Why would anyone want to join the army?

Question

We were shown this video in school about joining the army and it was promoting it. But after taking everything into consideration, what the hell would I get out of it?

The pay is crap
You may have to risk your life
You will not be appreciated (often will be looked down upon especially by anti-war movements)
You may have to leave all your friends and family
What are you actually fighting for? (In the case of those in Iraq)

Now please don't report me for some lame reason, I just want to know why someone would want to join the army

Answer 1

I hope you don't think my asnwer is lame because I am actually joining the army. I don't care that much about the pay, because I don't care if I get rich. There are much more important things in life than money. Almost every good American appreciates the military, at least where I live. If you don't appreciate them, YOU get looked down upon. I will be leaving my family in friends. If I wanted to live at home with my family in the same town as my friends for the rest of my life, I'd self-employ as a lazy moocher. Not that there aren't respectable jobs to be done close to home, but who wants to stay in the same place all their life? To me that's extremely boring. I'l miss them but I can visit them on leave time. What are we fighting for? Think about what the purpose of a military is to America. To protect it, of course. I don't know what other soldiers are fighting for or what the President (whoever that'll be when I join) will want me to fight for, but to protect Americans is what I'm going to fight for. Wether that's killing terrorists who, if left alone will organize to create another 9-11 or helping some of the citizens of Iraq (the few) who are actually glad we're there. They're people too, even if not American, and deserved to be liberated of the tyrant we put into office, so it was necessary to take down Saddam. Though we should pull out of there as soon as their government takes more repsonsibility (which we should urge them to do more quickly and provide some kind of consequence if they don't).

Besides all that, here's a few things I like about the Army:

it keeps you fit
on a general basis it's very organized and professional
free/cheap housing
free/cheap travel
free/cheap college
free training
free health insurance
cheap food
free/cheap uniforms
tons of jobs to choose from
an honor system that people (are supposed to) abide by
a sense of comraderie hard to find elsewhere
you have the honor of risking your life for those you love
you have the honor of helping those in other countries (sometimes wether they like it or not...)
you get to actually make a difference in the world with your job
action, adventure and training excercises that are way too fun

that about covers it! why would you NOT join the Army?

Answer 2

"Duty , honor , country - I'll give my life ." These words exemplify the men and women of the armed services . These are the reasons that many join . Others join for the college and job training benefits . Some join because they can't get a better paying job , but the pay is not bad either . The US military provides for many of its servicemen and womens needs as well . Not only is it a job but also a family . You learn to become more than just someone who works from 9 to 5 , you change the world .
"I regret that I have but one life to give for my country." These are very prophetic words that still ring true today .
As a side note , the military lifestyle is not for everyone . If it were then everyone would join and there would be no one to protect .
I realize that last bit is over simplified ,but it is true none the less .
I am an American soldier .

Answer 3

You join the military for various reasons. The pay starts out low but in time increases, additional tax free pay is also there and this adds up and increases your spending power. As a young person, your experience can not be matched by your civilian peers. The friends you gain in the military will be your friends for life. I still have contact with folks I met in the 70's. We shared the same experiences and helped each other through them. The military is not for everyone. It makes it harder to convince someone with the current situation and war death toll.
The military loses 500-1000 a year due to accidents, sickness and other non war related incidents without having the war death toll.
The turn around for units is worse then Vietnam.
The war we are fighting now is like fighting in the Civil War of the 1860's. We have a defined emeny, we just don't know where they are or where they will attack.

Answer 4

OK, lame or not, here goes: Some people don't have the opportunities that others have, this is the only way they can afford college. In some cases it's not even about college, it's the best job out there for them, period.

And, call me lame if you want, some people do actually join up out of a love for country.

Call me crazy but if you think the job is a crap job then likely none of this will resonate with you but at least I tried.

Answer 5

I parinted houses in New Jersey.

I joined the Navy, became an Electronics Technician, and used the GI Bill to go to college while I was still enlisted, whereas I got a degree in Computer Science. During this time, I was stationed at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii.


I finished my enlistment and have been out for less than 2 years. I make $70,000.00 a year, live in Hawaii, wear shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops to work.

-In other words the advantages are there if you look for them... I don't recommend Army--- go Air Force, Coast Guard, or Navy, and apply for occupations with skills usable in the civilian world -they're there.

Answer 6

To be in any armed service is the greatest honor you can pay your country and those that have came before you. If it was not for vets such as George Washington and most of our countries presidents we would not be here today and able to exercise our freedoms. Yes there is the risk of losing your life but I would gladly put my life on the line for my family and friends to keep our freedoms. Just because the Iraqis are not Americans does not mean the have to live under oppresion either. A soldiers greatests duty is to ensure the freedom of all. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom, freedom freedom. Many people have given their lives for freedom and not just in the United States. Every country has its heroes that have died for freedom. That is why you join. As long as there someone that is willing to risk their life for freedoms, they will have my support.

Answer 7

We don't do it for the pay, or the glory or honor, we do it cause we were called upon to defend your right to post dumb *** questions insulting what we have chosen to do with our lives.as for not being appreciated, i have to disagree with that,, every time i go home, there has never once been a time that i have not had some one offer to by me a drink or pay for my families dinner while we are out some place, or have some one just walk up out of no were and say thank you, or job well done.yes you have to leave friends and family when you deploy, but we all know that our jobs have a price and we know that for that price they get to sleep in a safe place and not have to worry about some one coming in and telling them what to do with there life, they can live free for our sacrifice, as far as what we fight for, we fight so that they will have a better country to live in, and not a dictatorship, they will be able to have the freedoms you enjoy everyday, and yet you want to criticize the one who have gave you this freedom,, you should try living in a place you don't have these liberties before you try to criticize the ones who defend them for you, but i guess that is why many of my friends have gave the ultimate sacrifice so that you may talk down about us, and our profession.

Answer 8

the pay isn't that bad, you get college money to use when you get out and tuition assistance while enlisted in the army so you can get a degree if you work hard. you get to travel to places most average citizens can't afford. you can get valuable training for a job skill while enlisted in the military and when you get out, you can get a higher paying job in the civilian world. that's what alto of my friends do. you get to meet new people from all over the world. you can always move back home when your done with your time.

Answer 9

1, Yes, the pay is crap, especially for the lower enlisted ranks.
2, "May have to", honey, that's a contingency of the contract.
3, Only gutless losers who worry about nothing more than themselves look down upon the people who sacrifice their time and families to serve our country.
4, There's no "may" about that one, unless your friends and family are going to move with you to every new base.
5, They're fighting for, or at least standing up for, something greater than themselves. Even if they disagree with their mission, it still takes integrity to follow the orders given to them.

And on a fun note, if you're like my husband and like guns, fire/explosions, and sneaking up on people, there's no better place to (legally) do what you love, not to mention they'll train you to do it even better.

Answer 10

Freedom has a cost. Sadly, many just think these rights they enjoy came from a Fairy Godmother or something. People died many, many years ago for these rights, and many since then. Just wishing to live free doesn't make it so. Sometimes it isn't all about what you get out of something like this, it's doing something for others. This is the sense of entitlement I mentioned in an earlier question that earned me a bunch of thumbs down. No matter, if you have a relative in your family who is a veteran, ask him or her about this, see what they have to say.