Are the American soldiers professionals? Do they die for money?

Question

Or for oil?

Answer 1

I think far to many of them die for a chance at a better life, which they never get. Empty promises.

Answer 2

My brother is currently in Iraq, he is a 20 year old Marine and has been there since last September.

Professional? I don't quite understand what you mean... does he get paid for his efforts? Yes - but not much. I work part-time waiting tables to get through college and I make more money then him.

He signed up with all of these ideals and dreams about protecting Americans and their freedoms, even stupid ones like you. War has, understandably, changed him. He had to assist the medic when his CO walked over an IED and, consequently, lost both his legs well above the knee. I imagine when your using backpack straps to tie off someones severed leg that MONEY or OIL is the LAST thing you're thinking about. Still, despite his disillusionment he continues to sign all his letters: "For those who can't and those who won't - Semper Fi."

If you want to be pissed at somebody - I'd recommend politicians or better yet try drafting a bill that would prevent the military from recruiting 16, 17, and 18 yr olds still in high-school and leave the men and women who are dying, for whatever reason, alone.

Answer 3

American soldiers are professionals. It is even part of the "Soldier's Creed"
"I am an expert and a professional."
However they do not fight and die for the money or oil. Why don't you ask some why they fight.

The money isn't that good.

Answer 4

Azmountaintroll has it down. It isn't the why that needs to be in the mind of a soldier or their officers. The Commander-In-Chief and the Congress get to wrangle over that. The American Airman/Marine/Sailor/Soldier is a well trained, well equipped professional, who learns to improvise in times of adversity, to overcome the opponent they have been sent to deal with. The why's that they have are myriad, but chief amongst them are their fierce love for their home, their family, their people, their flag, their government, and their government's friends. As a former sailor, I still live by my oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. There is no greater ideal than the Republic in which I live. A place where no man holds a title over another. Where we are free to go as we wish. Where we can achieve that which we want, if we desire to work for it. America is truly the Grand Experiment, and is worth dying a billion times over for. I wish I could go, instead of those who don't want to. I want to, because it's my country I serve, even as a discharged sailor.

Answer 5

I am an American soldier.
I am a warrior and member of a team .
I serve the people of the United States, and live the army values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself.
I am an expert, and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America, in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom, and the American way of life.
I am an American soldier.

Now you decide what I fight, and may even die for.

Answer 6

for some it's just something they decided to have some fun after highschool. they enlist once then walk away to continue on with their life

for others, it's our job. a way of life. and we can't see ourselves doing anything else BUT serving our country with pride. i know people with jobs in the military that could join the civilian world and make twice the money the military is offering. but instead of taking the extra money in the civilian world, they re-enlist for 6 more years. so obviously, many are not in it for the money. we serve our country and it's people knowing that there are people like you floating around and degrading us because you have nothing better to do. get a life

EDIT

also, as for what they would DIE for, why in the name of heaven, earth, and hell would anyone DIE for money?
they DIE in service to the country
they DIE in service to our flag
they DIE then come home in a coffin drapped with a flag
they DIE to protect their comrads
they DIE and SACRIFICE themselves selflessly.
they volunteer, serve and some even DIE so it won't be necessary to draft people like YOU.

how many people do you know who will TRULY run into enemy fire to save a man you don't know?
how many people do you know who will TRULY risk everything for a cause that they may or may not believe in?

a SOLDIER will risk his/her life to save a comrad (sometimes someone they don't know, but comrad nonetheless)
a SOLDIER will risk everything so that their comrad can return home to their parents/siblings/spouse/children even though it means that he himself might not be able to do the same.
a SOLDIER will recieve and obey all constitutional orders from those that are appointed over them
a SOLDIER places his/her mission and comrads over him/herself.
that's a universe more than i can say about you.

does this sound like something one would do for money or oil? please.

Answer 7

Well, the biggest bunch of them these days are somewhat semi-professional. They are mostly reservists. If they are risking their necks for just the little money they are paid, they are silly indeed. Mostly, they do it out of a somewhat misguided ideals. They are dying for no reason whatsoever that I can figure out now. We will never change the hearts and minds of the Iraqis by any way other than killing them all. Now, they are even taking them to trial for killing the bass terds. What the hell is up with that? It is getting to be another Vietnam, with so many restrictions on the troops that they cannot fight effectively. If they do, they are brought up on charges. I could see getting Saddam's butt, but why the hell are they still there? The powers that be seem to think we can win them over to our way of thinking and doing things. That will never happen.

Answer 8

Yes, they're professionals. No, they don't die for money. Would you? Of course not. There are those who enlist mainly for a paycheck, but these avoid the combat jobs. The ones who enlist to fight are either warriors who genuinely live for the danger, or patriots who want to serve their country and don't mind risking their lives to do it.

As for the oil, soldiers don't give a damn about the why of a war. They're professionals, who go where they're told to go, and fight whom they're told to fight. 'Why' is the politician's problem.

Answer 9

We are professionals. We fight and die in service to this country that we love. We do it honorably and for your right to ask such worthless questions. If you have never lost someone close to you in combat, you have no idea of what honor and sacrifice for something bigger than yourself truly is. We dont fight and die for money or oil, or for greed of a president. We fight and die for our families, friends and fellow soldiers.

Answer 10

In order for an occupation to be a 'profession' it must meet all of the following rules:

A 'profession' requires specialized training and knowledge in subjects that only people in that profession receive.

A 'profession' has special rules and responsibilities that are apply only to members of that profession.

A 'profession' has special status because the public view is that the members of that profession serve the public good.

Going by the strict definition of 'profession' people in the military are 'professionals.'

Note that 'oil' and 'money' have no bearing on what is or is not a 'profession.'

Answer 11

This is an absurd question. I put off college because I felt the call to serve in the Marines, not the duty to protect our economic interests. If a man dies out there it is not for oil, Iraqis, or George Bush. We all have our convictions to serve and unfortunately your rights are one of my own reasons.