How about rounding up homeless people and putting them in the military?

Question

They'll be sheltered, fed, clothed, paid and finally serve society! Fewer widows shown ranting on the 5 o'clock news - it's a win win.

Answer 1

Maybe we should round up liberal college students and make them serve. That way they can see the real world and possible learn to appreciate how wonderful the U.S. really is instead of hating it. Just a thought.

Answer 2

I don't know the statistics in the rest of the country, but here in Denver there are an estimated 10,000 homeless people, 60% of which are women and children, surviving by couchsurfing, living in cars or storage facilities, or womens shelters. Most of these women also work, but their pay is not enough to provide a home for their children. What do you propose we do with the children when we send their single mothers off to join the Army? Or do you propose that the children be forced to join too?
The homeless problem is much larger than the people you see on the streets, those people represent a minority of the homeless out there. But as far as those people go, others have made the point that often what causes them to be homeless is mental disorders and addiction problems. The military is not any more equipped to handle these problems than any other organization is.
I am a Soldier, and I care desperately about the homeless population of my city, and of the world as a whole, but sending them out to the front lines (which there are no front lines) is hardly a solution to the many problems that the many different types of homeless people face. I find your proposed solution to be only slightly less cold and unfeeling than if you were to have suggested we just gas all the homeless people.
But, I suppose, at least you are thinking of solutions, instead of ignoring the problem of homelessness like so many others do.

Answer 3

Hey! Great idea, that. Adolph Hitler did it in WW II with a mix of people deemed not useful to society, people from the jails, etc. They were called "penal" companies and used as cannon fodder. (Bullet catcher is what we called it when I was in.)

Then we can start putting yellow stars and pink triangles on people here in the states so the "citizens" know who to stay away from. And what makes you think the homeless don't marry? (Mostly "common-law".) Homeless people have feelings also, and need company like anyone else.

Sure, why not use the homeless as bullet catchers. You don't even have to waste money training them! They are just going out to get killed anyway. Now had you added a few things to the idea....

In England during WW II they took people that were not capable of serving in combat and made them into home guard units. People that did look-out duty, local patrols, etc. I'm sure that more than a few people that are homeless through no fault of there own (Drug use, drunks, mental illness, etc.) would love a shot at three hots and a cot. It would restore their self respect in a way, and give them a skill for when they were discharged.

This goes against the grain of your question though. The purpose of the homeless in uniform would be to free up able bodied troops to fight. Your question has a valid point, but only when taken out of context with the additional information. Homeless in the service! Why not? I'm sure a screening process could be set up to seperate the deserving from the nut cases.

Build up the health, build up the self-esteem, give them a reason to be proud again. Then you return to society a usefull and tax-paying member of it when they have completed their time in uniform. I see no reason to not give the homeless a chance, but not in a combat unit. At least, not until they have maybe a three year tour in here in the states. And only if they volunteer for it.

Answer 4

Not a good idea. I have had some close encounters with homeless people, and the chronically homeless are often also mentally ill to some degree or another. The person I was dealing with directly was a 98th percentile paranoid schizophrenic -- hallucinated in all 5 senses.

Add to this chemical dependencies and endemic illnesses like hepatitus, and you would have very few that would make it through any sort of a selection process.

And don't buy the "Homeless Vet" hype. Ask these guys where they served, and they will run the other way. It's a scam.

Answer 5

yea, but no one would buy the Support our homeless bumper stickers. And if you told a cop you served in the homeless military, they'd still search you for drugs. thumbs up to
kittiesandsparklelyt…, and rifleman, although I wouldn't rule out someone solely on an economic predisposition. Not all homeless people have mental problems. The result of being homeless can cause mental problems. They should have a place to go without being harassed, but that wouldn't be fair to the rest of us, now would it.

Answer 6

They could be sent to Afghanistan where the weather is nice enough to live outside, plenty of drugs such as 10' high marijuana plants and many Afghans look homeless anyways.

It could be the Taliban vs the Manson family. As far as professional soldiers go, the homeless are generally mentally ill and suffering from disease which make them incapable of serving like professional soldiers. Those homeless for financial reasons (or their homes were destroyed) are generally homeless for about 3 months or less before they get back on their feet.

Answer 7

yeah but the homeless dont wanna be in the miliyary nor does the military want them. you know, most a the homeless are nutts or phisically ill. you gotta give our millitary more credit than that. my 19 yr old marine cuzz is sharp as a tack and fixing to be deployed in iraq. god bless the us of a and our military and same to those homeless...but better not mix the two!

Answer 8

A good percentage did their time in the military and served in our campaigns! A lot of them ARE VETS! how about going help a few get off the streets if your that concerned about them! Or even better sign up your self!

Answer 9

The Homeless tend to be the disenfranchised of society. Drugs, alcohol, and mental illness are the reason that most are on the streets. Those certainly don't make for the type of individual that needs to serve in today's military. If you want to practice social engineering, use them to pick up litter and keep our infrastructure clean. House them in the empty National Guard Armories, The Guard are all deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan anyway.

Answer 10

you forget some of those homeless people are veterans.And alot of homeless people are alcoholics and drug users at this time especially war would you really want that on the lines with you?maybe you should think about your questions before you post them

Answer 11

Homeless people are by and large drug addicts and/or alcoholics, mentally disabled, or a combination of all three. Are these the kind of people you want to arm? Are these the people you want representing you in front of the world?