do most people enlist in the military because they feel they are not smart enough for college and think it is a easy way to get money, or do they enlist to protect their country. I believe they feel like they can fit into society much better as a veteran and it is an easy way for themto make money
2006-10-21 05:41:29 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
If you think it's easy, baby, I'd hate to see what you'd call "hard."
2006-10-21 05:43:54 · answer #1 · answered by Tom Jr 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Ok first off; Fahrenheit 9/11 is one side of the story. Propaganda, if you will. So watching that movie will not give you the full picture as some people would like you to believe.
Second, I enlisted right after 9/11 because I believe that if you are going to live in this country and enjoy freedoms that you are given at birth, you damn well better stand up and do something to protect them.
To imply directly or indirectly that soldiers join for money is an insult that I'm not sure I would handle well if given to my face. I added it up one night while I was overseas. Being that I was on call 24 hours a day my pay averaged about $2.73 an hour....Does that sound like a lot of money to you?
As for fitting in with society...That has got to be one of the more moronic statements that I have read on Answers. When I came back from Iraq I jumped every time a car back -fired, and my heart skipped a beat every time I neared and over-pass or sped by a pot hole. Would you consider that "fitting into society much better as a veteran"? Or how about the fact that every time a fire cracker went off on The 4th of July I couldn't breath for a moment.
Your disillusionment toward today's armed forces is an embarrassment. Just rest assured that we are doing a job that statistically speaking less than 1% of Americans are willing to sign up for. You should be unquestioningly thankful, not suspicious of our motives.
2006-10-24 10:55:02 · answer #2 · answered by p_lo25 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definitely don't think they do it for the money. I mean I am an E-2 in the Navy and I can tell you starting out, the money isn't that much, especially when you have bills to pay. A lot of people join for the college money though. I did it to serve my country, as did a lot of people I have talked to at MEPS and along the way. It's not an easy job. Not by any means is it easy missing Christmas with your family, or not being able to call in sick. Constantly being told what to do. Not being able to visit anyone your family unless you have enough leave saved up. Seeing your boyfriend once every 3 months. It's not an easy way to make money. It's hard to be in the military, but many of us gladly do it.
2006-10-21 13:43:27 · answer #3 · answered by Leila R 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I guess you never served in the military if you can ask a stupid question like that. For your information most of the people who enlist are college educated. The military doesn't want losers anymore than civilian corporations do. If you ever tried to live on the pay they make in the military you would certainly have a better appreciation for our service men and women.
Our military are proud Americans who serve because they feel a duty to our country and our citizens. They make the sacrifices so that you and the rest of us can live here and enjoy our freedom that THEY make possible!
If you think the sacrifices they live and sometimes die for are an "easy way to make money", go sign up (if you're smart enough)!
2006-10-21 13:05:06 · answer #4 · answered by Mugsy's Place 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
first of all, it is impossible to get a good response to a question like this, b/c there are far too answers. each soldier is an individual, and have their own reasons for enlisting; you cannot blanket them all into one group like that.
that being said, as the wife of an newly enlisted soldier, i can tell you about my experience so far. my husband is not anything close to too stupid for college. he was not considering his veteran's status once he got out. originally, he enlisted b/c of the stability, benefits, and the college education he would be able to get. he was not enlisting b/c he is a fan of our president, or the war, and he is not the only one.
however, anyone who thinks that this is easy, or that the pay is enough to get someone through both basic training and AIT (not too mention deployment in iraq) obviously isnt thinking things out very well. none of it is easy. they leave behind family, friends, and the freedoms that they quickly learn were taken for granted before they put on that uniform. the pay is not enough to make anyone rich. if that was the only reason that they joined, the first few weeks of basic training would have had them running for the hills (especially considering that they do not get payed for the first month...).
i could go on and on about all the different circumstances i have heard of, or been witness to, but i wont bore you any longer. it is my hope that you are at least able to realize that you were being to quick to pigeonhole those who enlist in the army. you should consider all the possibilities before coming to a conclusion. and considering that there are thousands of possibilities per soldier, i dont think that you would have made such a generalized statement.
2006-10-21 13:06:17 · answer #5 · answered by elizabeth k 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Let's see...pick up any comparison chart of military jobs vs. same/similair civilian, and even including our benifits we are usually well below what civs make. Yes, the education side is nice, but 35k in colleges nowadays is crap. Most of us, this includes everyone I've talked to in the AF, Army, Marines, and Navy, join for our country. The education and benifits are just things they give us because of the job we do. If we don't, who will? Think on it. Who would willingly go out and get shot at, put their life on the line, for less in a month than you can make working retail if it was for the money? We do it out of love, pure and simple, but I admit a few join for other reasons, they're the ones that don't reup when the time comes.
2006-10-21 15:16:07 · answer #6 · answered by Just Me 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a Nam era vet who retired after desert Storm, I got to say, if you're after money, the military is not the way to go. My pay as an E-1 in '72 was $270.00 a month. Getting hired as a veteran is an uphill battle, most employers don't want us, we don't have references they can call and talk to. I know this from experience. My family has a history of service to our country going back to the Revolution, and my daughter is on active duty now. If this countries citizens are not willing to defend it, then it does not deserve to survive. Our troops are there to serve their country, they are doing us all proud.
2006-10-21 19:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by rich k 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I enlisted to (1) protect the country, (2) b/c those before me stood up and defended this country (3) I had a year of college and my major was expensive(aviation management)..(4) who's gunna stand up for this country? you? the homosexuals? mexicans? ha
You make it sound like those in the military shouldn't even get paid.
Don't question the troops. Without them, where would you be? What freedoms would you not have?
Just say "thank you" and be on your way.
2006-10-21 13:03:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you, it ain't the money. If you look at the demographics of the military make up you will discover that most military members are from middle to upper middle class homes. Some just want a break from school. Most want to contribute to this country. They are definitely smart enough for college that's for sure. A college student is not smarter than the non college student and a degree is just a piece of paper that says you are trainable. It certainly does not guarantee any level of intelligence. Being a Veteran helps to a very very small degree, but that's not the reason they joined. The military is a great opportunity to be in and of the world.
2006-10-21 12:47:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
It sure ain't for the money, but it is for their country. Most of the people in the military have had a college background and some are taking college courses while in the military. Go to a Military Recruiter and ask about the educational background of the Armed Forces of the United States of America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-10-21 12:49:49 · answer #10 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
They may enlist for one of the above reasons, but, they re-enlist because of the guys who served next to them during the war.
My husband enlisted to serve his country. He's been in 8+ years; he reenlists and fights because of the guys he's served with. Most of the guys couldn't give a damn about the politics involved; they care about getting themselves and their buddies home alive.
2006-10-21 17:18:19 · answer #11 · answered by katheek77 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋