Are the men in the military losers who can't cut it in civilian life?

Question

With all the innocent people killed in Iraq and the rapes I'm starting to wonder.

Answer 1

I was in the Military, and I'm cutting it pretty well. I do understand your concern, and it does have some basis to it.

You see, it's very hard to get fired from the military. You won't get fired based upon performance, as long as you meet the basic requirements. (I.e fitness and weight) It's this type of atmosphere that produces some pretty bad shitbags. Also, the military doesn't really have high standards when it comes to recruits. (Especially now, when they are understaffed) If the recruits score low on there admittance test, then the military will put them in job that requires hardly any technical skill, like infantry. And it was infantry soldiers that have been involved in these atrocities.

Also, there are many ****** up people in America, and it would be impossible for the military to weed all of them out.

Answer 2

There are marginal people in every population. The military is a segment of the populace, like any other group. If you randomly gather a crowd of 10,000 in a stadium, for instance, within that crowd you will likely have some doctors, lawyers, police, cooks, construction workers, a scientist or two, etc...and probably some criminals.

In an environment like Iraq, it's not surprising that some of the, shall we say, less wholesome individuals, get out of control. And in the intense pressure of a combat unit, it's not surprising that the whole unit could be affected. Or infected, as the case may be.

As to not cutting it in civilian life--I'm not a soldier, but it seems to me that combat must burn away life's trivia, very quickly. The inconsequence of the minutia most of us occupy our time with must become starkly apparent. Combatants who survive to return must find civilian life rather like a circus, where clueless performers take their own silliness very seriously. It's more surprising to me that as many soldiers who come back from war do well, than the relative few who can't re-adjust.

Answer 3

Good question, asked w/ perhaps too little respect for the many very GOOD people who join the military for the best of reasons.

Problem is that military really is ALL ABOUT killing, in the end, and forces themselves aren't encouraged to reflect on the ethics of the uses to which politicians put them.

Some analogues are: 1) monastic orders; 2) bureaucratic careers.

I think military life DOES appeal to people who like regularity, security and insularity.

Unfortunately, with so much money going to military rather than education etc. ... fewer and fewer people are well-prepared for civilian life ... so, in a weird cycle, making military even more attractive.

Didn't do great in High School, not much interest in University, and no good local Vo-Tech alternatives ... what ya' gonna' do?

Note, if you do job search, that Military is THE single largest employer/recruiter of HS graduates.

Answer 4

Not nice. My husband is a vietnam vet and he came back and worked at the same company for over 35 years. He is retired now and still has no problem picking up jobs just to help people out. I would think that you wouldn't need to ask this question because the answer would be obvious. There are losers in the military just like there are losers in civilian life.

Answer 5

As with any organization, whether corporate entities, nonprofit institutions, or government agencies, there is a wide variety of people who work in them; all with different talents, strengths, shortcomings, and moral flaws.

The military is no different in the above regard. In it, you have the lazy or incompetent individuals who resorted to joining the military because they have no other option. You have the poor and destitute that enlists because it is their only means for obtaining money for college. Others sign a contract with the military because they are genuinely patriotic and they see joining the military as their highest calling. Then you have those few who have an aggressive criminal disposition, and the military provides them with the shelter and venue necessary to express their antisocial behavior in the arena of war, without the consequences such belligerent behavior would merit them in the civilian world (i.e. prison).

Unfortunately given the violent nature of military endeavors, more people of a bloodthirsty and deviant bent join the military, then any other non-criminal institution. That is why you see such a flagrant disregard, in the military, for the dignity of the person. It provides an environment that is attractive for those who already relish fighting, and it instills in those who are less inclined towards violence, an air of aggression. Out of the military come both our finest citizens and some of our worst.

That is why I refrain from glorifying the military as many Neocons have a tendency to do, and I take great pains not to vilify them either.

Answer 6

That's a very ignorant question. Officers in the military come out of some of the best schools in the world. West Point, Annapolis, and The Air Force Academy are among the most competitive and academically challenging schools in the world.

My older brother is a Captain in the USAF and has a degree in Civil Engineering. I'd say he's an intelligent guy.

Answer 7

No matter what field of work you do there will always be people with no morals who prey on the weak and unsuspecting. They live to feel superior over others, mostly b/c they feel so inferior in the world. And if you have never been in a high stress environment like Iraq with your life on line every minute of every day for months on end dont even begin to make a generalized opinion on all men/women in the military. Most people can't even handle their every day lives without some sort of loss of control.

Answer 8

Just because there are losers that can't take what is actually happening and decides to act out that doesn't mean that all men in the military can't handle civilian life... you're just looking at a minority of people (those that are doing the things that they shouldn't be)

Answer 9

Well the fact is, more innocent people are killed and rapped by alcohol related incidents by Civilians in America than by Servicemen in Iraq. I would love to see fat, out of shape civilians, cut it in this mans Military while getting your degree and fighting a War at the same, like myself.

Answer 10

No, civilian life is for those that cant cut it in Military life

Lets see....in Philly this past weekend 7 people killed, one a cop
a child was snatched from his house, a teenager was raped,
numerous armed robberies. None of which was perpetrated by any Military member. I wonder about you, are you a patriot are not?
choose, choose wisely!