Would You discourage someone from joining the military?

Question

My nephew is somewhat of a loser, and now wants to straighten his life out and join the military...

ALL ANSWERS ARE GOOD
THANK YOU EVERYONE

my nephew read these also..your answers gave him allot of things to think about...thx again

Answer 1

I realize the military offers job and educational opportunities that may not be available to a person otherwise. However, there is the whole "getting killed" thing. I think some soldiers do it for the whole patriotism thing and 9/11 and others want to better their lives. The "better their lives" soldiers must not be feeling too happy that someone wants to kill them for reasons that date back to the crusades. Discourage your nephew from joining? Depends on how you feel about him risking his life in a war that more and more people are starting to wonder why we're even over there in the first place. Don't look to the government for an honest answer. They can't even find the "wack job" who supposedly started the whole thing. Saddam Hussein has already told authorities that he was no big Al Queda, who knows if I spelled that correctly, fan because he figured he was next on their "to do" list. What's my answer? I don't think it's a swell time to join the military although I sympathize with and support those men and women who are risking and sometimes losing their lives in George Bush's own private war.

Answer 2

No I would not. Its funny, most of the people who try to talk me out of joining the military are potheads or drop outs, aka losers. The military is great for anyone. Think about when you see people in their 40s or so and they work at a restaurant or grocery store or some other 7 dollar an hour job, what would their life be like if they would of spent the past 20 years in the military? They would be a hero or a veteran and would be receiving 50% of their paycheck for retirement.

Answer 3

If your nephew wants to make his own decisions in life in a responsible manner, let him. If he feels that his life is going nowhere, military service will straighten him out and fix his priorities real quick. There is nothing like suffering to sharpen the mind. He will either figure out that he is cut for it and enjoy it, or he isn't and he will have a very new outlook on what life is like in the outside world and how he screwed it up.

Either way, he will either crash and burn - and you will learn that instead of being "somewhat" of a loser, he will be a complete one by his own fault, or he will make something good of his life. Let him make his own choices. You may be surprised at the results if he enters the service and goes all the way.

Answer 4

No way!! The military is a rough life, but it's a good life. It turns boys into men. It's a wise, honorable and respectable choice your nephew is making. He should be supported every step of the way. Yes, there's a chance he'll go to war. At least he's protecting his country and his families rights and freedoms. At least he's willing to sacrifice what so many take for granted. Believe it or not, the chances of dying in Iraq are minimal. That is, if that's what you're worried about that happening to him.

My hubby has been in 18 years and we're still going strong. It can be a darn good life if you let it. He has the opportunity to be something that might not otherwise be available to him. He'll be able to go to college and have a good career at the same time.

Good luck to him and I hope your family supports his choices.

Answer 5

No i would not, the military is a wonderful, noble thing and if your nephew is a 'loser' who wants to straighten out by joining the military i think you should encourage him. Just make sure he knows exactly what he is getting into, i.e. he could be sent to war and killed.

Answer 6

I'm a Nam era vet who retired after Desert Storm, our family has a tradition of Military service going back to the Revolutionary War, and my daughter is currently on active duty, so no I would not. It is a hard life, and it's certainly not for everyone, but if you go in with a positive attitude it can be an unequaled learning experience.

Answer 7

it depends on the person I guess. If the person has had a rough life and has done some bad things, it might benefit him to actually get to do something in life. for some people, it saves them.

but I think people who have the potential to do great things outside of the military would benefit from discouragement from family and friends. Ultamatly though, they need to make this descision buy themselves because it is very personal.

Answer 8

I would discourage some people, but I would need to know that person, or at least know more about them. I wish i had went to college instead of the military. I mean, in many ways the military was exactly what i needed, but in other ways it wasn't. Have him talk to some vets, NOT recruiters.

Answer 9

ok let me say this, joining the military woudl be the most honorable thing that you can do, because one you are serving for what you believe in and who you believe in, you want to protect your loved ones and the way of life, and fight for that very word we call "FREEDOM", I WILL NEVER DISCOURAGE SOMEONE WHO WOULD JOIN THE MILITARY...they obviosly believe in something thats greater than thereselves...i hope that helps a little bit

Answer 10

the military is the best way to straighten you out. i wouldnt discourage anyone from it unless theyre a drug addict or cant do what theyre told. even if you just go for 4 years youll come out an adult ready to face anything. youll have money in your pocket, probably have a technical degree in something, a GI bill to use, no college loans to pay off, employers will come looking for you.