Why don't you think you should serve in the military?

Question

I've recently finished reading a book called A.W.O.L. You can find it on amazon.com if you want more information.

In it, it poses an interesting question. First let me explain a bit.

In the 50s, the majority of Ivy League college graudates joined the military, last year less than 1% joined from those same schools. The author reasons this was due to the Vietnam protestor generation teaching their children to hate the military. Also, the general opinion of service to country is that someone else can/should do it, rather than their sons or daughters.

Do you agree with either reason? What other reasons do you have? I'm not looking for anti-Iraq blabber, illegal this, lies that. I want real reasons why you feel it's not your responsibility to give something back to your country.

If you wound't want to join the military, but still feel obligated to serve, what would you do?

Answer 1

Interesting question. I have tried to post a thoughtful answer---sorry it is so long. I'll break it into chunks: Why am I not in the military? Why do I think more people don't encourage their kids to join? and Will I encourage my kids?

I don't think I should serve in the military because my talents, abilities, and my personal limitations make me better suited for a civilian lifestyle. I believe it is my responsibility to contribute to my country in other ways.

I also don't think my kids would be allowed in the barracks with me.

Why don't more people enourage...??

RE: "in the 50s" Did they cite a source for this???? More than HALF the graduates of Ivy League colleges joined the military? Was this "joined" as in "volunteered" or as in "were drafted"?

I think rates of enlistment in the 50s vs now has a lot to do with what was going on THEN. For starters, many of the guys in the military in the 50s had older siblings/relatives who served in WW2 making the military a known quantity for them.

Not having a draft anymore certainly has to play a role here. The group of men my dad trained with before going to Korea (for the war) was full of what my dad called "college guys" who had been drafted. Dad used to chuckle as he talked about some of these fellows with degrees in math and science learning how to fire howitzers. (My Dad had just finished his BS.)

I think there is more than "Vietnam" going on here and the "let someone else do it" is the primary reason.

I think there was a big cultural shift in the US is general following the 60s. The idea that you should sacrifice individuality for welfare of the group was dissappearing. The 70s were about "what's in it for me?"

The sexual revolution, increased availability of drugs, birth control and availability of abortion, and the spread of the no-fault divorce, added to the cultural shift toward an emphasis on pursuing individual happiness as opposed to societal expectations or norms.

I also believe that the quest for instant gratification (which began in the late 40s and 50s when buying household items on credit became popular) reached its peak in the 70s and 80s. Get it now, feel good now, pay later certainly fed into the change in our nation.

People who embraced the "ME Generation" culture then produced children who had a built-in sense that they were entitled to be happy and have fun. These kids were educated in schools with great deal of emphasis on "self esteem" and feeling good about themselves---as opposed to putting others first.

I am not saying that individuality and trying to be happy is bad. I'm saying that when the individual's pursuit of happiness is emphasized so strongly, then the concepts of service and self-sacrifice are devalued.

As for Vietnam creating image problems for the US military, it wasn't just Vietnam. It was the whole Cold War.

Because a direct confrontation between the USA and USSR would lead to nuclear annihilation, the two super powers jockeyed for world domination through a series of proxy wars, covert operations and alliances with shady regimes.

While direct action against an obvious threat to national security is a concept embraced by the vast majority of our nation, I would say a majority reject supporting corrupt anti-democratic regimes as morally repugnant.

This is why the domestic image of US foreign policy and our use of the military was slowly blackened by our actions in many countries.

So all of this boils down to a culture where:
---serving one's country in general is not held in great regard
---the military is viewed by many as morally questionable as opposed to clearly and always righteous.

So that's why I think the majority of the US public does not encourage their children to join the US military.

Will I encourage my kids to join the military? If I think it is the best course for them and the best use of their talents. If it is not, then I know they will contribute in other ways. Just because you are not in the military does not mean you are not helping make this a better country. We still need firemen and police officers (both of these professions are traditions in my family) and teachers and scientists, etc.

Answer 2

I can think of two main reasons why people don't serve in the armed forces as much anymore.

The first is an issue of money. It really doesn't pay well to go into the military. That right there probably explains why Ivy League graduates don't serve as often. A college graduate, especially one from the Ivy League, can make a lot more in almost any field in the private sector than they could doing a similar job in the military.

The second reason is that it's just not as prestigious to serve as it once was. Back in the 50s and earlier, joining the military was perceived as directly protecting the country. Nowadays, most of us have never experienced any actual threat to our nation. (Sure, there's the terrorism issue, but whether the military can solve that issue is debatable). I certainly don't mean in any way that serving in the military isn't an important and honorable profession. I'm just saying it's not in the forefront of people's minds anymore when they go to choose a career.

Personally, I don't plan on joining the military because I chose a profession in healthcare and I think I'll be able to help more people in the private sector.

Answer 3

If you are reading this, thank a teacher. If you're reading this in English, thank a veteran.
First, I still believe Americans are patriotic when asked to serve their country. However, we demand fairness & honesty. Huge numbers of our forefathers came from Europe to escape the constant wars. In WWII we were attacked & every male went or was asked why they weren't serving. Korea wasn't too popular but we had the draft & expectations that military service was a given. During 'Nam, all sorts of exemptions were available & the military was restricted on how & where they could do battle. Today, we have an all volunteer military & people aren't buying into the propoganda; they know it was for the oil. Today how many Congress members have sons/daughters serving? I was informed one!
I suggest we re-examine mandatory government service. When all Americans have a vested interest, we seem to ask hard questions. Just think what our young people could accomphlish!

Answer 4

One of the qualifying factors in proving oneself as a true disciple of Christ is that Jesus' true followers would have love among themselves. As a mental exercise,imagine that Jehovah's Witnesses in the UK and Jehovah's Witnesses in Germany during the second world war enrolled in the military in their respective countries.They would have joined the battlefields and killed opposing soldiers,some of whom may have been their brothers in the lord. How does that live up to John 13:35. If all "Christians" followed that principle then the world would be a better place. Think of this too. Because Jehovah's Witnesses did not bear arms during the war,then they are not responsible for the death of one of your family members who may have been killed during the war. And yet,you all still criticise the stand that we have taken and will continue to take.

Answer 5

I don't know why I didn't enlist when I was younger. Fear, I guess. Bad attitude about the military.

I'm fat and old now, and I'm sure they wouldn't have me. But if they did need me, I'd join. I'd still be scared sh*tless, but I'd join.

I've learned a lot about the military (having dated a former Marine for the last three years), and I have a lot more respect for it now. Good question.

Oh, and I do think it is my responsibility. I guess I've always thought teaching at a college WAS giving back to my country. I don't see any reason why military service and formal college education can't be held on the same plane of respect.

Answer 6

In the 50s, the majority of Ivy Leaguers were male. Females were only just being admitted. It's more than just a 'hate the military' attitude. You need a seriously wealthy or connected background to get into an Ivy League university these days. These people often literally see themselves as 'lords of the earth' rather than humble servants of the state types. Well, feudal lords traditionally conscripted their serfs to fight their wars:) Anyway, it is true that there is more than one way to serve your country. A nurse, policeman, doctor etc are equally serving their country if they are committed to the job, doing it well and active in community service. I regard them as far less selfish than someone who wants war but expects others to make the sacrifice of serving.

Answer 7

I'm female, and the jobs they have for me are not interesting. I can work in a cafeteria or the mail room here in my town.
If there were real careers for women that were worthwhile (meaning better than what I could find bumming around small town USA) it would be something I would have considered.
But I found when I went through the testing even though I scored much better than nearly every male of my class, I was given a small sheet of paper with jobs any high school dropout could do.
And to my recruiter? I was a statistic, a quota. Once I was on his line he didn't seem to care about what I'd like to pursue and pretty much ignored me from that point on.
So for those of you who believe in a higher power, it intervened on my behalf in the way of a car accident that got me off the recruiters hook. Praise whoever.
This was six years ago so I'm sure a few things have changed.

I guess the moral of the story is I tried.

Answer 8

I am too old but would gladly serve as my college graduate son is. It is just not the Ivy League school graduates, it is all graduates. It is not "cool" to be in the military. People assume you are too stupid to work else where. My son graduated *** laude & his best friend who went through officer's school was a Harvard graduate attorney. They were proud to join & lead their men. The lessons to not give back is taught from congress & the media. The lack of respect is written everyday on Q&A. Few want a job where there is little or no respect.

Find better reading material as that one has flawed research according to most military history buffs.

Answer 9

A 19 year old died in Iraq. I have kids. In essence this fallen solider died for the safety and security of my kids. That is my job as their father. This is why I am enlisting. Think about this: if everyone had the mindset that some else would/should do it, no one would do it. Then what happens?

Answer 10

For me I wanted to but my leg problems keep me out. So I went into EMS. I worked in some of the worse parts of Major city's in the US. I still wanted to go in and wish I could have. My son is going in this summer to the Navy.

I do think the drugged out generation and their warped thinking a problem.