What prevents soldiers from using their military skills against the government?

Question

Many soldiers are recruited from economically deprived areas. What prevents these same soldiers that may feel disenfranchised from turning their skills against the government? It has happened before. Ie Timmothy McVeigh. Why doesn't it happen more often?

Answer 1

Brainwashing by the govt and religion.

Answer 2

McVeigh is a rare case of terrorism against the US. The military has many safeguards to prevent an individual or a group of individuals from moving against the country because they are unhappy with it's politics.

This is not so in other country's however many have learned from the US model and fewer and fewer are being taken over by military coup's. This doesn't prevent a scumbag like Hugo Chavez from getting into power. In his case, it was the under belly of Venezuela who let him in. The poor and disenfranchised sold their vote to allow him in. And now, he changes the rules as he goes along, to assure that he can't be dumped. He still operates as a democracy, but anyone with any common sense will tell you that it's shaded with dictatorship. Chavez is a communist and a Castro wannabe, so don't be surprised if his job won't turn into a job for life, just like Fidel.

Answer 3

Many convicts are ex-military. You just don't hear about a lot of them because it's not that important. What is more imporatant, is that you don't hear about ANY people being anti-government, because so few (overall) are publically so. Even those who are, don't make a name for themselves because being anti-government isn't against the law.

One of the most famous examples I can think of is Lee H. Oswald, who assasinated President Kennedy. He was a former Marine as well. Note that both he and McVeigh were both executed for their crimes!

Being a former Marine myself, I can say that miliatary people do their job, go home, spend their money on the same things other people do, get married, have kids, grow old and retire. Sometimes they stay in, sometimes they get out and become civilians. I don't think being in the military has anything to do with having particular skills to use against the government, however. Military personnel do many of the same jobs civilians do (transportation, food service, administration, police, mechanics, etc), they just wear a uniform to do it.

If you are referring to special combat units who specifically train in combat, special arms, infiltration, and espionage, these people so rarely have problems with the government they serve because part of being in the special services require a top secret clearance. This clearance delves deeply into the background of the candidate to see if they DO have or HAD had disagreements with the government they're serving. This is to ensure they can be trusted to do their job and be responsible to their committments and training that is an expensive investment by the government.

Hope that helps,
Mikel

Answer 4

There is a conspiracy theory that Mcviegh was under th control of the government, but I forget what the name of the book was I was reading. I know of a soldier that was going to rob a bank on post and disappear to mexico, but he met some pretty girl and got saved. During 911 a soldier had a homemade bomb in his barracks, a backpack was found in the middle of the courtyard of the barracks, and the motorpool had a bom threat, you just never hear the stories...

Answer 5

Actually the majority of soldiers in our military are from middle class, educated families. When you serve, you gain a sense of honor and appreciation for your country. Only if the government takes an extreme change towards despotism will the United States military be forced to take such a drastic step. Hence generally military men and women are Conservative. Smaller government is less likely to take the steps the military men and women so ardently oppose.

Answer 6

Because the average soldier is neither the nutcase nor the deprived and depraved. He's your average American, plus. The plus is a stronger sense of service and a greater sense of patriotism. The stereotype of the poor being the cannon fodder is an unwarranted bigotry of some who haven't served in the modern military.

Answer 7

the only time the militia is used with the aid of itself human beings could be in circumstances of martial regulation alongside with for the time of the Civil conflict whilst Lincoln used it. As for brand spanking new Orleans, that became the national guard who have been attempting to disarm people who have been combating hearth trucks and emergency crews from putting out fires and keeping risk-free practices interior the streets.

Answer 8

common sense, decency, loyalty to the country, belief in what the USA stands for. Timothy McVeigh was a first class moron. McViegh did not learn how to make bombs in the military. He learned from books you can buy at any gunshow.

Answer 9

Lee Harvey Oswald was a Marine Sharpshooter

he proved it on 11/22/63

It happens plenty...but ex military do more to protect our government....cops, security guards,etc

Answer 10

Because of honesty, commitment, loyalty, pride and the love of our country.

The Vets who have committed acts like Oswald and McVeigh, they were crazy before they enlisted and would have probably committed a crime even if they didn't serve. They're just plain wackos.

Answer 11

The soliders have taken an oath, to fight for the government, treason of any kind would required death. The government supplies the military boys with weapons and bunch of other things.