Why do people join the army then whinge when they get shot at?

Question

You know the score, some spotty kid wants to play soilders to impress the girls then gets shipped to Iraq, comes home dead and the bloody parents rant on about how Tony Blair has killed their son.

"If he did not want to be put in harms way he should never have signed on the dotted line"

Answer 1

Wow I really have no response to this rather than to say....


GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

Answer 2

I agree with you... to a certain degree. But you have to look at it this way. The "spotty" kid, joins the army under those selfish circumstances,and when they come out of training, it makes them a "man". He will go off and defend their country with pride, although everyone who joins the army knows that there is a chance that they'll get shot at, it doesn't mean that the parents have to like it. It wasn't the parents choice. But like I said, I do agree with you to a certain degree. The parents should recognise their kids choice in enlisting, be proud, not bitchy. Yes it's a great loss to you, and your family, but the army has always been comprised of men, and (now women) who fought hard, and gave the ultimate sacrifice so that others may have what we Americans do... Freedom. What do these parents think that the Vietnam Vet. Wall in D.C. is for? The kids that made it through the War alive? No, it's to commemorate those to who died for their country, and their countries' beliefs.

Answer 3

If the parents make their son join then whinge of course they are wrong. If Blair sticks troops into an American oil stealing war then he is wrong too, he has a duty to deploy the Armed Forces in a way that benefits the country and perhaps humanity not because he is on one big ego trip.

Think I'm talking nonsense? How sure are you?

I suppose war is a good way of getting rid of the violent, less intelligent element of society but is it nice?

Answer 4

It's just human nature vs the odds vs the media. The media is overstating how bad it is in Iraq because they don't like Republicans. They once said they interviewed a soldier that hated the war and later died. The only trouble was they never interviewed the soldier and he is alive. AP has been using Sunni insurgent stringers to report the news much like they used North Vietnamese spies to report on the Vietnam War. If 1% of the soldiers have mental problems, that's still 1,500 American troops a year and 1,500 stories the AP that want to report.

Answer 5

An answer in four parts:

1) Infantrymen are generally not the sharpest tools in the box. The average reading age of a British soldier is 10.

2) Recruitment drives tend to gloss over the unfortunate events which befell former recruits. Honesty = no more recruits.

3) There are shockingly inadequate provisions (such as the body armour debacle) which mean that soldiers die in circumstances where they should have survived.

4) Inept leadership from premiers who put the lives of their countries' armed forces at risk over spurious causes. Not mentioning any names...

Answer 6

I don't think that is the case or if it is it is not very often.
While I personally disagree with the policy in Iraq I certainly respect those men and women who are doing the best job they can, and it is a dangerous one. They do not make the policy, they go where they are told and do what they are told at great risk to their own lives and I for one have not heard of complaints such as you describe. There ARE those who disagree with the policy, as I and many Americans do, but where is it said that any of our brave army are whining about it.
What you say may be true of Blair's troops but so far as I know not of Bush's.

Answer 7

no offense but a lot of guys think that going in the army is going to just be like the videogames and movies they play and watch. Some teens do it to get away from abusive parents at home.but either way once they get into combat and seeing their buddies getting shot and blown up they realize that they might have made a big mistake. but this is what the government wants, for them the more people they drag into this the better. and thats why they came up with the movies and the videogames is to get people amped up about the army.

Answer 8

Man, you're harsh. I try not to listen too closely to what the newly agrieved say--it can make you a little insane. If my husband died choking on chocolate I might actually stop eating it! Is it logical, no. Too many people join the military during peace time for the pay and benefits forgetting that there is risk involved. My husband gave me a strong lecture on the risks of his military career when he was asking me to marry him. What a romantic! He almost convinced me not to marry him! I sometimes think spouses, children, and parents should all receive that same lecture. (The soldiers get it during their oath!) Some don't pay any attention though.

Answer 9

I agree. Join the military and go to war... that is absurd! I only joined to get the respect of others, the respect earned by those that faught and died for their country, and a free education. Not to get shot at. Who would imagine that being part of the military might include something dangerous?

Who do these idiots think go to war, the mailman, the banker, the accountants?

They are looking for a free ride and have not discovered that NOTHING in this life is free, not even freedom.

Answer 10

Here in the states - many join to defend the country. But there are still quite a few that join to get a free education. Then they whine when they have to go into combat. They volunteered to be in the military - they wanted a free ride and can't stand that they have to do what they signed up for.

Answer 11

You have actually answered your own question - it is the parents who are whinging not the soldier. So, people do not join the army then whinge when they get shot at, it's the family who whinge.