Motivation to serve in the military

[James]

I would appreciate comments from anyone who has something constructive to add.

Why did you join the military? After gaining some experience, did your thoughts and motivations about what you were doing change?

For the youngsters :P There was a very recent thread asking about who has or will serve in the military, and I saw that the vast majority of responses were from young gents who were planning on serving when they were done with school and/or old enough. What motivates you?

I'll use myself as an example. I enlisted in the military for a number of reasons - I was bored w/ college, I was patriotic, I was curious about life in the military, and I wanted to have a little adventure. That was me at age 19. By the time I'd spent a while in the Fleet, I had a different perspective on what was going on overseas (the unit I was in focused on Iraq and N. Korea at the time). I didn't have strong opinions about what we should do with these places, probably because I was young and inexperienced. But, I knew that if something bad happened, my buddies would go, and they'd be in the thick of things. I couldn't let a dirty (insert racial slur) shoot at my buddies and get away with it. Luckily, though, I served the term of my enlistment and was never shot at in anger (I was by accident, though :o )

Whatever you think, I thought it would be nice to have a thread that isn't about Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Old Navy pants, or who or what is the biggest/coolest/toughest badass.

[EvanL]

Me personally I am very patriotic and want to fight. But i have so much respect for what my grandfather did in WW2. He served in Lake Supperior Regiment, landed at D-Day, hid from Germans in a bassment under a restaurant that they turned into an HQ, and jopined up with his unit and fought up through Belgium into Holland. I never met him because he died before i was born, but i am proud of him and want to repay him for what he did for my country and family.

[Shake n Bake]

What motivates you?

Shooting people in the face..

[Ratamacue]

3 reasons.

1. I feel that it's my duty to serve my country in some way, shape, or form. Especially with the probability of international situations heating up within the next 5-10+ years, and my HS graduation in 2006, our military and country may need every helping hand it can get for public service, international peacekeeping, and -- unfortunately -- perhaps war.

2. Somewhat of a thing that runs down the family, though not really.
- My grandfather was in the Army during Korea for a 1 year tour, rose to Staff Sergeant in that time and has quite a few medals.
- One of my uncles served in the Army infantry for his term, though he was a complete wildcard and was constantly booted in rank.
- My other uncle served in the Army prior to Vietnam, and then was selected for the CIA Studies & Observations Group and served in Laos in the early years of the war (unofficially anyway).

3. Life experience. I find that the better-balanced, more objective people in this country are the ones that have served time in the military.

[to free the oppressed]

Duty,Honor,and Country.and also God and Country.

[FallenAngel]

...what? No one did it for the chicks? C'mon. Be honoest! :lol:

[Merik]

I just want to kick some ass, plus I heard chicks dig the uniforms woot

[vryhpyammoadded]

My father and grandfather were naval officers, uncle an Air Force fighter pilot, another, a Tanker under Patton then later serving in Korea, another Airborne and another Marine. I grew up a Navy brat during the 60-70s hearing there stories and the stories of the Vietnam generation. I watched many of my neighbors go off to war and come back. Some never did.
During the 70s-80s I steadily got more and more angry with the hypocrisy and lies of so called Communists so I studied the enemy, got my degree and worked Intel in the Army.
My wife had to say the D word everyday for a year to get me to retire!
I guess you could say I joined the service because I wanted to work with my heroes.

[S'13]

Father and older brother served as paratroopers in the IDF. My father took part in the six day war in a battle which unifyed east and west Jerusalem. He also took part in the Yom Kippur war and many operations, one of them was the Litani Operation. My brother participate in many missions which were done in Lebanon and the territorys. The fact that we are surrounded by 300 million Arabs who don't want us here also gives a lot of motivation. And of course military service is mandatory but does not lower anyones desire to serve.

[Argyll]

I joined because ,I believe it was my destiny,I knew from a very young age I wanted to be a soldier,much to my fathers disgust,as he was a WW2/Korea veteran of the Royal Navy!!!!!
The Army gave me home,career, and a lifestyle,and a sense of comeraderie you have to be serving to feel it,there was nothing I wouldn't do for my guys,and vice versa,it wasn't so much as British Pride,or a sense of duty to your Queen Country,but more like Regimental Pride,that was much stronger!!
15 years since leaving the Army I still feel loyallty to my old Regiment,and to those who served under me and with me!

[Jooglae]

Well, I was conscripted, so I don't know much about any ****ing patriotism, except for the fact that I had rot 26 monthes inside the corps.

I don't know....Being in the militaryp isn't the best job option one can choose. There's always other better jobs around, so I really suggest you think twice before enrolling in any service of any branch.

[XASA]

For many the same reasons posted by Tane, James and Argyll but also because in 1965 Vietnam was heating up and I, at 18, wanted to participate in a real war like my father, uncles and their contemporaries had in WWII, which was naive on my part. Instead, I got Berlin during the Cold War for 3 years and, at the end of my enlistment, Vietnam.

Like many of the youngsters on this forum, I had wanted to enlist since I was a child. The 1950s and early sixties were chock full of war heroes in the movies and the literature of the time. Finally, it seemed one way to escape the boredom of civilian life since G.I.s during that time didn't have to be politically correct. Drink, women and song during off-duty hours were considered normal for a soldier. Six years active duty and more than 30 years later I am ecstatic that I had the opportunity to explore and enjoy all my childhood expectations on what the military was about. I'm glad I did it and would do it again, with the exception of a few months lousy duty, all over again.

[100_Percent_HOOAH]

I joined because I want my shot at these terrorist bastards that want us dead. I want to do my part for my country; I love this country and will defend her in a heartbeat. Also, I live in the middle of nowhere and it's dragging me down. With the military I have the 50 grand GI bill for my education and I get to have something positive to look back on. GO ARMY -HOOAH!

[Apogee]

Duty,Honor,and Country.and also God and Country.

Someones been listening to ol' MacArthur's Thayer Award Speech at West Point....

[Grimjack]

Yeah right for the chicks.Try getting laid in a military town,not going to happen.But go to a major city and BAM! You're in like stink on a monkey!As for joining,same old story seemed like the thing to do.Plus I once wanted to go to college but didn't have the money.I love the Army,it takes awhile to get adjusted but once you do it's great.Being a civilian scares the hell out of me!

[GLax]

hmm... i know some of us sound like idealistic teeneagers but hey what are you gonna do? i'll prolly sound exactly the same when u hear my reasons... i joined cuz i wanna serve. alot of ppl talk alot of sh*t at my school saying 'oh man i wanna kill some ragheads blah blah' but then when you ask them when theyre gonna sign up and what for, they just say, 'oh no, i'm gonna go to school' i tihnk its one thing to say your gonna do it but a completely different thing to actually do, anbody can go to college not everybody can do the Army or Marines (no offence against Navy and Airforce ppl) to be honest with you, it would be really hard for me to come home everyday after school and sit in my comfortable house and watch the news on tv and see kids my own age sleeping in the dirt, doing something i should be be man enough to do with them. another thing, everytime there has been a war, my family has dropped the hammer and picked up the rifle (we're carpenters), i'm actually going to be the first one to do that process backwards pick up the rifle and the hammer some other time. i also want to do it so i can be proud of something. its kinda like that Navy commercial, 'if somebody were to write a book about your life, would anybody want to read it?' i cant wait to go to basic and all my AIT schools. i'm not gonna try and be a hard ass and say i cant wait to be deployed so i can fight (though i want too) i can imagine i'll be a little scared but at the same time i'll know i'm doing something that some people in my country arent capable of or man enough to do... so i can hold my head high one day and proudly say 'yea i was there when...' instead of 'no, i was in my office wasting my youthful years at a desk' just my thoughts, best of luck to you guys that are seniors this year and thanks to all of you who already did your time in the service :hug:

p.s. my signature also has a good point...

[Fargin]

drafted

[martinexsquaddie]

annoy my parents
you get weird Clothes,weird Haircut,unsuitable friends,and spend 6 months in south armargh and you know they won't sleep a wink :D

[Dominique]

What motivates you?

Shooting people in the face..

I really hope that you are only joking. If you are not, I hope that a good recruiter will screen you out long before you have a chance to place your hands ona weapon.

[jlanni]

my reasons for joining, ill start from the top im 17 years old , e2 in the army national gaurd, MOS- 15x.i had no clue what i wanted to do for a job but i had a fasination wiht helicopters, so i figured the army was the place for that. i also have a brother whos currently a west point cadet. im also an eagle scout and i wanted to continue to build on my leadership skills. i also want to see the world.. the good and bad sides of it

[Chris1]

rofl
Annoy the parents, yeah that was definately a big one martin :)
My dad demanded three things when I made it clear I was going to join
1) Don't join the Infantry
2) Don't join as a ranker
3) Learn a trade
Oh well :)

[Kampfhamster]

they sent me an "invitation".
Nobody asked if I wanted to go to army

[bobdakilla]

im joining the canadian reserves to get a schollership and hopfully start a family line of people who join the army oh and im also going in the infantry

[Uncle Sam]

The military is what you make of it. You could learn alot, or you could learn nothing, the choice was yours. I served 5 years in the U.S. Army(Airborne Infantry), and I have to say I learned more there than anywhere. About myself, about others, about shooting weapons really, really accurately, blowing **** up, jumping out of airplanes, sweating alot, getting rained on alot, humpin' the ruck..alot..being really, really, cold..Alot..So on and so on. Anyone in the Miltary knows what I'm talkin' about..But, It made me a stronger person. I had a great time, made a whole lotta good friends, and Honestly I would do it again. Except I wouldn't go through Ranger school again, and I would be a Poge, or a leg or somthing like that... :D NOT !!!

[Desert-Fox]

Guns Guns Guns! they are Illegal in my country except for hunting shotguns
and a few boltaction-rifles
I haven´t even been able to see a Fully Automatic weapon yet!

And i will be Very disappointed if i serve my 4 years (or more)
and don´t see any action

but my basic motivation is the fact that i wanna be in a war and be able to say
"i was there, and i got them medals to show for it"

[FallenAngel]

And i will be Very disappointed if i serve my 4 years (or more)
and don´t see any action

but my basic motivation is the fact that i wanna be in a war and be able to say
"i was there, and i got them medals to show for it"

...and that's exactly why you are an idiot who SHOULDN'T see combat. No one who's "seen the elephant" really wants to repeat the experiance.

I was like you once, wanted to go, be a badass and blow **** up when I was like 11-12. Then my uncle sat me down one day and told me some stories about when he was a 19yo Marine PFC in Vietnam in '68. Let me tell you, within about 15 minutes I didn't think war was "cool" anymore. Not after hearing about my uncles best friend who took a .50 cal round square in the chest while on patrol when they were ambushed. Or about the young quiet kid from NY who got his leg blown off by a land-mine and was screaming for his mommy the whole 30 minutes before the Dust-Off could get there. Or his second platoon LT who had a young wife back in the states with a baby on the way who went ahead in the brush to "take a look" and never f*cking came back.

However it ALSO made me respect the men who went even more. These were ordinary men who went because they felt they were the ones upon who's shoulders was place a heavy burden. My uncle also told me about this corpsmen who would run around like a chicken with his head cut off, from one wounded Marine to the other, all the while green tracers flying within a few inches of him. He also told me about his buddy from Boston who carried him out of the jungle after my uncle got two in the leg.

I want to join up after I get my BA because, as the saying goes, "Freedom isn't free" and in today's society there aren't too many people who have the balls to stand up and pay their share. I think that's grossly unfair and insulting to guys like my uncle's buddies who gave their everything. THAT's why I want to serve- to honor them the way they deserve and be there for MY generation when reality comes around looking to collect.

[Uncle Sam]

I agree with FallenAngel. I was in the Military, and I've seen kids like you come and then GO, very quickly. And When I say GO, I mean AWOL. They can't hack it. When we were getting ready to invade Haiti for instance, we had 7 cherries (new guys, right outta boot camp, and airborne school) join my unit. They were full of spit and vinegar, talking tough, saying "I wanna kill someone!" when we found out we were the ones that were slotted to go, I s%*t you not, all 7 went AWOL. Not only did that make my platoon combat ineffective, but we had to get guys from another unit in there, making there platoons light. Not cool. Guys like you (Rommel 187) get other guys, like me, killed, while you walk away without a scratch. Think about what you said. Being confident about yourself is one thing, being arrogant is another. Good luck though, with your future military career, I fear it will be short lived. Sorry so rough....

[GLax]

...and that's exactly why you are an idiot who SHOULDN'T see combat. No one who's "seen the elephant" really wants to repeat the experiance.

I was like you once, wanted to go, be a badass and blow **** up when I was like 11-12. Then my uncle sat me down one day and told me some stories about when he was a 19yo Marine PFC in Vietnam in '68. Let me tell you, within about 15 minutes I didn't think war was "cool" anymore. Not after hearing about my uncles best friend who took a .50 cal round square in the chest while on patrol when they were ambushed. Or about the young quiet kid from NY who got his leg blown off by a land-mine and was screaming for his mommy the whole 30 minutes before the Dust-Off could get there. Or his second platoon LT who had a young wife back in the states with a baby on the way who went ahead in the brush to "take a look" and never f*cking came back.

However it ALSO made me respect the men who went even more. These were ordinary men who went because they felt they were the ones upon who's shoulders was place a heavy burden. My uncle also told me about this corpsmen who would run around like a chicken with his head cut off, from one wounded Marine to the other, all the while green tracers flying within a few inches of him. He also told me about his buddy from Boston who carried him out of the jungle after my uncle got two in the leg.

I want to join up after I get my BA because, as the saying goes, "Freedom isn't free" and in today's society there aren't too many people who have the balls to stand up and pay their share. I think that's grossly unfair and insulting to guys like my uncle's buddies who gave their everything. THAT's why I want to serve- to honor them the way they deserve and be there for MY generation when reality comes around looking to collect.


i have one of those uncles to FallenAngel, granted he was in the Army. also took one through the leg and couldnt get a dust off for like 2 hours after cuz it was 'extremely hot' in his words. anyway, i think if your signing up cuz u wanna kill somebody you havnt grown up in the real world with the rest of us or you have serious mental issues and you need to seek a professional's help...

[Merik]

You know your a true man when the **** hits the fan............

[Apogee]

I think most people join up because they feel that need to "do their time" Thats the way I felt when I took my oath. I mean ever since I had been a youngin' in the Boy Scouts I learned about duty to country and that really struck a cord with me.





I want to join up after I get my BA because, as the saying goes, "Freedom isn't free" and in today's society there aren't too many people who have the balls to stand up and pay their share. I think that's grossly unfair and insulting to guys like my uncle's buddies who gave their everything. THAT's why I want to serve- to honor them the way they deserve and be there for MY generation when reality comes around looking to collect.


Its funny you mention that phrase. A couple of months before 9/11 about 1000 cadets were sitting out at a bivack site trying to figure out what our class motto would be. We came up with "2005 - Keeping Freedom Alive" Little did we know how much meaning that would take on in the coming months. I've been pretty long winded, so I'm off to the rak.

[Shake n Bake]

What motivates you?

Shooting people in the face..

I really hope that you are only joking. If you are not, I hope that a good recruiter will screen you out long before you have a chance to place your hands ona weapon.


Nope, I'm as serious as a heart attack..

Heck, I'd be willing to lend my services to uncle sam free of charge just for the opportunity....Its the least I can do. ;)

[martinexsquaddie]

there's always one :roll:

[Shake n Bake]

there's always one :roll:


Right, what a silly Idea ....So my country goes out of its way spending hundreds of thousands of dollars training me to be a proficient instrument of war :roll: ...Just for ****s and giggles

[Uncle Sam]

martinexsquaddie wrote:

there's always one

Unfotunately, there's always MORE than just one.... :|

[XASA]

Shake and Bake, you need to chill if you want to pass initial psych evaluation to even enlist.

[martinexsquaddie]

no military wants people who want to kill people. The first thing they need from a soldiers is some who can be relied on to follow orders.
the legion might take everyone else is a bit more picky. with your attitude you would'nt get in the TA its scary to see some of the people who are still lose in society after being told there not wanted. Physch evaluations
are not needed most decent NCOs can spot a nutter ( apart from the ones that are nutters or at least nutters who can't follow orders or are at least amusing (guess how I got in :D ) )

[Royal]

The Legionaires I've worked with are as sane as any Para ;) , seriously though, if by some miracle you get through the recruit selection process your training team will beast you out - your attitude means you are unstable, which means you will not react well under pressure and you will get yourself or your oppos killed. You would certainly not be wanted in the UK armed forces, and I seriously doubt you would be wanted in the US forces.

[Uncle Sam]

Got that right, Royal !!


The Legionaires I've worked with are as sane as any Para , seriously though, if by some miracle you get through the recruit selection process your training team will beast you out - your attitude means you are unstable, which means you will not react well under pressure and you will get yourself or your oppos killed. You would certainly not be wanted in the UK armed forces, and I seriously doubt you would be wanted in the US forces.

[UoUo]

I want to serve in the army cuz i want to defend my family...i want to make our country a better place to live..

and outher thing is about the history of my family...
my brother is partrooper...my father was partrooper...and my garndfather was in the Polish army..in WW2.

and most my mother family died in the holocost :(

[MARINO]

ALL MY FAMILY IS AND WAS COMPOSED BY OFFICERS OF SPANISH ARMY.
MY FATHER IS A LT COLONEL OF SPANISH ARTILLERY, MY UNCLES, ONE IS MAYOR IN INFANTRY, AND THE OTHER LT COLONEL ALSO IN INFANTRY, MY GRAND FATHER IS GENERAL OF DIVISION, THE BROTHER OF MY GRAND MOTHER WAS KILLED IN LAST SPANISH WAR, SIDI-IFNI WAR IN 1957(AGAINST MOROCCO), MY OTHER GRAND FATHER WAS WITH IS BROTHER, AT BLUE DIVISION, OR DIVISON 250 A DIVISION OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WAS SENT IN 1942 IN GERMANY TO FIGHT AGAINST COMUNISTS(THE WERE NO NAZI MY GRAND FATHER HAD PROBLEMS CAUSE HE DEFEND A JEWISH WHO WAS BEING BATTED BYE A SS SOLDIER
THE FATHER OF MY GRAND FATHER (THE GENERAL) WAS KILLED IN SPANISH CIVIL WAR, AND THE FATHER OF MY OTHER GREND FATHER WAS KILLED IN MOROCCO IN 1921, IN ANNUAL DISASTER.
I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND THE BESTS WAY TO SERVE IT IS TO BE A POLITICIAN OR TO BE IN THE ARMY. I ALSO WANT TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD

[FallenAngel]

Marino-

Just an FYI in case you didn't know, but in terms of "internet manners" is NOT typing in all caps. It's assumes that you're yelling and can (usually is) be interpreted as being aggressive/offensive. ;)

[garyfanclub]

Isn't the motto of the Spanish Infantry..

"Santiago! y a ellos!"

[MARINO]

yes and the embleme of spanish army is aneagle with a cross of santigo.santiago is the st of spain.this motto is used since middel age

[Maverick77]

Im joining the Canaidan Army infantry not for a country but for myself

I want to fight

I want to be able to sit down when im 80 and be able to tell myself....you did something you lived with a purpose.

[Vance]

I want to fight
I hope when you're 80 and you have only one leg left you'll tell your grandkids what war is really about. You need to straighten out your priorities.

[NcDeuce]

PERSEC

[HooyahCQB]

I am joining the military after college. My reasons are not so much for the country as for the experience. I'd really like to see the world, but most of all to be in a tight-nit group of people who are really good at what they do, and love their job (career). I believe as an individual we achieve nothing. Teams achieve everything. Self made people have been given help at some point. Of course i'd defend my country, that should be a given for the serious. Another reason, my family has long been involved in the military or some conflict. Uncles in Army and Air Force, Grandfather in Navy. It skipped my father, but the Fraser part of my family's blood came out in me. The Scottish clan members have long been involved in fights from clan wars to the French and Indian War to WWII. Those highlanders have been typical commandos and this is an ancient Gaelic Proverb whic describes how adept the Lovats wer at night fighting.

"Lovat's lantern is the moon"

Just a little Scottish history for ya. Fraser blood runs thin these days, but its there.

[Maverick77]

I knew smeone would make some stupid comment about that.

im not gonna argue with some ****head on the internet

say whatever you want vance

I really dont give a ****

[bikewrench]

I guess that macho bravado is par for the course but my favorite advice after talking to vets etc. (Who said "Are you stupid?!) was from my mom.
"Now adam, there are going to be a bunch of assholes who are going to tell you what to do... and you'll *have* to do it."
Me in 1983 "yeah whatever.."
I learned a lot and travelled a lot and wouldn't take it back, but...

as a hitman for Reagan we got shafted on education, got to back up many dictators and well got to serve with some cool folks.

BTW, you don't just get to walk in and say "I'm SF material" or recon or any of that ****.
Oh yeah you do now...
Adam STA 1/3 83-87 <if you don't know don't ask

Edit: Lovat Scouts were the beginning of modern scouting, nice work lads!

[Salty Dog]

i enlisted not too long ago, in the marines, but i am in the delayed entry program, because i am only 17 and need to graduate from highschool still. but, i joined because i had wanted to for a long time, i felt the need to serve my country, i don't really feel like going to college quite yet, i wanted a sense of pride and belonging, to be somebody, to get out in the world and out of this town, and i joined because i could. because i was able to, because i am fairly healthy with no medical problems, and if i didn't enlist, i would have regretted it my entire life. i go to parris island for bootcamp on june 28th, so i have a while to get in better shape and what not...i just hope my 4 years are what i think they're gonna be like...

[Ratamacue]

Bikewrench, you were in STA? Very cool. I've always wanted to end up going either Recon or Scout/Snipers when I enlist.

[bikewrench]

Yeah it was, I was a grunt first (0311,0341ojt).
Start running now, practice with map and compass (no gps bs) and you'll prolly be ok. Don't freak out on shooting, you're probably doing it wrong!
I don't think that the recon mos option will let you into STA, you'll be in a Recon Bn. but recon seems to be better off now (Smirking at fellow 80's 0321's).
Adam

[ibstolidude]

"enter the shadowy realm of Special Operations"

:lol:

great line :roll:

[AussieJohnDoe]

This thread is great. :)

[Roids]

For me it's because I dont thing any other occupation has a sense of purpose or that really interests me. I could go to college but nothing interests me. I like competition, if it's not challenging than no thanks. I like to exercise and I like guns. I don't know, maybe because I'm not a big spender is why working for my own benefit doesn't keep my satisfied with what I do. Besides this is a great country that gives plenty, should be duty to give some back. I'm ready to kill and die for my country's interests.

In fact I just called my recruiter to see an update on my medical waiver(Everything should be good because it's recommended and my problem is not too big of a deal). The guys at MEPS were dragging ass with it but I should be DEPing pretty soon.

11x airborne contract is what I'm going for.

[Sato]

I'm thinking of becoming an officer, but first i'm getting my master degree in applied economics. I'm really interested in military tactics and strategy in general. I live in Belgium so i won't see any action (looking at the current operations and reorginastion of the Belgian armed forces) but I would do it for the experience. I'm not a patriot so I don't see it as my duty to serve. I gues serving in the army
or navy will also teach me alot about myself and others. I'm also thinking of a job in diplomacy so some expercience as an officer might prove to be an advantage.

But I'm still three years away from getting my university degree so maybe I've changed my mind by then...

[CPL Trevoga]

Like all normal Soviet boys I wanted to be a Soviet Army paratrooper. Due to life's turns I ended in the Marines Corps. Isn't that some ****? Why I wanted to joined up? My father was in the army, my gradfathers were in the army, my grand-grandfathers were in the army and my great grand-fathers were in the army, you got the idea.

[ed316]

I always wanted to serve. Love the Corps. No regrets at all.

[California Joe]

This thread is a good thread, and proof positive that there were plenty of asshats already here in "the good old days" 2003. :)

[Irish]

Always wanted to be in the Military..I was gonna leave school and join the Navy but My Father wasn't havin any of that!

So I waited til after School and Joined the Army..still here 12 years on..


CJ, I joined MP.net around 2003,when yee were quoting under Photos..But when I moved house and didn't get the internet for a year or so I forgot my username and password.:(
thought it was a great site then...and even better now..

BTW..,this must be one of the longest running threads??

[XShipRider]

My grandfather was a lighthouse keeper. My father was a merchant
seaman. It was a natural calling to join the Coast Guard.

[James]

BTW..,this must be one of the longest running threads??

It had run it's course in AUgust 2003... until today.

[MARINO]

OMFG that's an old thread, right now i'm a Spanish marine midshipmen.
Well i serve cuz i like the military way of life, i like adventure, do exercice, travel, i'm patriotic, i like guns, uniforms, and women that love men in uniform :lol:

[Irish]

It had run it's course in AUgust 2003... until today.


Can I ask are you still serving?

[1Cie GevGn]

Why? For the money!

<everybody>WHAT MONEY???</everybody>

[California Joe]

Can I ask are you still serving?

James, like Argyll is now a PMC......

[Irish]

James, like Argyll is now a PMC......


I see..Thanks CJ

[Cedan]

in my family there is military tradition...

[RECON DOC]

From the time I was very young, all I thought about was getting into the service. My home life was, lets just say, way below optimal and quite dark. The Army turned out to be rather less severe than the home I grew up in, no joke.

However it was quite different than I had immagined. Honestly my rush into the milatary (I enlisted 10 days after my 17th B-day) was more of an escape than patriotism, and based on an adolecent, naivete.

However I chose my MOS as a medic because I thought it would be a good thing if I could save lives rather than take them.
I very quickly got into the military groove and liked it very much, I got to be pretty 'Gung Ho' about the whole affiar. I considerd myself to be a pretty
squared away troop (Don't we all though? lol) I had alot of fun.

Then there was Honduras. I did a stint down there as a flight medic. We spent some time supporting the Contras in 84. We Evac'd several of their wounded after their incursions into Nicaragua, the majority of whom were between 13 and 16 years old. Little kids for god's sake!.

The one that stands out in my memory the most is a 13 yr old boy we picked up and later transfered to the main hospital in Tagucigalpa.
They had discovered that in addition to his severe head, chest and abdominal wounds, he also had gonorrhea.

I thought "Jesus Christ, this kid should be in school, riding skate boards and just starting to think about girls, not fighting in a f*cking war, banging
dirty whores and having his not yet fully grown body shot to pieces!"

It really f*cked my head up to see that and to have been a participant in that mess down there. I thought "what the hell is going on here?" Those days woke me up and changed my viewpoint on war forever. There is no glory in war, only death and suffering for those of whom ,on both sides, are engaged in it. An obcenity.

So rather than being a 'Lifer' as I had planned, I finished my second tour
and ETS'd with a lot of mixed emotions between loving the Army, my job and my bro's, and my personal ethics. It was a very tough decision to make.

Unfortunately humanity has not progressed to the point where war is no longer necessary, rather today, armys are still needed to repel aggressors, a sad and unfortunate truth, but maybe someday it will change.

I hope that I have not offended anyone, if so, it is not my intention. It's just my viewpoint.

Good thread James, thank you. It got me to express something that I've had bottled up for a very long time. And thanks to everyone else for their contributions to the thread as well.

My thoughts are with all of you who are now serving in combat, in every army engaged in this war. Please keep your heads down, stay alert, and come home safely to those who love you.

DOC

[Hullebullen]

Well, I was conscripted but it was the last year when over 50% of the eligible for conscription did their service here in Sweden so it wouldn't been difficult to not to do it. Most of my friends just simply said no, and that was that.

At the time I was bored with school and didn't want no boring, minimum wage job so the military sounded just about right for me. That my dad served as UN soldier in Gaza and my gramps was a volounteer during the winter war prolly influenced me as well.

Personally, it was a good experience and I would do it again and if Sweden had a professional army instead of conscripts at the time I was conscripted I guess I would've served regardless.

It's better for the young guys nowadays who aren't officers but still wants to go pro since you can sign up for paid service directly after your conscription, even if there's quite a competition for the spots.

[the_recruit]

Simply put, I love my country.The sights, the freedoms, the food(lol) everything. There are very nice hard working people in this country and they deserve to be protected. I want to be one of many protectors this country has. Also, Id like to pay back for everyone who went in before me. They put in their time and hard work, I want to pick up the torch and put my hard work in too. I want that strong bond amoungst a group of individuals that wont wash away with time. I want to be apart of something huge, and for the better good of my country.