friend of 20 years her brothers both of them are in the service one enlisted after the war started. Both aware and proud to be serving this country, I just hope those that are over there will be able to come home safe and soon. My desire is to see Iraq finally take some responsibility and quit putting our men on the frontline when they need to stepup and start taking the shots.

I think alot join for the benefits you can gain from it. A huge attraction these days is college tuition paid for. I had a friend at college that never wanted to go to war, but he was in the air force to get college paid for. I'm not sure if he's served at all or not. Think about one thing, when was the last time troops were really called to duty? It would have been about 15 years ago with the Gulf War. So some people didn't think they would get called out since everyone seemed to be happy with each other. I think the main benefit to join is college tuition. Unfortunately this time it bit alot in the butt and they didn't get to finish college and had to go serve.

I do think it is crazy, especially now, for someone to join the military and not expecting to be sent out to war or to help out in the Middle East. Anyone joining the military has to realize there is a chance of being sent out there, especially with Bush being our President. If you do not want to go to war, then you should not join the forces. The military does other things other than fight wars, like helping out states or countries that got hit by natural disasters or with serious crime issues.

Loves, you know my opinion on this, but you do have a good point. This soldier is a combat medic, which leads me to believe he wanted to help people. I can understand why the pressures of working with so many wounded day in and day out would make you not want to redeploy, however doesn't he realize what an invaluable service he is providing our troops? And honestly, would he still want to be in the medical field if he was working in a hospital in Detroit. Probably. I think his reasons for joining may have been purely selfish, free education, etc..and he should have thought harder before signing up, instead of fleeing when it is time to "pay the piper" so to speak.

My husband is a Marine and we both feel the same way too. I don't think people should enlist unless they are prepared to go to war as such is the nature of the job. But I guess a lot of people enlist at a really young age where they don't really think about the consequences of their actions. And when it comes to the crunch, they are unable to perform and want out.

Some do it 4 the money. For instance, special force since it is highly paid. Some sign on due to financial difficulties and end up dying. Everyone is different. People make mistakes b4 they learn. Such is life

Anyone who enlists and thinks that they'll never get deployed and are just enlisting for the money and benefits needs to re-think their motives. Especially this day in age. My soldier enlisted right after 9/11 and knew from the minute he walked into the recruiters office that he'd be going to the sandbox. Sure, Eric signed up for the huge enlistment bonus...but he also signed up to serve this country and to protect our freedoms and to bring justice where justice is due. Yeah, his recruiter lied to him up and down the pole and he wants to smash the guys face in if he ever sees him again but he still signed the papers knowing what he was getting in to and is PROUD to serve! There are too many people these days who are against the war enlisting and then bailing and going AWOL and it makes me SICK. They are a disgrace to the armed services and need to spend a lot of time in the brig. (PS: Hi Reese! I finally joined! LOL!)

I dont know what else I can add to this discussion that hasn't been said. Rush limbaugh put it this way, "the sole purpose of the military is to kill people and break things". Anyone who joins the military, what ever the reason they join, knows that one day they may be called to serve. The world is an unstable place and even if you join in a time of peace, there is alwyas the chance that something is going to happen.