Is it true you only joined the Military because you failed at school?

Answer 1

As a former Royal Marines Officer I think it is people like tokoloshimani who need to have their heads examined. Look at the selection process and the pass rate for ALL special forces - they take the best and make them excel at a job with very little reward and no thanks from people who "couldn't kill an animal" but are quite willing to eat the meat.

I come from a long line of serving officers going back centuries, my uncle who is 93 served during WW II and speaks 7 languages. Another uncle retired as Brigadier, my father was in the Air Force and I still have various cousins and relatives in all branches of the armed services. My father is an aeronautical engineer, I have a masters degree, speak 6 languages and have written 3 books on English Language Teaching which are being used in over 600 schools in the Balkans and Central Asia.

Do half as much and then judge us for what WE are - Warriors of the 21st Century.

Zulu9, as you have gathered I am British, and we have a lot more discipline and professionalism than you Americans, just look at the havoc you imbiciles have caused everywhere - Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and now possibly Iran too. It does not take a great deal of courage to napalm an unseen enemy, and sophisticated weaponry doesn't give you the heart for battle - merely slaughter.

As an ex soldier I do not see myself better than anybody else, but don't knock the warrior creed - you'll all need us one day to do a job you are either unwilling or incapable of doing.

Answer 2

This is clearly not true.

People who join our volunteer forces are very brave, and people join for many different reasons.

The comment that has caused so much trouble did underscore two points which have a degree of truth:
1) With our current policies, we will likely be in Iraq for a long time.
2) Volunteering for military service provides a second chance for some people who have not excelled in their schoolwork. Many employers look favorably on individuals who have gained the discipline and experience provided by military training. This is one way for some individuals to overcome poor marks in school.
Note the use of "some"; this is not true for all individuals.

It is the policy-makers who carry the burden of utilizing the military in situations with reasonable chances for success. Our military is the best in the world. If they can't get the job done, the fault is in the policies and strategy-- not the servicemen.

Answer 3

No it's not true because if you joined military you need to past college or high school, or except when their's a world war 3 people that is not in school can joined military.

Answer 4

Interesting how the majority of answerers so far seem to be American.

I haven't joined the military myself, but there are two things I'd like to comment on which answer the question (from a UK perspective):

1. One of my brother's classmates was rejected from joining the army for being too thick. He was applying to be a squaddie (i.e. the lowest rank there is). So even though you don't have to be booksmart, they do like people to have enough intelligence to be able to fend for themselves.

2. Not every part of the military needs people who can just fight. At the university I attend there are lots of people who are sponsored by the military, and will join the military when they graduate. The army needs civil engineers for bridge work. The RAF needs mechanical engineers to design and maintain planes (as the army needs them for tanks). Higher up the ranks people with management training are needed.

So, in conclusion, some people may join the military as it is something where academic intelligence is not always needed, but many other parts of the military need people with training and intelligence.

Answer 5

In the fall of 1971 I had just begun my senior year in high school. I had never taken school seriously, I was a wiseguy, and disruptive in class. My grades were terrible, and I began to realize that there was no way I was going to graduate. One day after school a couple of my buddies who were in the same boat mentioned to me that they were going to quite school and join the Marines. They asked me if I wanted to do it with them.

The thought had never entered my mind before that conversation, but I went home and gave it some very serious thought. I decided that this could be the opportunity for me to get my life together, learn some discipline, get a GED, and have the money through the VA to go to college. I decided to do it, and when I made that decision I felt like someone had removed a million pound load from my back.

The recruiter tried to talk us into staying and finishing school, my mother went crazy with grief (vietnam was still going on) and some of my friends wouldn't speak to me anymore, but I persevered, got my parents to sign the enlistment papers (because of my age) and off I went to Parris Island.

To make a long story short, it was the smartest thing I have EVER done in my life.

I learned so much, and changed so much, that I and the people at home who knew, didn't even recognize me anymore. The old me was gone.

The new me eventually got out, went to college, (made the dean's list every qtr), had a son who was on the last Olympic boxing team, and I have a great career.

Screw Kerry

Answer 6

Many people enlist because they want to get college paid for - and few expected to ever really go to war.

If someone's parents don't have savings, didn't go to college themeselves (and don't think it's a good idea) and the kid didn't get good enough grades to get a scholarship, and for some reason can't get federal loans, the military seems like a good option.

The military knows this, too, and advertises more heavily to minorities than upper-class white kids. The ads focus on getting work experience, free college education and so on. Never do they mention the truth - months or years in Iraq with not enough protective gear, tainted drinking water and so on.

Answer 7

i only didn't join the military because they refused me, i tried army, RAF and navy and was too short for any of them - i passed thier intlligence tests, in the UK you have to pass a minimum skills test and can't join unless you have a good level of education - im under 5 foot and that is the only reason i couldnt sign up unlike my younger brother who is much taller than me - other countries may have different policies but in the UK the armed forces check people are unlikely to shoot thier foot off first (the hieght restriction is to do with carrying a full bergen and weapon i tried lifting my brothers and had difficulty so i understand why they refused it was nearly as big as I am)

Answer 8

My husband is college educated, and he's in the Air Force.

And as for Kerry's remarks...many of our lower enlisted are college educated, and to be an officer you have to be! Nowadays, even to get to Senior Enlisted, you have to have a degree.

So no, our forces are not filled with morons who failed school. Kerry needs to look at this statistics a bit better and show some respect to the men and women of our Armed Forces!

Answer 9

For myself that was a part of the reason. I was a c- student in high school. Then the military helped straighten me out and gave me discipline. I was able to go back to junior college and eventually graduate with a bachelor's degree.

Answer 10

yes. My 3.83 in an MBA earned while on Active Duty shows what a dolt I am. Or how about my buddy with the Electrical and Mechanical engineering master's that is serving? We are all much lower educated than the guy working the Slurpee machine at 7-11