What entices people to join the military?

Question

Is it the opportunity to die in vain in some roadside bomb in a country that hates your guts and will likely pee on them as they lay exposed? I just don't get it. A lot of my cousins and extended family members are joining up and all I can do is shake my head in disgust. It's not like the beginning of the war when we thought we were fighting for a reason....

Answer 1

Ignorance of youth.

1. They think it will not happen to them.
2. aggression is an attribute of the young.
3. manipulated to think their actions are honorable although fueled by hatred.
"one fights for honor, one fights for glory both die for stupidity"
4. to belong to something greater than themselves.
5. economic security.
6. false sense of superiority.

Hermann Wilhelm Göring said it best.

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

In other words - humans are stupid

"Sheep will follow the Shepard even when he leads them in the slaughterhouse." or is USA case

"Cows will be probed by a cowboy even when he herds them into the stockyards."

Do not worry about it - just Darwin's theory in action - "stupid ppl die in stupid ways."

Society will be improved when all is said and done - hopefully.

Answer 2

you obviously don't understand the true reason why people join the military.
Some people join to get help to pay for college, others join to serve this great country. you have the right to shake your head in disgust, and voice your opinions, but I believe you're wrong. So, I don't really care what you say about what I have to say... deal with it. Many servicemen and servicewoman die EVERY day for the freedoms of the american citizen, and for you to be a little baby, and say your stupid ****.

Answer 3

For some, it is the option of trying to better their lives. Going to school costs a lot of money, and with the loan repayments they offer, this makes it appealing to some students, especially if it gives them the chance to be an officer, making a couple grand every 2 weeks. Others, it's the enlistment bounus. A quick chance to get out of some seemingly small, but rather big debts, and a chance to pick up some decent job training makes an interesting combo to some.

Answer 4

Those who enlist in the military during a time of war are amongst the bravest and most courageous people we have in our country, particularly considering that as a whole, their own generation deeply scorns traditional values like honor, integrity, and even personal responsibility or accountability--all things that the military holds true to its core. If you choose to look at all the negative and cynical things in the world, and even at your own family, then you might want to try something novel: Try looking at things from someone else's point of view besides your own. Remove the glasses that you use to see and interpret the world with and consider for a moment how others might; did it ever occur to you to ask anyone in the military why they do what they do? Have you talked to people who have actually BEEN to Iraq and actually know what's going on there? Or do you prefer to come to your own conclusions based on what you see on TV and on what meshes with your own pre-existing political beliefs? The reality of what's actually going on the world is quite different from the bizarre, and more-often-than-not ignorant, assumptions of the greater American public. Take your political leanings and personal hatred of the president out of your presumptions about the war for a moment and consider, if you will, that just maybe we're actually accomplishing some GOOD over there--and, by the way, we are. I can say that, having been deployed there myself. Most Iraqis do NOT hate us. The ones who do, except for the most extreme and radical killers responsible for most of the butchery you see on TV, want us out of Iraq for precisely the same reason Democrats do: political power. Both they and Democrats have much to gain personally and from their constituents from continuing to paint Bush and America as a whole as the bad guy. But, I suppose you'll shake your head and still continue to believe what the TV tells you over the testimony of those who've been there and those are STILL there...

Answer 5

People belive in it dude. Also theres alot of rewards to joining. Education, oppurtunity to get out of your hometown etc. The way you feel against it, alot of people are for it. I didnt believe in it ,but I went because I thought why should my neighbor down the road go and defend while I sit here and do nothing. Its just a thing thats personal I found. Its a tough one but I dont apologize for my country being a great one

Answer 6

I have been a Guardsman in CA for the last 6 years and just re-enlisted for another 6.

Personally, I LOVE the guard. I have a lot of pride in being a Guardsman as we are the nation’s oldest fighting force (formed from the Minutemen of the revolution).

The make-up of National Guard units is outstanding because you have people bringing all types of knowledge from different sectors of the civilian world.

We have police officers, who offer us insight and training on dealing with crowd control, questioning, emergency response and interacting with the public.

We have Medical Personnel (EMT’s, Paramedics, Nurses, etc) who offer us insight and training on how to care for our troops and civilians we encounter in an emergency.

We have contractor’s and construction personnel who offer us insight and training for building any number of things on the battlefield or in a Natural Disaster.

We also have Scientists, aerospace technicians, teachers, principals, all coming together with years of experience gained in the civilian world that assist us in accomplishing our mission.

The reason I joined the Guard as opposed to Active Duty Army is that I wanted to serve not just my country when called, but serve the community in which I live when they need me.
When your town is flooding and you are trapped...we are there for you

When you are snowed in and can’t get food or water...we are there for you

When an earthquake hits and you are trapped...we are there to pull you out

And when the country calls for us to fight...we are there for our nation.

“Semper Laborantes” (Always Working)

235th Sapper Company
CA Army National Guard

Answer 7

I'm sorry you don't get it. We cannot offer you any real answer if you don't listen to your own family. I won't even insult you though you are begging for it. I will offer you this:

Who ensures your freedom while you sleep at night?

Who does the hard things, stands watch in sweltering jungles or in freezing wind while you play video games?

Who has been doing the hard things for blessed little pay since before you were born?

Who faced death at the hands of Nazis, Chinese, Spaniards, English and Russians for the past two centuries so that you would know freedom all of the days of your life?

We have stepped forward to do this for little pay and even less thanks. Yet you don't know why. I ask you one more question: Why aren't you one of us?

Answer 8

It's a man thing. Here are some reasons:
adventure
learning a trade
curiosity
test their manhood
family tradition
patriotism
comradeship
trying to find their place in the world
trying to escape from something (my reason)
money for education
a personal desire to be a Rambo type
new experiences
travel
opportunities not available in civilian life

Answer 9

First of all, they gain a little things called "Honor", which is something you may not understand or may not have.

In addition, they also receive a lot of benefits, go to www.army.com for more details. (Hey, it is a simple research on the internet).

After all, some honorable people have to preform the duty to protect the country (and its best interest), so others can enjoy their "freedom" at home, even if some of those people hate them guts... >.<

Answer 10

Some people join because they want to fight the war on terror and others I've know have joined because they have student loans they want paid off and they can't find a good job.