This is for any veterans out there, from any past war?

Question

I would like to start by saying thank you for your service, for our country.

I was wondering why you had originally signed up for the service. Were you immediately willing to risk your life for your country in battle, or at the time was it a financial opportunity for you more than anything else (the promise of the Army paying for your college education)?

I don't judge you badly in either instance... this is just a genuine question from an inquisitive mind.

Answer 1

I was in Vietnam and you are one of the few to thank me. Thank you back. I was eighteen when I enlisted and all these years later I can't even tell you why I did it. That was 1967 and I guess the Vietnam war wasn't quite being protested like would happen after Tet 68. I was just tired of school and wanted to do something else and I guess the army looked as much like an adventure as anything else. Never really gave much thought about getting killed until I began flight school. Then the instructors would talk about their experiences in country and it started to get my attention. When I did get to Vietnam it really started to hit home as I was a medivac helicopter pilot. But by then, and I think every war vet will say this same thing, I was there for my buddies. They became the most important thing in my life. Keeping them alive and them keeping me alive whether it was my crew chief or my copilot or the gunship drivers escorting us into a hot LZ or the guys flying the fast movers. We were all brothers. This may sound corny but that's the way it was.

Answer 2

I grew up admiring my uncles, 1 was shot down in WW II and is buried in France, the other fought in Korea and came home safe. I always pretended I was in the Army as a child and played war games with all of my friends, read any book on every thing from the Civil war to the Vietnam war and couldn't wait until I was old enough to join.
Out of all the friends I had I was the only one to join the Military. I have enjoyed my carer and have been serving for a little over 20 years. I was put on alert to go to the Desert Storm but didn't get deployed because it ended as fast as it began and was very disappointed and almost got out of the Army but decided to stay. I was sent to Iraq with the 3rd ID in 2003 -2004, spent time in Al-Falluja with the 10th Engineers. I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't scared because I was every minute I was there but i finally got to live my childhood dream and it was AWESOME and I would do it again if the Army would let me but I am considered non-deploy-able due to health reason.
I have loved every day that I've been in the Army and would not change a thing. It want for the money, college, or education.
It was for the pride and to follow my in my uncles foot steps. The Army has been really good to me and my family.

Answer 3

I originally signed up for the college money (GI Bill, College Fund). After my original 4 year enlistment, it became more of being for pride, patriotism, and serving for my country. My 4 year enlistment turned into 12 before I knew it. If it wasn't for a major back injury with resulting surgery, I would be three years away from a 20 year retirement. But let me say, there were some hard times, but I would not change it for the world, and I am very proud to say that I served my country.

Answer 4

I'd always admired service members as far back as I can remember. I took four years of JROTC in high school, so I knew as far back as then that I wanted to be in the military. After I took the ASVAB,( I scored REALLY high) every branch recruiter was calling me several times a week, offering to take me to lunch, etc., except the USAF. They sent me a little 3 X 5 card congratulating me on my score with a number to call if I was interested in talking about enlisting. My dad was USAF and I ended up joining. I can't say it didn't have anything to do with education, because it REALLY is a good deal. I will say that I turned down two scholarships to the University of Kentucky to join. I ended up in the CCTs, saw action on three occasions, and wouldn't do anything any differently if I could. I think it was more about seeing places I'd never seen and doing things I'd never have the opportunity to do otherwise.

Answer 5

I joined before the collapse of the Soviet Union and I was fully expecting that it would eventually end up going to war. Well I got my wish in 1991 and I was deployed for Desert Storm. I knew the risks going in and accepted them. I am probably one of the few who actually hoped to go into combat. When I was younger I was an adrenaline junkie. I have grown from the experience and now I realize how young and foolish I was. I grew up with Rambo, The A-Team and all of the war movies in the 80's and I thought how cool it was. I was wrong. War is not cool it is SCARY but thrilling at the same time.

Thank you all for serving.

Answer 6

As a still serving member of the military, I joined partially because of family history and part education/financial.
Mother, father, and grandfather (navy), two uncles (Air Force), three uncles (Marine Corp), six various relatives (Army)
My family has always believed that each citizen has the responsibility to protect the ideals that founded this nation. We all enjoy the opportunity to pursue prosperity, in whatever form we choose, because of those who willingly sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the country.
The other part of it was to pursue my own educational goals in preparation for life after the military.

Answer 7

I joined to play in the band. From the time I was in 6th grade I wanted to be in a military band. It was one of the coolest jobs I've ever had - for 6 years I got paid to play music all day every day!

Later in my career, when Gulf War I came along, I wanted to go see a war too. So, having a commercial driver's license, I volunteered to be a trucker. It was a touch more dangerous than I had anticipated and I came home to become one of the "disabled veterans" you hear about. (we had those roadside bombs in the '91 war too)

I'd not trade one minute (well maybe that one) of the experience for anything. If I weren't too old now, I'd still be in there.

Answer 8

I joined out of a sense of duty to the country that had provided so much opportunity to my family and ancestors. A secondary reason was probably to see the world while I was young. I remembered hearing both my parents say they wished they had traveled while they were younger. They never really got the chance (my dad was Army stateside).
Both grandfathers were military, father was military, some uncles. Myself and my 2 brothers both joined the military (not to mention a brother-in-law.)
(I've got an Engineering degree and one of my brothers has a double Masters in the medical field, just so you don't think we joined for financial reasons.)

Answer 9

I'm not gonna lie to you bro, I was scared shitttless when I signed the contract. I only did it for college and told the recruiter I wanted a safe desk job. I got the desk job but 2 yrs later I got deployed to Iraq, @$#%@^!!!!!!!
but It was a good experience, well the tax free money was

Answer 10

I graduated High School and couldn't afford college.Figured I might as well join the Marines.It was a simple as that.No great thought process.Two weeks later I was at Parris Island.