How come so many 18 to 28 year olds don't want to join the United States Military?

Question

Here in Michigan the Army and Marine Recruiters try and talk to the young people who are in college and most students won't give them the time of day. Why is that? The ones who do talk tell the recruiters "No Thanks" and walk away. The Recruiters then end up walking in black neighborhoods and poor white trash neighborhoods for recruites. Why the poor neighborhoods? Why not neighborhoods with million dollar homes?

Answer 1

Because they know that there is little to no chance of a rich kid wanting to join the military. They lure poor kids with no chance of getting a college education on their own with the promise of tuition assistance.

Answer 2

Because there is no money in the military. Most young people would rather go to college and start their working lives after. It takes a special person to join the military and an even more special person to stay and make it a career. The military lifestyle isn't for everyone.

The "rich" neighborhoods have other options to go on with adult life. The less fortunate neighborhoods don't have that many options and the military can give them a paycheck and a decent lifestyle.

I grew up poor and the military made me who I am today and has given me my lifestyle, I'm grateful. I don't always agree with everything that comes down the line but I do it because I chose to stay in and make it a career.

Answer 3

Poor kids have a chance to upgrade their life, but where I live(South Carolina) most people joining the military seem to be in the upper-middle class range. For the month of August all the services reached and exceeded their recruiting goals so overall I wouldn't say kids don't want to join. Part of the problem is that about 30% of college student believe George Bush had something to do with 9/11. There also isn't any true military education in schools. Most high school students couldn't tell you the difference in the Army and Marines.

Another sad truth is that a lot of young Americans think that there is nothing worth fighting for and nothing more important than their own personal health.

Answer 4

Well babe, first of all many college students are liberal......its ok because they have heart and want to help the world....or so they think. Many also know its better to go into the service after you have a degree as then you are an officer. In the poor neighborhoods there are plenty of kids with great minds who just haven't had the opporunity, going into the military puts them on the same level as everyone else. They can really excell, learn responsibility and really become a man, develope their leadership skills and such.....ok girls can to. I didn't know what I wanted to do so I decided to face my worst fears of the ocean by joining the Navy......unfortunantly I had a bun in the oven. This week one of the things I will do is talk to my son. He went to a private college for two semesters when my mom was told she had cancer, he took time off to see her more. Now that hes back home and has figured out what he really wants to do ...... work with Nasa....I think he needs to look at the Air Force.....because we are at war it will piss off my mom. He has the type of mentality though that if they reinstated the draft he would go enlist. The plan was for him to get his degree first but christ that would take another four years. If you score high enough they will send you to school, so why wait.......so I need to talk to him this week. Hes a great person people look up to as a leader even though he is a little shy, and hes as patriotic as they come. I think hes hesitated because he knows his grandma is against it.

The other thing is that a lot of wealthy families are afraid to lose their kids and the tend to not look at military service as a good career, which is a shame because it is the most heroic thing I think a person can do, especially if you make it a life long career as opposed to serving only for the college benefits.

Answer 5

This generation, and the ones befor it are not brought up with the attitude that we owe this country anything, we were brought up with the feeligns that this country owes Us something.

The generation of our grandparents was the last generation to be raised from young children, they WOULD go into the military, in some way, the people who are now in their 40's-50's were raised as the first generation with a CHOICE, we no longer had the draft; these people were raised with a chioce about doing service, or going to work, or going to college; when we did away with the draft we invented the brat. other generations prior to this current adult generation, all others had no choices, they knew they were going, they were drafted.
We have the brattiest generations of the last two (30 yrs) but also have the most educated than ever before, the wealthiest, the longest working in history, and subsquently, the most brought into a feeling of false military security, ever.

Answer 6

They may agree with (why) we are over in Iraq at war. It's like fighting a losing battle.

Recruiting lower income (regardless of race) has always been practiced. They could definately be taken advantage of to meet the recruiting quota. Unless the young person has someone to guide them in the choices the military has -- they will probably be dumped in artillery (especially if their test scores are low).

If they are interested then they should get the best score possible and choose an MOS that will benefit them when they get out (e.g. Computers, Intelligence, etc.). They don't have to accept the first MOS offered.

Answer 7

There are a number of reasons-
Those who are well-educated or from affluent backgrounds tend to avoid the military because they have options available to them that do not involve being shot at, sharing close quarters with strange people of the same gender and being sent far from home for months or years at at time.
The poor and underprivileged have a hope of a better life in the military- health care, housing, a chance for education, etc.
There are also issues such as drug use that affect the number of people who can be suitable recruits- you can't be in the military and do drugs. You also must be in excellent physical health- no blood pressure problems or chronic illnesses, even illnesses that don't seem to cause any trouble on the surface. For certain types of military assignments you must also have perfect or near-perfect vision. Astigmatism or nearsightedness (even with correction) can limit your opportunities.
I had tried to enlist in the Air Force 20 years ago but was declined because of an irregular heart rhythm and two leaky heart valves. So not everyone who wants to serve is able to- and only a small percentage of those eligible to serve want to make the sacrifice.

Answer 8

I once dated someone from Indiana and went out there for a visit. He told me that his state and Michigan were amongst the highest for the drafting rate in the country as there were so few good jobs and opportunities in those states. He referred to it as a breeding ground for the war. He also told me that when higher officials were asked if they want their children to be drafted they answered 'no comment'. Apparently there is no feeling for the poorer people other than use them for guinea pigs for war.

What's even sadder is conditions are set where there is very little choice. I seen tumbleweeds blowing through some very big towns that were now abandoned. They even closed down another car plant and my friend lost his job.. That was 2 years ago.

Just like McDonald's has no feelings for the cows they slaughter daily, the poor people are the cows and that's the way they see it.

Answer 9

My dad joined for the health benefits for me. It's the only reason he stayed in He didn't want to be in. I'm so grateful. He hated every minute of it. He made the sacrifices he made to get me taken care of, reenlisting every 4 years and looked forward to the day I didn't need the military care anymore. He hated that job. But he loved me so much. I got news for you sweetie. The army life is NOT for everyone. You need to look for guys and gals who not only LOVE their country but are a rare bred. the ideal type of person pauses before they speak, they are naturally neatly dressed, they stick to the facts, they make their descisions logically. Look for good posture. You can probably talk anyone into it, but thisis the type of person that will be the HAPPIEST in the military. This type of person will be between 7 and ten percent of the population of course, the person recruitin would ideall be the same type except have loads of energy around other people. this would be 12-15 percent of the population. hopefully, this should give you a good start. Claudia Kennedy Made it general and ended up doing recruiting. You should read her book, Generally Speaking.

Answer 10

you have been lied approximately plenty! you will possibly be declared legally emancipated at sixteen in maximum states, notwithstanding it takes court docket action. At 18 you may leave living house and the defense force does not come once you, that's ridiculous, how ought to you think such nonsense? you may, in case you have the money, purchase a automobile, purchase coverage, hire an house, in actuality do particularly plenty each thing settle for purchase or use alcohol, which makes no logical sense. you will get your own medical coverage, notwithstanding this is super costly. You father saying yo can no longer flow out till he says so is a variety of manipulation and intimidation. He could have his motives, such as you will lose your medical assurance out of your determine's coverage, and such, yet you understand, in case you reside decrease than his roof, he can set the regulations despite in case you're 30. this is as much as you to be certain despite if or no longer you may stay this form,a nd despite if or no longer you may survive obtainable interior the authentic worldwide financially, because of the fact in case you attempt and fail, your parents sound like the variety who won't take you lower back in. have you ever considered going away to varsity? that would enable you some freedom, and you nonetheless technically stay at living house (trip trips, some weekends)...

Answer 11

I don't think a lot of young people really understand what it means of doing something greater than oneself.I think young people don't understand that it is important to give back to a country that gives them so much.I don't think they really are up to the challenge of being in the Military.The path of least resistance always wins out.