Did you know? RE: the soldiers?

Question

OH my goodness....So I just asked a question a few minutes ago in this same catagory, but due to one of the answers now I need to get this out there.......Did you know that many soldiers join the military right out of high school...as young as 17 and 18 years old? Some popular reasons are because they see it as the only way they can get money for college....or the only way they can get out and see the world.....or because they see it as a way to make a life for themselves (i.e. steady pay (you can't get fired), affordable health insurance, a constant roof over their head)....these people didn't know that Sept.11th would happen. They were just as shocked as everyone else! Yes, they knew they may have to go to war...but not for such a contradictory cause....now many of them aren't aloud to get out until the govt. says they can....the only alternative is JAIL....so did you already know that?

Answer 1

yes, i knew this years ago. interesting but old news

Answer 2

Ok. I have to agree on a couple of points already made here.

#1: if you are old enough (18) to die for your country, you should be old enough to drink a damn beer. WTF?
#2: I'm sorry to say this but all these people who are whining about the war and how they don't want to go or be there or whatever- you signed up to protect the country and ultimately that is our bottom line of being in Iraq. We are there to help them get back on their feet after Saddam and to protect ourselves from any future possible attacks by giving them a stronger government. ANY soldier who joined the military knew that a situation like this was a possibility.

My finace is in Iraq right now and while he complains about it, he knows that this was a risk he took by joining and has shut up and is doing his job..
War is always a possibility! Terror is always a threat!! Nothing is new on that issue, we have just become so desensitized to it and put our guard down, even now.. How many times today do you still read that there's been some new security breach at an airport or the VA lost laptops with Vet info on it?

What scares me more is not so much the war in Iraq but what happened to all the patriotism in the days after 9/11? Where did all the flags that were so heavily displayed go? The candles on the eve of the anniversary? Why does something horrible have to happen before we realize our country's vulnerability or show our patriotism?

Answer 3

YUP already knew that..

Fact is... Its the Military and while MOST of hte younger folks who joined before the First Desert Storm.. did not eally think they would ever see combat.... Any joining after that who thought that are idiots.

Its the military... they give out student loan replayments of up to 65000, free housing, food, salaries, training, money for school etc...

Now they are not going to give this out for nothing... You get sign on bonuses, incentives and all else but you in turn agree to go where and when they tell you period!

Far as getting out... YUP/// right now.. about no one is getting out!

My Husband, a college grad , at age 41 is going in this winter.. Reg Army.. means a huge change for our family.. and initially less pay
than he makes now! But hes going on... paying back his student loans, and is ready to if need be go to Iraq....
He knows the risks and realizes what the outcome can be.. we all do

We also sponsor soldier in Iraw.. and so we know whats going on... from the source not the news....

SO there ya go..

Try sponsoring a soldier... there are quite a few who dont even get mail from families... this is a great site to find a sldier to send letters to or packages...

www.anysoldier.com

Good Luck

Wismom

Answer 4

When a person enlists - even in a time of peace - they should know that there is always the possibility that things can change into a war situation, and that they have signed and given an oath into a contract for a specified time.
FYI - I do not agree with this war, but I do give my support to those who are serving in the military, not only in the U.S., but other countries who are by their sides. God bless them all!

If you drive by my home you will see both the American flag and the Marine Corp. flying every day, unless weather conditions prevent. The flags are put out in front of our home each morning and are retrieved at dusk every night.

Answer 5

Yes i did acutally and did you know they are not allowed to speak against the war either. They are doing a good Job though do not forget that. They are protecting us i know they are young and yes they should go to the army ect for different reasons then that also. You can give them support by going to adoptaplatoon.org if you really want to make them feel better. and did you know they can not even drink but they can go to war THAT is messed up if you ask me i think if you are in the military and under the age of 21 you should be able to drink for GOD sakes they are PROTECTION ARE COUNTRY AT 18 years old. I do not think they are able to join until 18 and out of school and they have to pass a test also.

Answer 6

My question would be what do these people think the military is about?? Anyone who enters the military is there for defense reasons first.. and these perks come later. I went in to get an education initially but due to the oath we take and the nature of the job, we were put into dangerous situations.. and we dealt with it.. If a person doesn't want to be a "Soldier" then simply don't go in. It's as simple as that..

Answer 7

So what you're saying is you agree with Kerry? That the soldiers are a bunch of undereducated, under-performing mongrels that were victimized by circumstance and forced to fight for an evil government. That they are not an "army of one" and that they will never "be all they can be" becuase they signed up for the GI Bill, three hots and a cot and never once thought there might be a war that they would actually be required to fight in? Is that it?

Answer 8

I don't feel Iraq is a good reason for those young soldiers to die for. If America keeps them there till there's peace and they keep killing our young soldiers, will we just keep sending more to die? I feel bad for the ones just signing up 'cause the war is confusing. I don't want to stray from the question. I had two brothers and both went into the military, now I have just one and I miss the other.

Answer 9

thats not only the reason young guys want to join in the military these guys are sick of playing video games they want to feel how to fight in real combat situation than seeing a computer for battle field combat right . when they are just a child they like playing shoot and up games like a small cowboys but when they grow up they want to join in the marine cause these guys are kind of war freaks just holding an m16 rifle makes them like a real toy soldier so many guys has a habbit of playing war games. so they join in the military for the real thing okay.

Answer 10

It's also way easier to trick a 17 or 18-year-old with a young, inexperienced, basically foolish mind into signing their own death certificate than it is a 30-year-old who knows all too well what he has to lose.

Answer 11

If a person is under age 18, they can get their parents to sign a waiver for them to enlist in the military. At the same time, the military doesn't just take anyone who comes knocking at the recruiter's door. I have actually seen/heard recruiters tell individuals that they cannot join due to poor test scores, criminal or traffic violations or poor academics in High School.

I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1992. I had the highest test scores they had ever seen for 4 years in a row, I could have done anything in any branch, it was my choice. I decided that if I am going to be in the military why not be the best, be a Marine.

For those of you who know nothing of how the military works, find out before you make yourselves look like idiots by revealing your ignorance. The US military is a voluntary force. NO ONE is forced to join, and if you change your mind about your commitment with the government after signing a contract, why should you get off scott free? Maybe I should just stop paying for my car tomorrow just because I decide I don't like the color. A contract is a binding agreement.

IF YOU ARE AT THE RECRUITER'S OFFICE WANTING TO JOIN THE MILITARY, EXPECT TO BE IN THE MILITARY AFTER YOU JOIN! Guns, weapons, long hours, dirt, fatigue, lousy chow, work, physical actvity etc. MILITARY! Not summer camp. Most people that I encountered in the Marines, including myself joined for a few reasons. Mainly because we felt a sense of duty to commit ourselves to serving our country. If it was only for 4 years or, until retirement, we felt that we should accept the challenge. Some of us were also trying to get ourselves out of a rut (endless job, boring life, change of pace, etc). Either way we made a choice to join.
Yes you can get "fired", just screw up one too many times and you can even be charged with a felony, dishonorably discharged and even go to prison. The military is more than clear when it comes to what, and how, you are expected to behave. If you cannot comply with what YOU AGREED (by signing the contract)to conform to, you can be held accountable.
The military does provide the basics of life, food, shelter, etc..
But in return for this you are expected to fufill your obligation (the same one you volunteered to take) by performing your duties. You may find the conditions rough at times. Sleeping in the dirt doesn't sound like fun but you get used to it after while. Working long hours sucks but it's your job.
Not everyone has the courage, or commitment to even try joining the military. If you haven't tried it, don't feel bad, but don't knock it. It's not for just anyone. Many try it and hate it, many use the experience to further their lives after they get out, even if they leave knowing that they never want to do that again. If they elected to purchase into the GI Bill, then they can use their money for college (only about 1100 a month by the way, I am collecting mine now). But the military is not about handouts. You earn every little thing you get.
Sometimes they need people and they won't let others out. That too is in your contract, it sucks but it says "...according to the needs of the U.S Government and the Marine Corps (Air Force, whatever)..." So if they need you and you are still there, you are staying. You have to be "discharged" from the military, it's not like the movie is over and you can just walk out the door and go home.
Most of all you can learn and realize that we have it good here in the USA and that we take it forgranted so badly, that we are destroying our own nation. I will probably be long gone when that happens but after all those years of sacrificing my time, life, welfare, and freedoms, it kinda pains me to think that thousands of people like myself may have been wasting our time, and lives, so that it can be all taken forgranted.

We signed up understanding that we were going to have to make some sacrfices, maybe even our lives.

Ask a politician to do that for you. I bet the answer is "NO".

We do/did what we are told and that is all. No military person deserves to be condemned for their service. After all, it is they who are defending the rights of those who condemn.