Joining the military just to become a mercenary in later life?

Question

This is something my housemate is considering; he is fit and has integrity so I have no doubt he can become a Marine (his wish) but he tells us that he only wants to do it to get trained and serve the minimum before trying life as a mercenary (influenced purely by Hollywood).

We all think this is stupid and dangerous but he won't listen to us- can anyone with military experience please help us bring the guy down to earth?

Thanks!

Answer 1

my fella is a royal marine, he left last yr to do the relevant courses to become a mercenary. after looking into it properly he's decided against it and is going back in. his best mate narrowly missed getting blown up as a mercenary when a suicide bomber stormed his room. luckily he wasnt in it at the time. your mate is an idiot. he has no idea what its actually like. even the marine training. mercenary isnt for everyone and alot of em come back screwed up. the money isnt all its cracked up to be either.

Answer 2

Ex Royal Marine here.

Joining the Military is a cracking career, being a mercenary is a foolish career.

The enemy whoever it is tends to hate the Merc's with a 100 times more vengence than any army.

Merc's dont have the support of a major army behind them only small underequipped teams.

Its not at all worth it in the long run, Mercenery companies usually take men with 10+ years military experience.

It is a single mans job, so if you want a family you best make sure that they expect the worst.

Answer 3

Your housemate is probably someone who hasn't had many adventures in life. Probably is a "Star Wars" junky. Have him try backpacking through Central and South America for six months to a year. It costs next to nothing and he can work his way around. Both my sons and I have lived and worked our way from Cancun to Bolivia. That will clear his sinuses and give him a better foundation to make his decisions. Military service is fantastic. My two sons, several of their friends, and I have been in the military - Army, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force. It changes you in ways you never expect. No one comes home the way they left. It is a grand adventure that no one regrets and no one would do again. There is very, very little chance a person will choose to be a mercenary once they get the "adventure" bug out of their system.

Mercenaries aren't paid very well. They are treated like jerks. There is no future in it. You can't have a family. All of these negatives may not be important to a young, immature person, but they become very important once he decides he'd like to buy a car, have a home, have a family, or get a good job.

Answer 4

Only by telling him the facts: military life is dangerous at times, resulting in death, or worse, being maimed for life. Being a mercenary involves far more risk and really does not involve "God, gold and glory" as the Conquistador's sought, but seldom found.

Answer 5

I would urge your housemate, to think of the possible consequences, of his actions, before taking such a hare-brained course of action! Below, is a short, but TRUE, story of JUST such a group!

On 10th JULY, 1976, - having been captured, by their Angolan "ENEMIES", during a failed coup d'etat, - Kostas Georgiou, - a Greek-Cypriot, - known, by the pseudonym, "COLONEL CALLAN", - a man who had served, with HONOUR, for a number of years, in the British Army's elite Parachute Regiment, before LEAVING the Regiment, and taking up the lifestyle of a mercenary, - and TWELVE of his fellow "GUNS-FOR-HIRE", were ALL EXECUTED, by a Zairean FIRING SQUAD!

Their quest, - for GLORY, (or more likely, for MONEY), - cost these THIRTEEN men, their LIVES! The REASONS, for their deaths! Purely, it's a matter of GREED, - and the fact, that such "DOGS OF WAR", are "EXPENDABLE", to the coup's organisers!

Is THAT what he WANTS? SOMEHOW, - unless he's as MAD AS A HATTER, - I shouldn't THINK SO!

Answer 6

It is a good step. Good free training and experience. Becoming a 'killer' for money is a dumb idea, I think. I joined to make college money to better myself and my life. He sounds immature and possibly having an anti-social disorder. People don't want to grow up to kill other people for money. Maybe the military experience will staighten him out. If he lets his plan out while in the service he will get hassled about it. Professional military people dislike mercinaries.

Answer 7

Leave him alone. It is his choice. The chances are that if he sees active duty in the Marines, he will either decide against it because of the horror he will witness or for it because he copes well with the horror.
Either way, trying to talk him out of it at this point in time will be completely futile.

Answer 8

Have him read Licence to Kill and Making a Killing. That will show him sides of being a contract soldier is really all about. That will show him how life as a "mercenary" really is all a about.

Answer 9

Well to argue his side of things, blackwater is a major mercenary outfit that accepts people with prior military experience.

Answer 10

I am not in the army but he ought to be told that he may not survive his army career, first. It's not a job you'd take before you apply for life insurance. A lot of people are dying all over the world while we are e-mailing, because they are fighting for their countries. You really need to suggest he do something athletic as a career without the high risk. Since you're his friend, and you're concerned, you can try recommending other outlets for his ambitions. Hope you succeed.