Why do people want to join the army?

Question

I'm watching the Remembrance Day concert, and one question arises: Why do people want to join the British Army? The Second World War was said to be the 'last good war', when good vs. evil concept was very clear. Especially now the Iraq war has become very controversial, the Afghan conflict more violent, how do these things affect people's mind when they join the armed forces?

Answer 1

False sense of patriotism to a country that could care less about the well being of its citizens... Or just for the money.

Answer 2

It's not a matter of them wanting to kill and fight.

It's a matter of them being a part of British history and culture as the military has played an important role for Britain.

Also, many people join the forces to continue family traditions by signing up. Maybe they were interested in joining at a young age.

We need an Army, we need a Navy and we need an Air Force. Someone has to do the jobs needed to protect our land and serve others. And we should be proud of the ones who do so and respect them.

And it's not a matter that the personnel want to be out in Iraq or Afghanistan. It's the Government who want them out there. It's a pity that politicians don't have nerves strong enough to join the forces, but instead they sit down shouting and waving papers at each other.

Answer 3

Dry dreamer, why should we be thankful if people are doing a job which was devised by false accounting? Anyway that is not what is required. People join the Army because of poverty and a magnified sense of patriotism. And it is the combination that the government feeds on. There is always a pool of people who need a purpose in life but cannot find one themselves.

The Army has a ready made sense of purpose and direction for any lost soul.Also there is no such thing as a good war because human beings cannot really tell the difference between good and evil.

Answer 4

In an area of high unemployment getting the chance to earn money, learn a trade, and see the world is surely an opportunity to be jumped at.
What they forget to tell you is that it's not all Action Men playing with toys, and there is every chance that real bullets are being aimed in your direction.
Thank goodness we have a Volunteer Armed Forces, I don't think that any parent would want to see their offspring being conscripted.

Answer 5

To get cheap beer, to learn a trade, to travel the world, to meet interesting people and shoot them- is the cynics answer.
If noone joined an army we wouldnt have any wars- is the dreamers answer.
To proudly defend ourselves from nasty bastards like Hitler- is the right answer.
To go and sort out those Muslims in far away lands so we can have their oil-is why i dont want my son to sign up.

Answer 6

I will let you know why i joined at 17 3/4's!

In no particular order then:

1. To get out of my small town because I felt i had no sucessful future there.
2. To leave home to gain independence - my homelife wasnt the best anyway, so i didnt find it too difficult leaving everything i knew behind.
3. To travel to new places and meet new friends - the adventure!
4. The uncertainty of not knowing for sure where my life would lead was exciting to me.
5. Educate myself about other walks of life, how other people live. Thier cultures & beliefs. To learn tolerance of other people.
6. I honestly didnt have any other clue as to what i wanted to do with my life!
7. I felt they would look after me, feed me, accomodate me and train me well and pay me a good wage whilst doing so.
8. To achieve personal pride at having served my country.
9. To protect innocent people that need our help wherever they are in the world.
10. To defend if need be, although to be honest i didnt really join to "fight" as some people may have this perception of soldiers and this was not a reason for me.

Everybody is unique though and have thier own reasons for joining. These reasons are just mine. They are in no order because they all played a part in my decision to join.

I had no idea when i joined that i would serve in the places that i did. I have since left, but i can honestly say it was the best thing i counld have done in my "early years" and stood me in good stead for life. I feel I am a better person because of it.


Yeah you have bad days but eh thats life all over no matter what you do! As for getting involved in conflicts - well we dont get involved as such, not in the politics of it anyway - my view was that i was there to do a job I was paid to do. I served the government of the day, but more importantly to me, our sovereign, and our people. When i wore my uniform abroad I represented Britain and was damn proud of it. My only hope was that my small involvement would actually make a difference for the better in someway. I can tell you that my hope was achieved - i saw it in the eyes of the people i was so priveleged to have met and helped in my line of duty.

The comraderie you experience is second to none, and the experiences I have had, you can not buy. It is not for everyone of course... and some might think its a rubbish job, but eh someones got to do it, and luckily for some, its voluntary in our country, so we should give our servicemen and woman a lot more support than i think we really do.

Just one last point - our history is littered with conflict and war, from all the years of yesteryear, our world has been a troubled place. Most conflicts & wars are not thrown into the spotlight of the media - the people suffer in silence. We never hear about it. So with respect, please dont think that these troubled times with Iraq and Afghanistan is something new, it is not. Unfortunately there will also be people in our world causing conflict for whatever reason or agenda, all we as professional soldiers can do is carry out the orders we are given. We endeavor to minimise the hurt and suffering caused to innocent people as much as possible if we are in a postion to. As for the enemy - they always have the opportuntiy to surrender and be treated humanely under the Geneva Convention.

The fact of being involved in conflicts never affected me to the point where it swayed me not to join- you know the reality of it when you sign on the dotted line. I just felt that was what i wanted to do - and so i did it. p.s my Mum wasnt best pleased with my decision (!) but if you have children you have to learn to let them fly the nest and follow their own path in life. Maybe it is our own destiny???

Answer 7

Theyr'e paid! Not a lot though but can't spend it if your'e blown to bits. If they do survive are they entitled to free housing, tv, food etc, i doubt it! Don't worry though, the rich always do well out of it. Blame muslims for everything while taxing everything to the hilt, makes sense eh!

Answer 8

To protect people like you from mass distraction which can occur any time - day...... & to keep the country safe and secured from dangers against enemies who want to destroy our economies and success to just bring us down back to the early stone age and if that happened life will suck big time for Brits and this will take along time to rebuilt our nation but always remember (BRITISH ARMY WILL NEVER EVER LATE THAT HAPPENED TO THEIR PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHY WE JOIN THE ARMY)*

Answer 9

Unlike you some people want to serve the country of their birth rather than sponge off it.

That and the fact that you can travel the world.

Answer 10

People join the armed forces so that they can die protecting the lifestyles of the fabulously rich.

Answer 11

To protect what we have fought so hard for for years.

To fight for what so many of you are doing right now. Sitting on your asses complaining about all of the problems in our great country. At least they are doing something about it...
Support our Country. Support our troops!