Why would a person leave the military( Deserters) if they joined on their own?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071117/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_deserters

There is no military draft and these men/women signed up all on their own.

Answer 1

A lot of people join for the education benefits or because they had disciplinary or behavioral issues (like drugs/drinking) and believed the military would set them straight, then were sent to war. Obviously those people won't be able to take it. They never had the commitment. Then there are others, who joined for the "right" reasons, to seve their country, safeguad its safety, and defend its principles, if it were going to cost them their lives. However, even those people are getting burned out. The war in Iraq is horrible. Also the soldiers are not being sent home when they were promised. They keep having their assignments extended. They are in combat zones for very long periods. They see friends being blown up. They see civilians being blown up. Sometimes they're shooting at civilians. War is ugly. A street war, like the Iraq war is the ugliest. You may think you can handle it, but you can't, especially when you don't take a break when you were promised and when you needed it. And there's nothing wrong with you for that. You feel that you're going to crack and never be sent back home.
You desert.
We are seeing a lot of post traumatic stress disorders at veterans affairs from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Answer 2

They want the free ride (benefits) without having to put out. I've seen this a lot as an MP; I've even had to go pick deserters up from police stations and county jails in the past; nobody put a gun to their heads and told them "Join up."; we are one of the few nations that has an "All vlounteer" force and we've done great so far.

THat's why I believe that instituting a military draft is simply counterproductive.

Answer 3

Good question.

Why are 60% of all deserters in thier first year of military service.

Thats 60% who have never deployed.

So that can not be used as a reason.

Interesting fact i found out.

The desertion's in the Army have increased 8% since 2001.

But the Army is 7.9% larger now, than in 2001.

Anyone see the correlation?

Answer 4

For a number of reasons, they may have been deceived and didn't know what they were getting into. Fear of dying for something that had nothing to do with them.Finally and often a belated awareness of the immorality of the war and all the horrors occurring in Iraq.Sometime a nervous breakdown or in response to mistreatment.

Answer 5

That's because they think its gonna be cool like in the movies, they get to blow crap up and pick up chicks in uniform. When they actually go through basic training (no walk in the park, trust me) or have to tell their girlfriend that they may be going to the other side of the planet for a very long time where people want to kill them (also tough), not everyone has the inner fortitude to live up to their commitments.
There are two kinds of men: men of action, and all the rest.

Answer 6

1. Financial troubles.
2. Marital troubles.
3. Inability to adapt to military rules and regulations.

Answer 7

Unfortunately some people who join the service are just not cut out for it.

Some find out to late that they don't have the inner fortitude.

Some find out that they are simply cowards.

And some have problems at home and believe they have no choice.

Basically some should some shouldn't some can and some can't.

Answer 8

Yes, and they found out that their dream was actually a nightmare so they bailed out, landing in an even worse sort of hell.

Answer 9

They probably did it to impress the girls or their friends, but when they realized it is a committment and they couldn't stand the heat, they bailed out.

Answer 10

They might of been gung ho about it then got scared or could've joined the reserve to make money and benefits.