Why is serving in the military voluntary yet Soldiers are not allowed to just quit when they want.?

Answer 1

Um, because when you sign up, you enter a contract of committment.

(Kinda like marriage!)

Are you a soldier? There is a protocol that can be followed for an honorable discharge (but it has to be a good reason).

Um, for xcandyx down below here, you need to listen to something other than the garbage that the mainstream media is feeding you. We are doing fantastic things in Iraq. Yes, soldiers do want to come home, but the completion of the mission comes first.

Yes, I am involved in the military!

Answer 2

I am sure the majority will say that the investment does create the need for some minimum term of service, but I am sorry to see such flippant responses to this question. In maintaining the chain of command and logistical requirements of supplying the troops, the government must rely on everyone "being there" when they are supposed to be there. The system would collapse immediately if people could just walk away form their posts.

I have a sister in the Air Force and a brother who served in the Army. Everyone should respect the hard work and dedication of all our servicemen and women. The sacrifices like extended absences from family and missing the comforts of home are obvious drawbacks, but the skills learned, the leadership experience gained and team spirit kindled is very useful long after their commitment expires. Far too many young Americans take for granted the sacrifices our armed forces have made to keep this country great.

When you see a soldier, just say "Hello" and thank him or her for their service. You may end up having a very enlightening conversation and possibly make a new friend.

Answer 3

When you join the military you sign a contract to serve a certin number of years, usually 4 or 6 years (your first enlistment is 8 years). You can't quit whne you want because you signed a leagally binding contract to serve a certain number of years.
But with the downsizing and drawdowns, if you want out, it is easier to get out. You can transfer the remaining time to the gaurd, reserve or the IRR.
The military is all volunteer, but you do sign on for a certain number of years and you are expected to serve them. Think of it as a car lease, you sing for 6 years and enjoy the benifits of a car... but if you decide to stop paying in 4 years, they take the car and the binifits of a car away, plus it will do a bad number on your credit. The same goes with military service... you sign for 6 years and if you only serve 4 years, you lose your benifits and the government will give you a dishonorable discharge (which basically sais that you didn't keep your word and do your job) that will be on your record for the rest of your life.

Answer 4

You sign a contract when you enlist. One way to get out that has not been mentioned is to buy out your contract. This usually starts at $100,000. I know it sounds like a lot but you have to remember that the military has trained the soldier for a career. When that soldier gets out, many can find jobs int eh same field making a lot more due to that training. I realize this is not always the case with Infantry but their main job it to train for war so that is understandable. In addition, the Army has counted on that soldier filling a position for X amount of years. My releasing them from their contract it has to find and train someone else to do that job. The longer the person has been in, the harder they are to replace.

If you take a teaching job generally you receive a bonus and have to sign a contract. If you break that contract, you pay the bonus back and are generally under a no compete clause which says you can't work within X amount of miles. No matter what contract you break three are consequences. With the Army, many receive a signing bonus for their enlistment that is to contribute to their pay.

Answer 5

When they enlist, soldiers sign a contract to serve a certain length of time. US Government spends a lot of money to recruit, train, house, feed clothe, pay people in the military. There are other areas, where extensive training is needed, where the government requires employees to sign a contract, such as FBI. A person with no experience cannot join the FBI then go right to work. He has to be trained and relocated, at substantial expense to the US Government.

Answer 6

Joining the military is voluntary but once in they've pledged themselves to the United States military and are required to follow orders. For instance if you sign up for a 4 year enlistment, then you're theirs for 4 years unless you get discharged or injured for some reason.

Answer 7

When you join the Military, you have just given them your butt to do with as they please for the next several years. You are no more than a hammer or a nail, you have become an asset, a tool for whatever madness they come up with. You are indeed expendable, you have agreed in essence to become collateral acceptable damage should the need arise. If getting you killed, will buy them time for another action next week, you gave them that right. You lose your rights, not only of free speech, but of free will. I grew up in a military family, I am a Vietnam Vet! Nothing in the world will prepare you for seeing someones brains splattered on a wall because of you, you live with it a long time. Nor will sitting there and having your friends intestines all over you while having lunch! The answers are not in militarism but in understanding other cultures. Not in destroying them. Wars are created from either fear, need, or greed, when you enter the military, your have signed up to support and die for someone elses goals or fears. Dieing to protect what is yours makes perfect sense if in-fact you have to die, but to die for someone else's greed or fears is simply the act of a non thinking person; there you have it, that is what they want! Hurry, go join today

Answer 8

The GOP does not want to reinstate the draft (in fact, they have promised American citizens, they won't). So they rely soley on voluntary enlistment. Since enlistments are at a record low (because no one wants to go to Iraq), they are actually forcing those that are in the military to stay there. This is part of the contractual agreement on the enlistment, that if they are needed, they will be reinstated.

Answer 9

Because Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors who enlist in the Armed Forces sign a contract enlisting in the military for a certain number of years. They can, of course, break such a contract but their are legal repercussions.

Officers, however, who complete their first commission, can resign their commission after giving sufficient notice.

Answer 10

Because the government knows they are going to lose a lot of soldiers if they allow them to quit when they want . Most of the soldiers in Iraq hate it there and wish to come home whenever they want.